International

Authorities cleared uprooted trees and debris in the northern Philippines yesterday as Typhoon Yinxing blew out to sea after pounding the coast overnight, ripping roofs from homes and forcing thousands to seek shelter.But while nearly 30,000 people took cover in government-run facilities in the days and hours before Yinxing made landfall, there were no reported casualties from the typhoon, which came just two weeks after a major storm killed more than 150.Yinxing’s 175km per hour winds knocked down power lines, tore trees from the ground and shattered windows as it slammed into the country’s north coast on Thursday, the national weather agency, residents and rescuers said.Officials reported 242.6 millimetres of rain dumped in a 24-hour window.“Many trees were uprooted. There was also soil erosion in some areas. We are lucky they were not full-blown landslides,” said Cagayan province disaster chief Rueli Rapsing, whose agency has so far reported no casualties.In the province’s Pamplona municipality, strong winds sent roofs flying through the air and residents scrambling for shelter.“The fierce wind that we experienced last night was the strongest I’ve ever felt and seen in this town,” 35-year-old resident Patrick Maquiraya said.“The roof of the house that was being constructed in front of our home suddenly went flying.”Maquiraya said friends who sought shelter at a gymnasium had to relocate to a nearby church after strong winds shattered the building’s glass windows.A live video showed fierce winds blowing merchandise from store shelves in Santa Ana town, where the typhoon made landfall.As of 8am yesterday, typhoon Yinxing’s centre was estimated to be northwest of Laoag city and moving out across the South China Sea, according to the state weather agency.Rapsing, the Cagayan disaster chief, said power lines were being restored as the province shifted into clean-up mode, with police, firemen and rescuers using excavators and other equipment to clear major roads.Yinxing is the third storm in less than a month to threaten the Philippines after severe tropical storm Trami and super typhoon Kong-rey together left 158 people dead, the national disaster agency said, with most of that tally attributed to Trami.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly backed his government’s contentious 2019 decision to revoke the partial autonomy of Jammu and Kashmir, days after the territory’s newly elected lawmakers sought its restoration.“Only the constitution of Babasaheb Ambedkar will operate in Kashmir... No power in the world can restore Article 370 (partial autonomy) in Kashmir,” Modi said, referring to one of the founding fathers of the Indian constitution.Modi was speaking at a state election rally in the western state of Maharashtra, where Ambedkar was from.Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government revoked partial autonomy in 2019 and split the state into the two federally administered territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh - a move that was opposed by many political groups in the region.Jammu and Kashmir held its first local election in a decade in September and October and the newly-elected lawmakers passed a resolution this week seeking the restoration.Jammu and Kashmir’s ruling National Conference party had promised in its election manifesto that it would restore the partial autonomy, although the power to do so lies with Modi’s federal government.Jammu and Kashmir’s new lawmakers can legislate on local issues like other Indian states, except matters regarding public order and policing. They will also need the approval of the federally-appointed administrator on all policy decisions that have financial implications. Under the system of partial autonomy, Kashmir had its own constitution and the freedom to make laws on all issues except foreign affairs, defence and communications.“Only the constitution of Babasaheb Ambedkar will operate in Kashmir... No power in the world can restore Article 370 (partial autonomy) in Kashmir”

Typhoon Yinxing battered the northern Philippines with floods and landslides, leaving two airports damaged and aggravating a calamity caused by back-to-back storms that hit in recent weeks.Officials said Friday that there were no immediate reports of casualties from the onslaught caused by Yinxing.The typhoon was last tracked over the South China Sea about 100 kilometers west of northern Ilocos Norte province with sustained winds of up to 150 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 205 kph, according to government forecasters.Typhoon Yinxing is the 13th to batter the disaster-prone Southeast Asian archipelago this year.

Up to two million people in Myanmars Rakhine state face the dire prospect of famine, amid a broader economic collapse and worsening humanitarian crisis triggered by the militarys 2021 overthrow of the democratically elected government, the United Nations warned.A new report released by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) described the situation in the poverty-struck province as an "unprecedented disaster"."A perfect storm is brewing," it said, citing a combination of interlinked issues - restrictions on domestic and international flow of goods, hyperinflation, loss of livelihoods, dwindling agricultural production and lack of essential services.Without urgent action, nearly the entire population (about 95%) "will regress into survival mode," UNDP warned."They will be left to fend for themselves amid a drastic reduction in domestic production, skyrocketing prices, widespread unemployment and heightened insecurity," it added.Rakhine is home to the mostly-Muslim Rohingya community who fled a brutal military crackdown in 2017. Today, nearly one million Rohingya refugees remain in neighboring Bangladesh.

US President-elect Donald Trump has named Susie Wiles, one of his two campaign managers, as his White House chief of staff, making her the first woman ever to hold this position in any administration."Susie will continue to work tirelessly to Make America Great Again. It is a well-deserved honor to have Susie as the first-ever female chief of staff in the United States history. I have no doubt that she will make our country proud," Trump said in a statement."Susie Wiles just helped me achieve one of the greatest political victories in American history, and was an integral part of both my 2016 and 2020 successful campaigns," Trump said.Wiles, 66, was widely credited for running what was seen as Trump's most sophisticated and disciplined campaign yet.She has worked in Republican politics since the late 1970s and went on to become a campaign scheduler on Ronald Reagans 1980 presidential bid, and later in his administration.The Chief of Staff is, historically, the first appointee named by the President-elect and is charged with overseeing all policy and day-to-day White House affairs.

AFP/WashingtonPresident Joe Biden urged Americans yesterday to lower the political temperature after Donald Trump’s crushing election win over Kamala Harris, saying in a conciliatory address to the nation that he would ensure a peaceful transition of power.In a solemn speech from the White House, Biden also said the result should “lay to rest” doubts about the integrity of the US election system fuelled by Trump’s refusal to acknowledge his own 2020 defeat by the Democrat.“Something I hope we can do, no matter who you voted for, is see each other not as adversaries but as fellow Americans. Bring down the temperature,” Biden said.Staff rose to their feet, cheered and clapped as Biden arrived in the famed Rose Garden. The 81-year-old dropped out of the race against Trump in July and handed the Democratic nomination to Harris, his vice-president.Biden said he had called Republican Trump to congratulate the twice-impeached former president and assure him there would be a “peaceful and orderly” transition.“On January 20, we’ll have a peaceful transfer of power here in America,” said Biden, whose inauguration Trump had refused to attend.The outgoing president also urged supporters not to lose hope after the re-election of Trump, who is likely to dismantle many of Biden’s policies as soon as he returns to the White House.“Remember, a defeat does not mean we are defeated,” he said.Biden’s comments were in stark contrast to billionaire Trump, whose election defeat denial four years ago culminated in the violent January 6, 2021 assault by Trump’s supporters on the US Capitol.Biden has invited Trump to meet at the White House, for what would be their first encounter since Biden’s disastrous debate performance against Trump in June that forced him out of the race.World leaders have swiftly pledged to work with Trump, despite concerns in much of the globe about his nationalist “America First” approach and pledges to slap huge tariffs on foreign imports.Chinese President Xi Jinping said Beijing and Washington must find a way to “get along” in a message to Trump, calling for “stable” bilateral ties.Trump, who is at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, is now working on his transition team after an overwhelming victory that promises a radically transformed political landscape for the United States and the world.His campaign said in a statement late Wednesday that “in the days and weeks ahead, President Trump will be selecting personnel to serve our nation under his leadership.”Robert F Kennedy Jr., a leading figure in the anti-vaccine movement for whom Trump has pledged a “big role” in healthcare, told NBC News on Wednesday that “I’m not going to take away anybody’s vaccines.” But the former independent candidate, who dropped out of the race to back Trump, reiterated that the Trump administration would recommend removing fluoride from the US water supply.The world’s richest man, Elon Musk, could also be in line for a job after enthusiastically backing Trump. The incoming president has said he will ask the SpaceX, Tesla and X boss to audit the US government to cut waste.US voters backed Trump’s hard-line right-wing policies and rejected Biden and Harris’s record, especially on the economy and inflation, exit polls showed.Trump’s victory makes him the first convicted felon and oldest man to be elected US president, and came after a turbulent campaign in which he escaped two assassination attempts and rode out the transfer from Biden to Harris.Armed with a sweeping mandate, Trump 2.0 is set to dismantle huge chunks of Biden’s legacy.Trump could start by halting the incumbent’s billions of dollars in military aid for Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s 2022 invasion, having previously suggested he would pressure Kyiv to make a peace deal.Trump will also return to the White House as a climate change denier, poised to take apart Biden’s green policies with his pledge to “drill, baby, drill” for oil.Ultimately Biden’s legacy was supposed to be a Harris victory that would keep Trump out of power — but many Democrats feel he waited too long to step aside for his vice-president.

European leaders gathered in Budapest yesterday in search of a joint response to the threats of a new Donald Trump presidency — though the seat of powerhouse Germany was left empty by a deepening political crisis.The leaders of the European Union were joined by others from the United Kingdom to Turkiye, as well as Nato chief Mark Rutte and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, for the meeting of the European Political Community — to be followed by a summit of the 27-nation bloc.“The future of Europe is in our hands,” European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said as she headed into the talks dominated by Trump’s return to the White House. “We’ve shown that Europe can take responsibility by standing together.”On the agenda: Europe’s security challenges, chief among them Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as well as conflict in the Middle East, migration, global trade and economic security — issues all thrown into sharp relief by the prospect of a disruptive second Trump presidency.“This is a decisive moment in history for us Europeans,” Macron told the gathering in opening remarks.“Do we want to read the history written by others — the wars launched by Vladimir Putin, the US election, China’s technological or trade choices,” Macron asked. “Or do we want to write our own history? I think we have the strength to write it.”While Macron’s tone was combative, he has been weakened by political troubles at home, as has the leader of the bloc’s other heavyweight — Germany’s Olaf Scholz — whose ruling coalition finally collapsed overnight, spelling uncertainty at a critical time for Europe.In a stark illustration of the leadership void, Macron made his appeal in the absence of the German chancellor — who missed the day’s talks due to the unfolding crisis, and was to catch up with leaders over dinner.Most urgent among the challenges posed by Trump’s return are the fear he could upend European security and pull the plug on support for Ukraine, while simultaneously unleashing a trade war with steep tariffs on European goods.Macron urged the continent to assert its strategic independence from the United States — and defend its interests over those of geopolitical rivals.“We must not delegate forever our security to America,” he said.Nato’s Rutte, who made a pitch to convince Trump to keep backing Kyiv, argued that North Korea’s involvement in the conflict — and the transfer of Russian weapons technology to Pyongyang — directly threatened the United States. “I look forward to sit down with Donald Trump to discuss how we can face these threats collectively,” said the alliance’s new leader.The Budapest meetings are being hosted by Hungary’s Viktor Orban — one of Trump’s rare close allies in the EU — who adopted a noticeably restrained tone as he joined calls for European unity.Today’s EU summit will focus on addressing the risk of Europe’s economy falling dangerously behind major rivals the United States and China.Trump’s return will only intensify calls — highlighted in a key report by former Italian leader Mario Draghi — for vitally needed new EU funding tools for defence and economic innovation, seen as critical to ensuring its sovereignty.“The Europeans really have a knife at their throat,” said political analyst Sebastien Maillard, of the Jacques Delors Institute. “The election result forces the EU to open its eyes.”But whether Trump’s election will jolt the continent’s leaders into action remains to be seen.“I don’t think they really prepared for this,” said Guntram Wolff of the Bruegel think tank. “There is no fully discussed plan on what to do now — at the EU level, but also at the Franco-German level.”Yesterday’s leaders’ dinner is supposed to be devoted to the issue of transatlantic relations.But beyond a bland statement acknowledging the result, Ian Lesser, vice-president at the German Marshall Fund of the United States think tank predicted it would be “very difficult for European leaders to produce a coherent reaction” at this stage.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said yesterday that it was pointless to try to put pressure on Russia but that Moscow was always ready to negotiate.“It is useless to put pressure on us. But we are always ready to negotiate with full consideration of mutual legitimate interests. We have been calling for this and we are calling on all participants,” Putin said.Putin said that some in the West dreamed of a world without Russia because they sought world domination but that Russia had repeatedly stopped those who sought global domination.He condemned the United States for seeking to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia in Ukraine and said a struggle was underway to shape a new world order as the Western-dominated post-Cold War era crumbled.“We have come to a dangerous line,” Putin told the Valdai discussion club in this Black Sea resort, a day after learning that Donald Trump had won the US presidential election.“The calls of the West to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia, a country with the largest arsenal of nuclear weapons, demonstrates the exorbitant adventurism of Western politicians,” said Putin.The West had arrogantly sought to cast Russia as a defeated power after the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union, he said, describing the US-led Nato military alliance as an anachronism.Russia, he said, did not consider Western civilisation to be the enemy despite attempts by the United States and its allies to isolate Moscow.The world was changing in any case, he said, and many powerful countries did not want to isolate Russia.“The former structure of the world is irrevocably disappearing, we can say it has already gone, and a serious, irreconcilable struggle is unfolding for the formation of a new one,” Putin said.“The world needs Russia, and no decisions by supposed superiors in Washington or Brussels can change that.”

Germany's Economy Minister and Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck has appealed to citizens to keep faith in the country's democracy, despite the current political crisis."Do not doubt the strength of this country. We have overcome completely different challenges," said Habeck, a key Green Party member, in a statement released by his ministry on X on Wednesday."We have solved completely different problems. Do not doubt democracy," German news agency (dpa) quoted Habeck as saying.On Wednesday Chancellor Olaf Scholz fired Christian Lindner, who was the finance minister, and shortly after that Lindner, the head of the pro-business Free Democrats, quit the government.Scholz then called for a confidence vote on Jan.15 that could trigger early elections.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday said that China and US must find the right way to get along, following his comments on Donald Trump's announcement of winning the US presidential election.Xi urged the two countries to find the right way to get along in the new era, so as to benefit both countries and the wider world, according to China's news agency (Xinhua).He expressed hope that the two sides will uphold the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, strengthen dialogue and communication, properly manage differences and expand mutually beneficial cooperation.Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump had declared his victory in the US election, announcing that he would become the 47th president of the United States. No official body had announced the final results of the election.US Vice President and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris accepted the election results in a speech delivered at Howard University, where she reaffirmed her commitment to accepting the results, despite them not aligning with the expectations of her campaign and supporters.

Donald Trump won a sweeping victory yesterday in the US presidential election, defeating Kamala Harris to complete an astonishing political comeback that sent shock waves around the world.The polarising Republican’s triumph, following one of the most hostile campaigns in modern American history, was all the more remarkable given his criminal conviction, a near-miss assassination attempt, and warnings from a former chief of staff that Trump is a “fascist.”“It’s a political victory that our country has never seen before,” the president-elect told supporters overnight in Florida.Supporters chanted “USA!” as the 78-year-old added that his “magnificent” win would “allow us to make America great again.”World leaders swiftly pledged to work with Trump, led by Israel and Ukraine where the course of raging conflicts could depend on the new president and his isolationist “America First” policies.Vice-President Harris, who only entered the race in July after the visibly ageing President Joe Biden dropped out, ran a centrist campaign that highlighted Trump’s inflammatory messaging and use of racist and sexist tropes.But his apocalyptic warnings about immigration found their mark with voters battered by the post-Covid economy and eager for change after the Biden years.Hispanic and Black Americans were seen as crucial voting blocs for Harris, but exit polls showed they tilted toward Trump in numbers far greater than in 2020.Opinion polls predicted a nail-bitingly close contest — yet the results came surprisingly fast, including Trump’s flipping of swing states Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin that Biden won four years ago.Trump captured enough states to secure the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the presidency. By late yesterday the count stood at 292 for him and 224 for Harris.He appeared on track to win the popular vote too — the first time he has done so in three presidential runs.Republicans closed in on complete control of the US government as they voiced confidence in retaining the US House of Representatives to deliver Trump a sweeping mandate for radical policy changes at home and abroad.Having already captured the White House and Senate on a blockbuster night in Tuesday’s election, the party will likely be able to complete the trifecta by holding its tiny majority in the lower chamber of Congress, according to the Cook Political Report.More than 40 House races remain uncalled and it could take a week or more to determine overall control because of tight races in several states that take longer to count their ballots, such as California and New York.Trump is the first president in more than a century to win a non-consecutive second term.He is also the only person to be elected as a convicted felon — he will face sentencing in a New York court for fraud on November 26.The brash businessman and former reality TV star is on course to break another record as the oldest-ever sitting president during his four-year term. He will surpass Biden, who steps down in January at 82.The dollar surged, stocks rallied and bitcoin struck a record high as news of Trump’s victory emerged.But turmoil likely lies ahead.He has repeatedly suggested he would end the conflict in Ukraine by pressuring Kyiv to cede land to Russia, and his threat of mass deportations of undocumented immigrants has stirred concern in Latin America.He also returns to the White House as a climate change denier, poised to dismantle his predecessor’s green policies and jeopardise global efforts to curb human-caused warming.Among foreign leaders rushing to send congratulations were his allies Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Also messaging Trump was Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is predicted to see a rapid reduction in US military aid once Biden exits.Zelensky said he hoped Trump would help his country find a “just peace.”The Kremlin said Russian President Vladimir Putin, on whom Trump has often lavished praise, did not plan to congratulate him.For all his dark promises of revenge against enemies, Trump remains famously unpredictable.His campaign rallies, filled with grievance, insults and misinformation, featured extreme rhetoric.But he earned viral online moments that played on his everyman appeal and showman’s instinct — like his appearance at a McDonald’s drive-thru and impromptu news conference from a garbage truck.Star supporters like tech baron Elon Musk also helped him appeal to young men.Trump campaigned on tax cuts, less regulation and sky-high import tariffs to promote growth and boost manufacturing, despite warnings of trade wars and higher prices for consumers.His victory was spurred by post-pandemic inflation that pushed up consumer prices by more than 20% percent, and he now stands to reap the benefits of an economy in good shape.Trump often lurched into foul language and violent imagery. But that hard-charging style drew in many voters who still see him as a Washington outsider.Harris’s message of unity, and warnings of Trump’s threat to democracy left her short of what would have been a historic win as America’s first woman president.

Britain’s Prince William said yesterday his wife Kate was doing “really well” and had been amazing in a year when she has undergone preventative chemotherapy for cancer.The British heir to the throne is currently in South Africa where hehosted the annual awards ceremony for his multi-million-dollar Earthshot Prize. He made the trip without Kate who is still recovering from her treatment.Speaking to the BBC ahead of his environmental prize’s awards ceremony in Cape Town, he said she would be cheering him on from their home in Britain.“She’s doing really well thanks,” he said in the interview. “She’s been amazing this whole year. I know she will be really keen to see tonight be a success.”As well as Kate, he said he hoped their three children, George, 11, Charlotte, 9, and Louis, 6, would also be watching on proudly, saying they as a family did what they could to help the environment.“We go through all the basics of recycling and making sure we minimise water use and turning off lights when we leave the house and stuff like that,” he said.William set up the Earthshot prize to find innovations to combat climate and other green issues in 2020, inspired by US President John F. Kennedy’s 1960s “moonshot” project which led to the 1969 lunar landing. Five winners receive £1mn every year to drive their projects.“I believe our world can be rich in possibility, in hope and in optimism,” he told the awards ceremony.“That is why the Earthshot prize exists — to champion the game changers, the inventors, the makers, the creatives, the leaders.”

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will hold a confidence vote in mid-January which could trigger new elections by March, state broadcaster ARD said late yesterday.This announcement followed crisis talks amongst the three coalition parties.The parties that have governed Germany in an increasingly fractious coalition for the past three years met yesterday evening for a last-ditch bid to agree a new economic consensus that could avert a collapse of the government.Relations between Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats (SPD), the Greens and the neoliberal Free Democrats (FDP) have plumbed new depths over the past week as they clashed over differing visions on how to reboot a flagging economy.Finance Minister Christian Lindner of the FDP and Economy Minister Robert Habeck, a Green, arrived at Scholz’s riverside office for crisis talks on plugging a multi-billion-dollar hole in the budget and forge an economic policy compromise.If talks fail, the coalition could collapse, plunging Europe’s largest economy into uncertainty just as Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House following his victory in Tuesday’s election.“Everything is on the table,” SPD General Secretary Matthias Miersch told Reuters. “Everyone knows what’s at stake and that’s why I’m really expecting today to be the day of the decision.”The return of Trump, whose isolationist and “America First”policies are widely seen as a threat to Europe’s economy and security, only heightens the need for a decisive German government, officials said.“The only consequence of this US election result must be that Germany cannot be absent from Europe,” Habeck said.Germany is now facing its second consecutive year of economic contraction and a crisis in its business model after the end of cheap Russian gas and amid increasing competition from China.Germany was a frequent target of Trump’s ire during his 2017-21 term as president due to its trade surplus with the United States and low defence spending.Officials said they had made some progress in bridging their differences, but no document had been agreed. The FDP wants to lighten the tax and regulation burden for German businesses and to soften climate targets.Their more left-wing partners want the state to help companies restructure, while the climate protection agenda is especially important to the Greens.Germany’s main opposition conservatives, who opinion polls suggest would comfortably win any election held now, are demanding fresh elections, saying this is the only way of achieving the stability needed to engage with Trump.A coalition collapse could leave Scholz heading a minority government, relying on ad hoc parliamentary majorities to govern, or else trigger an early election — which surveys suggest would be disastrous for all three coalition parties.

Donald Trump was elected US president, capping a remarkable comeback four years after he was voted out of the White House and ushering in a new American leadership likely to test democratic institutions at home and relations abroad.Trump, 78, recaptured the White House Wednesday after a campaign marked by dark rhetoric that deepened the polarisation in the country, prevailing after two attempts on his life and a late decision by Democrats to run Kamala Harris when President Joe Biden withdrew from the race in July.The former president's victory in the swing state of Wisconsin pushed him over the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the presidency. As of 1300 GMT Trump had won 279 electoral votes to Harris' 223 with several states yet to be counted, Edison Research projected.He also led Harris by more than 5mn votes in the popular count."America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate," Trump said early Wednesday to a roaring crowd of supporters at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in Florida.Republicans won a US Senate majority, but neither party appeared to have an edge in the fight for control of the House of Representatives where Republicans currently hold a narrow majority.Major stock markets around the world rallied following Trump's victory, and the dollar was set for its biggest one-day jump since 2020.

The United States and the world faced a radically transformed political landscape Wednesday after Donald Trump won a crushing election victory, defeating Kamala Harris in an astonishing comeback to the White House.Harris, who had described Trump as a unique threat to democracy but whose campaign in the end underwhelmed voters, was to deliver a concession speech in Washington at 4pm (2100 GMT).Trump, who never conceded defeat four years ago when his supporters ransacked the US Capitol, won wider margins than before despite a criminal conviction, two impeachments while last in office and warnings from his former chief of staff that he is a "fascist."But exit polls showed that voters' top concern remained the economy and inflation that spiked under outgoing President Joe Biden.Both Wall Street and the dollar soared on Trump's victory and his clear mandate, with expectations that he will move aggressively to ramp up growth.Trump, who at 78 will be the oldest president at the time of his January 20 inauguration, vowed to fulfill his slogan to "make America great again" in a victory speech in Florida before supporters chanting "USA!""It's a political victory that our country has never seen before," Trump said.Global leaders swiftly pledged to work with Trump, despite concerns in much of the world about his nationalist-minded "America First" approach.Among the most worried countries will be Ukraine, which Russia invaded in 2022.Trump and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance have scoffed at the billions of dollars in US assistance to Kyiv under Biden, with their aides musing about forcing Kyiv to make concessions to end the war.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Trump and said he hoped the new US leader would help Ukraine find a "just peace."One leader certain to be pleased with Trump was Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to whom Trump has promised freer rein to execute his war against Hamas in Gaza.Netanyahu spoke by telephone with Trump on Wednesday after calling his election "history's greatest comeback," choosing the sort of superlative language known to please the president-elect.Harris, who only entered the race in July after the visibly aging President Joe Biden dropped out, ran a centrist campaign that highlighted Trump's inflammatory messaging and use of racist and sexist tropes.But his apocalyptic warnings about immigration found their mark with voters battered by the post-Covid economy and eager for change after the Biden years.Hispanic and Black Americans, seen as crucial voting blocs for Harris, moved in greater numbers toward Trump, who won a majority of Latino men, exit polls showed.Opinion polls had predicted a nail-bitingly close contest -- yet the results came fast, including Trump's flipping of swing states Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin that Biden won four years ago.Trump appeared on track to win the popular vote, and the Republican Party also won the Senate from the Democrats, boosting his ability to enact his agenda.Trump is the first president in more than a century to win a non-consecutive second term.He is also the only person to be elected as a convicted felon -- he will face sentencing in a New York court for fraud on November 26.His campaign pledges, if carried out, could cause turmoil, especially his vow to deport millions of undocumented immigrants, a massive undertaking.Trump is also a longtime skeptic of climate change who is expected again to reduce US global commitments, although one of his top campaign surrogates was fellow brash billionaire Elon Musk, owner of electric vehicle maker Tesla.For all his dark promises of revenge against enemies, Trump remains famously unpredictable.His campaign rallies, filled with grievance, insults and misinformation, featured extreme rhetoric.But he earned viral online moments that played on his everyman appeal and showman's instinct -- like his appearance at a McDonald's drive-thru and impromptu news conference from a garbage truck.Trump campaigned on tax cuts, less regulation and sky-high import tariffs to promote growth and boost manufacturing, despite warnings of trade wars and higher prices for consumers.His victory was spurred by post-pandemic inflation that pushed up consumer prices by more than 20 percent, and he now stands to reap the benefits of an economy in good shape.Trump often lurched into foul language and violent imagery. But that hard-charging style drew in many voters who still see him as a Washington outsider.Harris's message of unity, focus on abortion rights and warnings of Trump's threat to democracy left her short of what would have been a historic win as America's first woman president.

World leaders raced to congratulate Donald Trump on Wednesday as he triumphed in a stunning US election victory over Kamala Harris.Here are the first reactions:Qatar: 'security and stability' - His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani said he looked forward to "working together again in promoting security and stability both in the region and globally".Saudi Arabia: 'close relations' -Saudi Arabia's King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sent cables to Trump with King Salman hailing "close relations between the two friendly countries and peoples, which everyone seeks to strengthen and develop in all fields", the official Saudi Press Agency said.Turkiye: 'my friend' Trump - Turkiye's Recep Tayyip Erdogan congratulated "my friend Donald Trump"."I hope Turkey-US relations will strengthen, that regional and global crises and wars, especially the Palestinian issue and the Russia-Ukraine war, will come to an end," Erdogan said in a statement.Egypt: 'reaching peace' -President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said he hoped Trump's return to the White House could help bring peace to the Middle East."I wish him all the success and I look forward to reaching peace together, upholding regional stability and strengthening the strategic partnership between Egypt and the United States," Sisi said in a statement.China: 'mutual respect' - Without directly mentioning Trump, foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told a regular briefing that China hopes for "peaceful coexistence" with the United States."We will continue to approach and handle China-US relations based on the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation," she said.Russia: 'no illusions'"We are under no illusions about the American President-elect," Moscow's foreign ministry said, adding that it will "work with" a new US administration and prioritise achieving its "set goals" in Ukraine. It said its "conditions" on ending the conflict "are unchanged and are well known in Washington".Israel: 'powerful recommitment' -Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Trump's win as "history's greatest comeback!""Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America. This is a huge victory!" Netanyahu said in a statement.Ukraine: hopes 'just peace' closer -President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Donald Trump on his "impressive victory" and said he hoped his presidency would bring a "just peace in Ukraine closer.""I appreciate President Trump's commitment to the 'peace through strength' approach in global affairs," Zelensky said on social media.NATO: 'peace through strength' -NATO chief Mark Rutte congratulated Trump and said his return to power would help keep the alliance "strong"."His leadership will again be key to keeping our Alliance strong. I look forward to working with him again to advance peace through strength through NATO," Rutte said in a statement.EU: 'strong transatlantic agenda' - "I warmly congratulate Donald J. Trump," European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen wrote on X. "We are bound by a true partnership between our people, uniting 800 million citizens. Let's work together on a strong transatlantic agenda that keeps delivering for them."Britain: 'historic election victory' -Prime Minister Keir Starmer congratulated the 78-year old on his "historic election victory"."From growth and security to innovation and tech, I know that the UK-US special relationship will continue to prosper on both sides of the Atlantic."France: 'respect and ambition' -French President Emmanuel Macron congratulated "President Donald Trump", saying he was ready to work together "with respect and ambition" like "we managed to do for four years".In a post on X, Macron said that the relationship with Trump would "take account of your convictions, and mine", adding: "For more peace and prosperity."Germany: 'better off together' - Chancellor Olaf Scholz told Trump "we're better off together.""Both sides benefit from the transatlantic partnership," Scholz said in a statement to media. "The EU and the USA are two similarly large economic areas, linked by the closest economic relations in the world."Japan:'new heights' - Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba told reporters he hopes "to work closely with Mr Trump to take the Japan-US alliance and Japan-US relationship to new heights."South Africa: President Cyril Ramaphosa, whose country will take over the G20 presidency next year -- ahead of the US in 2026 -- told Trump in a message that he looked forward to "continuing the close and mutually beneficial partnership between our two nations across all domains of our cooperation."Nigeria: President Bola Tinubu said Trump's victory reflected the trust and confidence Americans had placed in his leadership."Together, we can foster economic cooperation, promote peace and address global challenges that affect our citizens," a statement from his office said.India: 'heartiest congratulations' - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed a "historic election victory" offering his "heartiest congratulations" to Trump, describing him as "my friend.""As you build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration," he said in a statement.South Korea: alliance to shine brighter' -President Yoon Suk Yeol congratulated Trump adding that "under your strong leadership, the future of the ROK-US alliance and America will shine brighter. Look forward to working closely with you."Taiwan: 'sincere congratulations' -President Lai Ching-te expressed confidence US-Taiwan relations would continue to "serve as a cornerstone for regional stability".Mexico: 'no concern' -President Claudia Sheinbaum said Trump's election victory was "no cause for concern" despite his threats of tariffs and mass migrant deportations."We are a free, independent, sovereign country and there will be good relations with the United States. I am convinced of this," she said.Brazil: 'luck and success' -Leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva congratulated Trump and wished him "luck and success", adding that "The world needs dialogue and joint work for more peace, development and prosperity."Kenya: Kenya's President William Ruto hailed Trump's "bold and innovative leadership", hoping to "work together to address global challenges, promote peace and security and foster inclusive economic growth for the benefit of our peoples".Rwanda: Rwanda's long-serving leader Paul Kagame welcomed a "decisive" win, saying: "Your clear message has been that the United States should be a partner of choice that attracts by the force of its example, rather than by imposing its views and ways of life on others".Kazakhstan: 'Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, a Russian ally, said he hoped for cooperation with Trump especially "in the areas of security and the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons".Uzbekistan: President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan called for "continued regional cooperation" between the US and the five Central Asian countries under their "C5+1" forum.Afghanistan: "Ensuring a stable peace in Afghanistan... will be an integral part of our cooperation," he added, and his country is waiting "impatiently for an official visit" by Trump."Sincere congratulations to President-elect Trump on your victory," Lai posted on X.Italy: 'sincere congratulations' -Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni offered her "sincere congratulations"."Italy and the United States are 'sister' nations, linked by an unshakeable alliance," she said.Hungary: 'greatest comeback' -Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Trump's closest ally in Europe, called the result "perhaps the greatest comeback in Western political history.""They threatened him with jail, have taken away his assets, tried to murder him, the entire media world in the US turned against him, and yet he won," he wrote on Facebook.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has just announced his victory in the US presidential election, and that he will be the 47th president of the country.The results so far indicate that he has received 267 votes compared to 224 for his competitor Kamala Harris. No official body has announced the final results of the elections, and US Vice President and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris has not yet announced her defeat.Immediately after announcing his victory, Trump stressed that he would continue working for every citizen, saying that this is a great victory for the American people... We will help our nation recover.He added that they made history today and achieved a political victory. He thanked the American people who gave him a great mandate and that the Republicans regained control of the Senate, and probably will retain control of the US House of Representatives.

The Republican party won control of the US Senate after receiving at least a 51-seat majority, with the initial results of the US presidential and congressional elections appearing following the closing of polling stations in a number of states amid a fierce competition between Republican candidate Donald Trump and Democrat rival Kamala Harris.In the current structure of the US Senate, Democrats have 51 seats in the council, and Republicans control 49 seats.Republicans also posted early gains as they battled to retain control of the House of Representatives. They expected to get 159 seats out of 435 and 103 for the Democrats.

Partial results of the US presidential election showed that Republican candidate Donald Trump has won 247 electoral votes, compared to 214 votes for his Democratic rival Kamala Harris, who is clinging to her last hopes of winning before three states are decided.After the Republican candidate won the swing states of North Carolina and Georgia, Harris' remaining hope is to win the states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, but the latest data indicates that she is behind her competitor in all three states.There are 230 million eligible voters, but only around 160 million of them are registered. However, around half of the 50 states in the United States allow registration on Election Day, while citizens can vote without registering in North Dakota. More than 85 million people have already voted by mail or early in-person.In addition to the presidential election, voters will also vote for 34 members of the US Senate (out of 100), all 435 members of the US House of Representatives, and 11 states and two territories (Puerto Rico and American Samoa) that will hold gubernatorial elections.

German police yesterday arrested eight suspected members of a far-right militant group that had trained for what they expected would be the collapse of state order, prosecutors said.Hundreds of police in pre-dawn raids swooped on 20 locations linked to the group “Saxonian Separatists” in formerly communist eastern Germany and neighbouring Poland, with locations also searched in Austria.Federal prosecutors said the operation targeted “a militant group of 15 to 20 individuals whose ideology is characterised by racist, anti-Semitic and partially apocalyptic ideas”.The prosecutors said the group’s members, mostly young men, strongly rejected Germany’s liberal democratic order and believed the government was nearing “collapse” on an unspecified “Day X”.In anticipation of that day, the militants had planned to take control of parts of their state of Saxony and potentially other east German regions.Their plan was “to establish governmental and societal structures inspired by National Socialism” (Nazism) that would have sought to target “unwanted groups of people by means of ethnic cleansing”.They had conducted paramilitary training in combat gear, with a focus on “urban warfare and firearms handling” as well as marching and patrolling.Authorities partially named the suspects, all German nationals, as alleged ringleader Joerg S. and members Kurt H, Karl K, Kevin M, Hans-Georg P, Kevin R, Joern S and Norman T.They were arrested in and near the cities of Leipzig and Dresden, with Joerg S, 23, detained in Poland.Prosecutors said raids yesterday also targeted the premises of individuals not considered suspects in Austria, including the capital Vienna.News magazine Der Spiegel wrote that one of the suspects, Kurt H, is a member of the youth wing of the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD), and that he suffered a gunshot wound during the arrest.Spiegel, citing unnamed security sources, said that he had reached for a rifle and police commandos fired two “warning shots”.Kurt H collapsed with a shot wound to the jaw which was not life-threatening, and it remained unclear whether the bullet was discharged by a police gun or his own rifle, the report said.The anti-immigration AfD is especially popular in the east of Germany and made strong gains in regional elections in the states of Thuringia and Brandenburg in September.Prosecutors said the group “Saxonian Separatists”, with the initials SS like those of Adolf Hitler’s paramilitary organisation the Schutzstaffel, was founded about four years ago and that its members had since then made “continuous preparations for the perceived inevitable and violent change of government”.The group had procured camouflage fatigues, combat helmets, gas masks and bullet-proof vests, prosecutors said in a statement.Some of those arrested were known to security services as members of the New Right, right-wing extremist parties or the neo-Nazi scene, said Thomas Haldenwang, head of the domestic security service the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution. Some of the right-wing extremists are “very young” and linked to groups that are active online and “glorify the actions of well-known right-wing terrorists” such as Norwegian mass murderer Anders Breivik, he said.More than 450 law enforcement personnel joined the operation, including state and federal police officers and commandos, in co-operation with the domestic intelligence service.The men arrested later faced the Federal Court of Justice in the western city of Karlsruhe to keep them in pre-trial detention.Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said the security services had “thwarted at an early stage militant plans for a coup by right-wing terrorists who were longing for a Day X to attack people and the state with armed force”.Germany has dismantled several far-right cells in recent years, including a bizarre plot led by an aristocrat who has since been on trial for planning a coup.Their plan allegedly drew inspiration from the global QAnon movement and the German Reichsbuerger (Citizens of the Reich), which reject the legitimacy of the modern German republic.According to Germany’s intelligence services, the country’s number of right-wing extremists considered potentially violent rose to 14,500 last year.