President-elect Joe Biden said it was "time to turn the page" after US electoral college representatives on Monday submitted their votes to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election.
Mr Biden clinched the required 270 votes to become president-elect, beating the incumbent, President Donald Trump.
"The flame of democracy was lit in this nation a long time ago," Mr Biden said in a prime-time speech.
"And we now know that nothing, not even a pandemic, or an abuse of power, can extinguish that flame."
The electoral college vote between Mr Biden and Mr Trump ended 306-232 in favour of Mr Biden, with no faithless electors voting against the wishes of the people.
Mr Trump, meanwhile, continues to make claims of electoral fraud and still refuses to concede to Mr Biden.
"Three hundred and six electoral votes is the same number that Trump and Pence received when they won in 2016," Mr Biden said on Monday night.
"At the time, Trump called his electoral college tally a landslide. By his own standards, these numbers represented a clear victory then and I respectfully suggest they do so now."
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Biden on the campaign trail – in pictures
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A lawsuit led by the Texas attorney general and supported by Mr Trump tried to overturn the election results in some swing states, including Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
The lawsuit was rejected by the US Supreme Court on Friday.
All of those battleground states, and two others in which Mr Trump contested election results, voted in favour of Mr Biden on Monday.
By law, every US presidential election year, electoral college representatives meet in their state capitols to cast their votes on the second Monday of December.
The electors this year took extra precautions for reasons related to the pandemic, and for security because electors in Michigan received death threats. Nevertheless, the day developed without many surprises.
“The electoral college votes which occurred today reflect the fact that even in the face of a public health crisis unlike anything we’ve experienced in our lifetimes, the people voted," Mr Biden said.
The results from Monday's vote will be sent to Washington for the Congressional session on January 6.
The votes will be counted during the joint House and Senate session, paving the way for inauguration on January 20, when Mr Biden will be sworn in as the 46th US president.
Shortly after Mr Biden clinched the electoral college votes required to win, Mr Trump tweeted an announcement that Attorney General William Barr was resigning and would leave his position before the Christmas holiday.
Mr Barr disputed that there was any evidence of electoral fraud this year, contrary to Mr Trump's claims.
What are the main cyber security threats?
Cyber crime - This includes fraud, impersonation, scams and deepfake technology, tactics that are increasingly targeting infrastructure and exploiting human vulnerabilities.
Cyber terrorism - Social media platforms are used to spread radical ideologies, misinformation and disinformation, often with the aim of disrupting critical infrastructure such as power grids.
Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
UAE SQUAD
Omar Abdulrahman (Al Hilal), Ali Khaseif, Ali Mabkhout, Salem Rashed, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Khalfan Mubarak, Zayed Al Ameri, Mohammed Al Attas (Al Jazira), Khalid Essa, Ahmed Barman, Ryan Yaslam, Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain), Habib Fardan, Tariq Ahmed, Mohammed Al Akbari (Al Nasr), Ali Saleh, Ali Salmin (Al Wasl), Adel Al Hosani, Ali Hassan Saleh, Majed Suroor (Sharjah), Ahmed Khalil, Walid Abbas, Majed Hassan, Ismail Al Hammadi (Shabab Al Ahli), Hassan Al Muharrami, Fahad Al Dhahani (Bani Yas), Mohammed Al Shaker (Ajman)
Day 1 results:
Open Men (bonus points in brackets)
New Zealand 125 (1) beat UAE 111 (3)
India 111 (4) beat Singapore 75 (0)
South Africa 66 (2) beat Sri Lanka 57 (2)
Australia 126 (4) beat Malaysia -16 (0)
Open Women
New Zealand 64 (2) beat South Africa 57 (2)
England 69 (3) beat UAE 63 (1)
Australia 124 (4) beat UAE 23 (0)
New Zealand 74 (2) beat England 55 (2)
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
