Perhaps the best feature of the American electoral system is that it gives us two and a half months to recover our composure before the new president takes office.

Donald Trump has said he will demand Nato partners contribute more to their own defence if they want US protection.

Anxiety and disbelief mounted among US allies, but Europe's far right exulted today, as Donald Trump swept the votes to win the US presidential race.

The new leader of the free world is President Donald Trump - while Hillary Clinton concedes defeat and fails to show at her own HQ. Here's how it unfolded.

United States Secretary of State John Kerry quietly slipped into New Zealand today as Donald Trump stunned the world in the race to the White House.

Donald Trump has promised that as president he will honour the pledge stitched into his white and red baseball caps: Make America Great Again.

A ridiculously expensive bar, creepy cake and glass encased memorabilia are all part of Trump's election party. It was never going to be normal.

Singer Demi Lovato has issued an apology to her 39 million Twitter followers for a "joke" she posted about the US election.

Cumberbatch certainly seemed to have perfected the art of telling a bedtime story during a hilarious pre-election sketch on The Late Late Show.

COMMENT: When the final result's declared, those packed into the bars in the Big Apple will be none the wiser.

American faced the most difficult choice today, so some of its newspapers advised: "Just pick the one you dislike the least".

Trump's campaign made the case that the presidential election in Sin City's home county might be rigged. The court didn't agree.

There are a matter of hours left before the US wakes up to a new president in one of the most controversial, and closest, races for the White House in history.

Ezra Miller and the other stars of JK Rowling's new blockbuster do not mince words when discussing their fears about the US presidential election.

After endorsing Donald Trump in the Republican primary, the New York Post withheld its backing in the general election.

Donald Trump has warned of "foul play" at the polls after votes are reportedly being switched from Republican to Democrat.

Two topless female protesters have been arrested at the polling booth where Donald Trump is set to vote.

COMMENT: Post-truth politics is all about creating a feeling or emotion, rather than acknowledging policy or facts.

As Trump fires his final shots in the Rust Belt, Clinton chooses the nation's birthplace to drive home her call for an end to divisions, writes Chris Reed.

"Pantsuit Nation" started about two weeks ago. It now has nearly 2 million members.

Hillary Clinton calls for healing a divided nation, while Donald Trump warns of 'disaster' if he loses.

There's one group dubbed a "sleeping giant" in US politics and early voter turnout figures show it may be rising from its slumber.

Donald Trump loves to boast about his allure to women, but surely there's a line. This is what he wrote to actress Kelly Preston.

COMMENT: It is a decision for the American voter alone but it matters to all of us. We need to get it right.

The two sides are likely to be arguing for years over the question of who was helped and who was hurt by FBI email investigation.

Clinton and Trump are both focusing fiercely on Pennsylvania, writes Chris Reed in his US road trip.

NZ share prices rallied by almost two per cent today on the back of news from the FBI clearing Hillary Clinton of any wrongdoing.

As a contentious US election cycle draws to a close, it seems even those skewering Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are sick of all of the vitriol.

Who can you trust more: Trump or Clinton? Here's a look back on the biggest fibs told by the candidates throughout the election campaign.