Biden declares victory as challenges loom Democratic 2020 U.S. presidential nominee Joe Biden (2nd R), his wife Jill (R), his son Hunter Biden (2nd L) and vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris (L) celebrate at their election rally, after the news media announced that Biden has won the election over President Donald Trump, in Wilmington, Delaware, the United States, on Saturday.SD-Agencies Thai protesters try to approach Grand Palace Pro-democracy protesters in Thailand were confronted by riot police and sprayed by water cannons on Sunday as they tried to approach Bangkok’s Grand Palace to deliver letters about their political grievances addressed to the country’s king. The pro-democracy movement has been pushing a bold challenge to reform the country’s monarchy with almost daily demonstrations. Sunday marked the second time water cannons were used against the protesters during several months of demonstrations. The melee was brief, and police later allowed the protesters to place four red mock mailboxes near the palace walls into which protesters could place their letters. People then went home, ending the protest. Japan Emperor’s brother 1st in line to throne Japanese Emperor Naruhito’s younger brother, Crown Prince Fumihito, was formally sworn in as first in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne in a traditional palace ritual on Sunday that has been postponed for seven month and scaled down due to the coronavirus pandemic. The ceremony for the 54-year-old crown prince, better known as Prince Akishino, concludes a series of imperial succession rituals that began in May last year when Naruhito ascended to the throne after their 86-year-old father Akihito abdicated. Inside the palace’s most prestigious Pine Room, Naruhito, 60, declared that his younger brother is now officially the crown prince who is first in line to succeed the throne of the world’s oldest monarchy. Harris makes US history as 1st woman VP Kamala Harris made history three times on Saturday as the first woman, first Black person and first Asian American to be elected to the vice presidency, according to the Associated Press, which called the race. Harris’s election is a breakthrough for the Democratic Party. Several Black lawmakers told Yahoo News before Election Day that her elevation will serve as an inspiration for minority youth around the country. “This represents a real sea change in how Black women will be viewed going forward in terms of our electability and our ability to deliver on the promise that is America,” said Rep. Terri Sewell, the first Black woman to represent Alabama in Congress. Iran’s daily COVID-19 deaths hit record Iran’s daily tally of coronavirus deaths hit a record high of 434 last week, the health ministry announced, and the head of a top medical body said the actual toll was at least three times higher than the official count. The deaths, announced by Health Ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari on state TV, take the official toll to 35,298 in the Middle East’s worst-hit country. She said the number of confirmed coronavirus cases increased by 7,719 to 620,491. The head of Iran’s Medical Council, Mohammadreza Zafarghandi, doubted the accuracy of the official toll, the Students News Agency ISNA reported on Sunday. US officially leaves Paris Climate Agreement The United States last week formally left the Paris agreement, a global pact forged five years ago to avoid the threat of catastrophic climate change. The move, long threatened by President Donald Trump, further isolates the United States but has no immediate impact on international efforts to curb global warming. There are 189 countries that remain committed to the 2015 Paris accord, which aims to keep the increase in average temperatures worldwide “well below” 2 degrees Celsius. (SD-Agencies) | 