After Donald Trump's resounding victory over Kamala Harris in the US Presidential election, several high-profile Hollywood celebrities have expressed their intentions to leave the United States.

Here are the celebrities considering a move away from the United States in response to the election outcome: read.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has written to US President-elect Donald Trump, congratulating him on his victory and expressed confidence that under his leadership, the two nations will further deepen cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

"I would like to congratulate you on your election as the 47th President of the United States of America. The people have placed their trust in your vision for the future," Gandhi said.

India and the USA share a "historic friendship" rooted in our commitment to democratic values, he said.

Donald Trump won the presidency with 54 percent of men voting for the Republican, up slightly from the 51 percent that supported him in 2020, according to exit polling by NBC.

But what raised eyebrows was among younger voters aged 18-29, where 49 percent of men voted Trump -- shattering previous images of young people generally leaning left.

"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 two days after his decisive US election win over Democrat Kamala Harris.

She is "tough, smart, innovative, and is universally admired and respected", the 78-year-old Republican said.

"It is a well-deserved honour to have Susie as the first-ever female Chief of Staff in United States history," he added.

Kamala Harriss campaign raised and spent more money than Donald Trump, but what was the substance? The political messaging barely managed to escape the rhetoric of Save America from Trump.

Read here.

"Even if he's only in office for 4 years, even if the anti-trans regulations magically don't happen, the people who willingly voted this in are not going anywhere anytime soon," she said after Donald Trump's win.

Donald Trump supporters who were charged with storming the US Capitol are now expecting pardons from the incoming American president, who has lauded them as "patriots" and "political prisoners."

More than 1,500 people have been charged in connection with the January 6, 2021 assault on Congress which sought to disrupt certification of Democrat Joe Biden's 2020 election victory.

From Nostradamus' “13 Keys to the White House” system to ChatGPT's “dark horse”, everything failed in front of baby Hippo Moo Deng's cute walk to the humble fruit bowl in the name of former US president Donald Trump.

The United States is still waiting for its first female president, with Kamala Harris's loss extending the country's 248-year streak of male leadership.

Post-election analysis points to various factors contributing to Harris's defeat. Some Democrats blame the decision to replace Joe Biden with Harris, while others criticise Biden's delayed withdrawal from the race.

US President Joe Biden spoke today for the first time since the US election result was known and Donald Trump's victory was certain. 

Addressing the nation from the White House lawns, President Biden, in his trademark blue suit and white striped tie, said "The people have voted and have chosen their President and have done so peacefully. And in a democracy, the will of the people always prevails."

After Donald Trump's landslide victory in the US presidential election, a family photo posted by his granddaughter, Kai, has drawn massive attention -- for the unexpected presence of tech mogul Elon Musk.

In a press briefing after his meeting with top business leaders and CEOs in Australia, S Jaishankar mentioned about "something that happened yesterday", referring to the US election result. Mr Jaishankar said India "perceives this as an opportunity".

Bagging 295 electoral votes and most swing states, Republican Donald Trump raced towards a victory buoyed by issues like immigration and war. Exit polls showed that voters' top concern was also the economy and inflation that spiked under outgoing President Joe Biden in the wake of the Covid pandemic.

The 78-year-old won wider margins than before, despite a criminal conviction, two impeachments while in office and warnings from his former chief of staff that he is a fascist.

Read here

Australia's ambassador in Washington, Kevin Rudd, deleted comments he previously made about Donald Trump after the Republican's election win, saying on Thursday they did not reflect the view of the Australian government. Rudd, a former prime minister, had previously made the comments about Trump in his capacity as the head of a U.S.-based think tank, a statement on his personal website said.

Among the deleted comments, Rudd had in 2020 described Trump as "the most destructive president in history".

Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for "stable, healthy and sustainable" ties between Beijing and Washington in a message to US president-elect Donald Trump, state media said.

In a "congratulatory message" to Trump, Xi "pointed out that history has shown that China and the United States benefit from cooperation and suffer from confrontation", state broadcaster CCTV said.

"A stable, healthy and sustainable China-US relationship is in the common interest of both countries and is in line with the expectations of the international community," Xi said.

Donald Trump planned to name Kashyap Patel the deputy director of the CIA in the final weeks of his administration. A report described Mr Patel as the man "who would do anything" for Donald Trump, who is now the president-elect.

Allan Lichtman, Nostradamus of US polls, was at a loss for words as his prediction that Kamala Harris would win the presidential election turned wrong.

In a six-hour-long YouTube live stream with his son Sam, Allan Lichtman was seen saying “I don't get it” as Donald Trump inched closer to the victory.

Holding his head, he added, “The democracy is gone.”

“Once democracy is gone, it's almost impossible to recover. The way to recover is by the dictators losing wars.”

Donald Trump on Wednesday sealed his historic comeback to the White House and defeated Kamala Harris.

Elon Musk contributed at least $119 million to a pro-Trump spending group and tirelessly touted the former president at the critical late stage of his campaign against Kamala Harris.

 China expressed respect for the U.S. election result and congratulated Donald Trump on his victory while an official newspaper called for a "pragmatic" approach to China-U.S. relations to handle their differences properly.

Trump, a Republican who has promised to implement stiff tariffs, recaptured the White House with a sweeping victory over Democrat Kamala Harris in Tuesday's election. 

US President Joe Biden praised Kamala Harris for her "integrity" and "courage" Wednesday after the Democratic vice president's election defeat by Republican Donald Trump.

"What America saw today was the Kamala Harris I know and deeply admire. She's been a tremendous partner and public servant full of integrity, courage and character," Biden said in a statement after Harris's concession speech.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Wednesday that he spoke with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump following his election victory.

"We agreed to maintain close dialogue and advance our cooperation. Strong and unwavering U.S. leadership is vital for the world and for a just peace," Zelenskiy said in a post on X.

Trump has said he would work with both Ukraine and Russia to end their conflict.

Former president Barack Obama on Wednesday congratulated Donald Trump on his election victory, noting the importance of a peaceful transfer of power.

"This is obviously not the outcome we had hoped for," Obama said in a statement. "But living in a democracy is about recognizing that our point of view won't always win out, and being willing to accept the peaceful transfer of power."

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday to congratulate Trump on his election win.

"The Prime Minister offered his hearty congratulations and said he looked forward to working closely with President-elect Trump across all areas of the special relationship," a statement from Starmer's office said.

Defeated Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris told supporters on Wednesday that "we must accept the results" of the US election, while promising to help Donald Trump as he heads back to the White House.

"We must accept the results of this election. Earlier today, I spoke with President-elect Trump and congratulated him on his victory," Harris told supporters in a concession speech at her alma mater Howard University in Washington.

"I also told him that we will help him and his team with their transition, and that we will engage in a peaceful transfer of power."

Chinese President Xi Jinping called Donald Trump on Wednesday to congratulate the Republican on his U.S. presidential election victory, CNN reported, citing unidentified sources.

President Joe Biden called Donald Trump to congratulate him on his victory Wednesday and invited his Republican successor to hold a meeting in the "near future," the White House said.

In his call with Trump, "President Biden expressed his commitment to ensuring a smooth transition and emphasized the importance of working to bring the country together," a White House statement said.

US Vice President Kamala Harris called Donald Trump on Wednesday to congratulate him for winning the 2024 presidential election, one of her senior aides said, following a bitter and contentious race.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to president-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday after his stunning US election victory and discussed the "Iranian threat" to Israel's security, his office said.

"The conversation was warm and cordial. The prime minister congratulated Trump on his election victory, and the two agreed to work together for Israel's security. The two also discussed the Iranian threat," Netanyahu's office said in a statement.

Kamala Harris to concede defeat early tomorrow as Donald Trump returns to Oval Office, reports news agency Reuters

Wall Street stocks surged in opening trading on Wednesday after US voters sent Donald Trump back to the White House and delivered him to a Republican Senate.

Major indices traded in record territory in a rally that reflected both expectations of growth-oriented policies and relief that the United States avoided a protracted fight over the results.

About 20 minutes into trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average stood at 43,477.49, up 3.0 per cent.

The broad-based S&P 500 gained 1.7 per cent to 5,881.92, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index rose 1.7 per cent to 18,755.77.

The gains showed investor hopes about expected tax cuts and regulatory easing more than offset worries about higher tariffs.

Donald Trump's second presidential term could herald a new wave of attacks on abortion access across the United States -- with or without a Republican-controlled Congress.

Donald Trump's victory speech included a shout-out to Robert F. Kennedy Junior, hinting at a major role for him in the Trump Administration once it is set up, provided he doesn't interfere with America's oil exploration and drilling.

The leader of Hezbollah said Wednesday the results of the US presidential election will have no impact on any possible ceasefire deal to end the Israel-Hezbollah war.

"We don't base our expectations for a halt of the aggression on political developments... Whether (Kamala) Harris wins or (Donald) Trump wins, it means nothing to us," he said in a pre-recorded speech before Trump announced his victory.

Palestinians in Gaza on Wednesday want Donald Trump, who won the US election, to end the war between Israel and Hamas that has devastated their territory. The conflict sparked by Hamas's October 7 attack has taken an appalling human toll in the Gaza Strip, displacing most of its residents, causing widespread hunger and death, and leaving hospitals struggling to cope.

"We were displaced, killed... there's nothing left for us, we want peace," Mamdouh al-Jadba, who was displaced to Gaza City from Jabalia, told AFP. "I hope Trump finds a solution, we need someone strong like Trump to end the war and save us, enough, God, this is enough," said the 60-year-old.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Wednesday that Donald Trump's election victory was "no cause for concern" for her country, 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," she told a news conference.

Donald Trump's election victory puts a climate change denier back in the White House, poised to dismantle his predecessor's green policies and jeopardize global efforts to curb human-caused warming.

The Republican revived his "drill, baby, drill" slogan during his campaign and in his victory speech described US oil and gas reserves as "liquid gold".

Experts warn that a second Trump presidency would slam the brakes on the transition to green energy, hindering efforts to meet crucial climate targets.

The impact will likely be felt even before his January inauguration. 

Donald Trump went from being a businessman, real estate tycoon and a reality TV star to becoming the country's first former US President to be declared a convicted felon.

And after surviving two assassination bids during his 2024 campaign, the 78-year old remains unstoppable with American voters giving him a second term. In the process, he shattered the dream of the Democratic Party, as well as that of millions of Kamala Harris supporters, to finally have the first woman President in the White House.

He is now the oldest person in US history to be elected president.

This ongoing race for the White House brings to mind the 2020 US election, where Trump's loss to Joe Biden sparked significant political unrest. The aftermath, including the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, had lasting repercussions on American democracy.

The Capitol attack

On January 6, 2021, the US Capitol was stormed by a violent mob of Trump supporters aiming to disrupt the certification of Joe Biden's victory. This attack was directly linked to Trump's refusal to accept the election results, following his baseless claims of widespread voter fraud. His rhetoric escalated, culminating in the insurrection that led to deaths and significant damage to the Capitol building. The FBI even labelled this event as domestic terrorism, underscoring its severity.

Impeachment and accountability

In response to the Capitol attack, the House of Representatives impeached President Trump for "incitement of insurrection." This marked the second impeachment in his term. While the Senate ultimately acquitted him, many Republicans continued to back Trump despite the violence and chaos he had incited, illustrating deep political divides in the country.

Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential elections has sparked anxiety on the streets of Kyiv at a decisive moment of the war as Ukrainian defences buckle under mounting Russian pressure.

Ukraine is reliant on foreign military aid -- in particular from Washington -- to hold out against Russia's invasion, launched nearly three years ago.

Natalia Pichakchi, who fled the southern city of Mariupol which is now controlled by Russian forces after a brutal siege in 2022, said she expected that crucial aid would begin to dry up.

"It's worrying. It's disturbing," she told AFP. "Something will change; there will not be the same kind of support as before," she added.

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky was quick to congratulate Trump on his "impressive victory" Wednesday, saying he hoped his presidency would bring "just peace in Ukraine closer".

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. 

"We respect the choice of the American people."

Donald Trump is set to return as US President for the second time after nearing closer to a landslide victory. He is all set to take control of the seven swing states, securing a majority. He will be the 47th US President.

In his victory speech, Mr Trump said, "I'm not going to start wars, I'm going to stop wars."

During President Biden's term, the world witnessed the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the US pullout from Afghanistan in 2021 and Israel's multi-front conflict in West Asia. "We had no wars, for four years (During Trump's tenure) we had no wars. Except we defeated ISIS," Mr Trump said.

During his last reign from 2016 to 2020, the billionaire businessman had become the first sitting US President to meet a North Korean leader when Mr Trump shook hands with Kim Jong Un at a historic summit in Singapore.

In a short conversation with NDTV, the diplomat-turned-politician from Kerala, Shashi Tharoor, explained briefly the areas that India already understands about Mr Trump's style of working, and how India can keep those in mind while engaging with him again.

"We know him very well. He has already been president for four years. I don't think there will be any surprise as to what kind of politics he will do. He's a transactional politician, 'what can you do for me, and what can I do for you' type of leader," Mr Tharoor, the Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram, told NDTV.

"He's very tough on trade. If we apply tariffs on American goods coming to India, he'd say the US would also apply high tariffs on Indian goods. This is not good for our companies that are exporting to America," Mr Tharoor said.

Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan congratulated "my friend Donald Trump" after he claimed victory in the US presidential election.

"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; I believe that more efforts will be made for a more just world," the Turkish president wrote on X.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday congratulated Donald Trump after he claimed victory in the US presidential election, and hailed the "unshakeable" ties and "historic friendship" between the two countries.

Addressing Trump as "Mr President", Meloni mentioned about strengthening the strategic bond.

"Italy and the United States are “sister” nations, linked by an unshakable alliance, common values, and a historic friendship.It is a strategic bond, which I am sure we will now strengthen even further," she wrote on X. 

EU Chief Ursula von der Leyen "warmly" congratulates Donald Trump over US Presidential election results. Calling EU-US "more than just allies", she says, "We are bound by a true partnership between our people, uniting 800 million citizens.So let's work together on a strong transatlantic agenda that keeps delivering for them." 

Israel’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Israel Katz congratulates Republican Donald Trump on his "historic victory". US-Israel to stand firm against Iran and bring back hostages, he says.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulates Republican Donald Trump on an "impressive election victory".

Donald Trump is currently projected to win 267 electoral college votes, three short of the magic figure of 270. His opponent and incumbent Vice President Kamala Harris is trailing at 214. But Trump has already claimed victory.

In a long social media post, Zelensky recalls meeting Trump back in September, when the duo discussed in detail the Ukraine-US strategic partnership, the victory plan, and ways to put an end to Russian aggression against Ukraine.

He appreciates Trump’s commitment to the “peace through strength” approach in global affairs.

"This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer. I am hopeful that we will put it into action together," he writes.

Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, congratulated Republican Donald Trump on the US Presidential election results. In a social media post, Macron showed eagerness to "work together" as the duo did for four years.

"This is karma ladies and gentlemen. Nobody deserves this more than his family does," UFC boss Dana White on Donald Trump leading US Presidential elections. Dana stood beside Donald Trump as the Republican candidate delivered "victory speech".

"This is what happens when the machine comes after you. Couldn‘t stop him. He keeps going forward. He‘s the most resilient man I‘ve ever met in my life. This is karma, ladies and gentlemen. He deserves this," he adds.

"Last but not least, the mighty and powerful Joe Rogan. And thank you, America. Thank you," said Dana White.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a true friend of Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump congratulates him on "history's greatest comeback" and "huge victory". In a social media post, he wrote, "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."

"God spared my life for a reason," says Donald Trump as he recalls an assassination attempt in his "victory speech".

“And that reason was to save our country and restore America to greatness. And now we’re going to fulfill that mission together,” he tells supporters.

“The task before us will not be easy, but I will bring every ounce of energy, spirit, and fight that I have in my soul to the job that you’ve entrusted to me,” he adds.

In his "victory speech", Trump thanked a host of people, including Tesla and SpaceX chief Elon Musk.

"We have a new star, a star is born: Elon," Trump told his supporters "He's an amazing guy. We were sitting together tonight. You know, he spent two weeks in Philadelphia, in different parts of Pennsylvania, campaigning."

"Only Elon can do this," Trump said of watching a recent SpaceX launch. "That's why I love you, Elon."

Trump said he and his supporters had made history in the White House race, though the ex-TV star had not been formally declared winner of the US presidential election.

Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump on Wednesday thanked wife Melania Trump in "victory speech" he delivered as he neared the halfway mark in the race for the US President's post.

Trump left his speech in between to kiss wife on the cheek.

He also praised her book, calling it the top-selling book in the country. In the memoir, Melania Trump wrote about her pro-choice stance on abortion, when she met Donald Trump in a New York City night club, and rumours about her son having autism, but left out many personal details of her life.

"I want to be the first one to congratulate -- now I can say Vice President-elect JD Vance. And his remarkable and beautiful wife, Usha Vance," said Republican Donald Trump as he heaped praise on his running mate.

Trump claimed victory in the 2024 presidential elections after various American media houses projected that he had defeated his Democrat rival Kamala Harris.

Speaking to a roaring crowd of supporters at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in Florida, he said "America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate".

"We will seal our borders immediately," said Republican candidate Donald Trump in his victory speech. Reiterating that only legal entry into America will be allowed, he said, "No illegal migrants will enter America."

"We've made history for a reason tonight, and the reason is going to be just that we overcame obstacles that nobody thought possible," Trump told cheering supporters. "It's a political victory that our country has never seen before."

"Result will help our country heal," says Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump as he addresses the supporters following US presidential election result. "US has never seen anything like this," Trumps adds as he calls the presidential elections 2024 the "greatest political movement ever".

Trump was joined on stage by members of his family and his wife, Melania Trump, as well as his running mate, JD Vance, and House Speaker Mike Johnson.

"There is hope and morning in America again! Donald Trump is now our President-elect, chosen by the American people for such a time as this," wrote Mike Johnson, 56th Speaker of the House, on social media. "The citizens of our great country used their voices to decisively reject four more years of Harris’ open borders, high crime, increased cost of living, weaponized government, dangerous radical woke ideology, and weakness on the world stage - demanding instead, a return to common sense, peace, and prosperity," he added.

In a long post, he praised Trump's America First agenda to "improve the lives of every family, regardless of race, religion, color, or creed, and make America great again!"

Former President Donald Trump, just three electoral votes shy of victory, wins key swing state Pennsylvania, reports US media.

From Lady Gaga, American singer-songwriter and actress to actor Mark Ruffalo, celebrities lined up just like everyone else to vote in the 2024 US presidential election.

Many of these noted Hollywood figures voted early and shared the experience with their followers while showing off their "I Voted" badges on their social media handles, encouraging everyone to cast their ballot.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a firm Donald Trump supporter, became the first EU leader to comment on the US election, posting "on the way to a beautiful victory" on social media.

"Good morning Hungary! On the way to a beautiful victory," Orban wrote on Facebook early on Wednesday, accompanied by emojis of Hungarian and US flags.

The nationalist premier enjoys warm relations with his "good friend" Trump, the Republican former president whom he has visited twice this year, often expressing hope that he would return to the US presidency.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is leading with 247 electoral candidate votes while Kamala Harris trails closely with 214. The US Presidential election results remain nail-biting with the two candidates neck and neck.

Donald Trump has secured his position in two of the seven swing states or key states that will decide the election's outcome.

"The people of America gave Donald Trump a crystal clear mandate for change tonight," wrote Elon Musk on X (formerly Twitter).

Musk, the world's richest man, has thrown his millions into backing the Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump since endorsing him in July. He has also reportedly donated at least $118 million to his political action committee, an organization that collects funds for elections.

Musk plans to spend election night with the former US president.

With the possibility of Donald Trump returning to the White House, questions loom over what a second Trump administration would mean for India-US relations. Here's what Manjeev Singh Puri and Suresh Goel — two former Indian Ambassadors — told NDTV.

Mr Shah is leading with 51 percent of the vote share as opposed to Mr Schweikert's 49.1 percent, according to the New York Times.

In a district long considered a Republican stronghold in the state, it is now considered one of the most competitive districts in Arizona given that nearly a third of its voting base registered as Independent.

Mr Shah, serving as an emergency room physician for 20 years, was previously elected to the Arizona House of Representatives in 2017. His focus is on issues like healthcare and raising teachers' salaries.

Hollywood actor Paul Rudd was spotted handing out water to university students waiting in the queue to vote in Pennsylvania.

During a live broadcast on a news channel, the Marvel star was seen showing his support for Temple University students standing in long queues.

“I just wanted to give people water,” Mr Rudd told the reporter. “They're waiting in line for a long time, and it's a wonderful thing that all these young people are out voting.”

Republicans won control of the US Senate with victories in West Virginia and Ohio on Tuesday, ensuring that Donald Trump's party will control at least one chamber of Congress next year.

Kamala Harris will not address Democratic Party supporters tonight, following US presidential election results, campaign Co-Chair said.

"You won't hear from the vice president tonight but you will hear from her tomorrow," Cedric Richmond, Harris campaign co-chair, said in Washington.

Read here.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump wins two of the seven swing states - Georgia and North Carolina. On the other hand, Democratic party candidate Kamala Harris is trailing on other four - Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Leads are not yet in for the swing state of Nevada.

An Indian-origin woman's emotional note about voting for the first time in the US election after living in the country for almost 20 years is going viral on social media. Taking to LinkedIn, Dini M shared a picture of her holding a ballot return envelope. In the caption, she expressed that it is a "privilege" for her to cast her vote in the US for the first time after living in the nation for almost two decades.

Ms Dini said that her post is just a "reminder on Election Day to get out there and vote". "Grateful for this privilege and responsibility! With all its problems, this is best country on earth!!" she concluded.

Democratic strategist Spencer Critchley and Republican strategist Alex Zdan spoke to NDTV on the Kamala Harris vs Donald Trump battle. They reflected upon how the two parties changed their strategies for the 2024 US presidential elections.

The United States is likely to become more isolationist regardless of who becomes its next president, Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar said on Wednesday.

Speaking at an event in Canberra as Americans were still casting votes, Mr Jaishankar said the election was unlikely to reverse what he called a long-term trend in US policy.

"Probably starting from (President Barack) Obama the US has become much more cautious about its global commitments," he said, pointing to a US reluctance to deploy troops and its withdrawal from Afghanistan under President Joe Biden.

For India, a major strategic partner for the US, the potential for a Trump 2.0 presidency poses both opportunities and challenges across several key dimensions: trade, immigration, military cooperation, and diplomacy. Read here.

Delaware state senator Sarah McBride won a seat in the US House of Representatives on Tuesday, making her the first openly transgender politician elected to Congress.

The Democrat was the comfortable winner against Republican John Whalen III, US news networks projected, as she built up an unassailable lead with around two-thirds of ballots counted.

Read here.

Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are locked in a tight race for the White House. Four hours into the US election counting, Republican candidate Donald Trump has surged ahead of his Democrat opponent Kamala Harris in six out of seven swing states that hold the key to the White House. North Carolina has been called in favor of Trump and he is also ahead in Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Georgia. Leads are not yet in for the swing state of Nevada.

Both Trump and Harris have demonstrated an utter inability to learn from the past. While Trump got too bored of a decent, non-dramatic campaign just a few months into 2024 and unleashed his 2020 MAGA-man energy, Harris stubbornly refused to bring any course correction in her agenda on foreign policy issues despite her fellow Democrats' public castigation. This election has been the most extensive testimony of what a lot of analysts within the US, as well as outside, have observed but have largely refrained from verbalising: both the Democrats and the Republicans fashion their electoral campaigns around the faults of the other side while doing absolutely nothing about their own. Read here.

A person dressed as a unity bear, with the colors of the Democratic and Republican party, gives people hugs as the election results are displayed on giant screens in Times Square in New York.

"Game, set and match," posts Elon Musk on X (formerly Twitter), as votes are being counted in US. The expression "game, set and match", originating from tennis, indicates that a match has concluded with a clear winner.

Elon Musk, a supporter of Donald Trump, is hinting at the presidential candidate's victory as he leads with 230 electoral votes.

Singer Beyonce today shared a picture of her in a t-shirt featuring a picture of Kamala Harris, who she has endorsed over Donald Trump in the 2024 US presidential elections.

Supporters rejoice as they keep a close watch on US election results. Republican presidential nominee, former US President Donald Trump Supporters have gathered at an election night watch party at the Palm Beach Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Donald Trump has taken over Kamala Harris in battleground Arizona where 53 percent of the votes have been counted.

Republican candidate Donald Trump has surged ahead of Democrat challenger Kamala Harris in the key battleground state of Pennsylvania as the votes cast in the US election are counted.

Cambria County is conducting a hand count of ballots that could not be scanned at the precinct earlier today due to a software issue, Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt said. The process could “take some time,” he added, as reported by CNN.

Voting time was extended in Cambria County after a software malfunction disrupted voters’ abilities to scan their ballots, the Office of County Commissioners said. As per a CNN report, the malfunction was caused by a printing error.

Hours before the US Presidential Elections, the Democrats warned voters that supporting Jill Stein, the US Green Party nominee, could inadvertently hand the presidency to Donald Trump.

Republican candidate Donald Trump takes away Michigan, one of the seven key states, from Democratic Party candidate Kamala Harris. Until a few minutes ago Harris was leading from Michigan.

With this, Trump has taken a lead in five of the seven swing states.

Health warning: 25 per cent of the votes are in. Most votes are generally in by noon Eastern time on the day after the election, and the state has passed reforms that could contribute to faster counting. 

Michigan, a state with 15 electoral votes, has traditionally been a Democratic stronghold, but Donald Trump's 2016 win shook things up.

Bitcoin soared to a new record high on Wednesday as traders bet on victory for Donald Trump in the US presidential race, with the tycoon seen as the pro-crypto candidate.

The digital currency hit as much as $75,005.08 at around 0300 GMT, topping its previous all-time peak of $73,797.98 achieved in March.

Democratic Party candidate Kamala Harris is leading in Arizona and Michigan, two of the seven swing states. Here is what you need to know about the two of the key states.

Arizona

Arizona was a nail-biter in the 2020 presidential election, with Biden securing a narrow victory of just 10,457 votes. Now, Trump is banking on voter dissatisfaction with the Biden-Harris administration's immigration policies to turn the state red again. As Arizona shares a border with Mexico, immigration is a hot-button issue, and Trump hopes to capitalise on frustrations with the current administration.

Michigan

Michigan, a state with 15 electoral votes, has traditionally been a Democratic stronghold, but Donald Trump's 2016 win shook things up. His appeal to white working-class voters secured his victory, dealing a surprise blow to Hillary Clinton's campaign. Fast forward to 2024, and Michigan's diversity could give Kamala Harris an edge, particularly since it's more diverse than other contested "blue wall" states. However, there is work involved when it comes to the Arab-American side of the state as they have expressed dissatisfaction with the way the war in Gaza has been handled by the Biden administration.

Republican Donald Trump has once again taken a lead of four states in swing states. While Harris leads in Arizona and Michigan, Trump is ahead in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Georgia and North Carolina. Leads are not yet in for the swing states of Nevada.

Two polling stations in Pennsylvania to stay open until 10 pm local time for accommodate voters affected by bomb threat, CNN reports 

The Georgia county is still experiencing significant delays in reporting results due to “adjudication software” for certifying write-in votes, says an official, CNN reports.

The county in the key battleground state saw over 3 lakh pre-election ballots including in-person and mail-in ballots and around 96,000 in-person votes cast today as of 6:30 pm local time. The final number is likely to be larger.

While 80-90% of the precincts have come in, the county can’t post the results until the write-in certification is completed. County officials were hoping to get the majority of the early ballots posted by 8:30 pm local time but they are further delayed, as per CNN report.

Members of Howard University's sororities and fraternities dance on stage during an election night event for Democratic presidential nominee, US Vice President Kamala Harris at Howard University.

Two hours into the US election counting, Republican candidate Donald Trump and his Democrat opponent Kamala Harris are leading in three and two swing states, respectively. While Harris leads in Pennsylvania and Michigan, Trump is ahead in Georgia, Wisconsin and North Carolina. Leads are not yet in for the swing states of Nevada and Arizona.

Read here

Democrat Kamala Harris won the big prize state of Illinois as well as Rhode Island and New York, as per CNN projections.

Kamala Harris, US Presidential candidate from the Democratic Party will win Delaware, as per CNN projections. With this, Harris is projected to win 99 electoral votes while Trump is leading with 178. 

The candidates are aiming to secure at least 270 electoral votes to declare victory.

The ballots cast so far in Nevada are higher than the total vote in the 2020 election, Nevada Secretary of State Francisco V. Aguilar told CNN.

Electoral votes will determine the winner of the US Presidential election 2024. Former President Donald Trump is ahead with 177 votes while Kamala Harris trails with 99. The candidates are racing towards the magic figure of 270 electoral college votes.

Donald Trump, 78, won several strongholds, including Florida, while Kamala Harris took several eastern states, as per the latest projections. US networks have projected that Trump is winning 10 states and Harris five.

As for electoral college numbers, which will determine the winner in this election, the former President is ahead with 177 votes and Harris trails with 99. Each candidate is aiming for the magic figure of 270 electoral college votes.

Earlier, exit polls showed that most of the voters favoured Harris, 59, over her Republican rival. According to an exit poll by NBC News, 48 per cent of voters nationwide expressed a favourable view of Harris, while 44 per cent supported Trump.

Most Asian markets rose with the dollar and bitcoin on Wednesday as traders await the outcome of the knife-edge US presidential election, with bets increasing on a Donald Trump victory as early results rolled in.

In early trade, markets in Tokyo, Sydney, Shanghai, Seoul, Singapore, Wellington and Taipei rose, though there were losses in Hong Kong.

The advances came after all three main indexes on Wall Street climbed more than one percent.

The dollar also jumped against its peers, including the yen, pound and euro, and piled on more than one percent against the Mexican peso.

Bitcoin surged about $2,700 to $71,471 while closing in on its March record of $73,797.98.

A Pennsylvania judge extended voting in Clearfield County until 9 pm (ET) following a bomb threat at the Clearfield County Administrative Building where votes were being cast, CNN reports.

Former President Donald Trump, 78, is projected to win Texas and Wyoming, as per CNN, taking the tally up to 14 states. So far, Kamala Harris is projected to win four states - Vermont, Massachusetts, Maryland and District of Columbia.

Former President Donald Trump will win both South Dakota and North Dakota, as per the CNN projections.

Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris are leading in two states each in 7 swing states - Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. 

Swing states, also known as battleground states, can make or break any candidate.

Swing States are a different story altogether. Here, the battle between Republicans and Democrats is often extremely close, with winners prevailing by tiny margins. For instance, in the 2020 presidential election, Joe Biden won Arizona by just 10,000 votes.

Former President Donald Trump is leading in 10 US states - Kentucky, Indiana, West Virginia, Alabama, Tennessee, Missouri, Oklahoma, Florida, South Carolina, Arkansas.

"Chester County emergency officials are investigating a bomb threat sent to the Chester County Government Services Center which mirrors the bomb threats sent to election offices across Pennsylvania and the United States," Josh Maxwell, chair of the Chester County Board of Elections, posted on social media platform X.

The bomb threat prompted the evacuation of Government Services Center in West Chester, Pennsylvania.

Now the voters are being redirected to neighboring polling places where they will be able to cast their votes provisionally.

The voting hours for the two neighboring polling places have been extended to 10 pm for those voters only.

FBI released a statement on bomb threats to polling locations in several US states. FBI said many of the bomb threats appear to originate from Russian email domains. "None of the threats have been determined to be credible thus far," it said.

"Election integrity is among the FBI’s highest priorities. We will continue to work closely with our state and local law enforcement partners to respond to any threats to our elections and to protect our communities as Americans exercise their right to vote. As always, we urge the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity to state or local law enforcement, or submit tips to the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or online at tips.fbi.gov," the statement read.

Former President Donald Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are together keeping an eye on US election results. 

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. remains on the ballot from Wisconsin, despite Kennedy’s best efforts to remove his name from the battleground state.

Roughly two-thirds of voters in Pennsylvania voters say abortion should be legal in most or all cases, according to the initial results of CNN’s exit poll of voters in the state.

The large picture is that Pennsylvania voters are split between the economy and the state of democracy as their top issue, with about 3 in 10 choosing each as their top issue. This is followed by nearly 15 percent of voters choosing abortion as their top issue, 12 percent immigration and fewer than 5 percent foreign policy.

Former President Donald Trump said Tuesday night that if he wins Pennsylvania, he wins “the whole deal.” Trump spoke at Rich Zeoli Show on Philadelphia’s Talk Radio 1210 WPHT.

“We’re going to make this country greater than ever before, but you have to stay in line. And don’t let them slow ball you. You have an absolute legal right and get that vote in because if we win Pennsylvania, if we win the good old Commonwealth, we’re going to win the whole thing. We win everything,” Trump said, urging voters to cast their vote.

He said “the big question” is if he can garner more support in Philadelphia, which has been a Democratic stronghold.

As per the latest CNN projections, former President Donald Trump will win Missouri and Oklahoma.

Kamala Harris will win Vermont, Massachusetts, Maryland and District of Columbia, as per the CNN projections.

Former President Donald Trump will win Florida, Tennessee and Alabama, as per the CNN projections.

There are 30 electoral votes at stake in Florida, 11 in Tennessee and nine in Alabama. It takes at least 270 electoral votes to win the 2024 presidential election.

“No Justice, no peace” and “free free Palestine” - chant pro-Palestinian protesters outside the White House.

Over 50 pro-Palestinian protesters have gathered in the middle of Black Lives Matter Plaza outside the White House. They have blocked the street.

“No Trump, No Kamala,” one sign reads.

“There’s not one political party in this system that represents our interests,” a speaker said. “The Democrats are just as aligned against our interests as Republicans. This election is a referendum on genocide. It is a referendum on genocide, whether we will accept genocide or whether we will fight back,” reported NBC News.

Republican Donald Trump's posted a video message on X (formerly Twitter) urging voters to "stay in line". He added, "We are doing very well. If you are in line, stay in line. Don't let them take you off that line. Vote...we are going to win it big."

As many as 12 voting locations in Georgia have extended their hours due to bomb threats, officials said.

Raffensperger also confirmed that all of the bomb threats against polling places in Georgia appear to have originated from Russia.

According to the FBI, many hoax bomb threats appeared to originate from Russian email domains.

Donald Trump has also won West Virginia, according to projection by CNN.

Polling stations have closed in six US states, including in the key battleground of Georgia. Polling places also closed in Indiana, Kentucky, South Carolina, Vermont and Virginia.

Donald Trump has won the states of Indiana and Kentucky, while Kamala Harris has taken Vermont, show latest projections.

Donald Trump sought to undermine the credibility of voting in the biggest city of must-win US state Pennsylvania. Amid reports of exceptionally high voter turnout in a soundly Democratic area, Trump said there was "a lot of talk about massive cheating" in the city. "Law enforcement coming!!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

A city official promptly denied the claim, calling it "yet another example of disinformation," while Philadelphia police and the district attorney's office also rejected the unsubstantiated allegation. "There is no factual basis whatsoever within law enforcement to support this wild allegation," said District Attorney Larry Krasner. "If Donald J. Trump has any facts to support his wild allegations, we want them now," he added.

The first exit polls for the US presidential elections suggest that nearly three-quarters of the voters believe democracy is under threat, reports Reuters. Democracy and the economy ranked the most important issues for voters, followed by abortion and immigration, the data showed. The poll showed 73% of voters believed democracy was in jeopardy, against just 25% who said it was secure.

Democratic Vice Presidential candidate and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has expressed optimism that former President Donald Trump will accept the election results, even if he loses, CNN reported. Walz, Kamala Harris's running mate, said he believes Trump will concede if "history is...any indicator" when asked if Trump will concede the election if he loses.

A man who smelled like fuel was arrested from the US Capitol's visitors center on Tuesday as the country voted to choose its next president. He had a torch and a flare gun, US Capitol Police said in a statement. The Capitol Visitor Center was closed while they investigated, the cops added. The arrest came as the FBI warned of bomb threats - linked to Russia - in multiple US states. Two polling sites had to be evacuated in Georgia after bomb hoaxes.  

Two polling stations in the battleground state of Georgia were evacuated after a fake bomb threat as millions of Americans cast their vote today to choose their next President. Election officials have blamed the bomb threats on Russian agents and deemed them to be non-credible. The two polling sites in Fulton County reopened after about 30 minutes. The county is now seeking a court order to extend the voting hours past the 7 pm deadline, officials said.

The FBI has warned of bomb threats at polling stations in "multiple" US states as Americans vote today to choose their next president. None of the bomb threats were credible but many appeared to originate from Russia, the FBI said in a statement as authorities in Georgia said hoax bomb threats had briefly disrupted voting there Tuesday.

The 2024 US elections will be the most expensive in history as the total contributions reached almost $16 million. The spending, including congressional contests, will surpass the $15.1 billion spent in 2020 and over double 2016's $6.5 billion, according to nonprofit OpenSecrets. Altogether, $10.5 billion has been spent on campaign ads for races from president down to local officials, according to data compiled by the ad tracking firm AdImpact.

American actor Anne Hathaway has said she voted for Kamala Harris in an Instagram post. Posting news clips of abortion ban impacting lives of women as well as a trigger warning for pregnancy loss, she said that she voted like "half the country's lives depended on it."

Check out her post here:

Democrat Kamala Harris and her Republican rival Donald Trump are in a tight race as millions in the US voted today to choose who will lead the world's biggest economy for the next four years. Latest reports suggest polling aggregator FiveThirtyEight has named Harris as its favourite to win for the first time since October 17. For around two weeks until Monday, Trump was the aggregator's favourite.

US-India Strategic Partnership Forum president Mukesh Aghi has told ANI that if Vice President Kamala Harris wins US presidency, there will be a "structural" approach in contrast to Donald Trump's "transactional" approach to US-India relations. Harris would look at India not only for trade but also with a much broader arena of partnership, said Mr Aghi.

He noted that Harris' approach would also include leveraging India's position in relation to China, recognising the importance of a joint effort to manage China's rise on the global stage.

"If Kamala Harris wins the presidency, there will be a continuation of the Biden approach, to look at India not only through the prism of trade but with a much broader partnership from the geopolitical, economic arena, technology and from people to people. Also leveraging India's position vis a vis China because there is a common platform. The US cannot handle China on its own and it needs partners," said Mr Aghi.

A Pennsylvania court granted the request by Cambria County election officials to extend voting hours after a software malfunction disrupted ballot scanning. 

Chuck Sutherland, a registered Texas Republican, said that when it came to voting this presidential election, his choice was clear: Kamala Harris. "I cannot forget January 6," Sutherland told CNN, referring to the 2021 riot at the US Capitol. "When that happened it just stayed ingrained in my mind, and I just couldn't go the other way."

US Republican presidential contender Donald Trump said he would be prepared to concede defeat after Tuesday's vote "if it's a fair election", while again raising concerns about the use of electronic voting machines.

"If I lose an election, if it's a fair election, I would be the first one to acknowledge it. So far I think it's been fair," Trump, repeating a caveat that he has used many times on the campaign trail, told reporters after voting in Florida.

Former President Donald Trump's social media company is surging on Election Day as US decides between him and Kamala Harris. Shares of Truth Social owner Trump Media & Technology Group spiked 13% on Tuesday morning.

Polls have opened in Hawaii, the last state to begin voting in the 2024 US Election.

Donald Trump feels "very confident" about winning back the White House, the Republican said Tuesday after casting his Election Day ballot in Florida in one of the most contentious US elections in decades.

"I feel very confident," Trump told reporters at a voting facility in West Palm Beach, adding he believes he "ran a great campaign" against his Democratic rival Kamala Harris. Opinion polls show the race is a dead heat.

Polling aggregator FiveThirtyEight has named Vice President Kamala Harris its favorite to win the White House, on Election Day, for the first time since October 17.

Kamala Harris has urged Americans to 'get out and vote' on Election Day in a presidential election defined by drama and uncertainty. Kamala Harris and Donald Trump await the outcome of a desperately close race after months of intense campaigning. "We've got to get it done. Today is voting day, and people need to get out and be active," she said on Atlanta station WVEE-FM.

Democrats are readying a rapid-fire response to flood social media and the airwaves with calls for calm and patience with vote-counting should Donald Trump try to prematurely claim election victory, as he did in 2020, Harris campaign and party officials told news agency Reuters.

Trump is locked in a razor-thin race with Democratic rival Kamala Harris.

US election winners are typically declared by major media outlets who analyze vote counts provided by election officials. While candidates sometimes declare victory before those calls are made, it is unusual to do so before the winner is at least arguably apparent.

Voters in Delaware are expected to elect the first transgender member of Congress, as Democrat Sarah McBride is poised to win the state's sole House seat. McBride is running for a seat vacated by Democrat Lisa Blunt Rochester, who is running for a Senate seat.

A Trump comeback would be historic -- just the second ever non-consecutive second term for a US president, since Grover Cleveland in 1893. A Harris victory would give America its first Black woman and South Asian president -- and end the Trump era which has dominated US politics for nearly a decade.

Voters in Montana, Arizona, Missouri, Nebraska, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Nevada, New York and South Dakota will be asked how their state should regulate abortion. 

Kamala Harris has advocated for abortion rights and pledged to lower food and housing costs for working families, while Donald Trump has vowed to seal the border and has proposed tax cuts worth trillions.

Trust her (Kamala Harris) character more, a Philadelphia voter told NDTV after casting his vote. 

As polling stations opened, Democratic vice president Harris and Republican former president Trump were dead-even in the tightest and most volatile White House contest of modern times. But despite head-spinning twists in the campaign -- from Harris's dramatic entrance when President Joe Biden dropped out in July, to Trump riding out two assassination attempts and a criminal conviction -- nothing has broken the opinion poll deadlock.

Major stock markets mostly rose and the dollar remained under pressure Tuesday as Americans cast votes in a knife-edge presidential election. Wall Street's main indexes, which had fallen the previous day, rebounded in early deals after voting began in the world's biggest economy. Equities in Shanghai and Hong Kong won strong support from hopes over China's economy. The dollar weakened against the euro, the British pound and the yen.

The first results in the big US election came in early this morning - from the tiny village of Dixville Notch, in New Hampshire. It has a population of six residents. The results ended in a tie: three votes to Kamala Harris and three for Donald Trump.

The seven swing states deliver a total of 93 electoral college votes:

Wisconsin: 10

Michigan: 15

Pennsylvania :19

Nevada: 6

Arizona: 11

North Carolina: 16

Georgia: 16  

Voting is underway in most US states, including all battleground states, which hold the key to the White House.

Polls are now open in more than three dozen states across the eastern and central United States. Along with the presidential race, hundreds of congressional seats are at stake, which will shape the party balance in the House and Senate, and thousands of local offices are also on the line. 

In 10 states, referendums on abortion rights are on the ballot.

Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are locked in a dead heat in the seven swing states likely to decide the presidential race, which experts say could go either way.

President Joe Biden will watch the election results from the White House residence alongside first lady Jill Biden, longtime aides, and senior White House staff, according to US media.

A coalition of 51 attorneys general across US states and territories released a statement on Tuesday urging people to remain peaceful and pre-emptively condemning "any acts of violence related to the results".

Trump's running mate, JD Vance, cast his ballot at his polling place in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Republican Vice Presidential candidate was with his wife, Usha, and their children. "We do expect to win" Vance told reporters outside the polling station. 

After wrapping up a late-night rally in Gran Rapids, Donald Trump spent the very early hours of Election Day in Michigan. He plans to spend the day in Florida, where he is expected to vote in person. He's scheduled to hold a campaign watch party in Palm Beach on Tuesday night.

Kamala Harris plans to attend an election night party at Howard University in Washington, a historically Black university where she graduated with a degree in economics and political science in 1986. She has no public schedule announced for Election Day.

Polls are now open in more than 40 states. It includes six of the seven battleground states that are likely to decide the election: North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin and Arizona.

The voting will soon open in the states of Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. 

This election campaign is being waged less on issues and more on impressions and attitudes. Trump is playing on dissatisfaction with the bureaucratic state, a scepticism of international entanglements, lower taxes for businesses and investors, curbs on immigration, and social conservatism, although he has attempted to dilute the latter to appeal more to moderate voters. Harris has positioned herself as appealing to youth, urban voters, ethnic minorities, responsible governance, and progressive social causes. Their competing worldviews reflect a rigid divide in American society across age and class lines, ethnic groups, and especially urban and rural constituencies, across which Republicans and Democrats have consolidated deeply entrenched if 'big tent' coalitions. Suburban voters, white women, second-generation Hispanics, and union workers are among the constituencies in which Republicans and Democrats are still battling to sway opinion. Read here

The US presidential race remains maddeningly deadlocked and statistically tied. A gain of a percentage point here, a fraction there could mean victory or defeat. Donald Trump appears to have some last-minute momentum while Kamala Harris seems to be struggling to win new converts while losing a percentage of traditional voters. Although the average of various national polls still shows Harris ahead with 48.1% and Trump at 46.4%, her four-point lead in August has narrowed and changed the 'vibe' somewhat. But national polls don't tell the real story, it's state polls where the action is because of the complicated Electoral College system in the presidential election. Read here

Even by the standards of someone best known for scandal, corruption, and criminality, a recent New York Times listing of Donald Trump's controversial deeds makes for sober reading. "He is the only president in American history impeached twice for high crimes and misdemeanours, the only president ever indicted on criminal charges, and the only president convicted of a felony (34 counts, in fact)," the narrative begins. Read here

Moo Deng, a baby pygmy hippopotamus from Thailand has taken the role of a prophet, ahead of the US election 2024. In a neck-to-neck race between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris for the seat of US President, the baby hippo chose his winner - Donald Trump. Read here

Australia and India's foreign ministers said on Tuesday they were confident the Quad group of the US, India, Australia and Japan would continue to cooperate in the Indo-Pacific region regardless of the outcome of the US presidential election.

Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong told reporters in Canberra she had met Mike Pompeo, who served as Secretary of State in the previous Trump Administration, ahead of the US election and had "a very good discussion".

China objects to the Quad grouping as an effort to contain it, while Australia, Japan, India and the US say they are like-minded democracies seeking to bolster stability in the Indo-Pacific region. The Quad leaders agreed in September to establish joint coast guard patrols and increased military logistics cooperation.

Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar said the Quad was revived under the Trump presidency in 2017.

Control of the US Congress is at stake on Tuesday in elections that could flip both the House of Representatives and the Senate, while still leaving Capitol Hill divided between Donald Trump's Republicans and Kamala Harris' Democrats. The outcome will play an important role in determining how easily the winner of Tuesday's US presidential election will govern until the next congressional elections in 2026.

Nonpartisan analysts say Republicans stand a good chance of taking back the Senate, where Democrats hold a 51-49 majority. But Republicans could also lose their grip on the House, where Democrats only need to pick up four seats to take back control of the 435-seat chamber. 

As in the presidential election, the outcome will likely be determined by a small slice of voters. The battle for the Senate hinges on seven contests, while fewer than 40 House races are seen as truly competitive.

Democrats are playing defense as they try to retain their hold on the Senate, whose members serve six-year terms. Republicans only need to gain two seats to win control of the chamber, and they are expected to easily pick up one of those seats with a victory in West Virginia.

Voters in the US hamlet of Dixville Notch launched Election Day in the first minutes of Tuesday with a tied vote, mirroring the incredibly close national polls in the White House race. Kamala Harris and Donald Trump each got three ballots in the tiny community in the northeastern state of New Hampshire which for decades has kicked off Election Day at the stroke of midnight Monday -- hours before the rest of the country's polling stations open.

Silicon Valley, a stronghold of Democratic politics, is experiencing a shift as more voices, seemingly emboldened by Elon Musk, have openly declared their support for Donald Trump. The South African-born tech mogul is leading this change, committing nearly $100 million to the Republican's presidential campaign, while leveraging his X social media platform and personally campaigning in crucial swing states to aid Trump's White House bid.

"Musk is revered by a lot of people in Silicon Valley," said tech entrepreneur and author Vivek Wadhwa, who teaches at Carnegie Mellon University. "More people on the right are just saying 'Look, we're fed up, we're going to vote for Trump,' and they're doing it fearlessly and are impacting the opinion of others."

Musk's embrace of Trump has amplified ideological currents that have long existed quietly in the California tech scene, best represented today by Peter Thiel, a conservative investor who worked with Musk at PayPal 25 years ago.

A Pennsylvania judge declined on Monday to halt billionaire Elon Musk's $1 million giveaways to registered voters in US election battleground states. Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, a Democrat, sued Musk and his pro-Trump political action committee, America PAC, last week, calling the $1 million awards "an illegal lottery scheme." Krasner had asked that the daily giveaways be shut down, but Common Pleas Court Judge Angelo Foglietta declined to do so after a daylong hearing on Monday featuring Musk's lawyers and prosecutors. Foglietta did not immediately provide a reason for his decision, though no more giveaways were planned in Pennsylvania.

Joe Rogan, the influential host of one of the world's top podcasts, delivered a last-minute endorsement of Republican candidate Donald Trump Monday, on the eve of a historically close US presidential election. Rogan made the endorsement while promoting the latest episode of his wildly popular show, The Joe Rogan Experience, which featured an interview with billionaire Trump supporter Elon Musk. Musk "makes what I think is the most compelling case for Trump you'll hear, and I agree with him every step of the way," wrote Rogan, on social media. "For the record, yes, that's an endorsement of Trump."

A security fence rings a Las Vegas building where Nevada tabulates votes. An Arizona sheriff has his department on high alert to guard against potential violence with drones and snipers on standby. Governors of at least three states have called for National Guard troops to help maintain the peace.

As a tense America votes for either Republican Donald Trump or Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris for president, concerns about potential political violence have prompted officials to take a variety of measures to bolster security during and after Election Day.

Many of the most visible moves can be seen in the battleground states that will decide the presidential election, states like Nevada where protests by supporters of former President Donald Trump broke out after the 2020 election.

With sacred chants, ringing of bells and offerings of flowers and bananas, a Hindu priest in Kamala Harris' ancestral village in southern India conducted prayers for her victory on Tuesday, hours after she and her opponent Donald Trump closed out their campaigns.

The temple ceremony in Thulasendrapuram, in Tamil Nadu, was organised by local villagers and attended by more than a dozen of them and a few tourists. Harris' maternal grandfather PV Gopalan was born more than a century ago in Thulasendrapuram before migrating to the state capital Chennai. He was a high-ranking government official at the time of his retirement. After lighting incense, the priest ended the prayer pronouncing "Kamala Harris should win", as he offered vermilion powder and ash to those attending.

During the campaign, Trump hammered first Biden and then Harris for their handling of the economy, which polls show is at the top of voters' concerns despite low unemployment and cooling inflation. But he showed a characteristic inability to stay on message, at one point questioning Harris' Black identity and vowing to protect women "whether they like it or not."

His unbridled approach seemed designed to fire up his supporters, rather than expand his appeal. Even more than in 2016 and 2020, Trump has demonized immigrants who crossed the border illegally, falsely accusing them of fomenting a violent crime wave, and he has vowed to use the government to prosecute his political rivals.

Polls show he has made some gains among Black and Latino voters, despite the historic nature of Harris' candidacy. Trump has often warned that migrants are taking jobs away from those constituencies.

More than 80 million Americans had already voted before Tuesday, either via mail or in person, according to the University of Florida Election Lab.

Voters in Dixville Notch, New Hampshire, went to the polls early Tuesday morning, marking the official start of Election Day voting for the 2024 US presidential election. Six registered voters of the tiny town in the northeastern United States cast their ballots at midnight, following a tradition that dates back decades ago. Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and Republican candidate Donald Trump are tied in the town in a 3-3 vote. Amid heightened security, the vast majority of polling stations across the country open on Tuesday morning and will remain open until the evening.

The policy stance of the newly elected government is going to shape the future of the global economy and market trends early next year. According to a Forbes report, markets may favour a scenario of political gridlock, where policy changes could be limited. Read here

Under the US Constitution, America's founding fathers established that each of the 50 states would hold its own vote for president. Under the complex Electoral College system, each state has a certain number of "electors," based on population. Most states have a winner-take-all system that awards all electors to whoever wins the popular vote. With candidates needing 270 of the 538 electoral votes to win, elections tend to be decided in the hotly contested "swing states" with a history of alternating between Republican and Democratic candidates. Read here

With polls showing a dead heat, Trump promised to lead the United States to "new heights of glory" while Harris said the "momentum is on our side," as the rivals held their last rallies of the 2024 race in crucial battleground states.

The Democratic vice president finished on a high note in Philadelphia in the must-win state of Pennsylvania, with a rally on the steps immortalized by the boxing movie "Rocky." "This could be one of the closest races in history -- every single vote matters," said Harris, who was joined by celebrities including Lady Gaga and Oprah Winfrey.

Former president Trump brought several family members -- with the conspicuous absence of his wife Melania -- up on stage at his closing rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan. There, as in an earlier swing through North Carolina and Pennsylvania, his speech bristled with dark rhetoric. "With your vote tomorrow, we can fix every single problem our country faces and lead America -- indeed, the world -- to new heights of glory," he told the crowd, as the clocks ticked over into Tuesday.

Asian markets mostly rose Tuesday, a day before results from the US presidential election rolled in, with opinion polls showing a knife-edge vote. Uncertainty about the outcome and worries that the winner might not be known for days has led to warnings that investors could be in for a period of volatility. Eyes will also be on the Federal Reserve's policy decision on Thursday, with expectations for another cut.

Trump, who still refuses to admit he fairly lost the 2020 election to Biden, has hinted that he would refuse to accept another loss, and in the final days of the campaign brought up baseless claims of election fraud while saying he should "never have left" the White House.

A Trump comeback would be historic -- the first non-consecutive second term for a US president since Grover Cleveland in 1893 and just the second ever. 

A Harris victory meanwhile would give the US its first Black woman and South Asian president -- and signal an end to the Trump era which has dominated US politics for nearly a decade.

Harris and Trump are effectively tied in the seven main swing states -- Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin.

American voters deliver their verdict Tuesday after an extraordinarily turbulent election that will either make Kamala Harris the first woman president in US history or deliver Donald Trump a comeback. 

As polling stations open nationwide on Election Day, Democratic vice president Harris, 60, and Republican former president Trump, 78, are dead-even in the tightest and most volatile White House race of modern times.

A final outcome may not be known for several days if the results are as close as the polls suggest, adding to the tension in a deeply divided nation. 

Polling stations open at 6:00 am (1100 GMT) on the US east coast and tens of millions of voters are expected to cast their ballots, on top of the more than 82 million people who have already voted early in the preceding weeks.