Will a crucial transition letter be signed today?
US media have noted that an independent government agency has yet to sign an important letter that facilitates the transfer of power between Trump and Biden.

The General Services Administration (GSA) signs paperwork that allows the transition team access to government officials, office space, equipment and funds.

According to the Washington Post, the letter amounts to a formal declaration by the federal government - outside of the media - of the winner of the presidential race,

Democrats have criticised the delay.

However, Robert C MacKichan Jr, an attorney who served as GSA general counsel for president Ronald Reagan and George HW Bush, said it is too early for the letter to be signed because Trump has not yet conceded and the results have not been made official by the electoral college.

Since the 1960s, the agency has always identified the winner within hours, or at most a day, after the media projections.

First-time Democrat voter: 'The nation will return to a sense of civility'
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ames, a lifelong Republican who voted for Joe Biden, has been speaking to the BBC. This was his first time voting for a Democrat. Here's what he had to say:

Biden is a seasoned politician who has all sorts of personal connections in the Senate. Even if the Senate remains in Republican hands, I believe that Biden as president will be able to reach across the aisle and get things done.

This is the first time I've ever voted for a Democrat for president. The very first time.

I'm looking forward to Trump being gone so I can become a Republican again.

I fear that Trump will set himself up with his own TV network. Certainly a running commentary for the next four years as he seeks to run for president again in 2024.

He will continue for the next four years to spout this nonsense about massive fraud and there's no evidence of massive fraud.

It's just amazing to me the kind of stuff he says.

Update from Russia: Putin will be waiting ...
A short while ago we brought you the latest news from Russia, and specifically President Putin's delay in acknowledging Joe Biden as president-elect.

Since then Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, has given an update.

“The correct thing to do is wait for the official result,” he said. He referred to the “legal procedures” announced by Donald Trump.

US election results are never official until final certification, which occurs in each state in the weeks following the election.

However, the media projections - which involve the work of thousands of analysts - are usually deemed enough to spark a concession and kick off the transition process.

Even though President Trump has refused to conceed, congratulations have flooded in from many other world leaders.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has delivered her first public speech about Joe Biden’s win.

Merkel congratulated Biden “wholeheartedly”, saying that he knows Germany and Europe well and she had fond memories of meeting him.

She also congratulated Kamala Harris as the first woman vice-president and added that, as a child of two migrants, the Californian was an “inspiration to many people”.

Merkel stressed the importance of the two countries’ relationship and said that without US support, German reunification 30 years ago would never have been possible.

She added that the two countries must stand together to overcome major challenges, such as the coronavirus pandemic, global warming and terrorism.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has delivered her first public speech about Joe Biden’s win.

Merkel congratulated Biden “wholeheartedly”, saying that he knows Germany and Europe well and she had fond memories of meeting him.

She also congratulated Kamala Harris as the first woman vice-president and added that, as a child of two migrants, the Californian was an “inspiration to many people”.

Merkel stressed the importance of the two countries’ relationship and said that without US support, German reunification 30 years ago would never have been possible.

She added that the two countries must stand together to overcome major challenges, such as the coronavirus pandemic, global warming and terrorism.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has delivered her first public speech about Joe Biden’s win.

Merkel congratulated Biden “wholeheartedly”, saying that he knows Germany and Europe well and she had fond memories of meeting him.

She also congratulated Kamala Harris as the first woman vice-president and added that, as a child of two migrants, the Californian was an “inspiration to many people”.

Merkel stressed the importance of the two countries’ relationship and said that without US support, German reunification 30 years ago would never have been possible.

She added that the two countries must stand together to overcome major challenges, such as the coronavirus pandemic, global warming and terrorism.