Good morning.
Congress certified Donald Trump’s presidential election victory yesterday in an event heavy with symbolism, four years to the day since he incited a violent mob in attempts to overturn his 2020 election defeat.
The vice-president, Kamala Harris, presided over the joint Senate and House of Representatives session to validate the result, in which she was Trump’s defeated Democratic opponent in November’s election.
Democrats didn’t challenge the results in any way, respecting longstanding convention that the certification should be a formality in the peaceful transfer of power. But the proceedings took place amid unprecedented security measures from US Capitol and Washington DC police.
What were November’s final results? Trump won the electoral college by 312 to 226, and the popular vote by a margin of about 2.5m.
What did Harris say yesterday? “I do believe very strongly that America’s democracy is only as strong as our willingness to fight for it,” she told reporters. “Otherwise, it is very fragile, and it will not be able to withstand moments of crisis. And today, America’s democracy stood.” The president, Joe Biden, wrote an op-ed urging Americans not to forget the Capitol attack.
Earthquake hits Tibet leaving at least 95 people dead
A strong earthquake has struck near Shigatse, one of Tibet’s holiest cities, killing scores of people, damaging buildings, and sending people running into the streets in neighbouring Nepal and India.
Chinese state media said at least 95 people had died, more than 130 had been injured, and about 1,000 houses were damaged in the quake, which hit at 9.05am on Tuesday.
More than 1,500 local firefighters and rescue workers have been dispatched to the affected areas, Xinhua news agency reported.
What do we know about the quake’s ferocity? The US Geological Survey said the earthquake was centred in the Tibet region at a depth of about 10km (6 miles). It measured the tremor at a magnitude of 7.1, while China recorded it as 6.8.
This is a developing story. Follow our live blog here.
Trudeau to resign as Canadian prime minister after process selecting new Liberal party leader
Justin Trudeau will resign as Canada’s prime minister after his party finds a new leader, ending nearly a decade in power.
“Canadians deserve a clear choice in the next election,” Trudeau said, adding that party infighting had made it impossible for him to face off against his political rivals.
His resignation throws open the doors to a fierce political battle to be the country’s next leader, with polls showing the Liberals losing badly to the Conservatives this year.
Trudeau’s popularity has fallen amid high inflation and rising house prices in Canada, as well as a series of personal scandals, including a family trip to the Aga Khan’s private island, skipping out on the country’s first national day of truth and reconciliation for a surfing vacation, and revelations that members of his family were paid hundreds of thousands of dollars by a charity to which his government had awarded a substantial contract.
How long has he been in power? The 53-year-old Trudeau has led the ruling Liberal party since 2013 and became prime minister in November 2015. Until recently, he had told reporters on numerous occasions he expected to lead the Liberals into the next election.
How is the Liberal party polling? According to CBC News, the Liberals are polling at 20.1% compared with the Conservatives on 44.2%. Canadians go to the polls on 25 October.
In other news …
European leaders in Britain, France, Germany and Norway have hit back at Elon Musk’s far-right interventions. The UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, attacked people spreading the “poison of the far right” and “lies and misinformation” about child sexual exploitation.
Rudy Giuliani has been found in contempt of court, for failing to provide financial information related to the $148m defamation judgment he owes to two Georgia election workers.
In Ethiopia, church celebrations today for millions of Orthodox Christians have been marred by bitter splits, as the legacy of a brutal conflict tears apart Ethiopia’s ancient church.
The Danish king changed his royal coat of arms, in an apparent rebuke to Donald Trump as Greenland and the Faroe Islands feature more prominently.
Stat of the day: China’s yuan weakened to 7.33 against the dollar, a 16-month low amid Trump tariffs fears
China’s currency hit a 16-month low on Monday, despite efforts by the central bank and stock exchanges to soothe investor worries about impending tariffs under Donald Trump’s presidency. The tightly controlled yuan weakened to 7.3301 against the dollar, its weakest level since September 2023.
Don’t miss this: Never mind the back pain – how rock’s aging drummers cope with furious sets
The Guardian asked great rock and punk drummers how they deal with long nights of fast songs as they grow older. Speaking to musicians including Deep Purple’s Ian Paice, 76, the Sex Pistols’ Paul Cook, 68, and the Damned’s Rat Scabies, 69, it’s a tale of arthritis, cardio and turmeric oil.
Climate check: Biden bans new drilling in US coastal waters weeks before Trump handover
Joe Biden has banned offshore drilling across an immense area, weeks before Donald Trump takes office. The ban includes the Atlantic coast, the eastern Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific coast off California, Oregon and Washington, and part of the Bering Sea. Trump vowed to “unban it immediately” but it’s unclear how easy this would be.
Last Thing: Residents a-peeling for answers as mystery bananas keep appearing in Nottinghamshire, England
Residents in Nottinghamshire, England have been left perplexed by a mysterious plate of bananas, which keeps appearing on the street. The bananas – whole but peeled – have been showing up regularly for over a year. “My friend will message me to say, oh, the bananas are back today,” one resident said.
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