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Joe Biden denied he is “angry” with Democrats who tried to remove him as their candidate ahead of this year’s US election – as he said “democracy must be preserved” in an emotional farewell speech to his party’s members.

The outgoing US president was seen wiping away tears as he walked out to deliver a speech on the opening night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois, on Monday night.

He had been introduced to the stage at the United Center by his daughter Ashley for what was billed as his swansong.

It was followed by a four-minute-long ovation and chants of “thank you Joe” from those in the crowd.

“America, I love you,” he replied.

As it happened: Biden addresses Democratic National Convention

In a nearly hour-long address, Mr Biden called Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump a “loser” and urged people to get behind Democratic candidate Kamala Harris ahead of this year’s US election.

His speech came less than a month after he dropped out of the race for the White House following months of speculation about his age and his fitness to serve another four years.

Concerns increased among Democrats after a disastrous debate performance against Mr Trump in June and a series of high-profile gaffes.

Senior Democrats, including former US President Barack Obama, expressed their concerns about him running, while former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Mr Biden‘s long-time friend and ally, urged him to step aside.

Pic: Reuters
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Pic: Reuters

Trump presented as a threat to democracy

Addressing the moves within the party to have him replaced as the presidential candidate, Mr Biden said: “I love the job, but I love my country more

“All this talk about how I’m angry at all the people who said I should step down – that’s not true.

“I love my country more and we need to preserve our democracy.”

Chants of “we love Joe” filled the arena as he made the remarks.

Mr Biden also told those gathered that the US is at an “inflection point” and November’s election will determine the fate of the nation and the world for “decades to come”.

Read more:
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An emotional Joe Biden delivers a speech to the 2024 Democratic National Convention Pic: AP
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An emotional Joe Biden delivers a speech to the 2024 Democratic National Convention. Pic: AP

The US president has long presented Mr Trump as a threat to the country’s democracy and said he believes the Republican candidate will not accept the result if he loses.

Mr Biden said: “Democracy has prevailed, democracy has delivered and now democracy must be preserved.”

Directing criticism at Mr Trump, Mr Biden said: “Think of the message he sends around the world when he talks about America being a failing nation.

“He says we’re losing. He’s the loser. He’s dead wrong.”

The US president added: “Donald Trump says he will refuse to accept election results if he loses again. He’ s promising a bloodbath – his words.

“We need you to beat Trump and elect Kamala and Tim president and vice president of the United States of America.”

Joe Biden wipes away a tear as he takes to the stage. Pic: Reuters
Image:
Joe Biden wipes away a tear as he takes to the stage. Pic: Reuters

Biden says farewell

Mr Biden also ran through his achievements during his time in the Oval Office, telling the crowd that he had forged “the strongest economy in the entire world” in the wake of the COVID-19 global pandemic.

In the final moments of his speech he said: “America, I gave my best to you.”

The US president spent 52 years rising to the pinnacle of influence within his party before stepping aside for Ms Harris to run in this year’s election.

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Tearful Joe Biden says farewell

As he began to wrap up his speech, Mr Biden took a moment to remind people why they should vote for current vice president Ms Harris in November this year.

He said: “Selecting Kamala was the very first decision I made when I became our nominee, and it’s the best decision I made.

“She’s tough, she’s experienced and she has enormous integrity.”

Ms Harris herself later made an unannounced appearance, drawing cheers from the crowd as she vowed to defeat Mr Trump in the election.

“Let us fight for the ideals we hold dear and let us always remember, when we fight we win,” she said in brief remarks.

She also paid tribute to Mr Biden, thanking him for “historic leadership” and a “lifetime of service” to the nation.

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Kamala Harris’s surprise turn

‘Lock him up’

Meanwhile, Hilary Clinton, whose loss to Mr Trump in the 2016 election ended her hopes of becoming the first female US president, gave a speech where she said Ms Harris could succeed where she could not.

“Kamala has the character, experience and vision to lead us forward,” she said, after entering to a standing ovation.

Mrs Clinton also took shots at her former nemesis, who became the first former US president to be criminally convicted in May.

“Donald Trump fell asleep at his own trial, and when he woke up, he made his own kind of history, the first person to run for president with 34 felony convictions,” she said.

Hillary Clinton said she sees Kamala Harris ‘on the other side of the glass ceiling’ during Democratic National Convention speech.
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Hillary Clinton delivers a speech at the convention

Chants of “lock him up” broke out at the convention – echoing the “lock her up” chant Trump supporters directing at Mrs Clinton during her presidential campaign.

While Democrats gathered for their convention, thousands of people assembled at a nearby park to protest the party’s military support for Israel’s Gaza offensive.

The protesters were fewer than the tens of thousands organisers predicted, but a splinter group left the main march and breached a security perimeter near the convention centre, with riot police detaining four people.

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Donald Trump threatens sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China on first day in office

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Donald Trump threatens sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China on first day in office

Donald Trump has threatened sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China on his first day in office.

The president-elect, who takes office on 20 January next year, said he would introduce a 25% tax on all products entering the country from Canada and Mexico.

Posting on his Truth Social platform he also threatened an additional 10% tariff on goods from China on top of any additional tariffs he might impose as one of his first executive orders.

What Trump’s tariffs could mean for UK, EU, China and the world

If implemented, the tariffs could raise prices for ordinary American consumers on everything from petrol to cars and agricultural products.

The US is the largest importer of goods worldwide and Mexico, China and Canada are its top three suppliers according to the country’s own census data.

More than 83% of exports from Mexico went to the US in 2023 and 75% of Canadian exports go to the country.

More on Donald Trump

“On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders,” Mr Trump said.

He also spoke against an influx of illegal immigrants heading into the country.

While migrant arrests reached a record high during President Joe Biden’s administration, illegal crossings fell dramatically this year as new border restrictions were introduced and Mexico stepped up enforcement.

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Mr Trump added: “Both Mexico and Canada have the absolute right and power to easily solve this long simmering problem. We hereby demand that they use this power… and until such time that they do, it is time for them to pay a very big price!”

After issuing his tariff threat, Mr Trump spoke with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and they were said to have discussed trade and border security.

“It was a good discussion and they will stay in touch,” a Canadian source said.

Turning to China, the president-elect said he “had many talks with China about the massive amounts of drugs, in particular Fentanyl, being sent into the United States – But to no avail.”

“Until such time as they stop, we will be charging China an additional 10% Tariff, above any additional Tariffs, on all of their many products coming into the United States of America,” he wrote.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington said that there would be losers on all sides if there is a trade war.

“China-US economic and trade cooperation is mutually beneficial in nature,” embassy spokesman Liu Pengyu posted on X. “No one will win a trade war or a tariff war.”

It isn’t clear if Mr Trump will actually go through with the threats.

He won the recent election in part due to voter frustration over inflation and high prices.

Mr Trump’s nominee for treasury secretary Scott Bessent – who if confirmed, would be one of a number of officials responsible for tariffs – has said previously that tariffs are a means of negotiation.

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Ryan Kobayashi: Dad of woman who vanished takes his own life after flying to LA to find her

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Ryan Kobayashi: Dad of woman who vanished takes his own life after flying to LA to find her

The dad of a missing Hawaiian woman who vanished took his own life after he flew to LA to try to find her.

Ryan Kobayashi had travelled from Hawaii to LA, retracing the steps his daughter Hannah Kobayashi took earlier this month before she went missing.

On 8 November, the 31-year-old Ms Kobayashi travelled from Hawaii to LA, on her way to New York, but missed her connecting flight.

Hannah Kobayashi. Pic: Instagram/Hannah Kobayashi
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Hannah Kobayashi. Pic: Instagram/Hannah Kobayashi

Hannah Kobayashi. Pic: Missing Persons of America
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The 30-year-old budding photographer. Pic: Missing Persons of America

Her family initially thought she would catch another one but she told them she had begun to explore the area.

Then, on 11 November, the family began receiving “strange and cryptic, just alarming” text messages from her phone.

They referenced her being “intercepted” as she got on a train and being scared someone was trying to steal her identity.

“Once the family started pressing, she went dark,” her aunt Larie Pidgeon said.

More on Los Angeles

Sky News US partner network NBC News reported that one of the texts received by Ms Kobayashi’s family read: “I got tricked pretty much into giving away all my funds for someone I thought I loved.”

Mr Kobayashi flew out to LA to try and find her, searching with other family members and volunteers.

However, he was found dead on Sunday in a car park near the LA International Airport having taken his own life, police and his family said.

In a statement, the family said: “After tirelessly searching throughout Los Angeles for 13 days, Hannah’s father, Ryan Kobayashi, tragically took his own life.

“This loss has compounded the family’s suffering immeasurably.”

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They asked for privacy as they grieved and requested the public “maintain focus on the search for her. Hannah IS still actively missing and is believed to be in imminent danger. It is crucial for everyone to remain vigilant in their efforts to locate Hannah.”

Ms Kobayashi is a budding photographer from Maui and had been heading to New York for a new job and to visit relatives.

The RAD Movement, a network aimed at helping missing and exploited people, said in an appeal that in footage, Ms Kobayashi “does not appear to be in good condition and she is not alone”.

Ms Pidgeon added that the search effort has been focused in the downtown area of LA.

Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.

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Prosecutors file to drop 2020 presidential election interference charges against Trump

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Prosecutors file to drop 2020 presidential election interference charges against Trump

A motion has been filed to drop the charges against Donald Trump of plotting to overturn the 2020 US presidential election result.

Mr Trump was first indicted on four felonies in August 2023: Conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of and an attempt to obstruct an official proceeding, and conspiracy against rights.

The president-elect pleaded not guilty to all charges and the case was then put on hold for months as Mr Trump’s team argued he could not be prosecuted.

U.S. Special Counsel Jack Smith looks on as he makes a statement to reporters after a grand jury returned an indictment of former U.S. President Donald Trump in the special counsel's investigation of efforts to overturn his 2020 election defeat, at Smith's offices in Washington, U.S. August 1, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Wurm TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
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Special Counsel Jack Smith. Pic: Reuters

Donald Trump supporters storm the US Capitol
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Donald Trump supporters storm the US Capitol

On Monday, prosecutors working with special counsel Jack Smith, who had led the investigation, asked a federal judge to dismiss the case over long-standing US justice department policy, dating back to the 1970s, that presidents cannot be prosecuted while in office.

It marks the end of the department’s landmark effort to hold Mr Trump accountable for the attack on the US Capitol on 6 January 2021 when thousands of Trump supporters assaulted police, broke through barricades, and swarmed the Capitol in a bid to prevent the US Congress from certifying Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory.

Mr Smith’s team had been assessing how to wind down both the election interference case and the separate classified documents case in the wake of Mr Trump’s election victory over vice president Kamala Harris earlier this month, effectively killing any chance of success for the case.

In court papers, prosecutors said “the [US] Constitution requires that this case be dismissed before the defendant is inaugurated”.

They said the ban [on prosecuting sitting presidents] “is categorical and does not turn on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the government’s proof, or the merits of the prosecution, which the government stands fully behind”.

Mr Trump, who has said he would sack Mr Smith as soon as he takes office in January, and promised to pardon some convicted rioters, has long dismissed both the 2020 election interference case and the separate classified documents case as politically motivated.

Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier at the Capitol in Washington
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Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier at the Capitol in Washington. Pic: AP

He was accused of illegally keeping classified papers after leaving office in 2021, some of which were allegedly found in his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida.

The election interference case stalled after the US Supreme Court ruled in July that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution, which Mr Trump’s lawyers exploited to demand the charges against him be dismissed.

Mr Smith’s request to drop the case still needs to be approved by US District Judge Tanya Chutkan.

No date had been set for a trial.

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At least 1,500 cases have been brought against those accused of trying to overthrow the election result on 6 January 2021, resulting in more than 1,100 convictions, the Associated Press said.

More than 950 defendants have been sentenced and 600 of them jailed for terms ranging from a few days to 22 years.

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