China, Russia hold off on congratulating Biden; US allies rally round

China and Russia held off congratulating US President-elect Joe Biden on Monday, with Beijing saying it would follow the usual custom in its response and the Kremlin noting incumbent Donald Trump’s vow to pursue legal challenges.

Democrat Biden clinched enough states to win the presidency last Saturday and has begun making plans for when he takes office on Jan 20. Trump has not conceded defeat and plans rallies to build support for legal challenges.

Some of the United States’ biggest and closest allies in Europe, the Middle East and Asia quickly congratulated Biden over the weekend despite Trump’s refusal to concede, as did some Trump allies, including Israel and Saudi Arabia...