US - Rudy Giuliani, the former New York City Mayor and a long-time champion of President Donald Trump, is in a "stable but critical condition" in hospital,...

his spokesman has said. "Mayor Giuliani is a fighter who has faced every challenge in his life with unwavering strength, and he's fighting with that same level of strength as we speak," Ted Goodman said in a social media post. Shortly afterwards, Trump described Giuliani as "the Best Mayor in the History of New York City, BY FAR" on Truth Social and praised his efforts in contesting the 2020 election, won by Democrat Joe Biden. No further details on his illness have been released. Giuliani, who is 81, was injured in a car accident late last year. Goodman added at the end of his post: "We do ask that you join us in prayer for America's Mayor Rudy Giuliani." Giuliani earned that nickname after leading New York City through the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. In recognition of his leadership, he was awarded an honorary knighthood (KBE) by Queen Elizabeth in 2002. He left office in 2004 and four years later made an unsuccessful presidential run for the Republican Party. He was key backer of his fellow New Yorker's 2016 White House run, most publicly at the Republican National Convention. He later became Trump's personal lawyer. (BBC)