Breaking News: US election 2024 live: Donald Trump wins presidency, defeats Kamala Harris….. See More

Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, is projected to have secured at least the 270 Electoral College votes he needs to return to the White House for a second time after his 2017-2021 term, The Associated Press says.
Trump, 78, has defeated his Democratic rival, Kamala Harris, 60, after a hard-fought campaign, according to the projection.

Trump earlier declared victory over Harris after being projected to win the key battleground states of Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia. AP later called Wisconsin for Trump.
The Republican Party is also projected by AP to win back control of the Senate.

Democrats ‘failed to listen to their core voters’ on Gaza
The US-based Institute for Middle East Understanding’s policy branch said that Democratic leadership “failed to listen to their core voters” after being warned for months that their support for Israel’s war on Gaza would cost them the support of thousands of voters.

“Democrats failed to turn out the voters who propelled them to victory in 2020,” the group wrote.

“For months the polling has shown that Vice President Harris was costing herself votes she needed – from young people, women, people of color, and progressive voters – by not breaking with Biden and by failing to call for an end of weapons to Israel in accordance with US law.

“The majority of Americans do not want their tax dollars funding Israel’s war crimes,” the group added.

“It is time for Democratic leadership to listen to and align with the people who power the Democratic Party, and who know the principles of human rights and justice for all must include Palestinians.”

What’s happening in Congress?
Along with their presidential victory, Republicans have regained control of the Senate, flipping at least three seats to secure a majority with 52 out of the chamber’s 100 seats.

Six Senate races remain undecided, which means the GOP could potentially expand its influence further.

The picture is less clear in the 435-seat House of Representatives. Republicans currently lead with 198 seats, compared to the Democrats’ 180. However, 57 races are still uncalled, leaving the outcome in flux and either party with a chance to take the lead.

If Republicans succeed in securing control of both the Senate and the House, President Trump would have significantly more leeway to advance his policy agenda.

Trump’s win ‘grave threat to human rights’ in US and world: HRW

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has cited Trump’s “rights-abusing record” during his first term, his embrace of white supremacist supporters and ideology, and his “extreme anti-democratic and anti-rights” policies and campaign promises, including to round up and deport millions of immigrants and retaliate against political opponents.

“Donald Trump has made no secret of his intent to violate the human rights of millions of people in the United States,” said Tirana Hassan, HRW’s executive director.

“Independent institutions and civil society groups, including Human Rights Watch, will need to do all we can to hold him and his administration accountable for abuses.”