* President-elect Joe Biden will address the nation Monday night from Wilmington, Delaware
* Shortly before 5:30 p.m. EST California's Electoral College votes put him over the needed 270 vote threshold to officially win the White House
* Biden will say it's 'time to turn the page' on the election, as the Electoral College confirms Monday that he's the winner
* The Biden-Harris transition team released two portions of Biden's speech Monday afternoon
* 'In this battle for the soul of America, democracy prevailed,' Biden plans to say
President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College win became official just before 5:30 p.m. Monday, with California's votes pushing him over the 270 vote threshold.
With California's vote in, Biden stood at 302 Electoral College votes, with 306 expected, compared to Trump's 232.
Ten minutes later, Trump tweeted that he had a 'very nice meeting' with Attorney General Bill Barr and announced Barr was leaving the administration.
Trump had been fuming all weekend over Barr not exposing that federal authorities were investigating Biden's son Hunter's taxes before the November 3 election.
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MIDDLE EAST
Fighting intensifies between Peshmerga and PKK in northern Iraq.
Rouhani accuses Israel of assassinating Iranian nuclear scientist to drag region into war.
Iran's ballistic missile program is non-negotiable, President Hassan Rouhani says.
France, other European countries withdraw from Iranian business forum over execution.
U.S. sanctions Turkey over purchase of Russian S-400 missile system.
Hamas says ready to resume Palestinian unity talks.
ASIA
Singapore approves Pfizer-BioNTech virus vaccine.
Afghan president calls for peace talks to be moved home.
India, Pakistan repeat war of words over ‘cross-border terrorism’.
China trade surplus hits record $75B as Nov exports soar.
Indian farmers intensify protests, testing Modi's promised market miracle.
AFRICA
At least 27 killed in jihadist attack in southeast Niger.
More than 300 students still unaccounted for after Nigerian school raid.
Swaziland Prime Minister is the first world leader to die of Covid-19 two weeks after he was rushed to South African hospital.
Ethiopia PM visits Tigray capital after offensive.
UN 'frustration' at lack of access to Tigray.
Algeria’s Tebboune makes first TV appearance in almost two months.
Ivory Coast’s Alassane Ouattara sworn in for disputed third term.
EUROPE
EU, Britain inch closer to deal with concession.
Armenia-Azerbaijan prisoner swap begins.
Bellingcat and Navalny present evidence linking Russian FSB to poisoning.
New Covid-19 strain found in UK spreads FASTER, is already in nearly 60 local authority areas – health secretary.
Italy climbs into fifth place for most coronavirus deaths.
Venice, Italy, floods after experimental barrier system not activated.
Macron plans referendum to add climate clause to constitution.
AMERICAS
Donald Trump OUSTS Bill Barr after 'very nice meeting' in wake of revelation AG intervened to keep Hunter Biden probe secret and slapped down claims of voter fraud.
Biden picks leave Democrats with slimmest House majority in modern history.
Republicans press FBI for briefing on efforts by Chinese government operatives to gain influence with lawmakers.
DHS among U.S. agencies hit by hack linked to Russians.
Canada joins Britain in approving Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine.
Venezuela crisis: Fleeing migrants found drowned.
US Marine found guilty of smuggling guns to Haiti in purported plot to become President.
Solar eclipse plunges parts of Chile, Argentina into darkness for two minutes.
TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR
Saudi Arabia says explosives strike on oil tanker at Jeddah an act of ‘terrorism’.
US officials concerned about movements of Iranian-backed militias amid heightened tensions.
US removes Sudan from state sponsors of terrorism list.
Hezbollah militant Salim Ayyash given life sentences for Hariri killing.
ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS
S&P 500 ends down, Walt Disney weighs.
Global economy to contract by 5.6% this year due to pandemic – UN.
Google suffers widespread outages.
Pandemic crushes U.S. refining capacity.
SpaceX rocket explodes on impact after test flight, Musk still declares it success.
