Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

John 1:3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKd-l5Rw6NE

Won't celebrate Bonfire Night because Guy Fawkes was a Catholic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRU2qs82DAg

2024 United States presidential election

I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart;
I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.

Psalm 9:1

Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.

1 John 3:4

Donald Trump has sealed a historic victory in the US presidential election and completed his stunning political comeback.

The Republican comfortably defeated Democrat Kamala Harris in what polls had suggested would be a very tight election, after he swept several key battleground states and won a commanding lead in the national popular vote.

He becomes the first former president to return to the White House in more than 130 years and, at 78, the oldest man elected to America's highest office.

Harris called to congratulate him on his victory on Wednesday afternoon, her campaign said, emphasising "the importance of a peaceful transfer of power and being a president for all Americans".

President Joe Biden also called Trump, expressing his commitment to ensuring a smooth transition and inviting him for a meeting, a White House statement said.

Accompanied by his family and his pick for vice-president, JD Vance, Trump told supporters in West Palm Beach: "This is a magnificent victory for the American people that will allow us to make America great again."

"The task before us will not be easy, but I will bring every ounce of energy, spirit and fight that I have with my soul to the job that you've entrusted to me."

Elon Musk, the world's richest man and Trump mega-donor, was with the Republican candidate as the results came in. The billionaire posted increasingly positive messages on X - which he owns - throughout the night.

Trump swept several of the key battleground states, with CBS projecting that he has won in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Georgia and North Carolina - and appears to be on track for a clean sweep of all seven swing states that were crucial for a win.

Projections suggest he is likely to win the overall popular vote nationally - a feat he fell short of when first elected in 2016.

Trump also has a solid lead in Nevada, while the race remains tight in the other Sun Belt battleground of Arizona.

As expected, Trump has dominated conservative strongholds from Florida to Idaho, while Harris won liberal states from New York to California, CBS projects.

The Democrat had been expected to address a crowd on election night at Howard University in Washington DC, where she was an undergraduate, but it emerged after midnight that she would not appear as her prospects of victory receded.

Harris called Trump to concede on Wednesday afternoon and will return to Howard to make a public concession speech at 16:00 EST (21:00 GMT).

CBS exit poll data suggests Vice-President Harris – who was hoping to become America’s first woman president and campaigned heavily for abortion rights - may have under-performed with women.

Some 54% of female voters cast their ballots for her, the numbers indicate. But Joe Biden won the support of 57% of women in 2020.

Black and Latino voters also appeared slightly less likely to support Harris than they were to back Biden four years ago, according to Associated Press exit poll data.

Instead, Trump swept the key battleground states and smashed the Democrats' once vaunted "Blue Wall" of Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.

He becomes the oldest man to take the presidency. The Republican has refused to release his medical records, despite spending much of his early campaign attacking President Joe Biden's advancing age.

In what will be a major boost for the Trump presidency, Republicans have won control of the Senate after wresting three seats in West Virginia, Montana and Ohio from the Democrats and seeing off a competitive challenger in Texas.

Neither party seemed to have an overall edge in the House, which Republicans narrowly control.

However, control of Congress would allow Trump a relatively easy path to pass his key proposals through the legislature - including his pledges to enforce mass deportations of illegal migrants and to enact sweeping tax cuts.

He has also vowed to drastically reshape the federal government - pledging to dismiss thousands of career civil servants and replace them with political appointees. At his rally in Florida, Trump said he had won "an unprecedented and powerful mandate" to impose that agenda.

Around 86 million voters cast their ballots early amid one of the most turbulent campaigns in recent American history.

Harris to give concession speech after congratulating Trump on election win

We must accept the results of this election, Harris tells supporters

Seven things Trump says he will do as president

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cev90d7wkk0o

Ivanka, Melania, a golf champion: Who was in Trump's huge victory entourage?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy5x7wr7peo

Gainsborough Trinity's tie at Harrogate Town and Kettering Town's home match with Doncaster Rovers in the FA Cup second round will be broadcast live on BBC Two.

Seventh-tier Trinity are the lowest-ranked side left in the competition after they beat fellow Northern Premier League team Hednesford Town on penalties in the first round.

Kettering - leaders of the Southern League Premier Division Central - produced the biggest shock of the previous round by defeating League One Northampton Town.

Harrogate host Gainsborough on Friday, 29 November at 19:45 GMT, before Kettering and Doncaster meet on Sunday, 1 December at 12:00.

The girl who went to buy cornflakes and never came home

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gplvq4081o

June Spencer, who played matriarch Peggy Woolley in BBC Radio 4's long-running drama The Archers from 1951 until her retirement in 2022, has died at the age of 105.

Spencer was one of the programme's original cast members, and the show's current editor Jeremy Howe said working with her "was like working with a legend".

He added: "June’s Peggy Woolley was and always will be the Queen of Ambridge, and with her death The Archers has lost its link with the birth of the show over 70 years ago. It is a humbling moment for us all."

A family statement said she died peacefully in her sleep in the early hours of Friday.

Peggy Woolley, formerly Archer, was often viewed as a traditionalist, conservative character in the soap opera charting the ups and downs of life in fictional village of Ambridge.

Paying tribute, Radio 4 controller Mohit Bakaya said: "June Spencer has been a longstanding presence and companion for Radio 4 listeners during her exceptional run on The Archers.

"Many have grown up with June as Peggy and listened as she journeyed through life’s many chapters, with all of its ups and downs. In her later years, her portrayal of a devoted wife caring for a husband with dementia, including their very moving final goodbye, was deeply poignant and powerful radio.

"We send all our love and condolences to June’s family and the many people whose lives she touched."

Obituary - June Spencer:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2dgd5kw7kgo

Barnsley moved up to fourth in League One after a home win over South Yorkshire rivals Rotherham, who are now winless against the Tykes since 1982.

Jon Russell opened the scoring before Stephen Humphrys came off the bench to double the lead late on.

Joe Rafferty struck a fierce effort goalwards inside three minutes for the Millers, but an onrush of Barnsley defenders were able to block.

The hosts took the lead after 32 minutes through Russell.

After Cameron Dawson pulled off a spectacular save to deny his headed effort, he pounced on the loose ball and made no mistake to give his side the advantage.

It looked as though Rotherham were going to level with 18 minutes to play when Jack Holmes was found at the back post, but Barnsley goalkeeper Ben Killip recovered well to keep a close-range effort out.

Humphrys added a second for the Tykes with four minutes remaining when he found himself behind the last line of Rotherham defence and smashed into the bottom right corner from outside the box.

Burton secured their first win of the League One season at the 14th attempt with victory over fellow strugglers Shrewsbury.

Tomas Kalinauskas and Danilo Orsi struck to help Albion, with interim head coach Tom Hounsell in charge, move off the bottom as the managerless Shrews dropped to the foot of the table.

After the returning Billy Bodin had volleyed an effort just wide of the post, Albion were rewarded for their bright start to the game with the opener, with Kalinauskas scoring for the second Saturday in a row.

Elliot Watt curled in a cross from deep and the Lithuanian showed a good touch to steer the ball in at the far post for his first English Football League goal.

Orsi had a great chance to double the lead just before the break with a glancing header but made no mistake six minutes after half-time with a quality finish from the edge of the box, capitalising on another quality pass from Watt.

Shrewsbury rarely threatened as Albion made it consecutive clean sheets and secured a much-needed three points.

Warren Gatland's Wales equalled the country's record losing international streak of 10 successive Test defeats after Fiji triumphed in Cardiff.

Fiji fly-half Caleb Muntz scored 19 points as the visitors sealed a first win in Wales, despite wing Semi Radradra receiving a first-half 20-minute red card for a dangerous tackle on full-back Cameron Winnett.

An ill-disciplined first half saw French referee Luc Ramos also show yellow cards to Wales flanker Tommy Reffell and Fiji number eight Elia Canakaivata.

Wales led 14-10 at half-time through a try for new cap Blair Murray and a penalty try but Muntz responded with a brilliant solo score.

Muntz's boot and a try from centre Joshua Tuisova stretched the lead, before replacement Ellis Bevan reduced the deficit with a third Wales try.

Any hope of a home revival was dashed by Muntz's late kick and Wales spurning a last-minute opportunity.