President Biden 'relieved' at US midterm results

US President Joe Biden has expressed relief after Democrats fended off major Republican gains in the midterms.

The US midterm elections are to elect new members of Congress - which is made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives - but not a new president.

Republicans are inching towards control of the House of Representatives, but President Biden noted that a "giant red wave" did not materialise on Tuesday night.

Either party could still win the Senate, which hinges on three races that are too close to call.

The party in power, currently the Democrats, usually suffers losses in a president's first midterm elections and Republican strategists had been hopeful of sweeping victories.

But speaking at the White House on Wednesday, Mr Biden said the results so far had made him breathe a "sigh of relief".