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Asian stocks and US stock futures rose on Thursday, while Treasury yields remained high and the dollar unwound overnight losses after supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the US Capitol and Democrats won control of the US Senate after runoff races in Georgia. Supporters of US President Donald Trump storm the US Capitol during a rally to contest the certification of the 2020 US presidential election results. Photo: AFP The following are investor comments after a tumultuous day in US politics: Mathan Somasundaram, head of research firm Deep Data Analytics, Sydney "It's basically a reflation trade. Anything that benefits from rising prices is going to do well. "The market had a one-way bet that the Republicans were going to win both seats in the Georgia runoff ... but as we found out that didn't happen, and that changes a lot. "The reason why there's a relation trade is when you look at the policy settings they are trying to get through, it's about printing to the Main Street and not Wall Street. "Taxes and regulations will go up, but they will be printing a lot more money and giving a lot more support for consumer spending, so it favours the domestic economy over support for corporate profits. "A huge amount of money has come out of the bond market. Even though only a portion of that went into equities, it's jammed up equities. When passive money moves around this is what happens." Akira Takei, global fixed income fund manager, Asset Management One, Tokyo "The rise in yields and stocks can be explained by the Blue Wave and expectations that Biden's win will lead to massive fiscal stimulus, but I think fiscal stimulus is an old story. "The events in Washington show that the United States is divided and we have to question whether the people will be united once again. It looks like maybe not. "This is bad for equities and the dollar. The equities rally is already over-extended and looks like a bubble. I can't see Treasury yields rising much further from here. It looks like a good level to buy Treasuries." Jason Teh, chief investment officer, Vertium Asset Management, Sydney "Commodities are up and banks are up. The catalyst for that is really the Democrat win of the Senate, and in fact you can see it in the intra-market movements. "Tech came off and anything considered value - or really 'old-economy' stocks - moved up. "Biden now has a greater pathway to approve his laws. "There's only one way a riot can de-rail the stock market and that's if it spills over into the economy. If a riot results in a lockdown, like what you would expect with a Covid lockdown, then you could potentially see stock market ramifications - but these feel more like skirmishes rather than a wide lockdown." Masafumi Yamamoto, chief currency strategist, Mizuho Securities, Tokyo "The mob has interrupted to the process of Biden's confirmation, but the mob will not overturn the process because Republicans are saying no to that. "The market is optimistic that Biden's victory will not be overturned. "Realisation of the Democratic sweep will be positive for the US economy, US stocks, and the dollar. "Higher Treasury yields should benefit the dollar against the euro and the yen, because the dollar has underpriced the potential for US economic recovery under Biden. "However, the dollar will remain weaker against commodity currencies like the Aussie and emerging market currencies. "Markets are trying to position for a US economic recovery. This is easy to do in Treasuries and stocks." Tim Chubb, chief investment officer, Girard, West Chester, Pennsylvania "What give us a little bit of a pause is that the economy is still very fragile and I think it's unlikely that Democrats are going to have as easy of a time as markets are trying to predict in passing some of these policies. Especially when it comes to tax reform, I think the window is relatively small. It's going to be difficult to achieve that level of tax reform and some of these restrictive policies as cooler heads prevail and the Democratic process works itself out." "What market is really (keen on) is more stimulus. We've seen over the course of 2020 Democratic party be much more open to providing stimulus to vulnerable Americans. That, along with additional support for greater fiscal policy as we climb out of Covid-19 downdraft in the economy and hopes for an infrastructure bill." Guy Lebas, chief fixed income strategist, Janney Capital Management, Philadelphia "The Georgia senatorial elections tipped in favour of the two Democratic candidates, which gives Democrats, with Vice President Harris' vote, a narrow majority in the Senate and that increases the odds of greater fiscal stimulus and a proposed infrastructure spending package." "With those programs two things happen. One, there's a chance that greater fiscal spending generates inflation. Two, there's a high probability of greater long-duration Treasury supply. The usual supply-demand dynamics in the market mean that greater supply will push yields a little bit higher." Ken Polcari, managing partner, Kace Capital Advisors, Jupiter, Florida "It's a re-positioning. I've been saying this for a couple of weeks, if there was a Democratic sweep the market has to reprice a little bit. It doesn't mean it has to fall out of bed. A five percent or seven percent move lower is well within the normal trading band and wouldn't be out of the question at all before the market finds stability. The market will figure it out but the path of least resistance is right now is lower before it goes higher. Five to seven percent is well within normal and actually it is probably very healthy if it does that anyway." Sebastien Galy, Senior Macro Strategist, Nordea Asset Management, Luxembourg "We are trading as if Democrats have won both of the races, which mean more fiscal deficits and a steeper Treasury curve and there we enter into the psychological level of 1 percent in the 10-year treasury yield and that seems to have caused a significant move in growth (stocks). "Growth of course depends on the expectations that rates stay very low so the two are related phenomenally. It's interesting because it shows that everybody expects that eventually we get a tapering and we get higher yields and of course growth is going to tank and value is going to outperform. We are seeing a preview of it right now. That's the surprising message of the market." "If Democrats hold both houses then there will be more pressure to regulate some of the bigger play within growth. Most of the (market) gains are concentrated in them and hence they are very sensitive to this." Jim Vogel, interest rate strategist, FHN Financial, Memphis, Tennessee "There were a lot of people lined up to buy (Treasuries) if there was a blue wave election in November, and they got disappointed and instead it was the sellers at the long-end emphasizing TIPS purchases and all sorts of inflation-protection strategies that carried the day. Now you're going to be dealing far more with fundamentals, and what's the 'real economy' going to look like when we end 2021, as opposed to what might happen. All the things that fell into a 'what if this happens,' such as senate control changing, are now here and so we can start to deal with what's here. "I think the big thing is you could see easily another half a trillion in terms of direct aid to states. That idea has never died. I don't know what the exact amount would be but it's something on that order, which is real, versus where we were before the Georgia runoffs. But it's not so big that it changes everything." Oliver Konzeoue, FX sales trader, Saxo Markets, London "This means markets will anticipate more fiscal stimulus which could prop up inflation and mechanically push US interest rates higher but this also increases the prospect of more regulation imposed on technology companies as well as corporate tax hikes. "This could naturally drive interest rates-sensitive growth stocks lower, typically technology stocks, as NASDAQ Futures illustrate by extending losses to 2 percent this morning. "With 10-Year Treasury yields above 1 percent on expectations of a Democratic Senate and the Fed committed to support the market, the US Dollar would be expected to further tilt lower versus its main peers." David Bahnsen, chief investment officer, The Bahnsen Group, Newport Beach, California "I don't expect major stock market implications surrounding a 50-50 tie in the Senate. While the Vice President's vote means that a straight party line vote would belong to the Democrats, some of the market unfriendly policies that investors have been worried about in the event of a Blue Wave are still not going to come so easily. There are now three moderate Democrat Senators (most notably Joe Manchin of West Virginia) and House Democrats maintain a small lead." "The Democrats' small lead in both the Senate and the House will make it tougher than many believe to pass tax hikes, impose regulation and enact some of the other market unfriendly policies that investors have been worried about under a Blue Wave scenario." "Investors should not be making any portfolio reallocations based off of the Georgia Senate results. If an investor's asset allocation was to be substantially altered by a 50-50 Senate vs. a 51-49 Senate split, that asset allocation was never constructed well from the outset." Peter Cardillo, chief market economist, Spartan Capital Securities, New York "It's even if the Republicans should hold on to the Senate, it's by a very slim margin. That means the Democrats can say it's a victory. That means they have a better chance of passing legislation since they can always capture an independent or a more progressive Republican. "In the short term, it could be a catalyst to correct. The market is overbought and is looking for a catalyst to correct. And today's election results is the perfect catalyst for the market to pull back. That doesn't mean it's going to happen immediately. "If you look what's happening this morning financials, energy, sectors related to infrastructure are strong, and tech stocks are getting badly beaten. What is that suggesting? Taxes will probably go up and certain sectors of the market could get hit. What we're seeing this morning is somewhat of a snapshot of what may be in store 3 to 6 months down the road." Guy Lebas, chief fixed income strategist, Janney Capital Management, Philadelphia "The Georgia senatorial elections tipped in favour of the two Democratic candidates, which gives Democrats, with Vice President Harris' vote, a narrow majority in the Senate and that increases the odds of greater fiscal stimulus and a proposed infrastructure spending package." "With those programs two things happen. One, there's a chance that greater fiscal spending generates inflation. Two, there's a high probability of greater long-duration Treasury supply. The usual supply-demand dynamics in the market mean that greater supply will push yields a little bit higher." - Reuters

Supporters of President Donald Trump staged rallies at statehouses across the United States, disrupting some official functions but remaining decidedly more subdued than protesters in Washington who stormed the US Capitol to demand that Trump's election loss be overturned. Armed Trump supporters at a protest in Salem, Oregon. Photo: AFP / 2021 Getty Images From Atlanta to Salem, Oregon, and points in between, Trump backers repeated the outgoing president's false claims that his victory was stolen by massive voter fraud, officials and local media reported. In Oregon's capital, where crowds protesting in favour of Trump and against state Covid-19 restrictions burned an effigy of the Democratic governor, Kate Brown, police declared an unlawful assembly and ordered protesters to disperse. Oregon state police reported at least one person was arrested in Salem on suspicion of harassment and disorderly conduct. There were no immediate reports of serious violence, although a news photographer was sprayed with mace or pepper spray at a rally in Salt Lake City, Utah's capital, police said. Protesters entered the Kansas statehouse in Topeka and assembled inside the first floor of the Capitol rotunda, though they remained orderly, television station KSNT reported. State police later said the demonstrators had obtained a permit in advance. In Denver, the Colorado capital, Mayor Michael Hancock instructed city agencies to close early "out of an abundance of caution" after about 700 demonstrators gathered at the statehouse. In Georgia, a major courthouse complex and two other government buildings in Atlanta were ordered closed due to protests near the statehouse. Among those disrupted were aides to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, the Republican election official pressured by Trump in a weekend telephone call to "find" enough additional votes for Trump to win the state. Georgia is among the states won by Democratic President-elect Joe Biden, who will take office in two weeks. Staff left their offices early out of an abundance of caution, but Raffensperger was not there, spokesman Walter Jones. Some state workers also went home early in Salt Lake City, in part because of the demonstration of about 400 people outside, Lieutenant Nick Street of the Utah Highway Patrol said. The event was mostly peaceful but for the assault on the news photographer, Street said. Demonstrators posted signs on the Capitol building reading 'Stop the steal!' and 'Trump won!' the Salt Lake Tribune reported. Several hundred Trump supporters also staged a 'Stop the Steal' rally at the Arizona state Capitol in Phoenix, cheering and jeering while exhibiting a guillotine. Media reported rallies in other state capitals including Little Rock, Arkansas; Tallahassee, Florida; Madison, Wisconsin; Columbia, South Carolina; and Santa Fe, New Mexico. - Reuters

A woman has died after being shot during the storming of the US Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump, the Washington police department says. Protesters enter the Senate Chamber on January 06, 2021 in Washington, DC. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images/AFP No other details were available, the spokesperson said. It remained unclear who shot the woman, but a witness said the shooting occurred after law enforcement authorities urged people to "get back." Hundreds of Trump supporters entered the Capitol building in a bid to overturn his election defeat, forcing Congress to postpone a session that would have certified Democratic President-elect Joe Biden's victory in the 3 November election. A protester from New Jersey told Washington CBS affiliate WUSA he witnessed the woman being shot at the Capitol after police and other law enforcement officials warned people to get back. "Well, we had stormed into the chambers inside, and there was a young lady who rushed to the windows; a number of police and Secret Service were saying, 'Get back, get down, get out of the way,'" he said. "She didn't heed the call and as we kind of raced up to grab people and pull them back, they shot her in the neck, and she fell back on me." The man told the local television station he saw blood coming from the woman's mouth and neck and nose. "It could have been me, but she went first," he said. - Reuters

Violent supporters of President Donald Trump have breached the Capitol in Washington, as lawmakers met to confirm President-elect Joe Biden's poll win. Minister of Foreign Affairs Nanaia Mahuta, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Photo: RNZ / Dom Thomas, AFP / Heathcliff O'Malley / Kiyoshi Ota / Pool In dramatic scenes, demonstrators swarmed the building as Congress members were escorted out by police. Biden said it was an "insurrection", and Trump released a video message asking supporters to go home. The joint session of Congress certifying Biden's win has been suspended and forced into recess. The BBC says there are reports of guns drawn in the building and at least one person shot. A woman was reported to have died. There has been an armed confrontation at the doors of the House of Representatives. Tear gas has also been used. Former Republican President George W. Bush condemned the rioting, saying he was appalled by the "reckless behaviour of some political leaders since the election." "It is a sickening and heartbreaking sight," Bush said in a statement. "This is how election results are disputed in a banana republic - not our democratic republic." He said the violent assault on the Capitol was undertaken by "people whose passions have been inflamed by falsehoods and false hopes. Insurrection could do grave damage to our nation and reputation." How New Zealand and Australian politicians reacted Minister of Foreign Affairs Nanaia Mahuta tweeted they regret seeing the violence unfold and looked forward to a peaceful transition. We regret unfolding events in Washington DC. Our thoughts are with the American people. Violence has no place in thwarting democracy. We look forward to the peaceful transition of the political administration, which is the hallmark of democracy. Kia tau ngā manaakitanga. — Nanaia Mahuta (@NanaiaMahuta) January 6, 2021 Former prime minister Helen Clark, who is also former head of the United Nations Development Programme, told Summer Times with Jesse Mulligan the scenes unfolding in the US were shocking. "I'm getting messages from American friends who are just distressed beyond belief to see what's playing out in their country and you know I think we all feel this is just a very, very sad day for the United States." Clark said she did not expect it to come to this, although it was obvious that Trump supporters would be rarked up for the rally. "But it's one thing to do that and exercise your freedom to speak and assemble, it's another then for a violent mob to march on the capital, invade the parliament, trash the offices, stop the lawmakers doing their constitutional duty to certify the Electoral College results - I think that's unprecedented in the United States of America." Clark said the international community was looking on aghast. Green Party MP Golriz Ghahraman tweeted that law and order must be restored immediately. What is happening in Washington is a violent assault on democracy.It was incited by Donald Trump.The US Congress must impeach him for his role in this assault on the Capitol.Peace and the rule of law must be restored immediately ✊ — Golriz Ghahraman (@golrizghahraman) January 6, 2021 Across the Tasman, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison condemned the violence. Very distressing scenes at the US Congress. We condemn these acts of violence and look forward to a peaceful transfer of Government to the newly elected administration in the great American democratic tradition. — Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) January 6, 2021 How world leaders and politicians reacted Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven in a tweet described the incidents as "an attack on democracy". "President Trump and many members of Congress bear significant responsibility for what's now taking place. The democratic process of electing a president must be respected." British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in a tweet described the scenes in the U.S. Congress as a "disgrace", saying the United States stood for democracy around the world and that was it was "vital" now that there should be a peaceful and orderly transfer of power. Disgraceful scenes in U.S. Congress. The United States stands for democracy around the world and it is now vital that there should be a peaceful and orderly transfer of power. — Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) January 6, 2021 German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said democracy's enemies would be cheered by scenes of violence at the United States Capitol, and he called on Trump to accept US voters' decision. In a Tweet posted after protesters stormed the seat of the US legislature, Maas said the violence had been caused by inflammatory rhetoric. "Trump and his supporters must accept the decision of American voters at last and stop trampling on democracy." "Quite Maidan-style pictures are coming from DC," Russia's deputy UN Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy posted on Twitter, referring to protests in Ukraine that toppled Russian-backed President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovich in 2014. "Some of my friends ask whether someone will distribute crackers to the protesters to echo Victoria Nuland stunt," he said, citing a 2013 visit to Ukraine when then-US Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland offered food to protesters. Second tweet from German FM @HeikoMaas:“Trump and his supporters should finally accept the decision of the American voters and stop trampling on democracy.” #capitol #CapitolBuilding https://t.co/gXr6Jx0B2N — Thomas Sparrow (@Thomas_Sparrow) January 6, 2021 Germany's Vice-Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the images of the scene were disturbing. Germany’s vice-chancellor:“The images reaching us from the #Capitol are disturbing. This is an intolerable assault on democracy. President #Trump has deeply divided the country - now it shows. @JoeBiden has a tough task ahead of him to bring Americans back together.” https://t.co/DjVRHTRILX — Thomas Sparrow (@Thomas_Sparrow) January 6, 2021 NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called the violent protests in Washington "shocking scenes" and said the outcome of the democratic US election must be respected. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in a tweet: "I am following with concern the news that are coming from Capitol Hill in Washington. I trust in the strength of America's democracy. "The new Presidency of @JoeBiden will overcome this time of tension, uniting the American people." Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed concern about the violent scenes in Washington. "Obviously we're concerned and we're following the situation minute by minute," Trudeau told the News 1130 Vancouver radio station. "I think the American democratic institutions are strong, and hopefully everything will return to normal shortly." Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne on Twitter: "Canada is deeply shocked by the situation in Washington DC. The peaceful transition of power is fundamental to democracy - it must continue and it will. We are following developments closely and our thoughts are with the American people." Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin said in a statement: "The attack on Capitol Hill in Washington DC is a very serious and worrying matter. It shows how important it is to firmly and strongly defend democracy at all times." Turkey's foreign ministry issued a statement expressing concern about the violence and called for calm and common sense while urging its citizens to avoid crowds and the protest area. "We call on all parties in the U.S. to maintain restraint and prudence. We believe the U.S. will overcome this internal political crisis in a mature manner." The Speaker of the country's Grand National Assembly also tweeted out, calling for the restoration of calm. We follow the events in the USA with concern and invite the parties to calmness. We believe that problems will always be solved within law and democracy. As Turkey, we have always been in favor of the law and democracy and we recommend it to everyone. — Prof. Dr. Mustafa Şentop (@MustafaSentop) January 6, 2021 French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Twitter: "The violence against the American institutions is a grave attack on democracy. I condemn it. The will and the vote of the American people must be respected." Charles Michel, chairman of EU leaders, on Twitter expressed his shock at the scenes in Washington. "The US Congress is a temple of democracy...We trust the US to ensure a peaceful transfer of power to @JoeBiden" European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: "I believe in the strength of US institutions and democracy. Peaceful transition of power is at the core. @JoeBiden won the election. I look forward to working with him as the next President of the USA." Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza tweeted: "Venezuela expresses its concern for the violent events that are taking place in the city of Washington, USA; condemns the political polarization and hopes that the American people will open a new path toward stability and social justice." President of the European Parliament David Sassoli said he was also deeply concerned. Deeply concerning scenes from the US Capitol tonight. Democratic votes must be respected. We are certain the US will ensure that the rules of democracy are protected. — David Sassoli (@EP_President) January 6, 2021 Norwegian Prime Minster Erna Solberg posted on Twitter: "This is an unacceptable attack on the U.S. democracy. President Trump is responsible for stopping this. Scary images, and unbelievable that this is happening in the United States." Ireland's foreign minister Simon Coveney called the scenes in Washington "a deliberate assault on Democracy by a sitting President & his supporters, attempting to overturn a free & fair election! The world is watching! We hope for restoration of calm." Argentine President Alberto Fernandez tweeted: "We express our condemnation of the serious acts of violence and the affront to Congress that occurred today in Washington DC. We trust that there will be a peaceful transition that respects the popular will and we express our strongest support for President-elect Joe Biden." - BBC / RNZ / Reuters

Swarms of protesters are storming the US Capitol as they seek to force Congress to undo President Donald Trump's election loss, temporarily suspending a last-ditch effort by some of Trump's fellow Republicans to throw out the results. Police fired tear gas and ordered several office buildings to be evacuated as protesters breached the Capitol and were seen marching through the halls of Congress, where lawmakers were meeting to certify President-elect Joe Biden's victory. Police escorted House of Representatives members from the chamber where they had been debating after lawmakers aligned with Trump challenged the election results - an effort unlikely to succeed. The Senate abruptly adjourned and Vice President Mike Pence, who had presided over a joint session of Congress, was escorted from the chamber. Capitol Police told lawmakers in the House chamber to take gas masks from beneath their seats and prepare to put them on. Officers at the front door of the House chamber had their guns drawn as someone attempted to enter the chamber. Officers ordered people in the chamber to drop to the floor for their safety. - Reuters Follow the latest updates here:

Efforts are underway to restore order after a disturbance at the Christmas Island immigration detention centre. The Christmas Island immigration detention centre. Photo: AFP The Australian Border Force (ABF) said a small number of detainees caused damage to the North West Point centre overnight and continue to refuse to follow the directions of authorities. A spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition, Ian Rintoul, said it was believed detainees had set buildings ablaze in protest at living standards at the facility. Footage posted to social media appears to show parts of the complex on fire and people on rooftops. The ABF said it was working to regain control while a small number of detainees continued to be "non-compliant". "The centre remains secure and the majority of detainees are not involved," a statement from the ABF said. "There are no reports of any injuries to staff or detainees. The Federal Government reopened the detention centre last year to house people whose visas had been cancelled on character grounds under section 501 of the Migration Act. "Detainees held at the centre consist of unlawful non-citizens who have no entitlement to remain in Australia due to convictions for crimes such as assault, sexual offences, drugs and other violent offences," the ABF statement said. "This cohort is detained because of their risk to the Australian community." Riot comes after rising tensions, advocate says A Facebook Live video posted by a man claiming to be inside the detention centre showed flames from buildings. "They are burning the roof, they are sick and tired of being treated like s--t," the man said during his live video. Rintoul said tensions had been building inside the detention centre for a series of weeks. He said grievances from detainees had increased following a lack of contact from family and visitors after moving from the mainland amid the Covid-19 pandemic. He also said detainees were locked in their compounds 22 hours a day. The ABF has been contacted for comment. - ABC

Julian Assange will remain in jail as he continues to fight against extradition to the United States. In this file photo taken on May 19, 2017 Wikileaks founder Julian Assange raises his fist prior to addressing the media on the balcony of the Embassy of Ecuador in London on May 19, 2017. Photo: AFP or licensors District Judge Vanessa Baraitser said there were substantial grounds to believe he would abscond. On Monday, she ruled the Wikileaks founder cannot be extradited to the US because he might kill himself. The US is now appealing that decision - and had opposed releasing the 49-year-old from a maximum security prison before the case is heard. Assange, who was wearing a dark suit and face mask, was not seen to react to the decision at Westminster Magistrates Court. He's been held in prison since 2019, after hiding for seven years inside the Ecuadorian Embassy to avoid extradition. US prosecutors want to put him on trial for hacking and disclosing classified information - including the identities of informants who were helping intelligence agencies in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere. In her ruling, DJ Baraitser said Assange still had the incentive to abscond. "He is willing to flout the order of this court," she said. "As a matter of fairness, the US must be allowed to challenge my decision and if Mr Assange absconds during this process they will lose the opportunity to do so." During the bail application, Assange's barrister Ed Fitzgerald QC said his client had been offered a London home by a supporter, where he could be with his partner and their two young children - but also compelled to remain under the strictest bail conditions. "Your decision [on Monday] changes everything and it certainly changes any motive to abscond," said Fitzgerald. "On any view... [Assange] would be safer isolating with his family in the community, subject to severe restrictions, than if he were in Belmarsh which has, very recently, had a severe outbreak...[of coronavirus]. He wishes to live a sheltered life with his family." But Clair Dobbin, for the USA, told the court Assange had the "resources, abilities and the sheer wherewithal" to secretly arrange a flight to another country. "[Assange] regards himself as above the law and no cost is too great, whether that cost be to himself or others," said the barrister. Assange's partner, Stella Moris, was among a large group of his supporters who had gathered at court. "This a huge disappointment," she said. "Julian should not be in Belmarsh prison in the first place. I urge the [US] Department of Justice to drop the charges and the President of the United States to pardon Julian." District Judge Baraitser blocked Assange's extradition on Monday, ruling that that while he had a case to answer, he was so mentally unwell that the US authorities could not guarantee he would not kill himself once inside a maximum security prison in the country. The USA's appeal against that ruling - which will go to more senior judges later this year - will challenge that finding. - BBC

The Democratic Party of US President-elect Joe Biden is on the verge of taking control of the Senate as results come in from two elections in Georgia. Democratic Senate candidate Reverend Raphael Warnock speaks during a campaign rally in Atlanta, Georgia on December 15, 2020. Photo: AFP / Jim Watson Pastor Raphael Warnock is projected to win one seat. Fellow Democrat Jon Ossoff leads narrowly in the other. If they both win, Biden will have a much better chance of pushing through his legislative agenda. It comes as US lawmakers prepare to confirm Biden's presidential election victory. A joint session of Congress will be held to count and confirm electoral college votes, but some Republicans are seeking to overturn the results in a number of states. The bid is almost certain to fail. However, both houses of Congress may have to spend hours debating their objections. And supporters of President Donald Trump are holding a "Save America Rally" in Washington DC. Trump is addressing them. The mayor has asked for the National Guard to be deployed in the city amid fears of unrest. Trump has refused to concede the 3 November election, repeatedly alleging fraud without providing evidence. Why is there an election in Georgia? The election is being rerun because of Georgia's rule that a candidate must take 50 percent of the vote in order to win. None of the candidates in November's general election met that threshold. With 98 percent of votes counted, US TV networks and the Associated Press news agency called the first of the two races for Warnock. Control of the Senate in the first two years of Biden's term will be determined by the outcome of the second run-off. Warnock is set to become the first black senator for the state of Georgia - a slavery state in the US Civil War - and only the 11th black senator in US history. He serves as the reverend of the Atlanta church where assassinated civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr grew up and preached. Claiming victory, he paid tribute to his mother, Verlene, who as a teenager worked as a farm labourer. "The other day - because this is America - the 82-year-old hands that used to pick somebody else's cotton went to the polls and picked her youngest son to be a United States senator," he said. If both Democrats win, the Senate will be evenly split 50-50, allowing incoming Democratic Vice-President Kamala Harris the tie-breaking vote. The Democrats narrowly control the House of Representatives. Ossoff has also claimed victory in his race against Republican Senator David Perdue, but that race is even tighter. At 33, he would be the Senate's youngest member for 40 years. Democratic Senate candidate Jon Ossoff speaks during a campaign rally in Atlanta, Georgia on December 15, 2020. Photo: AFP / Jim Watson A Democrat has not won a Senate race in Georgia in 20 years but the party has been boosted by Biden's presidential election win over Trump there. Biden's margin of victory was about 12,000 votes among five million cast. What is happening in Washington? On Wednesday, more political drama will unfold in Washington DC as lawmakers gather in a special joint session to ratify the results of November's presidential election. The typically procedural affair - which will affirm Biden's victory - has become unusually contentious, with about a dozen Republican senators vowing to challenge the results. The group, led by Senator Ted Cruz, wants a 10-day delay to audit unsubstantiated claims of election fraud. The move is all but certain to fail as most senators are expected to endorse the results that have already been certified by US states. Vice-President Mike Pence is set to preside over the session in his role as president of the Senate. He has come under pressure this week from Trump to reject the certification, but the vice-president told Trump at their weekly lunch on Tuesday that he had no power in Congress to block Biden's win, according to the New York Times. Trump said the report was "fake news". Biden is due to be inaugurated as president on 20 January. He won 306 votes to Trump's 232 in the US electoral college, which confirms the president. Biden won at least seven million more votes than the president. When will we get a result in Georgia? Final results are expected later on Wednesday. The margins are extremely tight. Warnock is projected to have won his race by 50.6 percent to 49.4 percent over incumbent Senator Kelly Loeffler. Edison Research, which supplies election results to news organisations including the BBC, says Ossoff is leading by 50.2 percent, to 49.8 percent over Perdue. More than 98 percent of ballots from Georgia's 159 counties have now been counted. The remaining votes come from the Atlanta suburbs, which are projected to go heavily for the Democrats. More than three million voters - about 40 percent of those registered in Georgia - voted before Tuesday. Early voting benefited Biden in November's White House election. - BBC

A World Health Organisation (WHO) team due to investigate the origins of Covid-19 in the city of Wuhan has been denied entry to China. People listen as a staff member elaborates precautions before giving Covid-19 vaccine shots at an inoculation site in Beijing, China on 5 January 2021. Photo: Xinhua News Agency / AFP Two members had already set out on their journey - one has now turned back and the other is in transit in a third country. The WHO said the problem was a lack of visa clearances. The long-awaited probe was agreed upon by Beijing in December after many months of negotiations with the WHO. The virus was first detected in Wuhan in late 2019, with the initial outbreak linked to a market. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he was "very disappointed" that China had not yet finalised the permissions for the team's arrivals "given that two members had already begun their journeys and others were not able to travel at the last minute". "I have been assured that China is speeding up the internal procedure for the earliest possible deployment," he told reporters in Geneva on Tuesday, explaining that he had been in contact with senior Chinese officials to stress "that the mission is a priority for WHO and the international team". The WHO has been working to send a 10-person team of international experts to China for months with the aim of probing the animal origin of the pandemic and exactly how the virus first crossed over to humans. Last month it was announced that the investigation would begin in January 2021. The two members of the international team that had already departed for China had set off early on Tuesday, said the WHO. According to Reuters news agency, WHO emergencies chief Mike Ryan said one had turned back and one was in a third country. Covid-19 was first detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan in central Hubei province in late 2019. It was initially believed the virus originated in a market selling exotic animals for meat. It was suggested that this was where the virus made the leap from animals to humans. But the origins of the virus remain deeply contested. Some experts now believe the market may not have been the origin, and that it was instead only amplified there. Some research has suggested that coronaviruses capable of infecting humans may have been circulating undetected in bats for decades. It is not known, however, what intermediate animal host transmitted the virus between bats and humans. - BBC

Court documents have revealed Ghislaine Maxwell, an associate of Jeffrey Epstein facing child trafficking charges, was tracked down by the FBI using data from her mobile phone. Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Photo: Screengrab / BBC Maxwell, 58, was arrested during a raid on her secluded mansion in New Hampshire on 2 July 2020, a day after a request was made for a search warrant "to determine with precision the Target Cellular Device's location". She pleaded not guilty to helping Epstein recruit and groom underage girls for sex, and not guilty to perjury for having denied involvement under oath. The newly unsealed documents, first reported by The Daily Beast, revealed that Maxwell was located using GPS and "stingray" technology to pinpoint a phone she had registered under the name "G Max" that had been used to call her lawyer, sister and husband. Maxwell had been hiding out in the $1.3 million home following the arrest and subsequent death in prison of Epstein, with whom she had a relationship in the 1990s. She is currently being held in detention in New York City ahead of her trial, which is set to begin in July. 'Stingray' device used to narrow search The court documents show that to locate Maxwell, the FBI had first requested a "GPS Warrant", which allowed them to track Maxwell's whereabouts to an area of about 2.5sqkm. A second warrant was requested for the use of a "stingray" device to narrow the search. "The location data is insufficiently specific to allow the FBI to identify the particular building in which the Target Cellular Device is currently located," the second application said. The device used to pinpoint Maxwell's exact location inside her mansion is described in the warrant as a device "capable of broadcasting signals ... in some respects like a cellular tower". Prosecutors said Maxwell had used her New Hampshire home, which officials said she purchased in December 2019 in cash, as a hideout. Her husband, whose name was redacted from court papers, had said Maxwell moved there to protect her safety and escape the media frenzy, not to elude capture. She was denied bail twice, most recently on 29 December when a judge ruled Maxwell posed a "flight risk" despite her proposed $37.5m bail package. Maxwell faces up to 35 years in prison if convicted at her scheduled trial in July 2021. - ABC