US Elections 2020 LIVE: Biden, Harris call for unity, healing of America

US election results 2020 LIVE updates: Joe Biden will be the 46th president of the United States

1:55 AM

Biden goes to church, Trump hits golf course after result

A day after becoming the President-elect, Joe Biden went to a church for Sunday prayers, while outgoing US President Donald Trump headed to a golf course in a Virginia suburb.

 

Biden, 77, drove down to the St. Joseph, a historic Roman Catholic church complex, in New Castle County in Delaware. He was joined by his daughter Ashley Biden and his grandson Hunter.

 

Trump, 74, after a series of tweets on Sunday morning, headed to his golf course in a Virginia suburb of Washington DC.

 

A handful of demonstrators lined the sidewalks near the entrance of the golf course.

1:27 AM

Kamala Harris books surge in popularity after election

Books by and about Kamala Harris proved to be a popular purchase following the election. The vice president-elect was the subject or author of four books on Amazon's top 10 Sunday.

 

They included her own children's book Superheroes Are Everywhere, her memoir The Truths We Hold: An American Journey, a children's book by her niece Meena Harris called Kamala and Maya's Big Idea and Nikki Grimes' illustrated Kamala Harris: Rooted in Justice.

 

Harris made history as the first Black woman to become vice president.

12:35 AM

Stacey Abrams credited for boosting Democrats in Georgia

Stacey Abrams spent years working to convince political power players that Georgia is a genuine two-party battleground, a Deep South state where the left could compete if it organised Black voters, other sporadic voters and stopped apologizing for being Democrats.

 

She was right.

 

President-elect Joe Biden is on track to become the first Democratic presidential candidate to carry the state in nearly three decades. The state's two U.S. Senate seats are heading to a runoff after Democratic candidates mounted strong challenges to Republican incumbents, and the outcome is likely to determine which party controls the chamber.

 

Abrams, the onetime candidate for Georgia governor who has become perhaps the nation's leading voice on voting rights, is being credited for paving those inroads. She raised millions of dollars to organize and register hundreds of thousands of voters and used her high profile to keep the party focused on the state.

 

There's a lot of work that's gone into this, but Stacey really is the architect of what's been built in Georgia, said Dubose Porter, the former Georgia Democratic Party chairman and an Abrams mentor.

8:54 PM

Upward trajectory in India's ties with US to continue under Joe Biden's presidency: Experts

The broad contours of upward trajectory in ties between India and the US under Joe Biden's presidency will not see any change given the increasing bilateral strategic convergence of interests including in the Indo-Pacific region in view of the challenge posed by China, foreign policy experts said on Sunday.
 

Though the ties between the two democracies will continue to grow, there is a definite possibility of a change in nuance in handling key issues by Biden as he is expected to be less unilateralist on trade and more moderate on immigration and visas, they said.

8:37 PM

Biden's Covid adviser Murthy's family hails from Karnataka village

The election of Joe Biden as the US President-elect has delighted the folks of Hallagere, a nondescript village in Karnataka's Mandya district, as his key Covid-19 adviser Vivek Murthy's family hails from here, an official said on Sunday.
 

"Vivek Murthy's family, including his father H.N. Lakshminarasimha Murthy and mother Myetraie belong to Hallagere. Vivek's parents migrated to Britain and subsequently to the US, where his father is also a medical doctor at Miami in Florida state," a Mandya district official told IANS on phone.

8:20 PM

Biden launching teams to review federal agencies

President-elect Joe Biden will launch an agency review teams this coming week. It's the group of transition staffers that have access to key agencies in the current administration to smooth the transfer of power.
 

The teams will collect and review information such as budgetary and staffing decisions, pending regulations and other work in progress from current staff at the federal departments.

8:09 PM

Biden may place more emphasis on human rights and democratic freedoms: Ex-Indian envoy Meera Shankar

Talking about various dimensions of the ties, Meera Shankar, who was Indian envoy to the US from 2009 to 2011, said it is possible Biden may place more emphasis on human rights and democratic freedoms.
 

"We must learn to be nimble enough domestically so that we are not open to criticism over what we are doing in Kashmir. After all the government itself has said that they are willing to consider restoring statehood for J-K if the situation improves," she said.

7:58 PM

Ties between India, US will continue to grow under Joe Biden's presidency: Experts

The broad contours of upward trajectory in ties between India and the US under Joe Biden's presidency will not see any change given the increasing bilateral strategic convergence of interests including in the Indo-Pacific region in view of the challenge posed by China, foreign policy experts said on Sunday.


Though the ties between the two democracies will continue to grow, there is a definite possibility of a change in nuance in handling key issues by Biden as he is expected to be less unilateralist on trade and more moderate on immigration and visas, they said.

7:47 PM

Ex-Foreign Minister Krishna congratulates Biden, Harris

Former External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna on Sunday congratulated newly-elected US President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris for winning the historic 2020 US election.
 

"Congratulations @JoeBiden on being elected the 46th President and @Kamala Harris Vice-President of the United States of America. All the best!," tweeted Krishna, who served as India's Foreign Minister from 2009-12 in the Congress-led UPA-2 government.

7:37 PM

Biden may bring respite to China-US Cold War', but rivalry to continue: Chinese observers

The victory of Joe Biden in the US presidential election may provide a respite to China from President Donald Trump's declaration of the Cold War and offer a limited chance to reset the turbulent ties even as high-intensity rivalry is expected to continue, Chinese observers said on Sunday.
 

Trump's four years in power is the worst phase in China-US relations as the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC), headed by President Xi Jinping, struggled to deal with what Chinese officials said is the most elusive and unpredictable American leader ever since the former US president Richard Nixon's historic visit to Beijing in 1972, establishing ties for the first time with the Communist nation.

7:20 PM

Thousands of km away from US, TN villagers ecstatic over Kamala's win

As the news of Kamala Harris' election as the new US Vice President began to pour in, villagers thousands of km away in Thulasendrapuram in Tamil Nadu celebrated the occasion by bursting crackers and distributing sweets.
 

No surprises here, because Harris' maternal grandfather P.V. Gopalan hailed from Thulasendrapuram village located in Tiruvarur district. Some days ago, they had even held special prayers at Sri Dharmasastha Temple in their village for her victory.
 

The villagers drew big 'kolams' outside their homes to wish good luck to Harris. Big banners with pictures of the Democratic nominee were also put up by villages at some spots.

7:09 PM

Kamala Harris' husband Douglas Emhoff will be America's first 'Second Gentleman'

With the historic electoral win by Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, her husband Douglas Emhoff also scripted history as he will be the first ‘Second Gentleman' - the first male spouse of a vice president in the US when she takes the oath of office in January.

 

The wife of a US President is addressed as First Lady while that of Vice President as Second Lady. America has never in its history before had a female President and Vice President so it remains to be seen what formal title - ‘Second Gentleman, Second Husband' - will be given to the first male spouse of an elected leader.

6:47 PM

With cases soaring, Joe Biden to announce Covid-19 task force

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.
 

 

Biden spent much of his election campaign criticizing President Donald Trump's handling of the pandemic, which has now caused the deaths of 237,000 people in America. The United States saw a record number of new infections last week, with the total number of cases nearing 10 million.
 

 

After four days of uncertainty as votes were counted in key states, Biden's victory on Saturday in Pennsylvania put him over the threshold of 270 Electoral College votes he needed to clinch the presidency. Trump has not conceded and has vowed to challenge the outcome in court.

6:37 PM

Obama, Bill Clinton congratulate Joe Biden, Kamala Harris on historic electoral victory

Former US presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton have congratulated President-elect Joe Biden and his running mate Kamala Harris on their historic electoral victory in the November 3 elections.
 

"I could not be prouder to congratulate our next President, Joe Biden, and our next First Lady, Jill Biden. I also couldn't be prouder to congratulate Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff for Kamala's groundbreaking election as our next Vice President, Obama said in a statement on Saturday.

6:36 PM

Congress leaders hail Biden, Harris for US polls win

Several senior Congress leaders have hailed Joe Biden and Kamala Harris' triumph in the US elections, with some attacking the BJP alleging that it appeared to side with Donald Trump not following bipartisanship in foreign policy.
 

Biden defeated incumbent President Trump in a bitterly-fought presidential election that attracted a record number of Americans to cast their votes.

6:18 PM

Beijing noodle restaurant remembers Biden's 2011 visit

The Yaoji Chaogan noodle restaurant beneath Beijing's 600-year-old Drum Tower knows Joe Biden.
 

Management has hung up photos of the US president-elect from when, as vice president, he stopped by for a bowl of noodles and dumplings in 2011.
 

We are very happy that Biden was elected, manager Yao Yan said Sunday. We have already met each other, and we can say that we are old friends. Biden was visiting Beijing with his granddaughter Naomi. They were being shown around by then-American Ambassador Gary Locke.

6:07 PM

Andhra CM congratulates Kamala Harris on victory

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Sunday congratulated Kamala Harris on becoming the US Vice President-elect.
 

"Democrats or Republicans, politics apart, we are happy and proud to have in Kamala Harris, someone of Indian origin as the Vice President of America. Congratulations and best wishes. May God bless you and guide you," the Chief Minister tweeted.

5:57 PM

UK looks forward to working closely with new team in White House: Johnson

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Sunday said the US is an important ally of the UK and he looks forward to working closely with the new team at the White House on "shared priorities" from climate change to trade and security.
 

Johnson congratulated US President-elect Joe Biden and wished vice-president-elect Kamala Harris on her "historic achievement" in the bitterly-fought presidential election.

5:43 PM

POTUS-elect Biden to bring ‘DOTUS - Dogs of the United States', to White House

US President-elect Joe Biden and his wife Jill will bring two German Shepherds, including a rescue dog, to live with them in the White House, the first time in four years when pets are heading back to the famous Washington DC address.

 

Biden and Jill adopted ‘Major' in 2018 from the Delaware Humane Association after fostering it, NBC News reported.

 

The canine will become the first rescue dog to live in the White House where it will be accompanied by the Bidens' other German Shepherd ‘Champ', the report said.

5:31 PM

Kamala Harris as vice president was long overdue: Joe Biden

US President-elect Joe Biden has said that he would be honoured to be serving with a "fantastic vice president" Kamala Harris, who scripted history by becoming the first woman and first daughter of immigrants ever elected to national office in this country.
 

 

The 56-year-old Democratic Senator from California, who on Saturday became America's first female, first Black and first South Asian vice president-elect, represents a new face of political power.
 

 

"I will be honoured to be serving with a fantastic vice president — Kamala Harris — who will make history as the first woman, first Black woman, first woman of South Asian descent, and first daughter of immigrants ever elected to national office in this country," Biden said in his victory speech in Wilmington, Delaware on Saturday night.

5:21 PM

Jerusalem Municipality offers Trump new employment options

With Donald Trump on his way out of the White House, Jerusalem Municipality has urged him "not to worry" as it may have a number of open positions that he could be eligible to apply for, a media report here said.
 

"For the attention of the follower Donald J. Trump - you don't need to worry! Our new Jerusalem job board is updated with worthwhile offerings every day, and will make Jeruz great again. (In fact it always has been)," the municipality's Facebook page said, attaching a link to the job board.

5:11 PM

OPEC would miss 'friend Trump', wary of strains under Biden: Report

Key members of OPEC are wary that strains in the OPEC+ alliance could reemerge with Joe Biden as U.S. President, sources close to the organisation said, and would miss President Donald Trump who went from criticising the group to helping bring about a record oil output cut.
 

Biden could modify U.S. diplomatic relations with three members of OPEC - de facto leader Saudi Arabia, and sanctioned countries Iran and Venezuela, as well as with key non-OPEC producer Russia. Russia is the leader of oil producers allied with OPEC, a group known as OPEC+.

5:01 PM

Modi-Biden will take Indo-US relationship to next level: BJP

Congratulating US President-elect Joe Biden on his poll victory, BJP leaders on Sunday said Indo-US relations are based on the principles of democracy, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Biden will take the ties forward to the next level.
 

BJP leader Ram Madhav said the people of America have made their choice and now it is for the rest of the world to welcome their decision and congratulate their leadership.

4:51 PM

America is a 'beacon for the globe': Joe Biden

President-elect Joe Biden has said that America is a "beacon for the globe" and that efforts must be made to "restore the soul" of the country.
 

"Tonight the whole world is watching America, and I believe that at our best, America is a beacon for the globe. We will lead not only by the example of our power, but by the power of our example," Biden said while addressing the nation for the first time as president-elect.

4:31 PM

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

Iran's president called on President-elect 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 Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris clinching the November 3 election.

4:20 PM

Biden recites deceased son's favourite Catholic hymn in victory speech

US President-elect Joe Biden concluded his victory speech by reciting his deceased son Beau's favourite popular Catholic hymn "On Eagles' Wings", hoping that the carol will give comfort to many Americans grieving the loss of their loved ones due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
 

Biden, 77, who is a practising Catholic, said the hymn has inspired him through the final days of his election campaign.
 

He would be the second Catholic to hold the office of the President after John F Kennedy in 1960.

4:08 PM

Netanyahu congratulates Biden, Harris on election victory in US

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has congratulated Joe Biden and his running mate Kamala Harris on their victory in the US presidential election.
 

"Congratulations @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris. 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," Netanyahu said on Twitter.

3:53 PM

Ashraf Ghani congratulates Biden, Harris on US election victory

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has congratulated Joe Biden and his running mate Kamala Harris on their victory in the US presidential elections and said he looks forward to continuing and deepening multilayered strategic partnership between Kabul and Washington.
 

"Congratulations to President-elect @JoeBiden & Vice President-elect @KamalaHarris. Afghanistan looks forward to continuing/deepening our multilayered strategic partnership w/ the United States--our foundational partner--including in counterterrorism and bringing peace to Afghanistan," Ghani said on Twitter.

3:40 PM

'It's a victory of Tamils': People in Madurai celebrate Kamala Harris' win

As Kamala Harris, of Tamil descent, makes history by becoming the first woman and first person of Indian origin to be elected as US Vice-President, ecstatic people here on Sunday have termed her winning as a victory of the Tamils and expressed hope that India-US will become "even better" under her vice-presidency.
 

Democratic Presidential nominee Joe Biden along with his running mate Harris clinched the winning threshold of 270 Electoral College votes in the US Presidential elections.

3:26 PM

Indian IT industry looks forward to working together with new US administration

Nasscom on Sunday welcomed Joe Biden's win in the US Presidential election, and said the Indian IT industry looks forward to working with the new administration in pivoting technology, skills and digital transformation for the US.
 

The US is the biggest market for the Indian IT sector, accounting for a lion's share of the industry's revenue.