How did the world react to the Capitol Hill carnage? America's adversaries questioned the efficacy of democracy, world leaders blamed Trump, and twitterati said: Remove Trump now.

Gravitas: U.S. Capitol: How the World reacted

The head of the EU executive called violence at the U.S. Capitol "outrageous" on Thursday (January 7) but said the fact Joe Biden was still confirmed by Congress proved that American democracy was resilient.

EU Chief: US Capitol violence 'outrageous' but US democracy is strong

The US President Donald Trump faced the threat on Thursday of a second impeachment, a day after his supporters breached the U.S. Capitol in a stunning assault on American democracy as Congress was certifying President-elect Joe Biden's victory.

Trump faces calls for removal, possible impeachment after US Capitol chaos

President Donald Trump conceded for the first time on Thursday (January 7) that Joe Biden will be the next U.S. president, a day after his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol as Congress was certifying Biden's victory.

Trump acknowledges Biden victory; condemns 'heinous attack' on Capitol

Supporters of President Donald Trump who stormed the U.S. Capitol, breaking windows and stealing things, could face charges including sedition, insurrection and rioting, Washington, D.C.'s top federal prosecutor said on Thursday.

Trump supporters who stormed US Capitol could face sedition charges

President-elect Joe Biden tweeted Thursday that the rioters who stormed the Capitol Wednesday would have been treated “very differently” than Black Lives Matter protesters, who have been demonstrating widely since the May police killing of George Floyd. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-capitol-siege-sends-shockwaves-across-the-world-heres-a-timeline-of-how-it-unfolded-355224">Also read | As Capitol siege sends shockwaves across the world, here's a timeline of how it unfolded</a>

“No one can tell me that if it had been a group of Black Lives Matter protestors yesterday that they wouldn’t have been treated very differently than the mob that stormed the Capitol,” Biden tweeted. “We all know that’s true — and it’s unacceptable.”

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No one can tell me that if it had been a group of Black Lives Matter protestors yesterday that they wouldn’t have been treated very differently than the mob that stormed the Capitol. 
 
We all know that’s true — and it’s unacceptable.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeBiden/status/1347298213422747649?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2021</a></blockquote>
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On Wednesday, Biden denounced the rioters who incited violence at the Capitol and called for the restoration of “just simple decency.”

“At this hour our democracy is under unprecedented assault unlike anything we’ve seen in modern times,” Biden said, adding that what unfolded was, “an assault on the rule of law like few times we have ever seen it.”

He said the uprising bordered on sedition, adding, “The scenes of chaos at the Capitol do not reflect a true America, do not represent who we are.” 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

President-elect Joe Biden tweeted Thursday that the rioters who stormed the Capitol Wednesday would have been treated “very differently” than Black Lives Matter protesters, who have been demonstrating widely since the May police killing of George Floyd.

President-elect Joe Biden tweeted Thursday that the rioters who stormed the Capitol Wednesday would have been treated “very differently” than Black Lives Matter protesters, who have been demonstrating widely since the May police killing of George Floyd. Also read | As Capitol siege sends shockwaves across the world, here's a timeline of how it unfolded “No one can tell me that if it had been a group of Black Lives Matter protestors yesterday that they wouldn’t have been treated very differently than the mob that stormed the Capitol,” Biden tweeted. “We all know that’s true — and it’s unacceptable.” No one can tell me that if it had been a group of Black Lives Matter protestors yesterday that they wouldn’t have been treated very differently than the mob that stormed the Capitol. We all know that’s true — and it’s unacceptable. — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) January 7, 2021 × On Wednesday, Biden denounced the rioters who incited violence at the Capitol and called for the restoration of “just simple decency.” “At this hour our democracy is under unprecedented assault unlike anything we’ve seen in modern times,” Biden said, adding that what unfolded was, “an assault on the rule of law like few times we have ever seen it.” He said the uprising bordered on sedition, adding, “The scenes of chaos at the Capitol do not reflect a true America, do not represent who we are.” (With inputs from agencies)

'Black Lives Matter' protestors would have been treated differently: Biden on police response during Capitol seize

Hundreds of President Donald Trump's supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday (January 6) in a bid to overturn his election defeat, occupying the symbol of American democracy and forcing Congress to suspend a session to certify President-elect Joe Biden's victory.

US Capitol invaders smash windows, destroy furniture

The rally that began in support of President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump </a>ended as a permanent and irreversible stain on the Trump presidency.&nbsp;

From vandalism to guards pointing guns, politicians ducking for cover to mob storming the seat of power to block the selection of a new leader, the scenes at the US Capitol looked like a Hollywood thriller.&nbsp;

The event left us with several questions, but let's look at how it unfolded.&nbsp;

In the beginning, Trump supporters gathered at the Ellipse, a 52-acre park in the south of the White House.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/woman-shot-dead-in-us-capitol-violence-was-strong-trump-supporter-and-military-veteran-355189">Woman shot dead in US capitol violence was strong Trump supporter and military veteran</a>

These supporters were responding to a tweet by the US president asking them to be there and be wild.&nbsp;

Soon, thousands joined the rally and the sentiments started sunning high when Trump made a declaration that he will walk with the supporters all the way to the Capitol building.&nbsp;

"After this, we're gonna walk down and I'll be there with you. We're gonna walk down. We're gonna walk down anywhere you want. But I think right here, we're gonna walk down to the Capitol," said Trump.&nbsp;

The protesters started marching to the Capitol as Trump withdrew to the White House.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the Congressmen started going inside the Capitol building

<h2>1:00 pm</h2>

US Vice President Mike opened the joint session where he refused to block election results and certified Joe Biden's victory.

Outside the Capitol, a scuffle began between Trump supporters and the police.&nbsp;

<h2>1:30 pm</h2>

The protesters stormed the building and some even scaled the walls.&nbsp;

Some people also walked up to the scaffolding set up for Biden's inauguration.&nbsp;

They broke through the security and entered the Capitol building.&nbsp;

A police officer tried to stop them as they made their way to the Senate chamber but to no avail.&nbsp;

<h2>1:45 pm</h2>

Visuals saw police officers on the floor of the house with their guns drawn.

Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives were evacuated with both chambers suspended their deliberations.&nbsp;

<h2>2 pm</h2>

The protesters took control of the Capitol as they strolled through the building.&nbsp;

Some people posed for pictures inside House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office.&nbsp;

Others sat on the seat of the speaker as the number of protesters outside to Capitol continue to swell.&nbsp;

<h2>2:30 pm</h2>

The rampage continued for close to an hour and Trump issued a plea on Twitter asking the protesters to "remain peaceful".

But, the violence did not stop and inside the building, a video surfaced of police attempting to treat a woman who was accidentally shot.

The woman later succumbed to her injuries in a hospital.&nbsp;

US President-elect Biden asked Trump to step up and ask the protesters to stop.&nbsp;

"And this God awful display today is bringing home to every Republican and Democrat and Independent in the nation that we must step up. This is the United States of America. There's never, ever, ever, ever, ever been a thing we've tried to do that we've done it together and not been able to do it. So President Trump, step up. May God bless America. May God protect our troops and all those folks at the Capitol who are trying to preserve order," said Biden.&nbsp;

<h2>4:30 pm</h2>

After almost three hours of the siege, Trump asked protesters to go home but continued to denounce the election results.&nbsp;

"This was a fraudulent election, but we can't play into the hands of these people. We have to have peace. So go home. We love you, you're very special. You've seen what happens. You see the way others are treated that are so bad and so evil. I know how you feel, but go home and go home in peace," said Trump.&nbsp;

<h2>5:30 pm</h2>

As the temperature dropped, the crowd outside the Capitol began to dissipate.&nbsp;

By dusk, only a few hundred remained.&nbsp;

Security forces announced that the Capitol building is now secured.

The House chambers were cleaned for the members to return to the joint session.&nbsp;

As the day ended, it was announced that four people died in the siege.&nbsp;

Trump who promised to march with the protesters did not show up. 
&nbsp;

The rally that began in support of President Donald Trump ended as a permanent and irreversible stain on the Trump presidency. From vandalism to guards pointing guns, politicians ducking for cover to mob storming the seat of power to block the selection of a new leader, the scenes at the US Capitol looked like a Hollywood thriller.

The rally that began in support of President Donald Trump ended as a permanent and irreversible stain on the Trump presidency. From vandalism to guards pointing guns, politicians ducking for cover to mob storming the seat of power to block the selection of a new leader, the scenes at the US Capitol looked like a Hollywood thriller. The event left us with several questions, but let's look at how it unfolded. In the beginning, Trump supporters gathered at the Ellipse, a 52-acre park in the south of the White House. Also read | Woman shot dead in US capitol violence was strong Trump supporter and military veteran These supporters were responding to a tweet by the US president asking them to be there and be wild. Soon, thousands joined the rally and the sentiments started sunning high when Trump made a declaration that he will walk with the supporters all the way to the Capitol building. "After this, we're gonna walk down and I'll be there with you. We're gonna walk down. We're gonna walk down anywhere you want. But I think right here, we're gonna walk down to the Capitol," said Trump. The protesters started marching to the Capitol as Trump withdrew to the White House. Meanwhile, the Congressmen started going inside the Capitol building 1:00 pm US Vice President Mike opened the joint session where he refused to block election results and certified Joe Biden's victory. Outside the Capitol, a scuffle began between Trump supporters and the police. 1:30 pm The protesters stormed the building and some even scaled the walls. Some people also walked up to the scaffolding set up for Biden's inauguration. They broke through the security and entered the Capitol building. A police officer tried to stop them as they made their way to the Senate chamber but to no avail. 1:45 pm Visuals saw police officers on the floor of the house with their guns drawn. Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives were evacuated with both chambers suspended their deliberations. 2 pm The protesters took control of the Capitol as they strolled through the building. Some people posed for pictures inside House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office. Others sat on the seat of the speaker as the number of protesters outside to Capitol continue to swell. 2:30 pm The rampage continued for close to an hour and Trump issued a plea on Twitter asking the protesters to "remain peaceful". But, the violence did not stop and inside the building, a video surfaced of police attempting to treat a woman who was accidentally shot. The woman later succumbed to her injuries in a hospital. US President-elect Biden asked Trump to step up and ask the protesters to stop. "And this God awful display today is bringing home to every Republican and Democrat and Independent in the nation that we must step up. This is the United States of America. There's never, ever, ever, ever, ever been a thing we've tried to do that we've done it together and not been able to do it. So President Trump, step up. May God bless America. May God protect our troops and all those folks at the Capitol who are trying to preserve order," said Biden. 4:30 pm After almost three hours of the siege, Trump asked protesters to go home but continued to denounce the election results. "This was a fraudulent election, but we can't play into the hands of these people. We have to have peace. So go home. We love you, you're very special. You've seen what happens. You see the way others are treated that are so bad and so evil. I know how you feel, but go home and go home in peace," said Trump. 5:30 pm As the temperature dropped, the crowd outside the Capitol began to dissipate. By dusk, only a few hundred remained. Security forces announced that the Capitol building is now secured. The House chambers were cleaned for the members to return to the joint session. As the day ended, it was announced that four people died in the siege. Trump who promised to march with the protesters did not show up.

As Capitol siege sends shockwaves across the world, here's a timeline of how it unfolded

Chinese netizens jeered&nbsp;erupted in mirth at America's troubled democracy after supporters of President Donald Trump broke into the US Capitol, comparing the chaos to the Hong Kong anti-government protests of 2019.

They&nbsp;tweeted side-by-side photo comparisons of Hong Kong protesters occupying the city's Legislative Council Complex in July 2019 with Wednesday's Washington riots.

Chinese mouthpiece, Global Times&nbsp;said in the tweet,&nbsp;"@SpeakerPelosi once referred to the Hong Kong riots as 'a beautiful sight to behold."

"It remains yet to be seen whether she will say the same about the recent developments in Capitol Hill."

China's Communist Youth League also described the unrest as a "beautiful sight" on the Twitter-like Weibo platform.

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The Communist Youth League of China on its official Weibo account called the protests on Capitol Hill the most "beautiful site to behold," mocking Nancy Pelosi's description of demonstrations in Hong Kong in 2019. <a href="https://t.co/0tSwwBcVo4">pic.twitter.com/0tSwwBcVo4</a>
— Lily Kuo (@lilkuo) <a href="https://twitter.com/lilkuo/status/1347030019277684736?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The hashtag "Trump supporters storm US Capitol" pinballed across Weibo on Thursday, racking up 230 million views, as users compared the global support for Hong Kong's protesters with the outpouring of condemnation for the pro-Trump mob.

"At present, all European countries' leaders have shown double standards and condemned it (Washington rioting)," read one Weibo comment which gained over 5,000 likes.

"I don't know what kind of double-standard reports will be carried by Hong Kong or Taiwan media this time."&nbsp;

"What happened in the Hong Kong Legislative Council last year is being repeated in the US Capitol," wrote another user in a comment with over 4,500 likes.&nbsp;

While the tactics were similar, there are stark differences in the causes and motivations of the two legislature stormings.

Hong Kong protesters broke into their legislature to demand full democracy and halt an unpopular bill that was being pushed through by the city's unelected leadership.

The semi-autonomous Chinese city is not a democracy, the cause of years of popular protests.&nbsp;

China has since responded with a crackdown, imposing a harsh security law on the restless city, arresting scores of critics and smothering dissent.

In contrast, those storming the US Capitol were trying to overturn the results of what has been declared a free and fair presidential election.

US President-elect Joe Biden said the US rioters were undermining democracy by trying to overturn Trump's defeat in November's election.

Chinese netizens jeered erupted in mirth at America's troubled democracy after supporters of President Donald Trump broke into the US Capitol, comparing the chaos to the Hong Kong anti-government protests of 2019.

Chinese netizens jeered erupted in mirth at America's troubled democracy after supporters of President Donald Trump broke into the US Capitol, comparing the chaos to the Hong Kong anti-government protests of 2019. They tweeted side-by-side photo comparisons of Hong Kong protesters occupying the city's Legislative Council Complex in July 2019 with Wednesday's Washington riots. Chinese mouthpiece, Global Times said in the tweet, "@SpeakerPelosi once referred to the Hong Kong riots as 'a beautiful sight to behold." "It remains yet to be seen whether she will say the same about the recent developments in Capitol Hill." China's Communist Youth League also described the unrest as a "beautiful sight" on the Twitter-like Weibo platform. The Communist Youth League of China on its official Weibo account called the protests on Capitol Hill the most "beautiful site to behold," mocking Nancy Pelosi's description of demonstrations in Hong Kong in 2019. pic.twitter.com/0tSwwBcVo4 — Lily Kuo (@lilkuo) January 7, 2021 × The hashtag "Trump supporters storm US Capitol" pinballed across Weibo on Thursday, racking up 230 million views, as users compared the global support for Hong Kong's protesters with the outpouring of condemnation for the pro-Trump mob. "At present, all European countries' leaders have shown double standards and condemned it (Washington rioting)," read one Weibo comment which gained over 5,000 likes. "I don't know what kind of double-standard reports will be carried by Hong Kong or Taiwan media this time." "What happened in the Hong Kong Legislative Council last year is being repeated in the US Capitol," wrote another user in a comment with over 4,500 likes. While the tactics were similar, there are stark differences in the causes and motivations of the two legislature stormings. Hong Kong protesters broke into their legislature to demand full democracy and halt an unpopular bill that was being pushed through by the city's unelected leadership. The semi-autonomous Chinese city is not a democracy, the cause of years of popular protests. China has since responded with a crackdown, imposing a harsh security law on the restless city, arresting scores of critics and smothering dissent. In contrast, those storming the US Capitol were trying to overturn the results of what has been declared a free and fair presidential election. US President-elect Joe Biden said the US rioters were undermining democracy by trying to overturn Trump's defeat in November's election.

Chinese netizens compare US Capitol anarchy to Hong Kong protesters

Hundreds of President Donald Trump's supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday in a bid to overturn his election defeat, occupying the symbol of American democracy and forcing Congress to suspend a session to certify President-elect Joe Biden's victory.

Woman shot dead inside Capitol during riots, succumbs to injuries

The United States&nbsp;Senate on Wednesday rejected the&nbsp;first objection for&nbsp;certifying Joe Biden's presidential election victory&nbsp;after hundreds of supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the US&nbsp;Capitol on Wednesday in a bid to overturn his election defeat.

The lawmakers voted 93 to 6 against the effort to reject Arizona's electoral count, overcoming the first of what may be multiple hurdles to the November presidential election's certification.

The House of Representatives will also vote on Arizona, and the effort is expected to fail there too, before Congress continues its process to certify the electoral votes of all 50 states.&nbsp;

Bringing the Senate into session Vice President Mike Pence said, "As we reconvene in this chamber, the world will again witness the resilience and strength of our democracy."

"To those who wreaked havoc in our Capitol today, you did not win. Violence never wins, freedom wins," Pence added. "And this is still the people's house."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-supporters-storm-us-capitol-building-during-joe-biden-certification-354950" hreflang="en">Donald Trump supporters storm US Capitol building during Biden certification</a>

Police evacuated lawmakers and struggled for more than three hours to clear the Capitol of Trump supporters, who surged through the halls and rummaged through offices in shocking scenes of chaos and mayhem.

One woman died after being shot during the mayhem, Washington police said. The FBI said it had disarmed two suspected explosive devices.

Police declared the Capitol building secure shortly after 5:30 p.m. (2230 GMT), and lawmakers reconvened shortly after 8 p.m. (0100 GMT on Thursday) to resume the election certification.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/capitol-hill-violence-president-trump-step-up-and-end-this-says-biden-354948">Capitol Hill violence: President Trump 'step up' and end this, says Biden</a>

"To those who wreaked havoc in our Capitol today - you did not win," Vice President Mike Pence said as the session resumed. "Let's get back to work," he said, drawing applause.

"We will certify the winner of the 2020 election," Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell added, calling the assault by Trump supporters a "failed insurrection."

Lawmakers were debating a last-ditch effort by pro-Trump lawmakers to challenge the results, which was unlikely to succeed. But some who had planned to object said they would cut their effort short and perhaps only challenge the results in one state instead of multiple states.

Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser ordered a citywide curfew starting at 6 p.m. (2300 GMT). National Guard troops, FBI agents and U.S. Secret Service were deployed to help overwhelmed Capitol police, and Guard troops and police pushed protesters away from the Capitol after the curfew took effect.

Former President Barack Obama blamed Donald Trump and Republicans for the attack on the US Congress Wednesday, calling it "a moment of great dishonor and shame for our nation."

"But we'd be kidding ourselves if we treated it as a total surprise," Obama said, adding that it was "incited" by Trump, "who has continued to baselessly lie about the outcome of a lawful election."

Obama also singled out the Republican party and its media supporters, whom he said have "too often been unwilling to tell their followers the truth" about Democrat Joe Biden's strong victory in the November 3 election.

"Now we're seeing the consequences, whipped up into a violent crescendo," he said in a statement.

Trump supporters broke windows and police deployed tear gas inside the building. Washington Metropolitan Police Chief Robert Contee said members of the crowd used chemical irritants to attack police and several had been injured.

It was the most damaging attack on the iconic building since the British army burned it in 1814, according to the US&nbsp;Capitol Historical Society.

The chaotic scenes unfolded after Trump, who before the election refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he lost, addressed thousands of supporters near the White House, repeating unfounded claims that the election was stolen from him due to widespread fraud and irregularities.

Trump told the supporters they should march on the Capitol to express their anger at the voting process and pressure their elected officials to reject the results, urging them "to fight."

Biden, a Democrat who defeated the Republican president in the November&nbsp;3 election and is due to take office on January&nbsp;20, said the activity of the protesters "borders on sedition."

The chaos at the Capitol came a day after Biden enjoyed a new triumph, with his Democratic Party projected to win two Senate runoff seats, handing them full control of Congress.&nbsp;

Historians said it was the first time that the Capitol had been taken over since 1814 when the British burned it during the War of 1812.

For more than two centuries, the joint session of Congress has been a quiet, ceremonial event that formally certifies the election winner -- but Trump urged members of his Republican Party to reject the outcome.

The United States Senate on Wednesday rejected the first objection for certifying Joe Biden's presidential election victory after hundreds of supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the US Capitol on Wednesday in a bid to overturn his election defeat.

The United States Senate on Wednesday rejected the first objection for certifying Joe Biden's presidential election victory after hundreds of supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the US Capitol on Wednesday in a bid to overturn his election defeat. The lawmakers voted 93 to 6 against the effort to reject Arizona's electoral count, overcoming the first of what may be multiple hurdles to the November presidential election's certification. The House of Representatives will also vote on Arizona, and the effort is expected to fail there too, before Congress continues its process to certify the electoral votes of all 50 states. Bringing the Senate into session Vice President Mike Pence said, "As we reconvene in this chamber, the world will again witness the resilience and strength of our democracy." "To those who wreaked havoc in our Capitol today, you did not win. Violence never wins, freedom wins," Pence added. "And this is still the people's house." Also read: Donald Trump supporters storm US Capitol building during Biden certification Police evacuated lawmakers and struggled for more than three hours to clear the Capitol of Trump supporters, who surged through the halls and rummaged through offices in shocking scenes of chaos and mayhem. One woman died after being shot during the mayhem, Washington police said. The FBI said it had disarmed two suspected explosive devices. Police declared the Capitol building secure shortly after 5:30 p.m. (2230 GMT), and lawmakers reconvened shortly after 8 p.m. (0100 GMT on Thursday) to resume the election certification. Also read: Capitol Hill violence: President Trump 'step up' and end this, says Biden "To those who wreaked havoc in our Capitol today - you did not win," Vice President Mike Pence said as the session resumed. "Let's get back to work," he said, drawing applause. "We will certify the winner of the 2020 election," Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell added, calling the assault by Trump supporters a "failed insurrection." Lawmakers were debating a last-ditch effort by pro-Trump lawmakers to challenge the results, which was unlikely to succeed. But some who had planned to object said they would cut their effort short and perhaps only challenge the results in one state instead of multiple states. Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser ordered a citywide curfew starting at 6 p.m. (2300 GMT). National Guard troops, FBI agents and U.S. Secret Service were deployed to help overwhelmed Capitol police, and Guard troops and police pushed protesters away from the Capitol after the curfew took effect. Former President Barack Obama blamed Donald Trump and Republicans for the attack on the US Congress Wednesday, calling it "a moment of great dishonor and shame for our nation." "But we'd be kidding ourselves if we treated it as a total surprise," Obama said, adding that it was "incited" by Trump, "who has continued to baselessly lie about the outcome of a lawful election." Obama also singled out the Republican party and its media supporters, whom he said have "too often been unwilling to tell their followers the truth" about Democrat Joe Biden's strong victory in the November 3 election. "Now we're seeing the consequences, whipped up into a violent crescendo," he said in a statement. Trump supporters broke windows and police deployed tear gas inside the building. Washington Metropolitan Police Chief Robert Contee said members of the crowd used chemical irritants to attack police and several had been injured. It was the most damaging attack on the iconic building since the British army burned it in 1814, according to the US Capitol Historical Society. The chaotic scenes unfolded after Trump, who before the election refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he lost, addressed thousands of supporters near the White House, repeating unfounded claims that the election was stolen from him due to widespread fraud and irregularities. Trump told the supporters they should march on the Capitol to express their anger at the voting process and pressure their elected officials to reject the results, urging them "to fight." Biden, a Democrat who defeated the Republican president in the November 3 election and is due to take office on January 20, said the activity of the protesters "borders on sedition." The chaos at the Capitol came a day after Biden enjoyed a new triumph, with his Democratic Party projected to win two Senate runoff seats, handing them full control of Congress. Historians said it was the first time that the Capitol had been taken over since 1814 when the British burned it during the War of 1812. For more than two centuries, the joint session of Congress has been a quiet, ceremonial event that formally certifies the election winner -- but Trump urged members of his Republican Party to reject the outcome.

US Senate rejects first objection to Biden certification after pro-Trump mob invades Capitol

As violence at the US Capitol underlined deep divisions in America on Wednesday, NBA players said the incident helped renew their commitment to fight racial injustice.

Boston Celtics and Miami Heat players knelt during the national anthem before their game in Miami on Wednesday, hours after supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol as legislators met to certify Joe Biden's victory in the November election.

The players issued a joint statement referring not only to the chaotic events in Washington but also to the decision on Tuesday by prosecutors in Wisconsin not to charge the white police officer who shot and paralyzed Black man Jacob Blake in Kenosha last August.

Protests of Blake's shooting brought the NBA to a standstill for three days in August in a protest of racial injustice that soon spread across an array of sports.

"2021 is a new year, but some things have not changed," the Celtics and Heat players said in their statement.

"We play tonight's game with a heavy heart after yesterday's decision in Kenosha and knowing that protesters in our nation's capital are treated differently by political leaders depending on what side of certain issues they are on.

"The drastic difference between the way protesters this past spring and summer were treated and the encouragement given to today's protesters who acted illegally just shows how much more work we have to do.

"We have decided to play tonight's game to try to bring joy into people's lives.

"But we must not forget the injustices in our society, and we will continue to use our voices and our platform to highlight these issues and do everything we can to work for a more equal and just America."

In Philadelphia, 76ers coach Doc Rivers was blunt in his assessment of the scene at the Capitol.

"It's pretty disturbing and sad," he said. "I keep hearing, 'This is an attack on democracy.' It's not. Democracy will prevail. It always does.

"It shows a lot though. I'll say it because I don't think a lot of people want to -- could you imagine today if those were all Black people storming into the Capitol and what would've happened?

"It's a sad day in a lot of ways. But it's a part of what we are and so we have to solve it."

In Milwaukee, the host Bucks and the Detroit Pistons both took turnovers on their first possessions.

The Bucks won the opening tip off and NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo simply held the ball as all the players took a knee. On the ensuing Detroit possession, Pistons star Blake Griffin held the ball and all 10 players on court took a knee again.

Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr admitted that it was hard to concentrate on basketball.

"I started the day thinking about how we were going to guard Lou Williams without fouling him," Kerr said. "Suddenly that didn't seem quite as important.

"Just a bizarre scene, but a pretty clear reminder that the truth matters," Kerr said.

"A legitimate election is suddenly questioned by millions of people, including many of the people who are leading our country in government, because we've decided to -- over the last few years -- allow lies to be told. So, this is who we are," Kerr said. "You reap what you sow."

As violence at the US Capitol underlined deep divisions in America on Wednesday, NBA players said the incident helped renew their commitment to fight racial injustice.

As violence at the US Capitol underlined deep divisions in America on Wednesday, NBA players said the incident helped renew their commitment to fight racial injustice. Boston Celtics and Miami Heat players knelt during the national anthem before their game in Miami on Wednesday, hours after supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol as legislators met to certify Joe Biden's victory in the November election. The players issued a joint statement referring not only to the chaotic events in Washington but also to the decision on Tuesday by prosecutors in Wisconsin not to charge the white police officer who shot and paralyzed Black man Jacob Blake in Kenosha last August. Protests of Blake's shooting brought the NBA to a standstill for three days in August in a protest of racial injustice that soon spread across an array of sports. "2021 is a new year, but some things have not changed," the Celtics and Heat players said in their statement. "We play tonight's game with a heavy heart after yesterday's decision in Kenosha and knowing that protesters in our nation's capital are treated differently by political leaders depending on what side of certain issues they are on. "The drastic difference between the way protesters this past spring and summer were treated and the encouragement given to today's protesters who acted illegally just shows how much more work we have to do. "We have decided to play tonight's game to try to bring joy into people's lives. "But we must not forget the injustices in our society, and we will continue to use our voices and our platform to highlight these issues and do everything we can to work for a more equal and just America." In Philadelphia, 76ers coach Doc Rivers was blunt in his assessment of the scene at the Capitol. "It's pretty disturbing and sad," he said. "I keep hearing, 'This is an attack on democracy.' It's not. Democracy will prevail. It always does. "It shows a lot though. I'll say it because I don't think a lot of people want to -- could you imagine today if those were all Black people storming into the Capitol and what would've happened? "It's a sad day in a lot of ways. But it's a part of what we are and so we have to solve it." In Milwaukee, the host Bucks and the Detroit Pistons both took turnovers on their first possessions. The Bucks won the opening tip off and NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo simply held the ball as all the players took a knee. On the ensuing Detroit possession, Pistons star Blake Griffin held the ball and all 10 players on court took a knee again. Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr admitted that it was hard to concentrate on basketball. "I started the day thinking about how we were going to guard Lou Williams without fouling him," Kerr said. "Suddenly that didn't seem quite as important. "Just a bizarre scene, but a pretty clear reminder that the truth matters," Kerr said. "A legitimate election is suddenly questioned by millions of people, including many of the people who are leading our country in government, because we've decided to -- over the last few years -- allow lies to be told. So, this is who we are," Kerr said. "You reap what you sow."

After chaos at Capitol NBA players reaffirm racial justice commitment

Trump supporters storm U.S. Capitol in a bid to overturn election defeat

Congress debates certification of Biden's win after Trump supporters storm US Capitol

The woman who died during a violent rally at the US Capitol was an air force veteran and long time supporter of President Donald Trump.&nbsp;

Ashli Babbitt came to Washington from San Diego, her husband told the local news station KUSI, adding that she was a passionate supporter of Trump, reports The Guardian.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;

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Four people died on Wednesday, but Washington police chief Robert Contee said only Babbitt lost her life due to the violence caused in the rally.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-finally-concedes-defeat-pledges-orderly-transition-after-congress-affirms-biden-win-355120">Trump finally concedes defeat, pledges 'orderly transition' after Congress affirms Biden win</a>

The 35-year-old had also served the US Air Force and was shot dead amid the unrest that erupted after protesters stormed the Capitol building due to which some security personnel used their guns to control the violent mob.&nbsp;

In her Twitter account's bio, Babbitt noted her love for her country and recently retweeted messages in Trump's support and those participating in Wednesday's rally.&nbsp;

Her Twitter account was filled with posts that supported Trump and denounced the presidential election in November.&nbsp;

"Nothing will stop us....they can try and try and try but the storm is here and it is descending upon DC in less than 24 hours....dark to light!", she tweeted on Tuesday.&nbsp;

Her mother-in-law reportedly told KUSI that she doesn't know why the military veteran decided to participate in the rally.&nbsp;

The woman who died during a violent rally at the US Capitol was an air force veteran and long time supporter of President Donald Trump. Ashli Babbitt came to Washington from San Diego, her husband told the local news station KUSI, adding that she was a passionate supporter of Trump, reports The Guardian.

The woman who died during a violent rally at the US Capitol was an air force veteran and long time supporter of President Donald Trump. Ashli Babbitt came to Washington from San Diego, her husband told the local news station KUSI, adding that she was a passionate supporter of Trump, reports The Guardian. Watch | Four people died on Wednesday, but Washington police chief Robert Contee said only Babbitt lost her life due to the violence caused in the rally. Also read | Trump finally concedes defeat, pledges 'orderly transition' after Congress affirms Biden win The 35-year-old had also served the US Air Force and was shot dead amid the unrest that erupted after protesters stormed the Capitol building due to which some security personnel used their guns to control the violent mob. In her Twitter account's bio, Babbitt noted her love for her country and recently retweeted messages in Trump's support and those participating in Wednesday's rally. Her Twitter account was filled with posts that supported Trump and denounced the presidential election in November. "Nothing will stop us....they can try and try and try but the storm is here and it is descending upon DC in less than 24 hours....dark to light!", she tweeted on Tuesday. Her mother-in-law reportedly told KUSI that she doesn't know why the military veteran decided to participate in the rally.

Woman shot dead in US capitol violence was strong Trump supporter and military veteran

A woman who was shot inside of the US Capitol on Wednesday has died, the Washington DC Police has confirmed. This comes after pro-Trump protesters charged the building as Congress began counting the Electoral College votes.&nbsp; 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/woman-shot-during-riot-inside-the-us-capitol-building-has-died-police-354962">Also read | Donald Trump supporters storm US Capitol building during Joe Biden certification</a> 
 
The Metropolitan Police Department said it was taking the lead on the shooting investigation. Police did not immediately provide details about the circumstances of the shooting.

"Yes, the adult female that was shot inside of the Capitol was pronounced dead at an area hospital," said spokesperson Dustin Sternbeck with the Metropolitan Police Department. 
 
Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/capitol-hill-violence-president-trump-step-up-and-end-this-says-biden-354948">Capitol Hill violence: President Trump 'step up' and end this, says Biden</a>

The woman's name was not released. Video posted on social media showed a crowd inside the Capitol, a gunshot was heard and then the woman, wearing a Trump banner around her neck, lowered to the ground.&nbsp;

She could later be seen being loaded into an ambulance with blood around her upper body, according to Washington Post.

The chaotic and violent scene unfolded at the Capitol on Wednesday as supporters of President Donald Trump swarmed the building to protest the Electoral College vote, forcing a lockdown and various confrontations with police, reported The Hill.

Rioters overpowered police and broke into the Capitol to protest as a joint session of Congress convened to certify President-elect Joe Biden`s win.&nbsp;

Multiple officers were injured in the scuffle.

"I am appalled by the reckless behaviour of some political leaders since the election and by the lack of respect shown today for our institutions, our traditions, and our law enforcement," said former US President George W Bush.

Several lawmakers called on Trump to condemn the actions of his supporters.In a one-minute video on Twitter, Trump urged his supporters to `go home`, while reiterating his unproven allegations that the recently-concluded presidential election was fraudulent` and `stolen`.

"I know you are pained, I know you are hurt. We had an election that was stolen from us. That was a landslide election and everyone knows it, especially the other side. But you have to go home now. We have to have peace. We’ve to have law and order. We don`t want anybody hurt," he said.

(With inputs from agencies)

A woman who was shot inside of the US Capitol on Wednesday has died, the Washington DC Police has confirmed. This comes after pro-Trump protesters charged the building as Congress began counting the Electoral College votes.

A woman who was shot inside of the US Capitol on Wednesday has died, the Washington DC Police has confirmed. This comes after pro-Trump protesters charged the building as Congress began counting the Electoral College votes. Also read | Donald Trump supporters storm US Capitol building during Joe Biden certification The Metropolitan Police Department said it was taking the lead on the shooting investigation. Police did not immediately provide details about the circumstances of the shooting. "Yes, the adult female that was shot inside of the Capitol was pronounced dead at an area hospital," said spokesperson Dustin Sternbeck with the Metropolitan Police Department. Also read: Capitol Hill violence: President Trump 'step up' and end this, says Biden The woman's name was not released. Video posted on social media showed a crowd inside the Capitol, a gunshot was heard and then the woman, wearing a Trump banner around her neck, lowered to the ground. She could later be seen being loaded into an ambulance with blood around her upper body, according to Washington Post. The chaotic and violent scene unfolded at the Capitol on Wednesday as supporters of President Donald Trump swarmed the building to protest the Electoral College vote, forcing a lockdown and various confrontations with police, reported The Hill. Rioters overpowered police and broke into the Capitol to protest as a joint session of Congress convened to certify President-elect Joe Biden`s win. Multiple officers were injured in the scuffle. "I am appalled by the reckless behaviour of some political leaders since the election and by the lack of respect shown today for our institutions, our traditions, and our law enforcement," said former US President George W Bush. Several lawmakers called on Trump to condemn the actions of his supporters.In a one-minute video on Twitter, Trump urged his supporters to `go home`, while reiterating his unproven allegations that the recently-concluded presidential election was fraudulent` and `stolen`. "I know you are pained, I know you are hurt. We had an election that was stolen from us. That was a landslide election and everyone knows it, especially the other side. But you have to go home now. We have to have peace. We’ve to have law and order. We don`t want anybody hurt," he said. (With inputs from agencies)

Woman shot during riot inside the US Capitol building has died: Police

Microblogging site Twitter has locked US president Trump’s account for 12 hours and threatened to permanently ban him from the platform for flouting its civic integrity rules, ordering him to remove three rule-breaking tweets.

Twitter said that it had required the removal of at least three of Trump's tweets that were posted earlier regarding the situation in Washington.

"As a result of the unprecedented and ongoing violent situation in Washington, DC, we have required the removal of three @realDonaldTrump Tweets that were posted earlier today for repeated and severe violations of our Civic Integrity policy," Twitter said in a post.

"If the Tweets are not removed, the account will remain locked."

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As a result of the unprecedented and ongoing violent situation in Washington, D.C., we have required the removal of three <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> Tweets that were posted earlier today for repeated and severe violations of our Civic Integrity policy. <a href="https://t.co/k6OkjNG3bM">https://t.co/k6OkjNG3bM</a>
— Twitter Safety (@TwitterSafety) <a href="https://twitter.com/TwitterSafety/status/1346970430062485505?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The decision comes after Trump tweeted a video that Twitter said posed a “risk of violence.”

Twitter also said that it will continue to evaluate the situation, including examining activity on the ground and statements made off Twitter.

For the first time, Twitter officially removed three of Trump's tweets, where he spoke on the violent protests at the US Capitol, while another deleted tweet had him saying Vice President Mike Pence lacked the "courage" to do what was necessary.

The removal comes after Facebook and YouTube removed Trump's video to supporters, and amid calls by the Anti-Defamation League and the NAACP for Trump's social media accounts to be suspended outright, reported CNN.

In a tweet, Facebook's VP of integrity Guy Rosen called this 'an emergency situation', and said that the video contributes to the risk of ongoing violence.

"This is an emergency situation and we are taking appropriate emergency measures, including removing President Trump's video. We removed it because on balance we believe it contributes to rather than diminishes the risk of ongoing violence," tweeted Rosen.

In the one-minute video on Twitter, Trump said: "I know you are pained, I know you are hurt. We had an election that was stolen from us. That was a landslide election and everyone knows it, especially the other side. But you have to go home now. We have to have peace. We've to have law and order. We don't want anybody hurt."

"This was a fraudulent election, but we can't play in the hands of these people. We have to have peace. So go home. We love you. You're very special. You've seen what happens. You see the way others are treated that are so bad and so evil. I know how you feel. But go home and go home in peace," he added.

The tweet was immediately flagged by the microblogging site as the claim of election fraud was disputed. Twitter also restricted the post from being liked, retweeted or replied to, due to a risk of stoking violence.

This comes amid a violent and unprecedented situation in Washington where Trump supporters stormed in the Capitol building, seeking to overturn the Electoral vote count that certified President-elect Joe Biden's victory. The scuffle led to several people being injured, a lockdown of the Capitol building and evacuation of the Congressional buildings.

(With inputs from agencies)

Microblogging site Twitter has locked US president Trump’s account for 12 hours and threatened to permanently ban him from the platform for flouting its civic integrity rules, ordering him to remove three rule-breaking tweets.

Microblogging site Twitter has locked US president Trump’s account for 12 hours and threatened to permanently ban him from the platform for flouting its civic integrity rules, ordering him to remove three rule-breaking tweets. Twitter said that it had required the removal of at least three of Trump's tweets that were posted earlier regarding the situation in Washington. "As a result of the unprecedented and ongoing violent situation in Washington, DC, we have required the removal of three @realDonaldTrump Tweets that were posted earlier today for repeated and severe violations of our Civic Integrity policy," Twitter said in a post. "If the Tweets are not removed, the account will remain locked." As a result of the unprecedented and ongoing violent situation in Washington, D.C., we have required the removal of three @realDonaldTrump Tweets that were posted earlier today for repeated and severe violations of our Civic Integrity policy. https://t.co/k6OkjNG3bM — Twitter Safety (@TwitterSafety) January 7, 2021 × The decision comes after Trump tweeted a video that Twitter said posed a “risk of violence.” Twitter also said that it will continue to evaluate the situation, including examining activity on the ground and statements made off Twitter. For the first time, Twitter officially removed three of Trump's tweets, where he spoke on the violent protests at the US Capitol, while another deleted tweet had him saying Vice President Mike Pence lacked the "courage" to do what was necessary. The removal comes after Facebook and YouTube removed Trump's video to supporters, and amid calls by the Anti-Defamation League and the NAACP for Trump's social media accounts to be suspended outright, reported CNN. In a tweet, Facebook's VP of integrity Guy Rosen called this 'an emergency situation', and said that the video contributes to the risk of ongoing violence. "This is an emergency situation and we are taking appropriate emergency measures, including removing President Trump's video. We removed it because on balance we believe it contributes to rather than diminishes the risk of ongoing violence," tweeted Rosen. In the one-minute video on Twitter, Trump said: "I know you are pained, I know you are hurt. We had an election that was stolen from us. That was a landslide election and everyone knows it, especially the other side. But you have to go home now. We have to have peace. We've to have law and order. We don't want anybody hurt." "This was a fraudulent election, but we can't play in the hands of these people. We have to have peace. So go home. We love you. You're very special. You've seen what happens. You see the way others are treated that are so bad and so evil. I know how you feel. But go home and go home in peace," he added. The tweet was immediately flagged by the microblogging site as the claim of election fraud was disputed. Twitter also restricted the post from being liked, retweeted or replied to, due to a risk of stoking violence. This comes amid a violent and unprecedented situation in Washington where Trump supporters stormed in the Capitol building, seeking to overturn the Electoral vote count that certified President-elect Joe Biden's victory. The scuffle led to several people being injured, a lockdown of the Capitol building and evacuation of the Congressional buildings. (With inputs from agencies)

Twitter blocks Trump, threatens permanent ban over inciting violence

Germany will be examining its security for its parliament as per the speaker of the house said Thursday. This move comes after angry protestors stormed into US Capitol on Wednesday.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/video-of-indian-flag-spotted-in-pro-trump-rally-at-us-capitol-goes-viral-355146" hreflang="en">Video of Indian flag spotted in pro-Trump rally at US Capitol goes viral</a>

During the summers last year, Germany witnessed similar sorts of the situation as the demonstrators, protesting against Merkel administration's restrictions due to COVID-19, tried to enter the Reichstag parliament building. However, they were repelled by police forces.

Following chaotic scenes overnight in the Capitol, German parliament speaker Wolfgang Schaeuble said he would examine "what conclusions should be drawn from this for the protection of the Bundestag", his office said in a statement.

ALSO SEE:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-tear-gas-explosives-and-gunfire-trump-supporters-storm-capitol-clash-with-police-354961" hreflang="en">In pics-Tear gas, explosives and gunfire: Trump supporters storm Capitol, clash with police</a>

The Bundestag is the lower house in Germany with lawmaker strength of 709, whereas, Reichstag is the building where the work is carried out.&nbsp;

The German embassy in the United States requested to provide a report on how the "violent excesses could have happened in the Capitol".

The federal interior ministry, security forces of the parliamentary groups, and the state of Berlin have been given the task to examine Bundestag's protection and whether it needs to be beefed up.&nbsp;

Many lawmakers of far-right AfD party were involved in the anti-virus restrictions march. They have also been accused of inviting into the parliament building protesters who went on to harass other MPs. However, leaders of the AfD released a statement Thursday denying any links to heated virus-sceptic protests in front of the Reichstag building last year.

"Anyone who equates the unrest in Washington with the demonstrations that took place before the Reichstag building in Berlin, and who points to our party's sympathy for these events, is abusing the anarchist events for political purposes in Germany," they said in a statement.

Germany will be examining its security for its parliament as per the speaker of the house said Thursday. This move comes after angry protestors stormed into US Capitol on Wednesday.

Germany will be examining its security for its parliament as per the speaker of the house said Thursday. This move comes after angry protestors stormed into US Capitol on Wednesday. ALSO READ: Video of Indian flag spotted in pro-Trump rally at US Capitol goes viral During the summers last year, Germany witnessed similar sorts of the situation as the demonstrators, protesting against Merkel administration's restrictions due to COVID-19, tried to enter the Reichstag parliament building. However, they were repelled by police forces. Following chaotic scenes overnight in the Capitol, German parliament speaker Wolfgang Schaeuble said he would examine "what conclusions should be drawn from this for the protection of the Bundestag", his office said in a statement. ALSO SEE: In pics-Tear gas, explosives and gunfire: Trump supporters storm Capitol, clash with police The Bundestag is the lower house in Germany with lawmaker strength of 709, whereas, Reichstag is the building where the work is carried out. The German embassy in the United States requested to provide a report on how the "violent excesses could have happened in the Capitol". The federal interior ministry, security forces of the parliamentary groups, and the state of Berlin have been given the task to examine Bundestag's protection and whether it needs to be beefed up. Many lawmakers of far-right AfD party were involved in the anti-virus restrictions march. They have also been accused of inviting into the parliament building protesters who went on to harass other MPs. However, leaders of the AfD released a statement Thursday denying any links to heated virus-sceptic protests in front of the Reichstag building last year. "Anyone who equates the unrest in Washington with the demonstrations that took place before the Reichstag building in Berlin, and who points to our party's sympathy for these events, is abusing the anarchist events for political purposes in Germany," they said in a statement.

Berlin to examine parliament security after US Capitol violence

An Indian flag was spotted at the pro-Trump rally outside the US Capitol in Washington on Friday.&nbsp;

Amid the massive protests, which saw people carrying flags of the United States and of 'Trump 2020' and 'Trump 2024', one person also waived Indian tricolour.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-finally-concedes-defeat-pledges-orderly-transition-after-congress-affirms-biden-win-355120">Trump finally concedes defeat, pledges 'orderly transition' after Congress affirms Biden win</a>

The video of this incident went viral, with several people criticising the act as it was the US's internal matter and the protesters caused vandalisation in the Capitol Hill.&nbsp;

A user wrote that he appreciates "national pride", but the act is "ridiculous".

"What moron was waving the Indian flag there????? I'm all for national pride but this is ridiculous," he wrote on Twitter.

BJP Member of Parliament Varun Gandhi also slammed the act, saying it's a "fight, we definitely don't need to participate in".

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Why is there an Indian flag there??? This is one fight we definitely don’t need to participate in... <a href="https://t.co/1dP2KtgHvf">pic.twitter.com/1dP2KtgHvf</a>
— Varun Gandhi (@varungandhi80) <a href="https://twitter.com/varungandhi80/status/1347060127845634053?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Senior Shiv Sena leader Priyanka Chaturvedi said one must feel "ashamed" for holding the tricolour "in such violent &amp; criminal acts in another country".&nbsp;

"Whoever is waving this Indian flag should feel ashamed. Don't use our tricolour to participate in such violent &amp; criminal acts in another country," Chaturvedi wrote on Twitter.&nbsp;

Here are more comments.

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This Indian flag amongst this mob is very disturbing. Punish the culprit for disrespecting my country's flag. <a href="https://t.co/m93tyLTrrI">https://t.co/m93tyLTrrI</a>
— ElsaMarie D'Silva (she/her) (@elsamariedsilva) <a href="https://twitter.com/elsamariedsilva/status/1347135026610126848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Does the person with the Indian flag even *know* what they’re doing? <a href="https://t.co/6NWiKNIBMd">https://t.co/6NWiKNIBMd</a>
— Ew 2020! (@itsmethemaniacc) <a href="https://twitter.com/itsmethemaniacc/status/1347112547254640642?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2021</a></blockquote>
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But, in a hilarious post, comedian Vir Das advised the flag bearer that a large crowd does not imply a "cricket match".&nbsp;

"Dear random Indian dude waving Indian flag at the #CapitolRiots. Every large crowd IS NOT A CRICKET MATCH," Das tweeted.

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Dear random Indian dude waving Indian flag at the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CapitolRiots?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CapitolRiots</a> 
Every large crowd IS NOT A CRICKET MATCH!
— Vir Das (@thevirdas) <a href="https://twitter.com/thevirdas/status/1347070675157184513?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Meanwhile, following pro-Trump protesters storming the Capitol Hill which caused mayhem, US Congress finally certified Joe Biden as the winner of 2020 presidential election.

President Donald Trump also conceded his defeat, despite implying that the election was not fair, saying there will be an "orderly transition".&nbsp;

"Even though I totally disagree with the outcome of the election, and the facts bear me out, nevertheless there will be an orderly transition on January 20th," Trump said in a statement.&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

An Indian flag was spotted at the pro-Trump rally outside the US Capitol in Washington on Friday. Amid the massive protests, which saw people carrying flags of the United States and of 'Trump 2020' and 'Trump 2024', one person also waived Indian tricolour.

An Indian flag was spotted at the pro-Trump rally outside the US Capitol in Washington on Friday. Amid the massive protests, which saw people carrying flags of the United States and of 'Trump 2020' and 'Trump 2024', one person also waived Indian tricolour. Also read | Trump finally concedes defeat, pledges 'orderly transition' after Congress affirms Biden win The video of this incident went viral, with several people criticising the act as it was the US's internal matter and the protesters caused vandalisation in the Capitol Hill. A user wrote that he appreciates "national pride", but the act is "ridiculous". "What moron was waving the Indian flag there????? I'm all for national pride but this is ridiculous," he wrote on Twitter. BJP Member of Parliament Varun Gandhi also slammed the act, saying it's a "fight, we definitely don't need to participate in". Why is there an Indian flag there??? This is one fight we definitely don’t need to participate in... pic.twitter.com/1dP2KtgHvf — Varun Gandhi (@varungandhi80) January 7, 2021 × Senior Shiv Sena leader Priyanka Chaturvedi said one must feel "ashamed" for holding the tricolour "in such violent & criminal acts in another country". "Whoever is waving this Indian flag should feel ashamed. Don't use our tricolour to participate in such violent & criminal acts in another country," Chaturvedi wrote on Twitter. Here are more comments. This Indian flag amongst this mob is very disturbing. Punish the culprit for disrespecting my country's flag. https://t.co/m93tyLTrrI — ElsaMarie D'Silva (she/her) (@elsamariedsilva) January 7, 2021 × Does the person with the Indian flag even *know* what they’re doing? https://t.co/6NWiKNIBMd — Ew 2020! (@itsmethemaniacc) January 7, 2021 × But, in a hilarious post, comedian Vir Das advised the flag bearer that a large crowd does not imply a "cricket match". "Dear random Indian dude waving Indian flag at the #CapitolRiots. Every large crowd IS NOT A CRICKET MATCH," Das tweeted. Dear random Indian dude waving Indian flag at the #CapitolRiots Every large crowd IS NOT A CRICKET MATCH! — Vir Das (@thevirdas) January 7, 2021 × Meanwhile, following pro-Trump protesters storming the Capitol Hill which caused mayhem, US Congress finally certified Joe Biden as the winner of 2020 presidential election. President Donald Trump also conceded his defeat, despite implying that the election was not fair, saying there will be an "orderly transition". "Even though I totally disagree with the outcome of the election, and the facts bear me out, nevertheless there will be an orderly transition on January 20th," Trump said in a statement.

Video of Indian flag spotted in pro-Trump rally at US Capitol goes viral

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday expressed shock and outrage at the storming of the US Capitol in Washington by supporters of President Donald Trump.

Modi, who is believed to have been good friends with Trump, posted on Twitter: "Distressed to see news about rioting and violence in Washington DC. Orderly and peaceful transfer of power must continue. The democratic process cannot be allowed to be subverted through unlawful protests."

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Distressed to see news about rioting and violence in Washington DC. Orderly and peaceful transfer of power must continue. The democratic process cannot be allowed to be subverted through unlawful protests.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1347009724789653508?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Other world leaders also condemned the disgraceful scenes at the&nbsp;US Congress.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the United States stands for democracy around the world and it is now vital that there should be a peaceful and orderly transfer of power".

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab added in his own tweet: "The US rightly takes great pride in its democracy, and there can be no justification for these violent attempts to frustrate the lawful and proper transition of power."

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Disappointed to hear of delays in arrival to China of the independent WHO team investigating COVID-19 origins. International community including China agreed to this scientific investigation. It must be open, robust &amp; the WHO team must be able to travel as soon as possible
— Dominic Raab (@DominicRaab) <a href="https://twitter.com/DominicRaab/status/1346912068939743236?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The EU's foreign policy chief condemned an "assault on US democracy".

"In the eyes of the world, American democracy tonight appears under siege," Josep Borrell tweeted.

Calling the action an "assault on US democracy, its institutions and the rule of law", he added: "This is not America. The election results of 3 November must be fully respected."

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian condemned "a serious attack on democracy".

"The violence against American institutions are a serious attack on democracy. I condemn it," Le Drian tweeted. "The will and the votes of the American people must be respected."

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas called on Trump supporters to "stop trampling on democracy".

"Trump and his supporters should finally accept the decision of American voters and stop trampling on democracy," Maas tweeted.

"The enemies of democracy will be pleased to see these incredible images from Washington DC," he added. "Inflammatory words turn into violent actions."

German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz, who is also the vice chancellor, likewise condemned the "disturbing images" from Washington.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted that the scenes at the US Capitol were an "attack on democracy.

"Canadians are deeply disturbed and saddened by the attack on democracy in the United States, our closest ally and neighbour," he said.

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Canadians are deeply disturbed and saddened by the attack on democracy in the United States, our closest ally and neighbour. Violence will never succeed in overruling the will of the people. Democracy in the US must be upheld - and it will be.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) <a href="https://twitter.com/JustinTrudeau/status/1346959061862912004?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Australian PM Scott Morrison condemned the "very distressing scenes" in the US.

"We condemn these acts of violence and look forward to a peaceful transfer of Government to the newly elected administration in the great American democratic tradition," he tweeted.

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Very distressing scenes at the US Congress. We condemn these acts of violence and look forward to a peaceful transfer of Government to the newly elected administration in the great American democratic tradition.
— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ScottMorrisonMP/status/1346949911237914625?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2021</a></blockquote>
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New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern tweeted: "Democracy - the right of people to exercise a vote, have their voice heard and then have that decision upheld peacefully should never be undone by a mob."

The PM added her country's thoughts were with everyone "devastated" by today's events, adding: "what is happening is wrong."

"Extremely troubled by the violence and horrible events taking place in Washington D.C. American democracy is resilient, deeply rooted and will overcome this crisis," Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis&nbsp;said in a tweet.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday expressed shock and outrage at the storming of the US Capitol in Washington by supporters of President Donald Trump.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday expressed shock and outrage at the storming of the US Capitol in Washington by supporters of President Donald Trump. Modi, who is believed to have been good friends with Trump, posted on Twitter: "Distressed to see news about rioting and violence in Washington DC. Orderly and peaceful transfer of power must continue. The democratic process cannot be allowed to be subverted through unlawful protests." Distressed to see news about rioting and violence in Washington DC. Orderly and peaceful transfer of power must continue. The democratic process cannot be allowed to be subverted through unlawful protests. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 7, 2021 × Other world leaders also condemned the disgraceful scenes at the US Congress. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the United States stands for democracy around the world and it is now vital that there should be a peaceful and orderly transfer of power". British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab added in his own tweet: "The US rightly takes great pride in its democracy, and there can be no justification for these violent attempts to frustrate the lawful and proper transition of power." Disappointed to hear of delays in arrival to China of the independent WHO team investigating COVID-19 origins. International community including China agreed to this scientific investigation. It must be open, robust & the WHO team must be able to travel as soon as possible — Dominic Raab (@DominicRaab) January 6, 2021 × The EU's foreign policy chief condemned an "assault on US democracy". "In the eyes of the world, American democracy tonight appears under siege," Josep Borrell tweeted. Calling the action an "assault on US democracy, its institutions and the rule of law", he added: "This is not America. The election results of 3 November must be fully respected." French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian condemned "a serious attack on democracy". "The violence against American institutions are a serious attack on democracy. I condemn it," Le Drian tweeted. "The will and the votes of the American people must be respected." German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas called on Trump supporters to "stop trampling on democracy". "Trump and his supporters should finally accept the decision of American voters and stop trampling on democracy," Maas tweeted. "The enemies of democracy will be pleased to see these incredible images from Washington DC," he added. "Inflammatory words turn into violent actions." German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz, who is also the vice chancellor, likewise condemned the "disturbing images" from Washington. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted that the scenes at the US Capitol were an "attack on democracy. "Canadians are deeply disturbed and saddened by the attack on democracy in the United States, our closest ally and neighbour," he said. Canadians are deeply disturbed and saddened by the attack on democracy in the United States, our closest ally and neighbour. Violence will never succeed in overruling the will of the people. Democracy in the US must be upheld - and it will be. — Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) January 6, 2021 × Australian PM Scott Morrison condemned the "very distressing scenes" in the US. "We condemn these acts of violence and look forward to a peaceful transfer of Government to the newly elected administration in the great American democratic tradition," he tweeted. Very distressing scenes at the US Congress. We condemn these acts of violence and look forward to a peaceful transfer of Government to the newly elected administration in the great American democratic tradition. — Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) January 6, 2021 × New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern tweeted: "Democracy - the right of people to exercise a vote, have their voice heard and then have that decision upheld peacefully should never be undone by a mob." The PM added her country's thoughts were with everyone "devastated" by today's events, adding: "what is happening is wrong." "Extremely troubled by the violence and horrible events taking place in Washington D.C. American democracy is resilient, deeply rooted and will overcome this crisis," Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in a tweet.

Indian PM Modi, world leaders condemn rioting and violence at US Capitol

Twitter blocks Donald Trump's account, threatens permanent ban over inciting violence

World leaders condemn riots and violence at US Capitol

Americans looked on in shock Wednesday as a calm protest turned into an angry mob that swarmed past barriers and stormed the Capitol — spraying officers with chemical agents, breaking windows and doors and looting sizable objects — as the Capitol Police struggled to contain the violence and sometimes simply retreated.

The police force, which numbers about 2,000 officers and has sole jurisdiction over the Capitol’s buildings and grounds, was clearly outnumbered and unprepared for the onslaught, even as it was openly organized on social media sites like Gab and Parler.

It took more than two hours, and reinforcements from other law enforcement agencies, before the order was restored. One woman who appeared to have wrapped herself in a flag was fatally shot by a Capitol Police officer, according to Robert Contee, chief of the city’s Metropolitan Police Department, which was called in for backup. Another woman and two men died during the events because of as-yet unspecified medical emergencies, he said.

At least 52 people were arrested, he said, including five on weapons charges and at least 26 on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol. Most of the arrests were for violating the 6 p.m. curfew, he said, adding that the police would circulate pictures of those sought for breaching the Capitol building. In addition, pipe bombs were found at the headquarters of both the Republican and the Democratic national committees and a cooler containing a long gun and Molotov cocktails was discovered on the Capitol grounds, the chief said.

The criticism of the Capitol Police was swift and, in some quarters, unforgiving.

Some law enforcement experts were astonished by the sight of an officer cowering in the crush of pro-Trump extremists and rioters using police shields and metal barricades as battering rams.

And protesters on the left saw a stark double standard, saying they had been hit with rubber bullets, manhandled, surrounded and arrested while behaving peacefully during demonstrations against racial injustice over the summer.

Attica Scott, a state representative in Kentucky, was arrested in Louisville on felony charges that were later dropped during the many months of protest over the death of Breonna Taylor in a botched police raid. “You can be arrested for walking while Black,” she said, “but you can be white and riot and basically get away with it.”

President Donald Trump’s own rhetoric has included stark contrasts toward protests. After George Floyd’s death, he called demonstrators “thugs” and promised that those who got out of line near the White House would be met with “the most vicious dogs, and most ominous weapons, I have ever seen.” Federal law enforcement officers swept people into unmarked vans and used pepper spray to clear peaceful protesters so that Trump could pose for photos in front of a church.

But on Wednesday, after he gave a rally where he said he would “never concede,” he was far kinder to those who proceeded to storm the Capitol. Hours after the riot began, he finally posted a video saying, “You have to go home now.” He added, “We love you.”

After the rally, at around 1 p.m., crowds amassed at the temporary perimeter fence that had been set up around the Capitol and grew increasingly animated. “There was a noticeable change in their demeanour,” Contee said.

One policing expert said there should have been a heavily manned perimeter sealing off the entire Capitol grounds and a second around the building itself given that extremist groups with a history of violent confrontations were involved.

“How they were not ready for this today, I have no idea,” said Charles Ramsey, a former D.C. police chief. “They were overwhelmed, they did not have the resources. You have to be able to protect the Capitol. That is not OK.”

The Capitol Police did not answer the phone or email, or put out any statements about the incident.

Members of Congress demanded explanations as well. “We must investigate the security breach at the Capitol today,” Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., said on Twitter. “I warned our Caucus and had an hour-long conversation with the Chief of Police 4 days ago. He assured me the terrorists would not be allowed on the plaza &amp;amp; Capitol secured.”

Rep. Val Demings, D-Fla., said in an interview with MSNBC on Wednesday night that the Capitol Police appeared understaffed. “It did not seem that they had a clear operational plan to really deal with” thousands of people who descended on the Capitol after Trump’s complaints of a “rigged election,” she said.

Ramsey said police officers in riot gear should have been stationed nearby.

The officers at the perimeter were easily overwhelmed, with the crowds — some in body armor — jostling them and spraying them with chemical plumes. On the east side of the Capitol, the rioters who broke through the perimeter then confronted a line of officers on the steps, a video shows. Those officers eventually retreated up the stairs, allowing the crowd to follow.

Another video shows officers appearing to move the barricades aside and let the protesters in. Protesters scaled walls and scaffolding, hoisted themselves up on a maintenance platform, posed for photos and vandalized office signs.

Some experts defended the police, noting that the Capitol Police deals with protests, both inside and outside the building, legal and illegal, on a regular basis, but they are nothing like this.

“This isn’t what happens at the U.S. Capitol,” said Chuck Wexler, the executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum, a think tank in Washington. “This is completely unprecedented. This is as close to a 9/11 attack as you can think of, in that no one has ever done this before.”

Wexler said legitimate questions would be raised about why more officers were not on hand and why they did not anticipate the threat. But he laid most of the blame on political leaders who legitimize violent groups. “If the president tells his supporters, ‘This is what I want you to do,’ that could be more valuable than a thousand cops,” he said.

Chief Michel Moore of the Los Angeles Police Department said it was unrealistic to expect the police to quell “people who are hell-bent on destruction.”

“They used violence against the police. They attacked the sacred Capitol and the Rotunda and then used tear gas or chemical agents, and physical attacks,” he said. “And what troubles me is the first thought was, well, why wasn’t the law enforcement better prepared?”

If the Capitol Police did not anticipate violence, the city did. Mayor Muriel Bowser called in the National Guard to supplement the city’s police force and warned counterprotesters and D.C. residents to stay away from planned pro-Trump actions Tuesday and Wednesday.

On Monday, the city police arrested Enrique Tarrio, the leader of the Proud Boys, a far-right fraternity that uses street thuggery as political theater. Tarrio, who had two high-capacity firearm magazines, was wanted after bragging online about burning a Black Lives Matter banner taken from a historic Black church during protests last month. He was released but ordered to stay out of D.C.

The Proud Boys have been beating the drum for months for confrontations in support of Trump. In a statement on one of their social media channels after the storming of the U.S. Capitol, the Proud Boys attempted to justify the violence by saying that they were only copying the tactics of leftist protesters.

But Ja’Mal Green, a Chicago-based activist, said there was no comparison between the tactics or the response. “We all know if Black Lives Matter would have stormed the Capitol, there would have been deadly force used to protect that building, especially because it’s a federal building,” he said. “We today saw what it means for white people to have the privilege.”

Americans looked on in shock Wednesday as a calm protest turned into an angry mob that swarmed past barriers and stormed the Capitol — spraying officers with chemical agents, breaking windows and doors and looting sizable objects — as the Capitol Police struggled to contain the violence and sometimes simply retreated.

Americans looked on in shock Wednesday as a calm protest turned into an angry mob that swarmed past barriers and stormed the Capitol — spraying officers with chemical agents, breaking windows and doors and looting sizable objects — as the Capitol Police struggled to contain the violence and sometimes simply retreated. The police force, which numbers about 2,000 officers and has sole jurisdiction over the Capitol’s buildings and grounds, was clearly outnumbered and unprepared for the onslaught, even as it was openly organized on social media sites like Gab and Parler. It took more than two hours, and reinforcements from other law enforcement agencies, before the order was restored. One woman who appeared to have wrapped herself in a flag was fatally shot by a Capitol Police officer, according to Robert Contee, chief of the city’s Metropolitan Police Department, which was called in for backup. Another woman and two men died during the events because of as-yet unspecified medical emergencies, he said. At least 52 people were arrested, he said, including five on weapons charges and at least 26 on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol. Most of the arrests were for violating the 6 p.m. curfew, he said, adding that the police would circulate pictures of those sought for breaching the Capitol building. In addition, pipe bombs were found at the headquarters of both the Republican and the Democratic national committees and a cooler containing a long gun and Molotov cocktails was discovered on the Capitol grounds, the chief said. The criticism of the Capitol Police was swift and, in some quarters, unforgiving. Some law enforcement experts were astonished by the sight of an officer cowering in the crush of pro-Trump extremists and rioters using police shields and metal barricades as battering rams. And protesters on the left saw a stark double standard, saying they had been hit with rubber bullets, manhandled, surrounded and arrested while behaving peacefully during demonstrations against racial injustice over the summer. Attica Scott, a state representative in Kentucky, was arrested in Louisville on felony charges that were later dropped during the many months of protest over the death of Breonna Taylor in a botched police raid. “You can be arrested for walking while Black,” she said, “but you can be white and riot and basically get away with it.” President Donald Trump’s own rhetoric has included stark contrasts toward protests. After George Floyd’s death, he called demonstrators “thugs” and promised that those who got out of line near the White House would be met with “the most vicious dogs, and most ominous weapons, I have ever seen.” Federal law enforcement officers swept people into unmarked vans and used pepper spray to clear peaceful protesters so that Trump could pose for photos in front of a church. But on Wednesday, after he gave a rally where he said he would “never concede,” he was far kinder to those who proceeded to storm the Capitol. Hours after the riot began, he finally posted a video saying, “You have to go home now.” He added, “We love you.” After the rally, at around 1 p.m., crowds amassed at the temporary perimeter fence that had been set up around the Capitol and grew increasingly animated. “There was a noticeable change in their demeanour,” Contee said. One policing expert said there should have been a heavily manned perimeter sealing off the entire Capitol grounds and a second around the building itself given that extremist groups with a history of violent confrontations were involved. “How they were not ready for this today, I have no idea,” said Charles Ramsey, a former D.C. police chief. “They were overwhelmed, they did not have the resources. You have to be able to protect the Capitol. That is not OK.” The Capitol Police did not answer the phone or email, or put out any statements about the incident. Members of Congress demanded explanations as well. “We must investigate the security breach at the Capitol today,” Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., said on Twitter. “I warned our Caucus and had an hour-long conversation with the Chief of Police 4 days ago. He assured me the terrorists would not be allowed on the plaza &amp; Capitol secured.” Rep. Val Demings, D-Fla., said in an interview with MSNBC on Wednesday night that the Capitol Police appeared understaffed. “It did not seem that they had a clear operational plan to really deal with” thousands of people who descended on the Capitol after Trump’s complaints of a “rigged election,” she said. Ramsey said police officers in riot gear should have been stationed nearby. The officers at the perimeter were easily overwhelmed, with the crowds — some in body armor — jostling them and spraying them with chemical plumes. On the east side of the Capitol, the rioters who broke through the perimeter then confronted a line of officers on the steps, a video shows. Those officers eventually retreated up the stairs, allowing the crowd to follow. Another video shows officers appearing to move the barricades aside and let the protesters in. Protesters scaled walls and scaffolding, hoisted themselves up on a maintenance platform, posed for photos and vandalized office signs. Some experts defended the police, noting that the Capitol Police deals with protests, both inside and outside the building, legal and illegal, on a regular basis, but they are nothing like this. “This isn’t what happens at the U.S. Capitol,” said Chuck Wexler, the executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum, a think tank in Washington. “This is completely unprecedented. This is as close to a 9/11 attack as you can think of, in that no one has ever done this before.” Wexler said legitimate questions would be raised about why more officers were not on hand and why they did not anticipate the threat. But he laid most of the blame on political leaders who legitimize violent groups. “If the president tells his supporters, ‘This is what I want you to do,’ that could be more valuable than a thousand cops,” he said. Chief Michel Moore of the Los Angeles Police Department said it was unrealistic to expect the police to quell “people who are hell-bent on destruction.” “They used violence against the police. They attacked the sacred Capitol and the Rotunda and then used tear gas or chemical agents, and physical attacks,” he said. “And what troubles me is the first thought was, well, why wasn’t the law enforcement better prepared?” If the Capitol Police did not anticipate violence, the city did. Mayor Muriel Bowser called in the National Guard to supplement the city’s police force and warned counterprotesters and D.C. residents to stay away from planned pro-Trump actions Tuesday and Wednesday. On Monday, the city police arrested Enrique Tarrio, the leader of the Proud Boys, a far-right fraternity that uses street thuggery as political theater. Tarrio, who had two high-capacity firearm magazines, was wanted after bragging online about burning a Black Lives Matter banner taken from a historic Black church during protests last month. He was released but ordered to stay out of D.C. The Proud Boys have been beating the drum for months for confrontations in support of Trump. In a statement on one of their social media channels after the storming of the U.S. Capitol, the Proud Boys attempted to justify the violence by saying that they were only copying the tactics of leftist protesters. But Ja’Mal Green, a Chicago-based activist, said there was no comparison between the tactics or the response. “We all know if Black Lives Matter would have stormed the Capitol, there would have been deadly force used to protect that building, especially because it’s a federal building,” he said. “We today saw what it means for white people to have the privilege.”

Capitol breach draws sharp condemnation of law enforcement

The mob of Trump supporters pressed through police barricades, broke windows and battered their way with metal poles through entrances to the Capitol. Then, stunningly, they breached the “People’s House” itself, forcing masked police officers to draw their guns to keep the insurgents off the chamber floor.

“I thought we’d have to fight our way out,” said Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., a former Army Ranger in Iraq, who found himself captive in the House chamber.

What unfolded at that point, at times on national television, was a tableau of violence and mayhem that shocked the nation, one of the most severe breaches of the Capitol since the British invaded during the War of 1812 and burned it down.

An armed standoff ensued in the House chamber, with police officers drawing their weapons. A pro-Trump protester casually monkeyed around at the dais of the Senate. Intruders in Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s suite overturned desks and smashed photos. Others ripped artwork in Senate hideaway offices.

“This is what the president has caused today, this insurrection,” Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, said as he and other senators were hustled off to a secure location.

Some of the protesters gawked at the grand and storied building they had unlawfully flooded while others looked at it with contempt.

“I don’t trust any of these people,” said Eric Martin, 49, a woodworker from Charleston, South Carolina, as he marveled at the opulence of the Capitol and helped a friend wash pepper spray from his eyes. “Absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

But if some only stared at the Capitol, others resorted to violence. A woman inside the building was shot and later died, the District of Columbia police said, and multiple officers were injured. Two explosive devices were found around noon near the headquarters of the Republican National Committee, then destroyed by a bomb squad. And the federal authorities arrested a 70-year-old man from Alabama near the Capitol in possession of a firearm and materials to make several Molotov cocktails.

By Wednesday evening, the scene outside the Capitol had calmed, after Capitol Police, supplemented by FBI agents and Homeland Security officers with members of the National Guard on their way, squeezed protesters from every corner of the Capitol to the majestic Rotunda, then persuaded them to leave.

Before that was mayhem. At one point, as lawmakers and staff members were rushing out of a Senate chamber under assault, aides rushed back to grab boxes containing the Electoral College certificates, making sure that the protesters could not literally steal the results of the election.

It began around 1 p.m., when a mass of Trump supporters, some in camouflage and armed with baseball bats or knives, left the National Mall and, encouraged by President Donald Trump, ascended on the Capitol complex. Leaders exhorted the crowd through megaphones, “This is our house” and “Move forward!”

The few police officers standing on the steps of the Capitol were overwhelmed. Their flash-bang grenades only invigorated the protesters. Around 2:30 p.m., an entrance near the west side of the Capitol descended into chaos as a wave of Trump supporters wearing Make America Great Again apparel pressed passed police barricades.

On the east side of the complex, people banged on the glass windows. Crowds charged past the front columns, and some pressed their faces into the glass. Others in camouflage used poles to batter an entrance to the building, breaking it open. The crowd then rushed through, passing through metal detectors as one man blared a Trump speech about the “stolen” election through a speaker.

For about an hour, the Trump loyalists went in and out of at least one entrance of the Capitol with little disruption from the police.

As debate progressed in the House chamber over a Republican protest of Arizona’s Electoral College votes for President-elect Joe Biden, few lawmakers knew of the commotion. But Capitol Police officers were quietly locking down the building, instructing everyone in the hallways to shelter in place and preparing reporters for the possibility of doing so in the chamber.

Soon, a nervous energy pulsed through the room. The police began to close the gallery doors, which had remained open to allow for better ventilation as lawmakers streamed in. Congressional leaders were quickly ushered out, as staff aides urged lawmakers in the gallery and on the floor to remain calm.

“This is because of you,” Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., yelled from the gallery at his Republican colleagues.

Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., and a former Pentagon official, was on her way to the House chamber when she heard screaming, breaking glass, and what sounded like a flash bang. She returned to her office, locked the door, offered shelter to a colleague and began working the phones.

One of her first calls was to Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to plead for help from the National Guard.

“I said, ‘Mark, I absolutely understand that you are between a rock and a hard place. But we need help here. There are weapons,’” she said.

In the House, just after 2:30 p.m., a police officer stepped on the dais and informed lawmakers that they might need to duck under their chairs.

“We now have individuals that have breached the Capitol building,” he said, warning them to be prepared to relocate to the cloakrooms. “They are in the Rotunda.”

Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., a veteran, jumped on the armrests&nbsp;of chairs and began directing members to move calmly and quickly from the chamber. Frantic shouting filled the room as lawmakers struggled to unfold the plastic bags that they were instructed to put over their heads in case of tear gas. Police officers and members of the floor staff began yelling for lawmakers to exit.

A wooden chest was pushed in front of the main doors to the chamber. Security officers drew their guns, pointing and shouting at the entrance, as lawmakers, staff aides and reporters cowered in the top levels of the chamber. There was a bang, and everyone was told to get down.

Shortly after 2:45, the evacuation resumed. With the police in the lead, guns drawn, the lawmakers entered a scene of havoc, Crow said. Some police officers scrambled to barricade other doors to block pro-Trump extremists. Others pinned some protesters to the ground to allow the lawmakers to pass.

“We heard yelling through the halls,” said Crow, who said he brought up the rear to ensure all the members made it to safety. As the police led the members down stairwells and into the subterranean maze of tunnels to a secure location, Crow said he called his wife in Colorado, who had been watching the scene on television.

But the mob continued to stream in. A young man in a red baseball hat was helping people through a broken window. Inside, two large wooden desks were on their sides, broken. Two large panels of glass were crushed on the colourful tile floor.

In a surreal scene of chaos and glee, hundreds of Trump loyalists roamed the halls, taking photos and breaking into offices. No police officers were in view. In a room where there were images of mountains and maps of Oregon on the wall, a man in a leather jacket ripped a scroll with Chinese characters. A young man put a framed picture of the Dalai Lama in his backpack.

“We’re claiming the House, and the Senate is ours,” shouted a sweaty man in a checked shirt, shouted, stabbing his finger in the air.

Nearby in the first-floor Crypt, the heart of the Capitol building, the police appeared to be overwhelmed. One wiped tear gas from his eyes.

When a man approached to ask where the bathroom was, he said softly, “We just need you guys to get out of here safely.”

An officer with the U.S. Capitol Police tried to reason with the crowd.

“You guys just need to go outside,” he said to a man in a green backpack. Asked why the police were not forcing the mob out, the officer said, “We just got to let them do their thing for now.”

Another officer stood by a stairway, watching everything unfold and answering a few questions, including directing a woman to the bathroom. One protester came up to him and shouted in his face, “Traitor!” When another man approached to apologize to the officer, the officer replied, “You’re fine.”

“Everybody’s been OK today, except that guy,” he said, motioning to the yeller.

Most of the crowd in the Crypt just milled around. A young man in a red Trump hat smoked a cigarette. Several men shouted and screamed. A man in a backpack with two American flags jumped up and down underneath a chandelier, yelling, “Whose house,” as the crowd answered, “our house.” The sound boomed and reverberated around the tile and marble, as the police looked on.

Around 3:30 p.m., about 25 police officers had entered the Crypt and started asking people to move back. A few minutes later, dozens more, wearing riot gear and some in gas masks, ejected the roughly 150 protesters in the Crypt. But not before one man marched through the halls of Congress with a Confederate flag while another protester raised a Trump flag from the balcony of the Capitol.

Protesters repeatedly exited from the building bearing trophies that they had torn off walls. A few carried “Area Closed” signs that they had snatched and then stormed past. But it was objects stolen from Pelosi’s office were especially popular.

One man emerged from the risers set up on the steps of the Capitol, wielding a piece of a wooden plaque that marked the entrance to Pelosi’s office.

He held it up like a trophy, as hundreds of people on the steps below cheered wildly. “Not our speaker!” shouted one woman. “Get her out!” shouted another man.

Another man, Richard Bigo Barnett, 60, stood outside the Capitol, his shirt ripped open and his chest bared to the cold, bragging about how he had gotten into the speaker’s office. He was brandishing an envelope with the speaker’s letterhead.

“I left a quarter on her desk for it,” he said, adding, “I wrote her a nasty note, put my feet up on her desk.”

Others turned their vitriol on the police.

“We backed you,” one man shouted at the line of officers outside. “Traitors!”

By 7 p.m., the presence of police officers and federal agents had drastically increased along the National Mall. Officers pushed back against aggressive protesters as they prepared for the possibility of more potential unrest overnight.

At the Capitol, lawmakers prepared to resume their session counting electoral votes that would end the Trump presidency.

“We want to go back,” Crow said. “And finish the business of the people to show that we are a democracy, and that the government is stronger than any mob.”

The mob of Trump supporters pressed through police barricades, broke windows and battered their way with metal poles through entrances to the Capitol. Then, stunningly, they breached the “People’s House” itself, forcing masked police officers to draw their guns to keep the insurgents off the chamber floor.

The mob of Trump supporters pressed through police barricades, broke windows and battered their way with metal poles through entrances to the Capitol. Then, stunningly, they breached the “People’s House” itself, forcing masked police officers to draw their guns to keep the insurgents off the chamber floor. “I thought we’d have to fight our way out,” said Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., a former Army Ranger in Iraq, who found himself captive in the House chamber. What unfolded at that point, at times on national television, was a tableau of violence and mayhem that shocked the nation, one of the most severe breaches of the Capitol since the British invaded during the War of 1812 and burned it down. An armed standoff ensued in the House chamber, with police officers drawing their weapons. A pro-Trump protester casually monkeyed around at the dais of the Senate. Intruders in Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s suite overturned desks and smashed photos. Others ripped artwork in Senate hideaway offices. “This is what the president has caused today, this insurrection,” Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, said as he and other senators were hustled off to a secure location. Some of the protesters gawked at the grand and storied building they had unlawfully flooded while others looked at it with contempt. “I don’t trust any of these people,” said Eric Martin, 49, a woodworker from Charleston, South Carolina, as he marveled at the opulence of the Capitol and helped a friend wash pepper spray from his eyes. “Absolute power corrupts absolutely.” But if some only stared at the Capitol, others resorted to violence. A woman inside the building was shot and later died, the District of Columbia police said, and multiple officers were injured. Two explosive devices were found around noon near the headquarters of the Republican National Committee, then destroyed by a bomb squad. And the federal authorities arrested a 70-year-old man from Alabama near the Capitol in possession of a firearm and materials to make several Molotov cocktails. By Wednesday evening, the scene outside the Capitol had calmed, after Capitol Police, supplemented by FBI agents and Homeland Security officers with members of the National Guard on their way, squeezed protesters from every corner of the Capitol to the majestic Rotunda, then persuaded them to leave. Before that was mayhem. At one point, as lawmakers and staff members were rushing out of a Senate chamber under assault, aides rushed back to grab boxes containing the Electoral College certificates, making sure that the protesters could not literally steal the results of the election. It began around 1 p.m., when a mass of Trump supporters, some in camouflage and armed with baseball bats or knives, left the National Mall and, encouraged by President Donald Trump, ascended on the Capitol complex. Leaders exhorted the crowd through megaphones, “This is our house” and “Move forward!” The few police officers standing on the steps of the Capitol were overwhelmed. Their flash-bang grenades only invigorated the protesters. Around 2:30 p.m., an entrance near the west side of the Capitol descended into chaos as a wave of Trump supporters wearing Make America Great Again apparel pressed passed police barricades. On the east side of the complex, people banged on the glass windows. Crowds charged past the front columns, and some pressed their faces into the glass. Others in camouflage used poles to batter an entrance to the building, breaking it open. The crowd then rushed through, passing through metal detectors as one man blared a Trump speech about the “stolen” election through a speaker. For about an hour, the Trump loyalists went in and out of at least one entrance of the Capitol with little disruption from the police. As debate progressed in the House chamber over a Republican protest of Arizona’s Electoral College votes for President-elect Joe Biden, few lawmakers knew of the commotion. But Capitol Police officers were quietly locking down the building, instructing everyone in the hallways to shelter in place and preparing reporters for the possibility of doing so in the chamber. Soon, a nervous energy pulsed through the room. The police began to close the gallery doors, which had remained open to allow for better ventilation as lawmakers streamed in. Congressional leaders were quickly ushered out, as staff aides urged lawmakers in the gallery and on the floor to remain calm. “This is because of you,” Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., yelled from the gallery at his Republican colleagues. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., and a former Pentagon official, was on her way to the House chamber when she heard screaming, breaking glass, and what sounded like a flash bang. She returned to her office, locked the door, offered shelter to a colleague and began working the phones. One of her first calls was to Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to plead for help from the National Guard. “I said, ‘Mark, I absolutely understand that you are between a rock and a hard place. But we need help here. There are weapons,’” she said. In the House, just after 2:30 p.m., a police officer stepped on the dais and informed lawmakers that they might need to duck under their chairs. “We now have individuals that have breached the Capitol building,” he said, warning them to be prepared to relocate to the cloakrooms. “They are in the Rotunda.” Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., a veteran, jumped on the armrests of chairs and began directing members to move calmly and quickly from the chamber. Frantic shouting filled the room as lawmakers struggled to unfold the plastic bags that they were instructed to put over their heads in case of tear gas. Police officers and members of the floor staff began yelling for lawmakers to exit. A wooden chest was pushed in front of the main doors to the chamber. Security officers drew their guns, pointing and shouting at the entrance, as lawmakers, staff aides and reporters cowered in the top levels of the chamber. There was a bang, and everyone was told to get down. Shortly after 2:45, the evacuation resumed. With the police in the lead, guns drawn, the lawmakers entered a scene of havoc, Crow said. Some police officers scrambled to barricade other doors to block pro-Trump extremists. Others pinned some protesters to the ground to allow the lawmakers to pass. “We heard yelling through the halls,” said Crow, who said he brought up the rear to ensure all the members made it to safety. As the police led the members down stairwells and into the subterranean maze of tunnels to a secure location, Crow said he called his wife in Colorado, who had been watching the scene on television. But the mob continued to stream in. A young man in a red baseball hat was helping people through a broken window. Inside, two large wooden desks were on their sides, broken. Two large panels of glass were crushed on the colourful tile floor. In a surreal scene of chaos and glee, hundreds of Trump loyalists roamed the halls, taking photos and breaking into offices. No police officers were in view. In a room where there were images of mountains and maps of Oregon on the wall, a man in a leather jacket ripped a scroll with Chinese characters. A young man put a framed picture of the Dalai Lama in his backpack. “We’re claiming the House, and the Senate is ours,” shouted a sweaty man in a checked shirt, shouted, stabbing his finger in the air. Nearby in the first-floor Crypt, the heart of the Capitol building, the police appeared to be overwhelmed. One wiped tear gas from his eyes. When a man approached to ask where the bathroom was, he said softly, “We just need you guys to get out of here safely.” An officer with the U.S. Capitol Police tried to reason with the crowd. “You guys just need to go outside,” he said to a man in a green backpack. Asked why the police were not forcing the mob out, the officer said, “We just got to let them do their thing for now.” Another officer stood by a stairway, watching everything unfold and answering a few questions, including directing a woman to the bathroom. One protester came up to him and shouted in his face, “Traitor!” When another man approached to apologize to the officer, the officer replied, “You’re fine.” “Everybody’s been OK today, except that guy,” he said, motioning to the yeller. Most of the crowd in the Crypt just milled around. A young man in a red Trump hat smoked a cigarette. Several men shouted and screamed. A man in a backpack with two American flags jumped up and down underneath a chandelier, yelling, “Whose house,” as the crowd answered, “our house.” The sound boomed and reverberated around the tile and marble, as the police looked on. Around 3:30 p.m., about 25 police officers had entered the Crypt and started asking people to move back. A few minutes later, dozens more, wearing riot gear and some in gas masks, ejected the roughly 150 protesters in the Crypt. But not before one man marched through the halls of Congress with a Confederate flag while another protester raised a Trump flag from the balcony of the Capitol. Protesters repeatedly exited from the building bearing trophies that they had torn off walls. A few carried “Area Closed” signs that they had snatched and then stormed past. But it was objects stolen from Pelosi’s office were especially popular. One man emerged from the risers set up on the steps of the Capitol, wielding a piece of a wooden plaque that marked the entrance to Pelosi’s office. He held it up like a trophy, as hundreds of people on the steps below cheered wildly. “Not our speaker!” shouted one woman. “Get her out!” shouted another man. Another man, Richard Bigo Barnett, 60, stood outside the Capitol, his shirt ripped open and his chest bared to the cold, bragging about how he had gotten into the speaker’s office. He was brandishing an envelope with the speaker’s letterhead. “I left a quarter on her desk for it,” he said, adding, “I wrote her a nasty note, put my feet up on her desk.” Others turned their vitriol on the police. “We backed you,” one man shouted at the line of officers outside. “Traitors!” By 7 p.m., the presence of police officers and federal agents had drastically increased along the National Mall. Officers pushed back against aggressive protesters as they prepared for the possibility of more potential unrest overnight. At the Capitol, lawmakers prepared to resume their session counting electoral votes that would end the Trump presidency. “We want to go back,” Crow said. “And finish the business of the people to show that we are a democracy, and that the government is stronger than any mob.”

As House was breached, a fear ‘we’d have to fight’ to get out

Deceased United States Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has become the first woman in history to lie in state in the US Capitol.

Ginsburg, who died last week at 87, also is the first Jewish-American to lie in state and just the second Supreme Court justice. The first, Chief Justice William Howard Taft, also had been the country's president.

Ginsburg's casket was brought to the Capitol Friday morning for a private ceremony in Statuary Hall attended by her family and lawmakers.

Members of the House and Senate, who were not invited to the ceremony because of space limitations imposed by the coronavirus pandemic, paid their respects before a motorcade carrying Ginsburg's casket departs the Capitol early afternoon.

The honour of lying in state has been accorded mostly to presidents, vice presidents and members of Congress. Representative John Lewis, the civil rights icon, was the last person to lie in state following his death in July.

Rosa Parks - a private citizen, not a government official - is the only woman who has lain in honour at the Capitol.

Ginsburg has lain in repose for two days at the Supreme Court, where thousands of people paid their respects, including President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump on Thursday.

Trump plans to announce his nomination Saturday of a woman to take Ginsburg's place on the high court.

Ginsburg, the second woman to serve on the Supreme Court, seved for 27 years at the court and was the leader of the liberal justices. She will be buried next week in Arlington National Cemetery beside her husband, Martin, who died in 2010.

Deceased United States Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has become the first woman in history to lie in state in the US Capitol. Ginsburg, who died last week at 87, also is the first Jewish-American to lie in state and just the second Supreme Court justice.

Deceased United States Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has become the first woman in history to lie in state in the US Capitol. Ginsburg, who died last week at 87, also is the first Jewish-American to lie in state and just the second Supreme Court justice. The first, Chief Justice William Howard Taft, also had been the country's president. Ginsburg's casket was brought to the Capitol Friday morning for a private ceremony in Statuary Hall attended by her family and lawmakers. Members of the House and Senate, who were not invited to the ceremony because of space limitations imposed by the coronavirus pandemic, paid their respects before a motorcade carrying Ginsburg's casket departs the Capitol early afternoon. The honour of lying in state has been accorded mostly to presidents, vice presidents and members of Congress. Representative John Lewis, the civil rights icon, was the last person to lie in state following his death in July. Rosa Parks - a private citizen, not a government official - is the only woman who has lain in honour at the Capitol. Ginsburg has lain in repose for two days at the Supreme Court, where thousands of people paid their respects, including President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump on Thursday. Trump plans to announce his nomination Saturday of a woman to take Ginsburg's place on the high court. Ginsburg, the second woman to serve on the Supreme Court, seved for 27 years at the court and was the leader of the liberal justices. She will be buried next week in Arlington National Cemetery beside her husband, Martin, who died in 2010.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg becomes first woman to lie in state at US Capitol

Democratic Party Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Thursday admonished a Republican Congressman for allegedly hurling a sexist slur at her on the steps of US capitol.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez hits back at Republican Ted Yoho's derogatory slur | World News

The US House of Representatives has approved a measure removing statues of people who served in the Confederacy during the country's bitter 19th century Civil War from Capitol Hill .

While the measure was approved 305-113 in a bipartisan vote in the House, where Democrats hold a majority, it still needs approval in the Senate, controlled by President Donald Trump's Republicans.

The bill orders the removal from the US Capitol, where Congress is located, of statues of individuals who voluntarily served in the Confederacy.

Trump, meanwhile, has so far strongly opposed taking down historical statues.

During the 1861-65 Civil War several southern states tried to secede and form an independent slaveholding republic.

The measure would also remove the statues of three men who either supported slavery or white supremacy.

Activists and many African-Americans see Confederate battle flags and monuments to Confederates as symbols of racism, while others, especially white southerners, see them as symbols of heritage.

In mid-June the portraits of four senior 19th-century lawmakers who served in the Confederacy were removed from the US Capitol.

The paintings of the men, all former speakers of the House, were taken down at the order of current Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

The US public has been increasingly grappling with the country's legacy of racism and slavery since protests swept the nation following the May 25 killing of African American George Floyd by a white Minneapolis police officer.

(with inputs from agencies)

The US House of Representatives has approved a measure removing statues of people who served in the Confederacy during the country's bitter 19th century Civil War from Capitol Hill .

The US House of Representatives has approved a measure removing statues of people who served in the Confederacy during the country's bitter 19th century Civil War from Capitol Hill . While the measure was approved 305-113 in a bipartisan vote in the House, where Democrats hold a majority, it still needs approval in the Senate, controlled by President Donald Trump's Republicans. The bill orders the removal from the US Capitol, where Congress is located, of statues of individuals who voluntarily served in the Confederacy. Trump, meanwhile, has so far strongly opposed taking down historical statues. During the 1861-65 Civil War several southern states tried to secede and form an independent slaveholding republic. The measure would also remove the statues of three men who either supported slavery or white supremacy. Activists and many African-Americans see Confederate battle flags and monuments to Confederates as symbols of racism, while others, especially white southerners, see them as symbols of heritage. In mid-June the portraits of four senior 19th-century lawmakers who served in the Confederacy were removed from the US Capitol. The paintings of the men, all former speakers of the House, were taken down at the order of current Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The US public has been increasingly grappling with the country's legacy of racism and slavery since protests swept the nation following the May 25 killing of African American George Floyd by a white Minneapolis police officer. (with inputs from agencies)

US House approves removing Confederate statues from Capitol

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday&nbsp;ordered the removal from the US Capitol of four portraits of former lawmakers who served in the Confederacy, saying their images symbolise "grotesque racism."

Pelosi has asked the US House clerk to conduct the "immediate removal" of the paintings on Friday when Americans observe Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States.

"There is no room in the hallowed halls of Congress or in any place of honour for memorialising men who embody the violent bigotry and grotesque racism of the Confederacy," the top Democrat wrote to the clerk, Cheryl Johnson.

Also see|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/emancipation-day-juneteenth-and-its-significance-in-us-history-307011" hreflang="en">Emancipation Day: Juneteenth and its significance in US history</a>

Pelosi said she made the request to coincide with Juneteenth, given the "moment of extraordinary national anguish, as we grieve for the hundreds of Black Americans killed by racial injustice and police brutality."

Protests swept the nation following the May 25 killing of&nbsp;African-American George Floyd&nbsp;by a Minneapolis police officer.

Also see|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/world-dismantles-historical-artefacts-of-racism-monuments-become-sites-of-protest-304777">World dismantles historical artefacts of racism, monuments become sites of protest</a>

Several&nbsp;Confederate statues have since been toppled or ordered removed&nbsp;in several states as Americans grapple with the legacy of racism.

<iframe data-google-container-id="2" data-load-complete="true" frameborder="0" height="1" id="google_ads_iframe_/5908/st/midarticlespecial/world/united-states_0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" name="google_ads_iframe_/5908/st/midarticlespecial/world/united-states_0" scrolling="no" srcdoc="" title="3rd party ad content" width="1"></iframe>Pelosi has also sought removal of 11 Confederate statues from the Capitol, including that of Confederacy president Jefferson Davis.

A bipartisan committee is reviewing the statue request.

The four outgoing portraits depict 19th century speakers of the House who also served in the Confederacy: Robert Hunter of Virginia, Howell Cobb of Georgia, James Orr of South Carolina, and Charles Crisp of Georgia.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday ordered the removal from the US Capitol of four portraits of former lawmakers who served in the Confederacy, saying their images symbolise "grotesque racism.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday ordered the removal from the US Capitol of four portraits of former lawmakers who served in the Confederacy, saying their images symbolise "grotesque racism." Pelosi has asked the US House clerk to conduct the "immediate removal" of the paintings on Friday when Americans observe Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. "There is no room in the hallowed halls of Congress or in any place of honour for memorialising men who embody the violent bigotry and grotesque racism of the Confederacy," the top Democrat wrote to the clerk, Cheryl Johnson. Also see| Emancipation Day: Juneteenth and its significance in US history Pelosi said she made the request to coincide with Juneteenth, given the "moment of extraordinary national anguish, as we grieve for the hundreds of Black Americans killed by racial injustice and police brutality." Protests swept the nation following the May 25 killing of African-American George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. Also see| World dismantles historical artefacts of racism, monuments become sites of protest Several Confederate statues have since been toppled or ordered removed in several states as Americans grapple with the legacy of racism. Pelosi has also sought removal of 11 Confederate statues from the Capitol, including that of Confederacy president Jefferson Davis. A bipartisan committee is reviewing the statue request. The four outgoing portraits depict 19th century speakers of the House who also served in the Confederacy: Robert Hunter of Virginia, Howell Cobb of Georgia, James Orr of South Carolina, and Charles Crisp of Georgia.

Nancy Pelosi orders removal of Confederate portraits from US Capitol

Hope Hicks, one of US President Donald Trump&#39;s longest-serving aides, is resigning from her job as White House communications director, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said on Wednesday.

Sanders told reporters the timeline for Hicks&#39; departure was unclear. She said her departure was not related to her testimony to a congressional committee on Tuesday about an investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 US election.

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US President Donald Trump speaks with Hope Hicks during an interview in Washington. (Reuters)
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She is expected to leave in the next few weeks.

Hicks, 29, was caught up in a controversy surrounding former White House staff secretary Rob Porter, whom she had been dating. She worked to defend him when charges of domestic abuse against his two former wives emerged. Porter was ultimately forced to resign.

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File photo: White House Communications Director Hope Hicks. (Reuters)
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She was one of the first people hired by then-businessman Trump when he began his campaign for the presidency and is one of his most trusted advisers. Aides said she had approached the president and told him she wanted to leave so she could start exploring opportunities outside of the White House.

&quot;Hope is outstanding and has done great work for the last three years. She is as smart and thoughtful as they come, a truly great person,&quot; Trump said in a statement released by the White House. &quot;I will miss having her by my side but when she approached me about pursuing other opportunities, I totally understood. I am sure we will work together again in the future.&quot;

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Hope Hicks during a news conference at Trump Tower in the Manhattan borough of New York. (Reuters)
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On Tuesday Hicks declined to answer questions about the administration from members of the U.S. House of Representatives Intelligence Committee investigating Russia and the 2016 US election, lawmakers said. Hicks was Trump&#39;s spokeswoman during the campaign.

White House Chief of Staff John Kelly said in a statement of Hicks: &quot;To say that she will be missed, is an understatement.&quot;

Hicks took over as communications director in September after the short, difficult tenure of Anthony Scaramucci, who was fired. She is credited behind the scenes for stabilizing the communications operation.

Hicks said in a statement: &quot;There are no words to adequately express my gratitude to President Trump. I wish the President and his administration the very best as he continues to lead our country.&quot;

"Hope is outstanding and has done great work for the last three years. She is as smart and thoughtful as they come, a truly great person," Donald Trump said

Hope Hicks, one of US President Donald Trump's longest-serving aides, is resigning from her job as White House communications director, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said on Wednesday. Sanders told reporters the timeline for Hicks' departure was unclear. She said her departure was not related to her testimony to a congressional committee on Tuesday about an investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 US election. US President Donald Trump speaks with Hope Hicks during an interview in Washington. (Reuters) × She is expected to leave in the next few weeks. Hicks, 29, was caught up in a controversy surrounding former White House staff secretary Rob Porter, whom she had been dating. She worked to defend him when charges of domestic abuse against his two former wives emerged. Porter was ultimately forced to resign. File photo: White House Communications Director Hope Hicks. (Reuters) × She was one of the first people hired by then-businessman Trump when he began his campaign for the presidency and is one of his most trusted advisers. Aides said she had approached the president and told him she wanted to leave so she could start exploring opportunities outside of the White House. "Hope is outstanding and has done great work for the last three years. She is as smart and thoughtful as they come, a truly great person," Trump said in a statement released by the White House. "I will miss having her by my side but when she approached me about pursuing other opportunities, I totally understood. I am sure we will work together again in the future." Hope Hicks during a news conference at Trump Tower in the Manhattan borough of New York. (Reuters) × On Tuesday Hicks declined to answer questions about the administration from members of the U.S. House of Representatives Intelligence Committee investigating Russia and the 2016 US election, lawmakers said. Hicks was Trump's spokeswoman during the campaign. White House Chief of Staff John Kelly said in a statement of Hicks: "To say that she will be missed, is an understatement." Hicks took over as communications director in September after the short, difficult tenure of Anthony Scaramucci, who was fired. She is credited behind the scenes for stabilizing the communications operation. Hicks said in a statement: "There are no words to adequately express my gratitude to President Trump. I wish the President and his administration the very best as he continues to lead our country."

Close Donald Trump aide and White House communications chief Hope Hicks resigns

Hundreds of thousands of federal workers began shutting down operations on Monday with the US government closed, as a bipartisan group of senators tried to negotiate a deal just hours before the full Senate planned another vote to restore funding.

As government employees prepared for the first weekday since the shutdown began at midnight Friday, US senators were to vote at midday on a funding bill to get the lights back on in Washington and across the government until early February.

Support for the bill was uncertain after Republicans and Democrats spent the weekend trying to strike a deal, only to go home for the night short of an agreement.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell late Sunday rescheduled an overnight vote on a measure to fund government operations through February 8, for 12 pm EST (1700 GMT) on Monday.

At the US Capitol, a group of bipartisan senators met on Monday morning in search of a deal but came out disagreeing on whether progress was made.

&quot;We&#39;re in a pretty good space right now,&quot; Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski said as she left the meeting. But Democratic Senator Joe Manchin said senators remained in a stalemate.

White House legislative director Marc Short told the Fox Business Network he did not believe the Senate would get the 60 votes needed to move on funding legislation that would reopen the government.

&quot;I think that that pressure is building, but I&#39;m not sure we&#39;ll quite get to 60 today,&quot; he said.

President Donald Trump continued blaming Democrats for the funding lapse, citing their demand that protections for young illegal immigrants be included in any deal.

&quot;The Democrats are turning down services and security for citizens in favour of services and security for non-citizens. Not good,&quot; the Republican president said on Twitter.

Democrats have accused Trump of backing out of a number of deals after pressure from immigration hard-liners. The president has not appeared in public since the shutdown began.

Federal employees received notices on Saturday about whether they were exempt from the shutdown, White House budget director Mick Mulvaney said. Depending on their schedules, some were told to stay home or to go to work for up to four hours on Monday to shut their operation, then go home. None will get paid.

Up until Monday, most federal workers were not directly affected by the shutdown that began at midnight on Friday.

Federal government operations varied from agency to agency, with a number of critical functions continuing. The shutdown will not interrupt combat operations in Afghanistan and other military activities, the Defense Department said, and federal law enforcement officers remained on duty.

US cybersecurity functions were continuing, Mulvaney said, and CIA Director Mike Pompeo told the &quot;CBS This Morning&quot; program that agency operations were not affected.

Markets have absorbed the shutdown drama over the last week, and on Monday morning world stocks and US bond markets largely shrugged off Washington&#39;s standoff even as the dollar continued its pullback. US stocks were mixed in early trading.

&#39;Dreamers&#39; drama

The US government has not been shut down since 2013 when about 800,000 federal workers were put on furlough. That impasse prevented passage of a needed funding bill centered on former Democratic President Barack Obama&#39;s health care law.

The problem this time focused on immigration policy, principally President Donald Trump&#39;s order last year ending an Obama program called Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which gave legal protections to &quot;Dreamer&quot; immigrants.

The &quot;Dreamers&quot; are young people who were brought to the United States illegally as children by their parents or other adults, mainly from Mexico and Central America, and who mostly grew up in the United States.

Trump said last year he would end DACA on March 5 and asked Congress to come up with a legislative fix before then to prevent Dreamers from being deported.

Democrats have withheld support for a temporary funding bill to keep the government open over the DACA issue. McConnell extended an olive branch on Sunday, pledging to bring immigration legislation up for debate after Feb. 8 so long as the government remained open.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer objected to the plan and it was unclear whether McConnell&#39;s pledge would be enough for Democrats to support a stopgap funding bill.

Republicans control both the House of Representatives and the Senate, where they have a slim 51-49 majority. But most legislation requires 60 Senate votes to pass, giving Democrats leverage.

Congress failed last year to pass a complete budget by Oct. 1, the beginning of the federal fiscal year, and the government has been operating on a series of three stopgap spending bills.

Hundreds of thousands of federal workers began shutting down operations on Monday with the US government closed

Hundreds of thousands of federal workers began shutting down operations on Monday with the US government closed, as a bipartisan group of senators tried to negotiate a deal just hours before the full Senate planned another vote to restore funding. As government employees prepared for the first weekday since the shutdown began at midnight Friday, US senators were to vote at midday on a funding bill to get the lights back on in Washington and across the government until early February. Support for the bill was uncertain after Republicans and Democrats spent the weekend trying to strike a deal, only to go home for the night short of an agreement. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell late Sunday rescheduled an overnight vote on a measure to fund government operations through February 8, for 12 pm EST (1700 GMT) on Monday. At the US Capitol, a group of bipartisan senators met on Monday morning in search of a deal but came out disagreeing on whether progress was made. "We're in a pretty good space right now," Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski said as she left the meeting. But Democratic Senator Joe Manchin said senators remained in a stalemate. White House legislative director Marc Short told the Fox Business Network he did not believe the Senate would get the 60 votes needed to move on funding legislation that would reopen the government. "I think that that pressure is building, but I'm not sure we'll quite get to 60 today," he said. President Donald Trump continued blaming Democrats for the funding lapse, citing their demand that protections for young illegal immigrants be included in any deal. "The Democrats are turning down services and security for citizens in favour of services and security for non-citizens. Not good," the Republican president said on Twitter. Democrats have accused Trump of backing out of a number of deals after pressure from immigration hard-liners. The president has not appeared in public since the shutdown began. Federal employees received notices on Saturday about whether they were exempt from the shutdown, White House budget director Mick Mulvaney said. Depending on their schedules, some were told to stay home or to go to work for up to four hours on Monday to shut their operation, then go home. None will get paid. Up until Monday, most federal workers were not directly affected by the shutdown that began at midnight on Friday. Federal government operations varied from agency to agency, with a number of critical functions continuing. The shutdown will not interrupt combat operations in Afghanistan and other military activities, the Defense Department said, and federal law enforcement officers remained on duty. US cybersecurity functions were continuing, Mulvaney said, and CIA Director Mike Pompeo told the "CBS This Morning" program that agency operations were not affected. Markets have absorbed the shutdown drama over the last week, and on Monday morning world stocks and US bond markets largely shrugged off Washington's standoff even as the dollar continued its pullback. US stocks were mixed in early trading. 'Dreamers' drama The US government has not been shut down since 2013 when about 800,000 federal workers were put on furlough. That impasse prevented passage of a needed funding bill centered on former Democratic President Barack Obama's health care law. The problem this time focused on immigration policy, principally President Donald Trump's order last year ending an Obama program called Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which gave legal protections to "Dreamer" immigrants. The "Dreamers" are young people who were brought to the United States illegally as children by their parents or other adults, mainly from Mexico and Central America, and who mostly grew up in the United States. Trump said last year he would end DACA on March 5 and asked Congress to come up with a legislative fix before then to prevent Dreamers from being deported. Democrats have withheld support for a temporary funding bill to keep the government open over the DACA issue. McConnell extended an olive branch on Sunday, pledging to bring immigration legislation up for debate after Feb. 8 so long as the government remained open. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer objected to the plan and it was unclear whether McConnell's pledge would be enough for Democrats to support a stopgap funding bill. Republicans control both the House of Representatives and the Senate, where they have a slim 51-49 majority. But most legislation requires 60 Senate votes to pass, giving Democrats leverage. Congress failed last year to pass a complete budget by Oct. 1, the beginning of the federal fiscal year, and the government has been operating on a series of three stopgap spending bills.

US government workers begin shutdown as Senate vote looms

In a possible breakthrough for US Republicans&#39; effort to roll back Obamacare, the House of Representatives plans to hold a vote Thursday on compromise legislation, potentially ending a logjam that has delayed advancing President Donald Trump&#39;s campaign promise to repeal the law.

The decision to hold a vote comes after key moderate lawmakers met with Trump on Wednesday and said a revised bill might win approval as conservatives voiced no objections.

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said Republican leadership is confident there is enough support for the bill to pass.

Keen to score his first major legislative win since taking office in January, Trump has been personally engaged in building support among fellow Republicans in the House for an effort that has already twice collapsed.

Aides said Trump has been furiously working the phones, trying to make good on a key promise to voters: overhauling former President Barack Obama&#39;s signature domestic legislation. The effort is showing Trump how hard it is to manage factions among the Republicans, who control both chambers of Congress.

The House bill has been changed several times as Republicans have tried to balance demands by conservatives for a maximum Obamacare rollback with moderates&#39; worries about angering voters who like parts of the law, formally known as the Affordable Care Act and enacted in 2010.

One popular feature of the law lets young people stay on their parents&#39; plans until age 26; another protects people with pre-existing health conditions, a provision defended by late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, who tearfully revealed on Monday his newborn son had a congenital heart condition.

Kimmel&#39;s monologue has been viewed nearly 19 million times on his show&#39;s Facebook page and on Wednesday morning was the No&nbsp;1 trending story on YouTube.

Trump met at the White House with two key House Republican moderates, Michigan&#39;s Fred Upton and Missouri&#39;s Billy Long. Speaking to reporters afterwards, they said Trump has endorsed their plan to add $8 billion over five years to help cover the cost for people with pre-existing illnesses who could otherwise be priced out of insurance markets.

Upton said it seemed likely the bill would pass the House, although Long said Republicans still seemed short of votes.

Long said he had opposed the legislation until the pre-existing conditions coverage was added. He said he had resisted Trump&#39;s arm-twisting, but that he now supported the bill. &quot;The president said, &#39;Billy we really need you, man,&#39;&quot; Long said.

Conservatives who have stymied rollback efforts before said they support the moderates&#39; latest plan, including the pre-existing conditions provision.

&quot;We see that as being a net plus in terms of the vote count,&quot; said Representative Mark Meadows, chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, a conservative faction.

Even if the bill passes the House, it faces an uphill battle in the Senate, where Republican leader Mitch McConnell has repeatedly said that if the House passes a healthcare bill, the Senate would work on one, but that it would be difficult.

Uncertainty for stocks

Health insurers, such as Anthem Inc, UnitedHealth Group Inc, Aetna Inc and Cigna Corp, have faced months of uncertainty over healthcare&#39;s future. So have hospital companies, such as HCA Holdings Inc and Tenet Healthcare Corp.

An initial rollback attempt failed in the House and was withdrawn by Republican leaders in March when conservatives opposed it, a defeat that clouded Trump&#39;s first 100 days.

Republicans renewed negotiations last month, but failed to round up enough support for a vote before a two-week recess in April. Republicans are now hoping to get something passed before they leave for another recess on Thursday evening.

Millions more Americans got healthcare coverage under Obamacare, but Republicans have long attacked it, seeing it as government overreach and complaining it drives up costs.

On Wednesday, Aetna said it will exit the Obamacare individual insurance market in Virginia next year, citing &quot;growing uncertainty&quot; and expected losses this year.

House Democrats rejected the latest change to the Republican legislation on Wednesday, saying it appears to protect patients with pre-existing conditions but some could still be pushed off their insurance in certain states and face higher costs.

&quot;This is deadly,&quot; House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi told a news conference. &quot;No Band-Aid will fix it.&quot;

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated an earlier version of the Republican bill would leave 24 million more people without insurance in 2026. It was unclear if a new estimate would be made before a vote on the House floor.

Called the American Health Care Act, the Republican bill repeals most Obamacare taxes, including a penalty for not buying health insurance. It slashes funding for Medicaid, the program that provides insurance for the poor, and rolls back much of Medicaid&#39;s expansion, while swapping Obamacare&rsquo;s income-based tax credits for flat age-based credits. It also allows insurers to raise premiums by 30 percent for those who have a lapse in insurance coverage of about two months or more.

An amendment recently added to win over the Freedom Caucus lets states opt out of Obamacare&rsquo;s mandate that insurers charge sick and healthy people the same rates. But Wednesday&#39;s amendment from Upton aimed to assuage moderates&#39; concerns about that by providing a way for people with pre-existing conditions to get financial help to afford insurance. Others said the $8 billion over five years was not enough.

(Reuters)

The decision to hold a vote comes after key moderate lawmakers met Trump and said a revised bill may win approval as conservatives voiced no objections

In a possible breakthrough for US Republicans' effort to roll back Obamacare, the House of Representatives plans to hold a vote Thursday on compromise legislation, potentially ending a logjam that has delayed advancing President Donald Trump's campaign promise to repeal the law. The decision to hold a vote comes after key moderate lawmakers met with Trump on Wednesday and said a revised bill might win approval as conservatives voiced no objections. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said Republican leadership is confident there is enough support for the bill to pass. Keen to score his first major legislative win since taking office in January, Trump has been personally engaged in building support among fellow Republicans in the House for an effort that has already twice collapsed. Aides said Trump has been furiously working the phones, trying to make good on a key promise to voters: overhauling former President Barack Obama's signature domestic legislation. The effort is showing Trump how hard it is to manage factions among the Republicans, who control both chambers of Congress. The House bill has been changed several times as Republicans have tried to balance demands by conservatives for a maximum Obamacare rollback with moderates' worries about angering voters who like parts of the law, formally known as the Affordable Care Act and enacted in 2010. One popular feature of the law lets young people stay on their parents' plans until age 26; another protects people with pre-existing health conditions, a provision defended by late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, who tearfully revealed on Monday his newborn son had a congenital heart condition. Kimmel's monologue has been viewed nearly 19 million times on his show's Facebook page and on Wednesday morning was the No 1 trending story on YouTube. Trump met at the White House with two key House Republican moderates, Michigan's Fred Upton and Missouri's Billy Long. Speaking to reporters afterwards, they said Trump has endorsed their plan to add $8 billion over five years to help cover the cost for people with pre-existing illnesses who could otherwise be priced out of insurance markets. Upton said it seemed likely the bill would pass the House, although Long said Republicans still seemed short of votes. Long said he had opposed the legislation until the pre-existing conditions coverage was added. He said he had resisted Trump's arm-twisting, but that he now supported the bill. "The president said, 'Billy we really need you, man,'" Long said. Conservatives who have stymied rollback efforts before said they support the moderates' latest plan, including the pre-existing conditions provision. "We see that as being a net plus in terms of the vote count," said Representative Mark Meadows, chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, a conservative faction. Even if the bill passes the House, it faces an uphill battle in the Senate, where Republican leader Mitch McConnell has repeatedly said that if the House passes a healthcare bill, the Senate would work on one, but that it would be difficult. Uncertainty for stocks Health insurers, such as Anthem Inc, UnitedHealth Group Inc, Aetna Inc and Cigna Corp, have faced months of uncertainty over healthcare's future. So have hospital companies, such as HCA Holdings Inc and Tenet Healthcare Corp. An initial rollback attempt failed in the House and was withdrawn by Republican leaders in March when conservatives opposed it, a defeat that clouded Trump's first 100 days. Republicans renewed negotiations last month, but failed to round up enough support for a vote before a two-week recess in April. Republicans are now hoping to get something passed before they leave for another recess on Thursday evening. Millions more Americans got healthcare coverage under Obamacare, but Republicans have long attacked it, seeing it as government overreach and complaining it drives up costs. On Wednesday, Aetna said it will exit the Obamacare individual insurance market in Virginia next year, citing "growing uncertainty" and expected losses this year. House Democrats rejected the latest change to the Republican legislation on Wednesday, saying it appears to protect patients with pre-existing conditions but some could still be pushed off their insurance in certain states and face higher costs. "This is deadly," House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi told a news conference. "No Band-Aid will fix it." The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated an earlier version of the Republican bill would leave 24 million more people without insurance in 2026. It was unclear if a new estimate would be made before a vote on the House floor. Called the American Health Care Act, the Republican bill repeals most Obamacare taxes, including a penalty for not buying health insurance. It slashes funding for Medicaid, the program that provides insurance for the poor, and rolls back much of Medicaid's expansion, while swapping Obamacare’s income-based tax credits for flat age-based credits. It also allows insurers to raise premiums by 30 percent for those who have a lapse in insurance coverage of about two months or more. An amendment recently added to win over the Freedom Caucus lets states opt out of Obamacare’s mandate that insurers charge sick and healthy people the same rates. But Wednesday's amendment from Upton aimed to assuage moderates' concerns about that by providing a way for people with pre-existing conditions to get financial help to afford insurance. Others said the $8 billion over five years was not enough. (Reuters)

US House of Representatives vote today to repeal and replace Obamacare

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