Former first lady Melania Trump has said that she backs her husband, Donald Trump's third attempt to win the 2024 presidential elections in the US, despite the fact that she has not made any formal appearances at any of his campaigns since he officially announced his reelection bid.&nbsp;

''He has my support, and we look forward to restoring hope for the future and leading America with love and strength. My husband achieved tremendous success in his first administration, and he can lead us toward greatness and prosperity once again,'' Melania Trump told Fox News in an interview.&nbsp;

She added she would continue her work in the welfare of children if she has ''the privilege'' to again serve as first lady. Furthermore, she said she would continue to support initiatives focused on the well-being and development of children and ensure &nbsp;they have the "support and resources they need to reach their full potential.''

Donald Trump announced his reelection bid in November 2022 when Melania Trump appeared by his side. Since then, she hasn't been seen at any campaign events and has noticeably been absent from her husband's various public appearances in recent months. However, she joined Trump for an Easter Sunday brunch at Mar-a-Lago.

"My husband achieved tremendous success in his first administration, and he can lead us towards greatness and prosperity once again," Melania Trump told Fox News.

Her comments come days after reports claimed that the former first lady was ''not comfortable'' with Trump's style of politics and reportedly ''angry'' over his indictment over hush-money payments he allegedly made to bury an extramarital affair, as per the People magazine.&nbsp;

She was also absent from the campaign trail in 2020 as her husband fought for reelection against Joe Biden.&nbsp;

As per a recent ABC News/Washington Post poll, if President Joe Biden and Donald Trump were the candidates running for President, 38 per cent said they would definitely or probably vote for Biden, compared to 44 per cent who would definitely or probably back Trump.

<h2>Trump found liable for sexual abuse, defamation in E Jean Caroll case</h2>

A New York jury found former US President Donald Trump liable for sexually abusing writer E. Jean Carroll in a Manhattan departmental store in the 1990s but not liable for her alleged rape, reported NBC news.&nbsp;

The jury awarded her $5 million in damages for her battery and defamation claims against Trump.&nbsp;

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Former first lady Melania Trump has said that she backs her husband, Donald Trump's third attempt to win the 2024 presidential elections in the US, despite the fact that she has not made any formal appearances at any of his campaigns since he officially announced his reelection bid.

Former first lady Melania Trump has said that she backs her husband, Donald Trump's third attempt to win the 2024 presidential elections in the US, despite the fact that she has not made any formal appearances at any of his campaigns since he officially announced his reelection bid. ''He has my support, and we look forward to restoring hope for the future and leading America with love and strength. My husband achieved tremendous success in his first administration, and he can lead us toward greatness and prosperity once again,'' Melania Trump told Fox News in an interview. She added she would continue her work in the welfare of children if she has ''the privilege'' to again serve as first lady. Furthermore, she said she would continue to support initiatives focused on the well-being and development of children and ensure they have the "support and resources they need to reach their full potential.'' Donald Trump announced his reelection bid in November 2022 when Melania Trump appeared by his side. Since then, she hasn't been seen at any campaign events and has noticeably been absent from her husband's various public appearances in recent months. However, she joined Trump for an Easter Sunday brunch at Mar-a-Lago. "My husband achieved tremendous success in his first administration, and he can lead us towards greatness and prosperity once again," Melania Trump told Fox News. Her comments come days after reports claimed that the former first lady was ''not comfortable'' with Trump's style of politics and reportedly ''angry'' over his indictment over hush-money payments he allegedly made to bury an extramarital affair, as per the People magazine. She was also absent from the campaign trail in 2020 as her husband fought for reelection against Joe Biden. As per a recent ABC News/Washington Post poll, if President Joe Biden and Donald Trump were the candidates running for President, 38 per cent said they would definitely or probably vote for Biden, compared to 44 per cent who would definitely or probably back Trump. Trump found liable for sexual abuse, defamation in E Jean Caroll case A New York jury found former US President Donald Trump liable for sexually abusing writer E. Jean Carroll in a Manhattan departmental store in the 1990s but not liable for her alleged rape, reported NBC news. The jury awarded her $5 million in damages for her battery and defamation claims against Trump. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

US: Melania Trump says she supports Donald Trump's 2024 presidential bid

Days after US President Joe Biden announced his candidature for re-election next year, Republican presidential nominee seeker Nikki Haley has&nbsp;launched an attack on the Democrat leader. Haley said Biden, who is currently 80 years old would likely die and that voters will have to count on Vice President Kamala Harris if he wins the re-election.&nbsp;

“He [Biden]&nbsp;announced that he’s running again in 2024. I think that we can all be very clear and say with a matter of fact that if you vote for Joe Biden you really are counting on a President Harris, because the idea that he would make it until 86 years old is not something that I think is likely," Haley was quoted as saying by Fox News.&nbsp;

Haley's rather direct attack on Biden's old age rubbed the White House the wrong way as Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates said,&nbsp;“As you know, we don’t directly respond to campaigns from here.&nbsp;But honestly, I forgot she was running.”

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/joe-bidens-approval-rating-hits-all-time-low-amid-re-election-campaign-launch-poll-587092">WATCH |&nbsp;Joe Biden's approval rating hits all-time low amid re-election campaign launch: Poll</a>

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According&nbsp;to various polls, Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor as well as former vice president Mike Pence are currently third on the list of presidential nominees - polling&nbsp;around four per cent votes. While Haley announced her campaign earlier this year, Pence is yet to jump in. The other two contenders are former president Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.&nbsp;

<h2>Biden formally announces his campaign&nbsp;</h2>

Biden officially announced his re-election campaign earlier this week with a video, asking voters to give him more time to 'finish the job' he started.&nbsp;

"When I ran for president four years ago, I said we're in a battle for the soul of America, and we still are,"&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;said. "This is not a time to be complacent."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-joe-biden-announces-reelection-bid-for-2024-585969">ALSO READ |&nbsp;US President Joe Biden announces another run for White House</a>

"Every generation has a moment where they have had to stand up for democracy. To stand up for their fundamental freedoms. I believe this is ours. That’s why I’m running for re-election as president of the United States. Join us. Let's finish the job," Biden wrote on Twitter.

The announcement likely sets up the stage for a repeat of the 2020 elections when he faced off against Donald Trump. However, it may be an uphill task for Biden who is currently polling his lowest approval rating since taking over the job.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

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Days after US President Joe Biden announced his candidature for re-election next year, Republican presidential nominee seeker Nikki Haley has launched an attack on the Democrat leader.

Days after US President Joe Biden announced his candidature for re-election next year, Republican presidential nominee seeker Nikki Haley has launched an attack on the Democrat leader. Haley said Biden, who is currently 80 years old would likely die and that voters will have to count on Vice President Kamala Harris if he wins the re-election. “He [Biden] announced that he’s running again in 2024. I think that we can all be very clear and say with a matter of fact that if you vote for Joe Biden you really are counting on a President Harris, because the idea that he would make it until 86 years old is not something that I think is likely," Haley was quoted as saying by Fox News. Haley's rather direct attack on Biden's old age rubbed the White House the wrong way as Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates said, “As you know, we don’t directly respond to campaigns from here. But honestly, I forgot she was running.” WATCH | Joe Biden's approval rating hits all-time low amid re-election campaign launch: Poll × According to various polls, Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor as well as former vice president Mike Pence are currently third on the list of presidential nominees - polling around four per cent votes. While Haley announced her campaign earlier this year, Pence is yet to jump in. The other two contenders are former president Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Biden formally announces his campaign Biden officially announced his re-election campaign earlier this week with a video, asking voters to give him more time to 'finish the job' he started. "When I ran for president four years ago, I said we're in a battle for the soul of America, and we still are," Biden said. "This is not a time to be complacent." ALSO READ | US President Joe Biden announces another run for White House "Every generation has a moment where they have had to stand up for democracy. To stand up for their fundamental freedoms. I believe this is ours. That’s why I’m running for re-election as president of the United States. Join us. Let's finish the job," Biden wrote on Twitter. The announcement likely sets up the stage for a repeat of the 2020 elections when he faced off against Donald Trump. However, it may be an uphill task for Biden who is currently polling his lowest approval rating since taking over the job. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

‘Biden will likely die...’: Republican Nikki Haley makes this shocking prediction

US President Joe Biden launched his re-election bid on Tuesday with a promise to protect American liberties from "extremists". Former President Donald Trump also released a video response to Biden's announcement and warned that Biden has brought the world to the brink of World War III.

Trump attacks Biden after he announces 2024 re-election bid

United States President Joe Biden on Monday (April 10) again hinted that he may run for the next presidential election, but also said that he was not prepared to announce it yet.&nbsp;

In an interview with NBC's "Today" show before the White House Easter Egg Roll, Biden said: "I plan on running ... but we're not prepared to announce it yet." Biden was accompanied companied by his wife First Lady Jill Biden.&nbsp;

Despite the indications, the 80-year-old Democrat has delayed an expected campaign launch for months. However, both Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have repeatedly teased the intention to run. So far, there's no formal announcement.&nbsp;

Biden said that he intended to attend numerous more egg rolls. He has one more Easter left in his first term, but he said that he "plans on at least three or four more Easter Egg Rolls. Maybe five..., maybe six, what the hell -- I don't know".&nbsp;

Egg rolling or an Easter egg roll is a traditional game played with eggs at Easter. The tradition is different in different countries. In this traditional event, children race to push coloured eggs over the grass.&nbsp;

Several speculations have been raised over Biden's health and his capability to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency despite the fact that he was declared "fit for duty" by his doctor in February, which was the final annual medical check-up before he is expected to declare he's running for re-election in 2024.&nbsp;

Watch this report:&nbsp;

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Meanwhile, the world has seen Biden often more comfortable away from the stiff formalities of the presidency. And also, gave a good impression of a president gearing up for the campaign as he was hugging children and taking cellphones in the Easter crowd for selfies.&nbsp;

Biden would be 86 years old by the time he completed a second term and he is already the oldest president in US history. And if he does declare, he would not face serious challenges from his own party.&nbsp;

The current frontrunner is former president Donald Trump whom Biden defeated in 2020 on the Republican side.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

United States President Joe Biden on Monday (April 10) again hinted that he may run for the next presidential election, but also said that he was not prepared to announce it yet.

United States President Joe Biden on Monday (April 10) again hinted that he may run for the next presidential election, but also said that he was not prepared to announce it yet. In an interview with NBC's "Today" show before the White House Easter Egg Roll, Biden said: "I plan on running ... but we're not prepared to announce it yet." Biden was accompanied companied by his wife First Lady Jill Biden. Despite the indications, the 80-year-old Democrat has delayed an expected campaign launch for months. However, both Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have repeatedly teased the intention to run. So far, there's no formal announcement. Biden said that he intended to attend numerous more egg rolls. He has one more Easter left in his first term, but he said that he "plans on at least three or four more Easter Egg Rolls. Maybe five..., maybe six, what the hell -- I don't know". Egg rolling or an Easter egg roll is a traditional game played with eggs at Easter. The tradition is different in different countries. In this traditional event, children race to push coloured eggs over the grass. Several speculations have been raised over Biden's health and his capability to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency despite the fact that he was declared "fit for duty" by his doctor in February, which was the final annual medical check-up before he is expected to declare he's running for re-election in 2024. Watch this report: × Meanwhile, the world has seen Biden often more comfortable away from the stiff formalities of the presidency. And also, gave a good impression of a president gearing up for the campaign as he was hugging children and taking cellphones in the Easter crowd for selfies. Biden would be 86 years old by the time he completed a second term and he is already the oldest president in US history. And if he does declare, he would not face serious challenges from his own party. The current frontrunner is former president Donald Trump whom Biden defeated in 2020 on the Republican side. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

US President Joe Biden says he plans to run for re-election in 2024

US presidential hopeful Nikki Haley is leaving no stone unturned to secure a presidential nomination. She has now focused attention on her party rival Donald Trump, under whose watch the GOP has suffered recent losses.&nbsp;

"If you're tired of losing, put your trust in a new generation," said Haley, without naming Trump at&nbsp;the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).&nbsp;

In an implicit acknowledgement that Trump had lost the 2020 elections, Haley added,&nbsp;“We’ve lost the popular vote in seven of the last eight presidential elections. Our cause is right.&nbsp;But we have failed to win the confidence of a majority of Americans. That ends now.”

The 51-year-old former South Carolina governor also doubled down on her call that every politician above 75 is mandated to take a mental&nbsp;competency test. Though the attack was on US President Joe Biden who is 80, the requirement would also apply to 76-year-old Trump.&nbsp;

Haley launched her presidential campaign for the White House earlier this year. She is one of the first leaders from the Republican Party to have announced to take on Donald Trump in the race to secure the party nomination.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-is-nikki-haley-the-indian-american-top-gun-with-strong-political-views-teased-to-challenge-biden-in-2024-557874">Read more:&nbsp;Who is Nikki Haley? The Indian-American top gun with strong political views who may challenge Biden in 2024</a>

She has already set the agenda to woo the conservative leaders by pledging to stop foreign aid to countries that 'hate' America.&nbsp;

"I will cut every cent in foreign aid for countries that hate us. A strong America doesn't pay off the bad guys. A proud America doesn't waste our people's hard-earned money. And the only leaders who deserve our trust are those who stand up to our enemies and stand beside our friends," Haley said.

The GOP candidate said the Biden administration had splurged as much as $46 billion in foreign aid last year.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gop-candidate-nikki-haley-vows-to-cut-foreign-aid-to-anti-american-countries-566543" target="_blank">WATCH | GOP candidate Nikki Haley vows to cut foreign aid to anti-American countries</a>

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She has also been incessantly popularising the theory that COVID-19 came from a Chinese lab.&nbsp;

"COVID-19 likely came from a Chinese lab. Cut US aid. Not a cent to Communist China," the Indian-American politician tweeted.&nbsp;

Haley's tweet came in the backdrop of the release of&nbsp;classified documents by the US Energy Department claiming that the COVID-19 virus emerged from a lab leak.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

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US presidential hopeful Nikki Haley is leaving no stone unturned to secure a presidential nomination. She has now focused attention on her party rival Donald Trump, under whose watch the GOP has suffered recent losses.

US presidential hopeful Nikki Haley is leaving no stone unturned to secure a presidential nomination. She has now focused attention on her party rival Donald Trump, under whose watch the GOP has suffered recent losses. "If you're tired of losing, put your trust in a new generation," said Haley, without naming Trump at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). In an implicit acknowledgement that Trump had lost the 2020 elections, Haley added, “We’ve lost the popular vote in seven of the last eight presidential elections. Our cause is right. But we have failed to win the confidence of a majority of Americans. That ends now.” The 51-year-old former South Carolina governor also doubled down on her call that every politician above 75 is mandated to take a mental competency test. Though the attack was on US President Joe Biden who is 80, the requirement would also apply to 76-year-old Trump. Haley launched her presidential campaign for the White House earlier this year. She is one of the first leaders from the Republican Party to have announced to take on Donald Trump in the race to secure the party nomination. Read more: Who is Nikki Haley? The Indian-American top gun with strong political views who may challenge Biden in 2024 She has already set the agenda to woo the conservative leaders by pledging to stop foreign aid to countries that 'hate' America. "I will cut every cent in foreign aid for countries that hate us. A strong America doesn't pay off the bad guys. A proud America doesn't waste our people's hard-earned money. And the only leaders who deserve our trust are those who stand up to our enemies and stand beside our friends," Haley said. The GOP candidate said the Biden administration had splurged as much as $46 billion in foreign aid last year. WATCH | GOP candidate Nikki Haley vows to cut foreign aid to anti-American countries She has also been incessantly popularising the theory that COVID-19 came from a Chinese lab. "COVID-19 likely came from a Chinese lab. Cut US aid. Not a cent to Communist China," the Indian-American politician tweeted. Haley's tweet came in the backdrop of the release of classified documents by the US Energy Department claiming that the COVID-19 virus emerged from a lab leak. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'If you're tired of...': Nikki Haley targets rival Donald Trump as race for US prez nomination heats up

Following a two-year suspension after the deadly Capitol Hill riot on January 6, 2021,&nbsp;Meta Platforms Inc (META.O) announced on Wednesday (January 25) that it will soon reinstate former US President Donald Trump's Facebook and Instagram accounts.

The social media company said in a blog post it has "put new guardrails in place to deter repeat offenses."

Trump has declared he would run for president again in 2024, and the two most important platforms for political funding and outreach are Facebook and Instagram.

After regaining access to his once-favourite social media platform, Twitter, in November 2022, he claimed to be in negotiations with Meta about making a return.

Also watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: US gun terror claims the life of an Indian student

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"In the event that Mr. Trump posts further violating content, the content will be removed and he will be suspended for between one month and two years, depending on the severity of the violation," wrote Nick Clegg, Meta's president of global affairs, in the blog post.

The decision to suspend Trump caused controversy for Meta, the largest social media company in the world, which has never before suspended a sitting head of state's account for breaking its content guidelines.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Following a two-year suspension after the deadly Capitol Hill riot on January 6, 2021, Meta Platforms Inc (META.O) announced on Wednesday (January 25) that it will soon reinstate former US President Donald Trump's Facebook and Instagram accounts.

Following a two-year suspension after the deadly Capitol Hill riot on January 6, 2021, Meta Platforms Inc (META.O) announced on Wednesday (January 25) that it will soon reinstate former US President Donald Trump's Facebook and Instagram accounts. The social media company said in a blog post it has "put new guardrails in place to deter repeat offenses." Trump has declared he would run for president again in 2024, and the two most important platforms for political funding and outreach are Facebook and Instagram. After regaining access to his once-favourite social media platform, Twitter, in November 2022, he claimed to be in negotiations with Meta about making a return. Also watch | Gravitas: US gun terror claims the life of an Indian student "In the event that Mr. Trump posts further violating content, the content will be removed and he will be suspended for between one month and two years, depending on the severity of the violation," wrote Nick Clegg, Meta's president of global affairs, in the blog post. The decision to suspend Trump caused controversy for Meta, the largest social media company in the world, which has never before suspended a sitting head of state's account for breaking its content guidelines. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Meta to soon reinstate Donald Trump's Facebook, Instagram accounts

When some two dozen New Yorkers filed into a Manhattan courthouse this week to finish out their grand jury service, the case against a man who would have been the world’s most prominent criminal defendant was no longer before them.

That man, Donald Trump, was facing potential criminal charges from the grand jury this year over his business practices. But in the weeks since the Manhattan district attorney, Alvin Bragg, stopped presenting evidence to the jurors about Trump, new signs have emerged that the former president will not be indicted in Manhattan in the foreseeable future — if at all.

At least three of the witnesses once central to the case have either not heard from the district attorney’s office in months or have not been asked to testify, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

In recent weeks, a prosecutor at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office who played a key role in the investigation has stopped focusing on a potential case against Trump, other people with knowledge of the inquiry said — a move that followed the resignation earlier this year of the two senior prosecutors leading the investigation.

And the remaining prosecutors working on the Trump investigation have abandoned the “war room” they used to prepare for their grand jury presentation early this year, the people said, leaving behind an expansive office suite and conference room on the 15th floor of the district attorney’s office in Lower Manhattan.

The grand jury’s expiration at the end of the month does not preclude prosecutors from impaneling another jury, but the developments underscore the reduced possibility that Trump will face charges under Bragg, who along with several other prosecutors had concerns about proving the case. Some people close to the inquiry believe that it will not result in an indictment of the former president unless a witness cooperates unexpectedly — a long shot in an investigation that has been running for more than three years.

In recent weeks, Bragg’s prosecutors have issued a few additional subpoenas that indicate they are continuing to investigate but have not found a new path to charging Trump. The previously unreported subpoenas, people with knowledge of the matter said, appear to focus on the same topic that has long been the subject of the investigation: whether Trump falsely inflated the value of his assets in annual financial statements.

The subpoenas suggest that, rather than pursuing a new theory of the case, Bragg is looking at additional entities that received Trump’s financial statements as he sought loans and pursued other business, and that the prosecutors are seeking potential victims of the former president.

One of the subpoenas went to a major financial institution that may have received Trump’s financial statements. A second subpoena sent to the Trump Organization largely followed up on an earlier demand to the company for records related to the value of his properties. And the third went to the New York City agency that tracks municipal vendors, including Trump, who has done business with the city for years, operating a golf course in the Bronx and an ice rink in Central Park.

In an interview this month, Bragg said that his prosecutors were interviewing new witnesses and looking at additional evidence. He declined to provide details, citing grand jury secrecy law, but said that the inquiry must be allowed to run its course.

“It’s a work in progress,” Bragg said, adding later, “We’ve got seasoned prosecutors working every day. It’s not going to be on a timeline.”

But impaneling a new grand jury could create challenges for any potential case. Trump’s lawyers could argue — and a judge might agree — that prosecutors were inappropriately hunting for a more favorable group of jurors.

It would also take time to prepare a new presentation of evidence and months to lay out a case to jurors.

Bragg’s office does not have unlimited time to charge Trump. Witnesses could forget key information. Prosecutors would also face a deadline to file the charges within five years of any crimes being committed, although there are some exceptions that extend the deadline. And were Trump to announce another presidential run, Bragg would be likely to face political pressure not to indict a leading contender for the White House.

But even as the criminal investigation fades from public view, the New York attorney general, Letitia James, appears poised to take action against Trump as part of her inquiry into whether he falsely inflated the value of his assets in annual financial statements — the same conduct at the center of the criminal investigation.

At a court hearing Monday — during which a judge held Trump in contempt of court for failing to fully comply with a subpoena for records from James — a lawyer from her office said that the attorney general would probably take action against the former president in the near future. Because her investigation is civil, James can bring a lawsuit but not criminal charges.

Trump has long denied wrongdoing and accused James and Bragg, both of whom are Black and Democrats, of being politically motivated “racists.” If he ultimately is sued or indicted, his lawyers would be likely to point toward the disclaimer that his financial statements were not audited by his accountants and that they were submitted to sophisticated financial institutions that conducted their own due diligence.

James’ office is also participating in the district attorney’s criminal investigation, opened by Bragg’s predecessor, Cyrus Vance Jr., more than three years ago.

In December, Vance directed the two senior prosecutors leading the criminal inquiry, Mark Pomerantz and Carey Dunne, to present evidence to a grand jury with the goal of seeking an indictment of Trump.

But when Bragg took office this year, he and several of his aides raised concerns about the strength of the case, questioning whether they could prove that Trump intended to break the law. Other prosecutors in the office had raised similar concerns, people with knowledge of the matter said. In the final months of Vance’s tenure, three assistant district attorneys stopped working on the investigation, concerned about how rapidly it was proceeding and what they felt were gaps in the evidence against the former president.

Bragg eventually decided to halt the grand jury presentation, prompting the departure of Dunne and Pomerantz, who stated in his resignation letter that he believed Trump was “guilty of numerous felonies.”

Just weeks after their departure, Solomon Shinerock, one of the key prosecutors on the team, stopped investigating Trump. Shinerock, who for years was the lead assistant district attorney in the investigation, pulled back in part because it appeared to be winding down, two of the people familiar with the inquiry said.

The Daily Beast first reported that Shinerock was no longer actively involved in the investigation.

While Shinerock is not investigating Trump, he is still working on a Trump-related case. In July, Manhattan prosecutors indicted the Trump Organization and its longtime chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, accusing them of a yearslong tax evasion scheme.

Shinerock is playing a central role in preparing for that trial, and, given that role, is participating in meetings in which the investigation into Trump is discussed, a person with knowledge of the meetings said.

In the interview this month, Bragg said that no one had left the Trump team since Dunne and Pomerantz. Asked this week to clarify his remarks, Bragg’s spokesperson stood by them, saying that there was one “dedicated team working on the indicted tax case and the Trump investigation.”

The team is led by Susan Hoffinger, an experienced prosecutor whom Bragg appointed to lead the office’s investigations division.

The spokesperson, Danielle Filson, said in a statement that the team included “lawyers who have worked on the case for years and skilled new prosecutors with decades of experience and fresh eyes.”

She declined to say how many prosecutors and other staff are assigned to the team investigating Trump, but said it was “actively probing unexplored avenues.”

In the early days of Bragg’s tenure, the core members of the Trump team took over a 15th-floor conference room as they pushed ahead with the presentation of evidence about the former president to a grand jury. But since the resignations of Pomerantz and Dunne, the team has abandoned that room — an indication, veterans of the office say, that the case is not headed toward a grand jury anytime soon. The team members are now sitting in offices in the Major Economic Crimes Bureau.

Bragg has told aides that the inquiry could move forward if a new piece of evidence is unearthed, or if a Trump Organization insider decides to turn on the former president, people with knowledge of the conversations said. Under Vance, the prosecutors tried for months to secure the cooperation of Weisselberg and were unsuccessful.

Pomerantz and Dunne had been considering charging Trump with the crime of falsifying business records, a low-level felony. Asked if he was still considering that charge, or charges relating to the possibility that Trump had inflated the value of his assets on his financial statements, Bragg said that prosecutors were looking at new evidence and seeing how it fit into the overall picture.

But Pomerantz warned in his resignation letter that time was of the essence, noting, “These facts are already dated, and our ability to establish what happened may erode with the further passage of time.” 
&nbsp;

When some two dozen New Yorkers filed into a Manhattan courthouse this week to finish out their grand jury service, the case against a man who would have been the world’s most prominent criminal defendant was no longer before them.

When some two dozen New Yorkers filed into a Manhattan courthouse this week to finish out their grand jury service, the case against a man who would have been the world’s most prominent criminal defendant was no longer before them. That man, Donald Trump, was facing potential criminal charges from the grand jury this year over his business practices. But in the weeks since the Manhattan district attorney, Alvin Bragg, stopped presenting evidence to the jurors about Trump, new signs have emerged that the former president will not be indicted in Manhattan in the foreseeable future — if at all. At least three of the witnesses once central to the case have either not heard from the district attorney’s office in months or have not been asked to testify, according to people with knowledge of the matter. In recent weeks, a prosecutor at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office who played a key role in the investigation has stopped focusing on a potential case against Trump, other people with knowledge of the inquiry said — a move that followed the resignation earlier this year of the two senior prosecutors leading the investigation. And the remaining prosecutors working on the Trump investigation have abandoned the “war room” they used to prepare for their grand jury presentation early this year, the people said, leaving behind an expansive office suite and conference room on the 15th floor of the district attorney’s office in Lower Manhattan. The grand jury’s expiration at the end of the month does not preclude prosecutors from impaneling another jury, but the developments underscore the reduced possibility that Trump will face charges under Bragg, who along with several other prosecutors had concerns about proving the case. Some people close to the inquiry believe that it will not result in an indictment of the former president unless a witness cooperates unexpectedly — a long shot in an investigation that has been running for more than three years. In recent weeks, Bragg’s prosecutors have issued a few additional subpoenas that indicate they are continuing to investigate but have not found a new path to charging Trump. The previously unreported subpoenas, people with knowledge of the matter said, appear to focus on the same topic that has long been the subject of the investigation: whether Trump falsely inflated the value of his assets in annual financial statements. The subpoenas suggest that, rather than pursuing a new theory of the case, Bragg is looking at additional entities that received Trump’s financial statements as he sought loans and pursued other business, and that the prosecutors are seeking potential victims of the former president. One of the subpoenas went to a major financial institution that may have received Trump’s financial statements. A second subpoena sent to the Trump Organization largely followed up on an earlier demand to the company for records related to the value of his properties. And the third went to the New York City agency that tracks municipal vendors, including Trump, who has done business with the city for years, operating a golf course in the Bronx and an ice rink in Central Park. In an interview this month, Bragg said that his prosecutors were interviewing new witnesses and looking at additional evidence. He declined to provide details, citing grand jury secrecy law, but said that the inquiry must be allowed to run its course. “It’s a work in progress,” Bragg said, adding later, “We’ve got seasoned prosecutors working every day. It’s not going to be on a timeline.” But impaneling a new grand jury could create challenges for any potential case. Trump’s lawyers could argue — and a judge might agree — that prosecutors were inappropriately hunting for a more favorable group of jurors. It would also take time to prepare a new presentation of evidence and months to lay out a case to jurors. Bragg’s office does not have unlimited time to charge Trump. Witnesses could forget key information. Prosecutors would also face a deadline to file the charges within five years of any crimes being committed, although there are some exceptions that extend the deadline. And were Trump to announce another presidential run, Bragg would be likely to face political pressure not to indict a leading contender for the White House. But even as the criminal investigation fades from public view, the New York attorney general, Letitia James, appears poised to take action against Trump as part of her inquiry into whether he falsely inflated the value of his assets in annual financial statements — the same conduct at the center of the criminal investigation. At a court hearing Monday — during which a judge held Trump in contempt of court for failing to fully comply with a subpoena for records from James — a lawyer from her office said that the attorney general would probably take action against the former president in the near future. Because her investigation is civil, James can bring a lawsuit but not criminal charges. Trump has long denied wrongdoing and accused James and Bragg, both of whom are Black and Democrats, of being politically motivated “racists.” If he ultimately is sued or indicted, his lawyers would be likely to point toward the disclaimer that his financial statements were not audited by his accountants and that they were submitted to sophisticated financial institutions that conducted their own due diligence. James’ office is also participating in the district attorney’s criminal investigation, opened by Bragg’s predecessor, Cyrus Vance Jr., more than three years ago. In December, Vance directed the two senior prosecutors leading the criminal inquiry, Mark Pomerantz and Carey Dunne, to present evidence to a grand jury with the goal of seeking an indictment of Trump. But when Bragg took office this year, he and several of his aides raised concerns about the strength of the case, questioning whether they could prove that Trump intended to break the law. Other prosecutors in the office had raised similar concerns, people with knowledge of the matter said. In the final months of Vance’s tenure, three assistant district attorneys stopped working on the investigation, concerned about how rapidly it was proceeding and what they felt were gaps in the evidence against the former president. Bragg eventually decided to halt the grand jury presentation, prompting the departure of Dunne and Pomerantz, who stated in his resignation letter that he believed Trump was “guilty of numerous felonies.” Just weeks after their departure, Solomon Shinerock, one of the key prosecutors on the team, stopped investigating Trump. Shinerock, who for years was the lead assistant district attorney in the investigation, pulled back in part because it appeared to be winding down, two of the people familiar with the inquiry said. The Daily Beast first reported that Shinerock was no longer actively involved in the investigation. While Shinerock is not investigating Trump, he is still working on a Trump-related case. In July, Manhattan prosecutors indicted the Trump Organization and its longtime chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, accusing them of a yearslong tax evasion scheme. Shinerock is playing a central role in preparing for that trial, and, given that role, is participating in meetings in which the investigation into Trump is discussed, a person with knowledge of the meetings said. In the interview this month, Bragg said that no one had left the Trump team since Dunne and Pomerantz. Asked this week to clarify his remarks, Bragg’s spokesperson stood by them, saying that there was one “dedicated team working on the indicted tax case and the Trump investigation.” The team is led by Susan Hoffinger, an experienced prosecutor whom Bragg appointed to lead the office’s investigations division. The spokesperson, Danielle Filson, said in a statement that the team included “lawyers who have worked on the case for years and skilled new prosecutors with decades of experience and fresh eyes.” She declined to say how many prosecutors and other staff are assigned to the team investigating Trump, but said it was “actively probing unexplored avenues.” In the early days of Bragg’s tenure, the core members of the Trump team took over a 15th-floor conference room as they pushed ahead with the presentation of evidence about the former president to a grand jury. But since the resignations of Pomerantz and Dunne, the team has abandoned that room — an indication, veterans of the office say, that the case is not headed toward a grand jury anytime soon. The team members are now sitting in offices in the Major Economic Crimes Bureau. Bragg has told aides that the inquiry could move forward if a new piece of evidence is unearthed, or if a Trump Organization insider decides to turn on the former president, people with knowledge of the conversations said. Under Vance, the prosecutors tried for months to secure the cooperation of Weisselberg and were unsuccessful. Pomerantz and Dunne had been considering charging Trump with the crime of falsifying business records, a low-level felony. Asked if he was still considering that charge, or charges relating to the possibility that Trump had inflated the value of his assets on his financial statements, Bragg said that prosecutors were looking at new evidence and seeing how it fit into the overall picture. But Pomerantz warned in his resignation letter that time was of the essence, noting, “These facts are already dated, and our ability to establish what happened may erode with the further passage of time.”

Likelihood of Trump indictment in Manhattan fades as grand jury wraps up

In a crowd-pleasing speech in Arizona on Saturday (January 15), former United States President Donald Trump reiterated unfounded claims that the 2020 presidential elections were stolen from him.&nbsp;

In front of thousands of supporters who were waving flags written 'Trump 2020' and 'Trump 2024', the Republic leader&nbsp;said, "We are done having our lives controlled by politicians in Washington. We are done with the mandates."

He added, "The radical Democrats want to turn the United States into a communist country. We won those elections. We won them big. We can't let them get away with it."&nbsp;

"If an election were held today, we would trounce them so badly in a landslide in every way, just as we really did on Nov. 3. We trounced them. If we had an honest press, the election would have been much different," Trump added.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hostage-crisis-at-us-synagogue-ends-everyone-out-alive-safe-445112">Hostage crisis at US synagogue ends: Everyone out alive, safe</a>

During the rally, other speakers had kept to similar themes as they slammed US President Joe Biden as "weak" and "deranged."

They included Kari Lake, whom Trump has endorsed for governor of Arizona in this year's race. She has previously said she would not have certified Biden's victory if she had been in office at the time.

Mike Lindell, the CEO of MyPillow, who has spent millions of dollars trying to overturn the election, with a focus on the machines used to count ballots, told the crowd he was not going to give up.

"And I will promise you this, there's not gonna be any election with any machines or computers done in 2022," he said.&nbsp;

During the rally, Trump walked out on a popular song of a former WWE professional wrestler known as The Undertaker.&nbsp;

Watch:

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Undertaker Theme at the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TrumpRally?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TrumpRally</a>💀 <a href="https://t.co/IXk87N3hWo">pic.twitter.com/IXk87N3hWo</a>
— (AD) Deo Non Fortuna (@_labour_first) <a href="https://twitter.com/_labour_first/status/1482537731586674692?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2022</a></blockquote>
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WATCH |&nbsp;Republican party threatens to boycott tradition of participating in the US presidential debates

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In a crowd-pleasing speech in Arizona on Saturday (January 15), former United States President Donald Trump reiterated unfounded claims that the 2020 presidential elections were stolen from him.

In a crowd-pleasing speech in Arizona on Saturday (January 15), former United States President Donald Trump reiterated unfounded claims that the 2020 presidential elections were stolen from him. In front of thousands of supporters who were waving flags written 'Trump 2020' and 'Trump 2024', the Republic leader said, "We are done having our lives controlled by politicians in Washington. We are done with the mandates." He added, "The radical Democrats want to turn the United States into a communist country. We won those elections. We won them big. We can't let them get away with it." "If an election were held today, we would trounce them so badly in a landslide in every way, just as we really did on Nov. 3. We trounced them. If we had an honest press, the election would have been much different," Trump added. ALSO READ | Hostage crisis at US synagogue ends: Everyone out alive, safe During the rally, other speakers had kept to similar themes as they slammed US President Joe Biden as "weak" and "deranged." They included Kari Lake, whom Trump has endorsed for governor of Arizona in this year's race. She has previously said she would not have certified Biden's victory if she had been in office at the time. Mike Lindell, the CEO of MyPillow, who has spent millions of dollars trying to overturn the election, with a focus on the machines used to count ballots, told the crowd he was not going to give up. "And I will promise you this, there's not gonna be any election with any machines or computers done in 2022," he said. During the rally, Trump walked out on a popular song of a former WWE professional wrestler known as The Undertaker. Watch: Undertaker Theme at the #TrumpRally💀 pic.twitter.com/IXk87N3hWo — (AD) Deo Non Fortuna (@_labour_first) January 16, 2022 × WATCH | Republican party threatens to boycott tradition of participating in the US presidential debates ×

Donald Trump reiterates claims that 2020 US presidential election was stolen

Russian President Vladimir Putin likely directed efforts to try to swing the 2020 US presidential election to Donald Trump, an American intelligence report has claimed.

Democrat Biden defeated Republican Trump and became president in January.

The 15-page report, released by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence on Tuesday, will likely trigger US sanctions on Russia. According to Reuters, Washington is now expected to impose sanctions on Moscow as soon as next week because of the allegations.

The report named Derkach, who met Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani in 2019, as someone whose movements were tracked, if not directed, by Putin. It added heft to longstanding allegations that some of Trump's top lieutenants were playing into Moscow's hands by amplifying claims made against then-candidate Joe Biden by Russian-linked Ukrainian figures in the run-up to the November 3 election. It also added new findings that Putin either oversaw or at least approved of the election meddling to benefit Trump.

The said report has concluded that Russia-backed figures such as Ukrainian parliamentarian Andriy Derkach enlisted unnamed US political figures in their campaign to smear Biden and his son Hunter.

"Putin had purview over the activities of Andriy Derkach," the report said. "Other senior officials also participated in Russia's election influence efforts - including senior national security and intelligence officials who we assess would not act without receiving at least Putin's tacit approval."

US intelligence agencies and former Special Counsel Robert Mueller had previously concluded that Russia also interfered in the 2016 election to boost Trump's candidacy with a campaign of propaganda aimed at harming his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kremlin-accuses-us-of-meddling-in-affairs-but-says-ready-to-talk-359012">Also read |&nbsp;Kremlin accuses US of meddling in affairs, but says ready to talk</a>

Mueller found extensive contacts between Trump's campaign and Russia. Trump while president also faced questions about ties by his associates with Russia and Russia-linked figures in Ukraine. The US House of Representatives impeached Trump in 2019 - the first of two times - on charges arising from his request that Ukraine investigate the Bidens.

The US intelligence report also found other foreign attempts to sway American voters in 2020 including a "multi-pronged covert influence campaign" by Iran intended to undercut Trump. As president, Trump pulled the United States out of a multilateral nuclear deal with Iran and imposed fresh sanctions.

The report also punctured a counter-narrative pushed by Trump's allies that China was interfering on Biden's behalf, concluding that Beijing "did not deploy interference efforts."

"China sought stability in its relationship with the United States and did not view either election outcome as being advantageous enough for China to risk blowback if caught," the report said.

US officials said they also saw efforts by Cuba, Venezuela and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah to influence the election, although "in general, we assess that they were smaller in scale than those conducted by Russia and Iran."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2020-russia-and-iran-call-meddling-claims-groundless-337188">Also read |&nbsp;US election 2020: Russia and Iran call meddling claims 'groundless'</a>

A key role was played by another man with Russian intelligence ties, Konstantin Kilimnik, according to the report. It said Kilimnik and Derkach met and gave materials to Trump-linked people to push for formal investigations, and Derkach released four audio recordings seeking to suggest Biden tried to protect his son Hunter from a corruption probe in Ukraine. Giuliani was among those promoting such claims.

Kilimnik was an associate of Paul Manafort, who served as Trump's 2016 campaign chairman. Trump last year pardoned Manafort for a criminal conviction stemming from Mueller's investigation.

(with inputs)

Russian President Vladimir Putin likely directed efforts to try to swing the 2020 US presidential election to Donald Trump, an American intelligence report has claimed.

Russian President Vladimir Putin likely directed efforts to try to swing the 2020 US presidential election to Donald Trump, an American intelligence report has claimed. Democrat Biden defeated Republican Trump and became president in January. The 15-page report, released by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence on Tuesday, will likely trigger US sanctions on Russia. According to Reuters, Washington is now expected to impose sanctions on Moscow as soon as next week because of the allegations. The report named Derkach, who met Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani in 2019, as someone whose movements were tracked, if not directed, by Putin. It added heft to longstanding allegations that some of Trump's top lieutenants were playing into Moscow's hands by amplifying claims made against then-candidate Joe Biden by Russian-linked Ukrainian figures in the run-up to the November 3 election. It also added new findings that Putin either oversaw or at least approved of the election meddling to benefit Trump. The said report has concluded that Russia-backed figures such as Ukrainian parliamentarian Andriy Derkach enlisted unnamed US political figures in their campaign to smear Biden and his son Hunter. "Putin had purview over the activities of Andriy Derkach," the report said. "Other senior officials also participated in Russia's election influence efforts - including senior national security and intelligence officials who we assess would not act without receiving at least Putin's tacit approval." US intelligence agencies and former Special Counsel Robert Mueller had previously concluded that Russia also interfered in the 2016 election to boost Trump's candidacy with a campaign of propaganda aimed at harming his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton. Also read | Kremlin accuses US of meddling in affairs, but says ready to talk Mueller found extensive contacts between Trump's campaign and Russia. Trump while president also faced questions about ties by his associates with Russia and Russia-linked figures in Ukraine. The US House of Representatives impeached Trump in 2019 - the first of two times - on charges arising from his request that Ukraine investigate the Bidens. The US intelligence report also found other foreign attempts to sway American voters in 2020 including a "multi-pronged covert influence campaign" by Iran intended to undercut Trump. As president, Trump pulled the United States out of a multilateral nuclear deal with Iran and imposed fresh sanctions. The report also punctured a counter-narrative pushed by Trump's allies that China was interfering on Biden's behalf, concluding that Beijing "did not deploy interference efforts." "China sought stability in its relationship with the United States and did not view either election outcome as being advantageous enough for China to risk blowback if caught," the report said. US officials said they also saw efforts by Cuba, Venezuela and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah to influence the election, although "in general, we assess that they were smaller in scale than those conducted by Russia and Iran." Also read | US election 2020: Russia and Iran call meddling claims 'groundless' A key role was played by another man with Russian intelligence ties, Konstantin Kilimnik, according to the report. It said Kilimnik and Derkach met and gave materials to Trump-linked people to push for formal investigations, and Derkach released four audio recordings seeking to suggest Biden tried to protect his son Hunter from a corruption probe in Ukraine. Giuliani was among those promoting such claims. Kilimnik was an associate of Paul Manafort, who served as Trump's 2016 campaign chairman. Trump last year pardoned Manafort for a criminal conviction stemming from Mueller's investigation. (with inputs)

Putin likely directed meddling in 2020 US election, report claims

In the aftermath of riots that rocked the US Capitol last week, Washington DC has upped its security measures to prevent a similar instance as Joe Biden gets ready to take over presidential duties starting January 20.

On Friday, DC continued increasing security measures by restricting access to landmarks, while installing vehicle checkpoints surrounding Washington. 
&nbsp;

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Even though presidential inaugurations are generally very well secured, this time the security has been ramped even further in view of the violence that took place on January 6 whereby Trump supporters stormed the capital while representatives met inside to certify Biden as the winner.

&nbsp;

Law enforcement agencies have warned threats and potential armed conflict in all 50 states of the country.

On Friday, the National Park Service said that it was closing iconic landmarks in the capital city till at least January 21. These include the National Mall and other iconic US landmarks. Part of the Mall are landmarks like the Lincoln Memorial, and the Washington Monument.

Most of the area surrounding the White House also remains closed, including an important bridge which connects Virginia to Washington, along with East and West Potomac Parks, including Hains Point, which also falls near the Mall.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fbi-investigating-dozens-for-death-of-police-officer-at-us-capitol-357102" hreflang="en">FBI investigating dozens for death of police officer at US Capitol</a>

"We cannot allow a recurrence of the chaos and illegal activity that the United States and the world witnessed last week," Matthew Miller, the head of the Secret Service’s operations in Washington said to reporters.

As part of its agreement with the US Secret Service, Virginia later announced that it would close many other bridges that lead into the capital from January 19 to January 21.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation in the United States is currently questioning dozens of people in relation to the killing of a police officer during the attack on US Capitol.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-slams-republican-lawmakers-for-not-wearing-masks-during-capitol-hill-attack-357107" hreflang="en">Biden slams Republican lawmakers for not wearing masks during Capitol Hill attack</a>

Brian Sicknick died a day after a mob supporting US President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol last week. Reportedly, they attacked law enforcement officers.&nbsp;

Another state bordering the capital - Maryland announced a state of emergency ahead of the inauguration.

In the aftermath of riots that rocked the US Capitol last week, Washington DC has upped its security measures to prevent a similar instance as Joe Biden gets ready to take over presidential duties starting January 20.

In the aftermath of riots that rocked the US Capitol last week, Washington DC has upped its security measures to prevent a similar instance as Joe Biden gets ready to take over presidential duties starting January 20. On Friday, DC continued increasing security measures by restricting access to landmarks, while installing vehicle checkpoints surrounding Washington. Even though presidential inaugurations are generally very well secured, this time the security has been ramped even further in view of the violence that took place on January 6 whereby Trump supporters stormed the capital while representatives met inside to certify Biden as the winner. Law enforcement agencies have warned threats and potential armed conflict in all 50 states of the country. On Friday, the National Park Service said that it was closing iconic landmarks in the capital city till at least January 21. These include the National Mall and other iconic US landmarks. Part of the Mall are landmarks like the Lincoln Memorial, and the Washington Monument. Most of the area surrounding the White House also remains closed, including an important bridge which connects Virginia to Washington, along with East and West Potomac Parks, including Hains Point, which also falls near the Mall. Also read: FBI investigating dozens for death of police officer at US Capitol "We cannot allow a recurrence of the chaos and illegal activity that the United States and the world witnessed last week," Matthew Miller, the head of the Secret Service’s operations in Washington said to reporters. As part of its agreement with the US Secret Service, Virginia later announced that it would close many other bridges that lead into the capital from January 19 to January 21. The Federal Bureau of Investigation in the United States is currently questioning dozens of people in relation to the killing of a police officer during the attack on US Capitol. Also read: Biden slams Republican lawmakers for not wearing masks during Capitol Hill attack Brian Sicknick died a day after a mob supporting US President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol last week. Reportedly, they attacked law enforcement officers. Another state bordering the capital - Maryland announced a state of emergency ahead of the inauguration.

Major landmarks closed, security measures upped in DC before Biden's presidential inauguration

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: "I believe in the strength of US institutions and democracy. Peaceful transition of power is at the core.

'Joe Biden has a daunting task ahead of him', says EU chief Ursula von der Leyen over Capitol riots

The 25th Amendment says the vice-president and a majority of principal officers of the executive departments can provide a declaration to Congress that the president “is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office.” This can remove the President of the United States and will appoint Vice President to the office.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi calls for Trump's removal through 25th Amendment after Capitol Ruckus

US President Donald Trump suffered another major setback on Saturday in his desperate crusade to overturn the recently conducted presidential election and win it -- as a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by his campaign that sought to throw out millions of mail-in votes in Pennsylvania.

Trump and his allies have now won two election-related cases and lost 34, according to Democratic election lawyer Marc Elias.

District Court Judge Matthew Brann ruled that Trump's campaign had failed to demonstrate there had been widespread voting fraud in the November 3 vote.

Brann said that he "has no authority to take away the right to vote of even a single person, let alone millions of citizens."

The lawsuit, spearheaded by Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, sought to stop officials from certifying Biden's victory in the state, arguing that some counties wrongly allowed voters to fix errors on their mail ballots.

Giuliani and other Trump lawyers floated a variety of conspiracy theories at a news conference on Thursday as they alleged that the election was marred by widespread voter fraud. But they have had little success in court.

Democrats said Saturday's scathing verdict was further proof that those charges are false.

Giuliani has signalled in legal filings that he will pursue an appeal, but he has little time to do so before the state formalizes Biden's victory on Monday.

Trump is seeking to invalidate or change the election results through recounts and direct pressure on lawmakers in several states. He would need to prevail in at least three states to prevent Biden from being sworn in as president on January 20 -- an unprecedented action.

In Michigan, Republicans wrote to state authorities on Saturday asking them to wait 14 days to certify Biden's victory to allow for an audit of ballots in Wayne County, which includes the majority-Black city of Detroit. The letter cited allegations of "irregularities" that have not been substantiated. Biden won 154,000 more votes than Trump in Michigan.

Meanwhile, a manual recount and audit in Georgia confirmed Biden on Friday as the winner in the southern state, the first Democratic presidential candidate to win Georgia in nearly three decades.

The Trump campaign has two business days to request a recount in Georgia. Trump's legal team has also said it plans a lawsuit in the state, but has not provided specifics.

Trump's accusations have continued to inflame his hard-core Republican base.

Hundreds of supporters gathered at the statehouse in Atlanta on Saturday, with video posted online showing speakers denouncing the media for calling Biden the election winner, as well as state Republican leaders for certifying the results.

Police in riot gear were deployed to separate them from counterprotesters who gathered nearby.

Critics say the delay and Trump's refusal to concede have serious implications for national security and the fight against the coronavirus, which has killed nearly 255,000 Americans.

Biden, who has denounced Trump's attempt to reverse the election results as "totally irresponsible", spent Saturday meeting with transition advisors and attending church.

Trump took part in a virtual summit of the 20 biggest world economies and then went to play golf at his club in Sterling, Virginia.

US President Donald Trump suffered another major setback on Saturday in his desperate crusade to overturn the recently conducted presidential election and win it -- as a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by his campaign that sought to throw out millions of mail-in votes in Pennsylvania.

US President Donald Trump suffered another major setback on Saturday in his desperate crusade to overturn the recently conducted presidential election and win it -- as a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by his campaign that sought to throw out millions of mail-in votes in Pennsylvania. Trump and his allies have now won two election-related cases and lost 34, according to Democratic election lawyer Marc Elias. District Court Judge Matthew Brann ruled that Trump's campaign had failed to demonstrate there had been widespread voting fraud in the November 3 vote. Brann said that he "has no authority to take away the right to vote of even a single person, let alone millions of citizens." The lawsuit, spearheaded by Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, sought to stop officials from certifying Biden's victory in the state, arguing that some counties wrongly allowed voters to fix errors on their mail ballots. Giuliani and other Trump lawyers floated a variety of conspiracy theories at a news conference on Thursday as they alleged that the election was marred by widespread voter fraud. But they have had little success in court. Democrats said Saturday's scathing verdict was further proof that those charges are false. Giuliani has signalled in legal filings that he will pursue an appeal, but he has little time to do so before the state formalizes Biden's victory on Monday. Trump is seeking to invalidate or change the election results through recounts and direct pressure on lawmakers in several states. He would need to prevail in at least three states to prevent Biden from being sworn in as president on January 20 -- an unprecedented action. In Michigan, Republicans wrote to state authorities on Saturday asking them to wait 14 days to certify Biden's victory to allow for an audit of ballots in Wayne County, which includes the majority-Black city of Detroit. The letter cited allegations of "irregularities" that have not been substantiated. Biden won 154,000 more votes than Trump in Michigan. Meanwhile, a manual recount and audit in Georgia confirmed Biden on Friday as the winner in the southern state, the first Democratic presidential candidate to win Georgia in nearly three decades. The Trump campaign has two business days to request a recount in Georgia. Trump's legal team has also said it plans a lawsuit in the state, but has not provided specifics. Trump's accusations have continued to inflame his hard-core Republican base. Hundreds of supporters gathered at the statehouse in Atlanta on Saturday, with video posted online showing speakers denouncing the media for calling Biden the election winner, as well as state Republican leaders for certifying the results. Police in riot gear were deployed to separate them from counterprotesters who gathered nearby. Critics say the delay and Trump's refusal to concede have serious implications for national security and the fight against the coronavirus, which has killed nearly 255,000 Americans. Biden, who has denounced Trump's attempt to reverse the election results as "totally irresponsible", spent Saturday meeting with transition advisors and attending church. Trump took part in a virtual summit of the 20 biggest world economies and then went to play golf at his club in Sterling, Virginia.

US judge dismisses Trump election lawsuit in Pennsylvania

WASHINGTON — I’ve been riveted all week by the spectacle of the most famous blond phenom on the planet, a child isolated and miserable living inside a national landmark, lashing out and spiraling into self-destructive acts.

But eventually I had to turn off the new season of “The Crown,” focusing on Princess Diana, and drag my attention back to Donald Trump, who is trashing this place before checking out like he’s Axl Rose at a Four Seasons.

Diana and Donald shared a few things in common: their toxic tango with the press, their psychic connection with their fan base, their willingness to blow up norms. They were both “unpredictable meteors,” as Tony Blair once described Di. They both savored sitting in their rooms glued to their own coverage on TV, dialing up their chosen reporters to control the narrative. They were both unhappy at the top, fretting about being undercut. Diana almost upended the monarchy, and Trump is doing his worst to upend democracy.

That’s where the similarities end. In terms of empathy, hugging the afflicted, the radiant Diana and the radioactive Trump are opposites. And while watching her fractured fairy tale breaks your heart, watching his fractious exit makes your head hurt. The young princess feared she was going mad amid barking corgis; the 74-year-old president wallows in his barking madness.

On Friday afternoon, Trump continued embarrassing himself and the nation when he finally emerged, after sulking in his tent for days, and asserted that he had won the election. He blamed Big Pharma, Big Tech and the media for his woes.

He sent out a fundraising message praising the news conference with his lawyers, a dripping Rudy Giuliani and a rabid Sidney Powell laying out the absurd phantom global conspiracy that is thwarting Trump’s reelection.

Then Trump met with Michigan GOP officials, brazenly trying to subvert democracy and claw back a swing state, or even just feed his ego by delegitimizing the election in the eyes of his base. But the Michigan lawmakers came out of the White House and said they would “follow the normal process” that has Joe Biden ahead even as the governor of Georgia certified the results there for Biden.

It would be merely pathetic to watch Trump toss nails on the road behind him if it weren’t so dangerous.

Biden needs all the air in his tires and a full tank of gas when he pulls that Corvette into the White House driveway in two months, because this country is shot to hell and running on empty.

Trump is sabotaging the transition as the pandemic rages, engaging in midnight maneuvers like ending several emergency lending programs that could buoy the economy and attempting to ravage Alaska’s wildlife refuge.

Republicans remain as mute and frightened of Trump as ever. Mitch McConnell could stop this nonsense with one sentence: “We’re moving on and recognizing Joe Biden as president-elect.” But he refuses to, letting the damage to the country unspool to protect his own standing with the base and to hold onto those two Senate seats in Georgia that make him majority leader.

It’s outrageous that Congress left town for the holidays this weekend without passing COVID relief. But Republicans, who are already all about setting themselves up for the next election, prefer to put Biden in a bind and later trash him for big spending. Never mind that they’re leaving millions of Americans in the lurch.

After watching unfeeling Republicans, it’s not really an escape to turn on “The Crown” and watch that unfeeling bunch — Margaret Thatcher and the royals.

Peter Morgan, the writer of “The Queen” and creator of “The Crown,” spent a large chunk of his career refurbishing the queen’s reputation after the disastrous period following Diana’s death, when Blair had to beg Queen Elizabeth to show more emotion.

But in this fourth season of “The Crown,” Morgan presents a more brittle queen as the bulimic Diana is crying out for help and the Boss blows her off, feeling Charles and Diana are spoiled, immature and letting the side down.

Diana, perfectly played by Emma Corrin, describes the palace as “a cold, frozen tundra; an icy, dark, loveless cave with no light, no hope anywhere — not even the faintest crack.”

Morgan’s portrayal of Charles is rough as well. The Prince of Wales is too in love with Camilla, too jealous of Diana and too wounded from his upbringing to give his marriage a real chance.

When I covered the visit of Charles and Diana to Washington in 1985, the couple seemed happy. But problems were brewing. An insecure future king was sure to be jealous of a wife who sluiced all the attention away simply by tucking down her chin and flashing a look from under her eyelashes. And it was clear that Diana, who was called “Duch” as a girl because she always acted like a duchess, was learning how to channel her electric star power.

The gala at the Reagan White House — Duch meets Dutch — was a showcase for Diana, shimmering in blue velvet and a pearl choker, not Charles. Nancy Reagan had gathered a pantheon of leading men for the princess: Mikhail Baryshnikov, Clint Eastwood, Tom Selleck and, as a dancing partner when the Marine Band played “Night Fever,” John Travolta.

In “The Art of the Comeback” in 1997, Trump said that his only regret “in the women department” was that he didn’t date Diana after her divorce. He said “she lit up the room with her charm, her presence,” and was “a dream lady.”

Dream on, Donald. Of his wooing, Diana told a friend, “He gives me the creeps.”

Di, we know how you feel.

WASHINGTON — I’ve been riveted all week by the spectacle of the most famous blond phenom on the planet, a child isolated and miserable living inside a national landmark, lashing out and spiraling into self-destructive acts.

WASHINGTON — I’ve been riveted all week by the spectacle of the most famous blond phenom on the planet, a child isolated and miserable living inside a national landmark, lashing out and spiraling into self-destructive acts. But eventually I had to turn off the new season of “The Crown,” focusing on Princess Diana, and drag my attention back to Donald Trump, who is trashing this place before checking out like he’s Axl Rose at a Four Seasons. Diana and Donald shared a few things in common: their toxic tango with the press, their psychic connection with their fan base, their willingness to blow up norms. They were both “unpredictable meteors,” as Tony Blair once described Di. They both savored sitting in their rooms glued to their own coverage on TV, dialing up their chosen reporters to control the narrative. They were both unhappy at the top, fretting about being undercut. Diana almost upended the monarchy, and Trump is doing his worst to upend democracy. That’s where the similarities end. In terms of empathy, hugging the afflicted, the radiant Diana and the radioactive Trump are opposites. And while watching her fractured fairy tale breaks your heart, watching his fractious exit makes your head hurt. The young princess feared she was going mad amid barking corgis; the 74-year-old president wallows in his barking madness. On Friday afternoon, Trump continued embarrassing himself and the nation when he finally emerged, after sulking in his tent for days, and asserted that he had won the election. He blamed Big Pharma, Big Tech and the media for his woes. He sent out a fundraising message praising the news conference with his lawyers, a dripping Rudy Giuliani and a rabid Sidney Powell laying out the absurd phantom global conspiracy that is thwarting Trump’s reelection. Then Trump met with Michigan GOP officials, brazenly trying to subvert democracy and claw back a swing state, or even just feed his ego by delegitimizing the election in the eyes of his base. But the Michigan lawmakers came out of the White House and said they would “follow the normal process” that has Joe Biden ahead even as the governor of Georgia certified the results there for Biden. It would be merely pathetic to watch Trump toss nails on the road behind him if it weren’t so dangerous. Biden needs all the air in his tires and a full tank of gas when he pulls that Corvette into the White House driveway in two months, because this country is shot to hell and running on empty. Trump is sabotaging the transition as the pandemic rages, engaging in midnight maneuvers like ending several emergency lending programs that could buoy the economy and attempting to ravage Alaska’s wildlife refuge. Republicans remain as mute and frightened of Trump as ever. Mitch McConnell could stop this nonsense with one sentence: “We’re moving on and recognizing Joe Biden as president-elect.” But he refuses to, letting the damage to the country unspool to protect his own standing with the base and to hold onto those two Senate seats in Georgia that make him majority leader. It’s outrageous that Congress left town for the holidays this weekend without passing COVID relief. But Republicans, who are already all about setting themselves up for the next election, prefer to put Biden in a bind and later trash him for big spending. Never mind that they’re leaving millions of Americans in the lurch. After watching unfeeling Republicans, it’s not really an escape to turn on “The Crown” and watch that unfeeling bunch — Margaret Thatcher and the royals. Peter Morgan, the writer of “The Queen” and creator of “The Crown,” spent a large chunk of his career refurbishing the queen’s reputation after the disastrous period following Diana’s death, when Blair had to beg Queen Elizabeth to show more emotion. But in this fourth season of “The Crown,” Morgan presents a more brittle queen as the bulimic Diana is crying out for help and the Boss blows her off, feeling Charles and Diana are spoiled, immature and letting the side down. Diana, perfectly played by Emma Corrin, describes the palace as “a cold, frozen tundra; an icy, dark, loveless cave with no light, no hope anywhere — not even the faintest crack.” Morgan’s portrayal of Charles is rough as well. The Prince of Wales is too in love with Camilla, too jealous of Diana and too wounded from his upbringing to give his marriage a real chance. When I covered the visit of Charles and Diana to Washington in 1985, the couple seemed happy. But problems were brewing. An insecure future king was sure to be jealous of a wife who sluiced all the attention away simply by tucking down her chin and flashing a look from under her eyelashes. And it was clear that Diana, who was called “Duch” as a girl because she always acted like a duchess, was learning how to channel her electric star power. The gala at the Reagan White House — Duch meets Dutch — was a showcase for Diana, shimmering in blue velvet and a pearl choker, not Charles. Nancy Reagan had gathered a pantheon of leading men for the princess: Mikhail Baryshnikov, Clint Eastwood, Tom Selleck and, as a dancing partner when the Marine Band played “Night Fever,” John Travolta. In “The Art of the Comeback” in 1997, Trump said that his only regret “in the women department” was that he didn’t date Diana after her divorce. He said “she lit up the room with her charm, her presence,” and was “a dream lady.” Dream on, Donald. Of his wooing, Diana told a friend, “He gives me the creeps.” Di, we know how you feel.

The lady and the Trump

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-states-of-america-is-back-in-the-game-joe-biden-tells-world-leaders-342283">The United States of America is ‘back in the game’: Joe Biden tells world leaders</a> 
 
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Speaking in Delaware, Mr Biden said: “I’m letting them know that America’s back. We’re going to be back in the game. It’s not going to be America alone.” 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/international-observers-see-no-fraud-in-historic-us-vote-342284">International observers see 'no fraud in 'historic' US vote</a> 
 
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Despite Donald Trump’s repeated expressions of doubt on the US election's voting system, International observers from the Organisation of American States say they saw no instances of fraud or voting irregularities in the US presidential election.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/another-big-leap-spacex-set-to-launch-first-fully-crewed-iss-mission-342288">'Another big leap': SpaceX set to launch first fully-crewed ISS mission</a> 
 
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Elon Musk's rocket company SpaceX is set to launch its first fully-crewed bound for the International Space Station on Saturday. It is the program's first six-month routine mission since the United States resumed crewed space flight in May after nine years of reliance on Russia. 
&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brazilian-president-bolsonaro-sparks-outrage-over-his-homophobic-statement-342293">Brazilian President Bolsonaro sparks outrage over his homophobic statement</a>

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Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro drew criticism and sparked outrage and drew criticism over his homophobic outburst for telling Brazilians not to deal with Covid-19 like "a country of fags". 
 
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The United States of America is ‘back in the game’: Joe Biden tells world leaders Speaking in Delaware, Mr Biden said: “I’m letting them know that America’s back.

The United States of America is ‘back in the game’: Joe Biden tells world leaders Speaking in Delaware, Mr Biden said: “I’m letting them know that America’s back. We’re going to be back in the game. It’s not going to be America alone.” International observers see 'no fraud in 'historic' US vote Despite Donald Trump’s repeated expressions of doubt on the US election's voting system, International observers from the Organisation of American States say they saw no instances of fraud or voting irregularities in the US presidential election. 'Another big leap': SpaceX set to launch first fully-crewed ISS mission Elon Musk's rocket company SpaceX is set to launch its first fully-crewed bound for the International Space Station on Saturday. It is the program's first six-month routine mission since the United States resumed crewed space flight in May after nine years of reliance on Russia. Brazilian President Bolsonaro sparks outrage over his homophobic statement Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro drew criticism and sparked outrage and drew criticism over his homophobic outburst for telling Brazilians not to deal with Covid-19 like "a country of fags".

Morning news brief: US polls, Bolsonaro’s homophobic statement and more

Former president Bush agreed that Trump had "the right to request recounts and pursue legal challenges."

George Bush congratulates Democrat Biden for winning US presidential elections | US Election 2020

Although the final count was still being tallied over the weekend in several battleground states, Biden’s win in Pennsylvania with its 20 electoral college votes ensured he would prevail.

Lack of clarity over presidential transition as GSA yet to green light Biden's win

China on Monday refused to congratulate Joe Biden for winning the presidential election, saying the outcome still needs to be decided.

China refuses to acknowledge Joe Biden as next president of US

The U.S. unemployment rate didn’t drop below the level it was at when Obama and Biden were elected until a year into their second term.

President-elect Joe Biden returns to battle another economic crisis

Tensions between the world's two largest economies have intensified over the past year, shaking up technology supply chains and trade relations, and stoking fears that a financial war between the two countries could be brewing.

US Election 2020: What is in store for China-U.S relation?

Will Joe Biden be good or bad for Brexit Britain? Might Washington now favour France and Germany? But What does Joe Biden's win mean for Brexit?

US election 2020: What does Joe Biden's win mean for Brexit?

European allies who regularly clashed with Trump over defense spending and trade were among some of the first to congratulate President-elect Biden.

America's foreign policy under President-elect Joe Biden

Mr Trump was on the green at his golf course in Sterling, Virginia at the time the result was announced.

Donald Trump plays golf on the day Joe Bidden declares winner

People gathered in capitals of Pennsylvania and Michigan claim ballot fraud and condemn media

US Election 2020: 'It's not over': Trump supporters protest Biden victory in Pennsylvania and Michigan

President-elect Joe Biden's victory over Donald Trump has sparked celebrations all across the United States. Large crowd of people gathered in New York's Time Square waving signs & flags to celebrate Biden's win.

US Election 2020: By how many votes did Joe Biden beat Donald Trump

Donald Trump's Democratic rival Joe Biden said he would he waste no time in addressing the Covid pandemic upon taking office, as he closed in on winning the US presidency.

"I want everyone, everyone to know on day one we're going to put our plan to control this virus into action," Biden said in a late night address Friday from his hometown Wilmington, in Delaware.

Biden expressed confidence that he would defeat President Donald Trump as vote counting dragged on from Tuesday's election but stopped short of declaring himself the winner. He pledged to unite a bitterly divided nation.

The virus has killed more than 231,000 Americans and infected over 9 million others.

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"It's time for us to come together as a nation to heal," Biden said, adding it was "clear and convincing" that he is going to win the race for the White House.

"We don't have the final declaration victory yet. But the numbers tell us it is clear... Clear and convincing story. We are going to win this race," he said.

As per the latest projections, Biden has 264 electoral college votes and Trump trails behind with 213. Biden was leading in four of the five key battleground states where counting of ballots was still going on. Trump was trailing behind Biden in Arizona (by 38,455 votes), Georgia (4,224), Nevada (22,657) and Pennsylvania (19,500) but leading in North Carolina with 76,587 votes.

To be declared the winner of the US election, either of the two candidates needs at least 270 of the 538 electoral college votes.

Donald Trump's Democratic rival Joe Biden said he would he waste no time in addressing the Covid pandemic upon taking office, as he closed in on winning the US presidency.

Donald Trump's Democratic rival Joe Biden said he would he waste no time in addressing the Covid pandemic upon taking office, as he closed in on winning the US presidency. "I want everyone, everyone to know on day one we're going to put our plan to control this virus into action," Biden said in a late night address Friday from his hometown Wilmington, in Delaware. Biden expressed confidence that he would defeat President Donald Trump as vote counting dragged on from Tuesday's election but stopped short of declaring himself the winner. He pledged to unite a bitterly divided nation. The virus has killed more than 231,000 Americans and infected over 9 million others. × "It's time for us to come together as a nation to heal," Biden said, adding it was "clear and convincing" that he is going to win the race for the White House. "We don't have the final declaration victory yet. But the numbers tell us it is clear... Clear and convincing story. We are going to win this race," he said. As per the latest projections, Biden has 264 electoral college votes and Trump trails behind with 213. Biden was leading in four of the five key battleground states where counting of ballots was still going on. Trump was trailing behind Biden in Arizona (by 38,455 votes), Georgia (4,224), Nevada (22,657) and Pennsylvania (19,500) but leading in North Carolina with 76,587 votes. To be declared the winner of the US election, either of the two candidates needs at least 270 of the 538 electoral college votes.

Biden addresses US, vows action against coronavirus

Three days after polls closed, the United States and the world still do not have final results from the presidential election, although Democrat Joe Biden was on the brink of unseating Donald Trump.

The wait has fueled tension across the polarized nation, with Trump alleging without evidence that Democrats are engineering fraud.

But the delay was widely expected, often for reasons specific to individual states, which under the US system each conduct their own polls:

- Competitive states take longer -

California, the nation's most populous state, was quickly called for Biden after polls closed Tuesday. But such calls are in fact projections by news outlets rather than official results, meaning that it takes longer to get an accurate picture in narrowly divided states.

"The closer the races, the longer it takes," Kathy Boockvar, secretary of the vital state of Pennsylvania, explained to reporters.

States also have diverse deadlines on receiving absentee ballots, especially those coming from the military or other citizens living overseas.

North Carolina has held off on counting at least 171,000 ballots -- which could make the difference -- as by law it accepts votes that arrive by mail through November 12 so long as they were postmarked by Election Day.

Similarly, Nevada, which also has a tight race, will count ballots postmarked by Election Day so long as they arrive by November 10.

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Also causing delays are provisional ballots, which are issued to voters if there is confusion about their registration and need verification.

- Deluge of mail-in ballots -

With concerns about the Covid-19 pandemic, states accustomed to limited numbers of absentee votes have been deluged with ballots mailed by citizens who do not want to risk voting in person.

Some 65.2 million of the record 160 million Americans who voted this year did so by mail, according to an estimate of the US Elections Project.

In Pennsylvania, the Republican-led legislature rejected an effort to let authorities count ahead of Election Day, contributing to the scenario in which its biggest city Philadelphia -- a Democratic stronghold -- reported returns last.

Some places have unique factors delaying vote-counting such as Chatham County in tightly fought Georgia, where an election division and a registration board separately look at ballots.

- Legal challenges -

The Trump campaign has seized on the delay to demand a halt to counting in states where it is behind, notably Pennsylvania whose Republican Party approached the US Supreme Court.

Republicans had been fighting for months against allowing Pennsylvania to count ballots postmarked by Election Day if they arrive by Friday.

In Wisconsin, where Biden eked out a narrow victory in results made known by early Wednesday, the Supreme Court ruled that only votes received by Election Day would count.

Most states allow rival parties to observe counting but challenges on the rules have taken time, with Trump's supporters taking particular issue with Philadelphia's rule that watchers stay at least 15 feet (4.5 meters) away due to Covid risks.

Three days after polls closed, the United States and the world still do not have final results from the presidential election, although Democrat Joe Biden was on the brink of unseating Donald Trump.

Three days after polls closed, the United States and the world still do not have final results from the presidential election, although Democrat Joe Biden was on the brink of unseating Donald Trump. The wait has fueled tension across the polarized nation, with Trump alleging without evidence that Democrats are engineering fraud. But the delay was widely expected, often for reasons specific to individual states, which under the US system each conduct their own polls: - Competitive states take longer - California, the nation's most populous state, was quickly called for Biden after polls closed Tuesday. But such calls are in fact projections by news outlets rather than official results, meaning that it takes longer to get an accurate picture in narrowly divided states. "The closer the races, the longer it takes," Kathy Boockvar, secretary of the vital state of Pennsylvania, explained to reporters. States also have diverse deadlines on receiving absentee ballots, especially those coming from the military or other citizens living overseas. North Carolina has held off on counting at least 171,000 ballots -- which could make the difference -- as by law it accepts votes that arrive by mail through November 12 so long as they were postmarked by Election Day. Similarly, Nevada, which also has a tight race, will count ballots postmarked by Election Day so long as they arrive by November 10. × Also causing delays are provisional ballots, which are issued to voters if there is confusion about their registration and need verification. - Deluge of mail-in ballots - With concerns about the Covid-19 pandemic, states accustomed to limited numbers of absentee votes have been deluged with ballots mailed by citizens who do not want to risk voting in person. Some 65.2 million of the record 160 million Americans who voted this year did so by mail, according to an estimate of the US Elections Project. In Pennsylvania, the Republican-led legislature rejected an effort to let authorities count ahead of Election Day, contributing to the scenario in which its biggest city Philadelphia -- a Democratic stronghold -- reported returns last. Some places have unique factors delaying vote-counting such as Chatham County in tightly fought Georgia, where an election division and a registration board separately look at ballots. - Legal challenges - The Trump campaign has seized on the delay to demand a halt to counting in states where it is behind, notably Pennsylvania whose Republican Party approached the US Supreme Court. Republicans had been fighting for months against allowing Pennsylvania to count ballots postmarked by Election Day if they arrive by Friday. In Wisconsin, where Biden eked out a narrow victory in results made known by early Wednesday, the Supreme Court ruled that only votes received by Election Day would count. Most states allow rival parties to observe counting but challenges on the rules have taken time, with Trump's supporters taking particular issue with Philadelphia's rule that watchers stay at least 15 feet (4.5 meters) away due to Covid risks.

Why is US vote count taking so long?

Democratic candidate Joe Biden‘s margins over Republican President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania and Georgia continued to grow Friday night into Saturday

US Election 2020: Race comes down to 5 swing states

Cooper make the remarks in the wake of Trump’s press conference in which he accused “big tech, big money, the media, pollsters and Democrats” of rigging the election against him.

News Anchor Anderson Cooper compares Donald Trump to an 'Obese turtle'

Most are believed to favour Biden, and Republicans say they should be disqualified under Pennsylvania state law.

US Election 2020: US Supreme Court says no to immediate halt of Pennsylvania count

US Election 2020 trends are not in Donald Trump's favour. Even US President's favourite news channel is talking about 'Narrow paths to victory'. How is Trump taking all of this? True to his word, Trump is not proving to be a great loser. He is being a sore loser. Here's why.

When the counting began, Trump cried theft on Twitter. He then cried fraud at 2:30 am address.

Watch |&nbsp;

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"We lead by 76,000 votes with almost nothing left. And all of a sudden everything just stopped. This is a fraud on the American public. This is an embarrassment to our country. We were getting ready to win this election. Frankly, we did win this election. So our goal now is to ensure the integrity for the good of this nation. This is a very big moment. This is a major fraud in our nation," he said.

This was more than 24 hours ago. Since then, he has made a number of tweets, one out of them claiming 'Biden votes are being found all over the place' in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan. It can't be said for certain what he meant here. Then there was the tweet was in which the president was attacking the mail-in ballot yet again.

In another tweet, Trump claims that the US election system has been damaged.

Clearly, Trump's not happy. The numbers do not favour him. The president is in denial. And he is blaming everything and everyone he possibly can. Word is, he is frantically calling Republican Governors, his lawyers. He is doing this even when elections have not been called yet.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/the-hail-mary-keep-counting-us-presidential-election-340871">The Hail-Mary Keep-Counting US Presidential Election</a>

Trump is already building a case to remain in office in case elections are called in favour of Biden. His team has been filing lawsuits. Too many of them.

One is demanding a recount in Wisconsin. Another is challenging the votes in Michigan. A third lawsuit has been filed to halt or challenge votes in Pennsylvania. And a fourth one is demanding a halt of the counting in Georgia.&nbsp;

Experts say that these cases lack foundation. At most, they can stall the result.

Donald Trump is game. If he can't win the election, he will hijack it by stalling it. Trump is trying his level best to interfere with the process

A day after his son Eric Trump cheered the president's allegation of fraud by shouting 'It's not how a democracy works'

He is right. The leader of the world's oldest democracy can't have his official schedule empty for the second straight day.

No briefing on economy. No briefing on the Wuhan virus situation. America's infection numbers have crossed 9.8 million. But Donald Trump has locked himself inside White House and put the state machinery on hold.

A democratically elected leader should not stoke violence. A day after Trump declared that he did not need Arizona, Pro-Trump supporters have taken to the streets of Phoenix. Some of them carried arms. They are outside the counting centres, trying to stop the counting, trying to disenfranchise the voters. Press crews have been asked to leave the area. Police is guarding the counters.

Is this how a democracy works?

Moreover, in which democratic country does a court decide elections? Because that's exactly what might happen in the US. It's bad enough that American hand over their franchise to an electoral college.

And now if Trump is to have his way, it will be the US Supreme Court that will pick the president. This won't be the first time.

It had happened in 2000 during George Bush's election. Back then, the fight was over one state, Florida. Bush had won. 20 years later, it's messier

Why?

Because Trump is scared to face the result of an election that's becoming increasingly uncertain. 
&nbsp; 
It's an election that's defined by suspense. One American leader predicted this, weeks before the polling day. It was Bernie Sanders 
&nbsp; 
“You’re going to have a situation, I suspect, in states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, other states, where they are going to be receiving huge amounts of mail-in ballots. Unlike states like Florida and Vermont, they’ll not be able to process these ballots until Election Day or until the polls close," he had said.

Can a country that takes pride in calling itself the global leader not fix its electoral process? Perhaps not because amid all the confusion, the United States of America is busy celebrating the election of a dog as town's mayor. It happened in Kentucky. A French Bulldog was elected to office in Rabbit Hash. The dog won by over 13,000 votes. It's apparently a tradition since the 1990s. Who else thinks this is a mockery of the electoral system? 
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US Election 2020 trends are not in Donald Trump's favour. Even US President's favourite news channel is talking about 'Narrow paths to victory'. How is Trump taking all of this?

US Election 2020 trends are not in Donald Trump's favour. Even US President's favourite news channel is talking about 'Narrow paths to victory'. How is Trump taking all of this? True to his word, Trump is not proving to be a great loser. He is being a sore loser. Here's why. When the counting began, Trump cried theft on Twitter. He then cried fraud at 2:30 am address. Watch | "We lead by 76,000 votes with almost nothing left. And all of a sudden everything just stopped. This is a fraud on the American public. This is an embarrassment to our country. We were getting ready to win this election. Frankly, we did win this election. So our goal now is to ensure the integrity for the good of this nation. This is a very big moment. This is a major fraud in our nation," he said. This was more than 24 hours ago. Since then, he has made a number of tweets, one out of them claiming 'Biden votes are being found all over the place' in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan. It can't be said for certain what he meant here. Then there was the tweet was in which the president was attacking the mail-in ballot yet again. In another tweet, Trump claims that the US election system has been damaged. Clearly, Trump's not happy. The numbers do not favour him. The president is in denial. And he is blaming everything and everyone he possibly can. Word is, he is frantically calling Republican Governors, his lawyers. He is doing this even when elections have not been called yet. Also Read | The Hail-Mary Keep-Counting US Presidential Election Trump is already building a case to remain in office in case elections are called in favour of Biden. His team has been filing lawsuits. Too many of them. One is demanding a recount in Wisconsin. Another is challenging the votes in Michigan. A third lawsuit has been filed to halt or challenge votes in Pennsylvania. And a fourth one is demanding a halt of the counting in Georgia. Experts say that these cases lack foundation. At most, they can stall the result. Donald Trump is game. If he can't win the election, he will hijack it by stalling it. Trump is trying his level best to interfere with the process A day after his son Eric Trump cheered the president's allegation of fraud by shouting 'It's not how a democracy works' He is right. The leader of the world's oldest democracy can't have his official schedule empty for the second straight day. No briefing on economy. No briefing on the Wuhan virus situation. America's infection numbers have crossed 9.8 million. But Donald Trump has locked himself inside White House and put the state machinery on hold. A democratically elected leader should not stoke violence. A day after Trump declared that he did not need Arizona, Pro-Trump supporters have taken to the streets of Phoenix. Some of them carried arms. They are outside the counting centres, trying to stop the counting, trying to disenfranchise the voters. Press crews have been asked to leave the area. Police is guarding the counters. Is this how a democracy works? Moreover, in which democratic country does a court decide elections? Because that's exactly what might happen in the US. It's bad enough that American hand over their franchise to an electoral college. And now if Trump is to have his way, it will be the US Supreme Court that will pick the president. This won't be the first time. It had happened in 2000 during George Bush's election. Back then, the fight was over one state, Florida. Bush had won. 20 years later, it's messier Why? Because Trump is scared to face the result of an election that's becoming increasingly uncertain. It's an election that's defined by suspense. One American leader predicted this, weeks before the polling day. It was Bernie Sanders “You’re going to have a situation, I suspect, in states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, other states, where they are going to be receiving huge amounts of mail-in ballots. Unlike states like Florida and Vermont, they’ll not be able to process these ballots until Election Day or until the polls close," he had said. Can a country that takes pride in calling itself the global leader not fix its electoral process? Perhaps not because amid all the confusion, the United States of America is busy celebrating the election of a dog as town's mayor. It happened in Kentucky. A French Bulldog was elected to office in Rabbit Hash. The dog won by over 13,000 votes. It's apparently a tradition since the 1990s. Who else thinks this is a mockery of the electoral system?

Is Donald Trump being a sore loser?