There's still no acknowledgement, though, from Donald Trump on North America, Correspondent David Willis reports.

Six weeks after the US presidential election, Joe Biden's victory is finally being acknowledged by senior Republicans.

Monday's endorsement by the Electoral College prompting the leader of the Senate to break his silence on call for members of his party to move on the Electoral College has spoken.

So today I want to congratulate President elect Joe Biden.

The president elect is no stranger to the Senate.

He's devoted himself to public service for many years.

I also want to congratulate the vice president elect, our colleague from California, Senator Harris.

Beyond our differences, all Americans can take pride that our nation has a female vice president elect for the very first time.

Yet whilst members of his party seem willing to bring weeks of fractious and ultimately futile legal challenges to an end, Donald Trump continues to allege, without evidence that the election was subject to voter fraud at the White House, his press secretary was asked, Is the president himself willing to acknowledge Joe Biden as the president elect.

The president is still involved in ongoing litigation related to the election.

Yesterday's vote was one step in the constitutional process, so I will leave that to him and refer you to the campaign for more on that litigation.

What additional litigation might consist off is anyone's guess.

Numerous attempts to get the election outcome overturned in appeals ALS the way to the U.

S Supreme Court have all been rebuffed, many of them by judges appointed by Donald Trump.

Meanwhile, the largest vaccination program in this country's history continues with healthcare workers at the front of the line.

Officials hope to immunize 20 million people this month on the rest of the population by the summer of next year.

A second vaccine, made by the American company Moderna, is expected to receive federal approval this week.

All right, the need is urgent indeed, at the National Cathedral in the capital, Washington, D.

C.

The Bell was wrong once each for every 1000 Americans who've died of Cove in 19.

That figure now stands at 300,000 and rising.