Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris has urged the Americans to come out and vote in large numbers to bring a change at the White House.

Speaking at a rally in Texas on Friday, Harris, 56, accused the Republicans of creating a confusion on votes.

"Everyone should vote to bring a change at the White House. Need to realise the power of vote and the opponents are for creating confusion on votes," Harris, who is the first Democratic vice-presidential candidate to address an election rally in Republican stronghold Texas in decades, said.

"They know our power. They know when we vote, things change. They know when we vote, we win. We vote to honour the ancestors. We vote because everything is at stake. Everything is at stake," Harris added.

She said the country is undergoing a major health crisis, with the death of more than 220,000 Americans due to coronavirus pandemic and blamed President Donald Trump for the situation.

"We want to make sure we see it through and then let's make sure on Election Day, everybody we know has made sure that their voice, their powerful voice, is represented in this election through their vote, because there is so much at stake and so many reasons to vote," she said.

US is the worst impacted nation by the coronavirus, with the total number of infections and deaths standing at 9,034,925 and 229,544, according to Johns Hopkins University.

"We're in the midst of a public health pandemic. You also have a situation where we have a president who, while we are seeing spikes around our country, talking about we've turned the corner, continuing to mislead the American people," she said.

She said that because of the pandemic, the worsening of the wealth gap in America has been such that over 30 million people in just the last several months had to file for unemployment insurance. "We are seeing numbers that tell us one in five mothers who has a child under the age of 12 is describing her children as being hungry," she rued, adding that the US is in the middle of a hunger crisis.

The Democratic Party under the leadership of Joe Biden, she asserted, is a plan to fight coronavirus, and is committed to not raising taxes ever on anyone making less than USD 400,000 a year, and is also committed in investing in working people in America.

"Biden understands that we need to deal with these racial disparities. We need to acknowledge them, difficult though they may be, to think about, much less talk about. We need to address it in terms of what we're doing around healthcare. We need to address it in terms of the racial wealth gap. We need to address it in terms of the gaps in our education system," she said.

She accused President Trump of ruining America.

"A president of the United States who has called Mexicans rapists and criminals, who as his first order of business instituted a Muslim ban. America, we deserve better,"&nbsp;she said.

"That does not reflect who we are as our values and priorities, as a nation that knows we are our strongest when we are unified, knows that we have so much more in common regardless of where you live, the race, your ethnicity, the language your grandmother speaks,"&nbsp;said the Senator from California.&nbsp;

Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris has urged the Americans to come out and vote in large numbers to bring a change at the White House. Speaking at a rally in Texas on Friday, Harris, 56, accused the Republicans of creating a confusion on votes.

Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris has urged the Americans to come out and vote in large numbers to bring a change at the White House. Speaking at a rally in Texas on Friday, Harris, 56, accused the Republicans of creating a confusion on votes. "Everyone should vote to bring a change at the White House. Need to realise the power of vote and the opponents are for creating confusion on votes," Harris, who is the first Democratic vice-presidential candidate to address an election rally in Republican stronghold Texas in decades, said. "They know our power. They know when we vote, things change. They know when we vote, we win. We vote to honour the ancestors. We vote because everything is at stake. Everything is at stake," Harris added. She said the country is undergoing a major health crisis, with the death of more than 220,000 Americans due to coronavirus pandemic and blamed President Donald Trump for the situation. "We want to make sure we see it through and then let's make sure on Election Day, everybody we know has made sure that their voice, their powerful voice, is represented in this election through their vote, because there is so much at stake and so many reasons to vote," she said. US is the worst impacted nation by the coronavirus, with the total number of infections and deaths standing at 9,034,925 and 229,544, according to Johns Hopkins University. "We're in the midst of a public health pandemic. You also have a situation where we have a president who, while we are seeing spikes around our country, talking about we've turned the corner, continuing to mislead the American people," she said. She said that because of the pandemic, the worsening of the wealth gap in America has been such that over 30 million people in just the last several months had to file for unemployment insurance. "We are seeing numbers that tell us one in five mothers who has a child under the age of 12 is describing her children as being hungry," she rued, adding that the US is in the middle of a hunger crisis. The Democratic Party under the leadership of Joe Biden, she asserted, is a plan to fight coronavirus, and is committed to not raising taxes ever on anyone making less than USD 400,000 a year, and is also committed in investing in working people in America. "Biden understands that we need to deal with these racial disparities. We need to acknowledge them, difficult though they may be, to think about, much less talk about. We need to address it in terms of what we're doing around healthcare. We need to address it in terms of the racial wealth gap. We need to address it in terms of the gaps in our education system," she said. She accused President Trump of ruining America. "A president of the United States who has called Mexicans rapists and criminals, who as his first order of business instituted a Muslim ban. America, we deserve better," she said. "That does not reflect who we are as our values and priorities, as a nation that knows we are our strongest when we are unified, knows that we have so much more in common regardless of where you live, the race, your ethnicity, the language your grandmother speaks," said the Senator from California.

Kamala Harris urges voters to vote in large numbers; bring change at White House

United States President Donald Trump Friday has said he would want to relocate his campaign’s election night party to the White House "or another venue" if the coronavirus restrictions in Washington, prevent him from holding the event at his Pennsylvania Avenue hotel.

The US has shown a sudden spike in cases, brining the coronavirus tally to 9 million. While on Thursday, the US recorded 91,000 cases, the country registered over 94,000 cases on Friday.

“We haven’t made a determination. We have certain rules and regulations. You know, Washington, DC, is shut down. The mayor shut it down,” Trump told reporters outside the White House.

DC Mayor Muriel Bowser's office earlier this week sent a notice to operators of the Trump International Hotel, located in the historic Old Post Office building, reminding them of the city's coronavirus rules.

The city's current guidelines prohibit gatherings of more than 50 people and dictate that restaurants, hotels and other commercial venues operate at 50 per cent of capacity or less.&nbsp;

The Trump campaign has pushed out fundraising emails in the president's name offering donors the chance to enter a drawing to join Team Trump at the Election Night Party in my favourite hotel," in Washington. The campaign has also spotlighted plans for the party in fundraising blasts from the president's son Donald Trump Jr.

Trump held his 2016 election party in his then-hometown of New York. But he booked his victory party at New York's Hilton in Midtown Manhattan because his own nearby Trump International Hotel &amp; Tower didn't have a big enough room.

United States President Donald Trump Friday has said he would want to relocate his campaign’s election night party to the White House "or another venue" if the coronavirus restrictions in Washington, prevent him from holding the event at his Pennsylvania Avenue hotel.

United States President Donald Trump Friday has said he would want to relocate his campaign’s election night party to the White House "or another venue" if the coronavirus restrictions in Washington, prevent him from holding the event at his Pennsylvania Avenue hotel. The US has shown a sudden spike in cases, brining the coronavirus tally to 9 million. While on Thursday, the US recorded 91,000 cases, the country registered over 94,000 cases on Friday. “We haven’t made a determination. We have certain rules and regulations. You know, Washington, DC, is shut down. The mayor shut it down,” Trump told reporters outside the White House. DC Mayor Muriel Bowser's office earlier this week sent a notice to operators of the Trump International Hotel, located in the historic Old Post Office building, reminding them of the city's coronavirus rules. The city's current guidelines prohibit gatherings of more than 50 people and dictate that restaurants, hotels and other commercial venues operate at 50 per cent of capacity or less. The Trump campaign has pushed out fundraising emails in the president's name offering donors the chance to enter a drawing to join Team Trump at the Election Night Party in my favourite hotel," in Washington. The campaign has also spotlighted plans for the party in fundraising blasts from the president's son Donald Trump Jr. Trump held his 2016 election party in his then-hometown of New York. But he booked his victory party at New York's Hilton in Midtown Manhattan because his own nearby Trump International Hotel & Tower didn't have a big enough room.

Trump 'moves' his election night party to the White House

A US federal judge has issued an injunction temporarily blocking an executive order by President Donald Trump aimed at banning TikTok, throwing up a legal roadblock ahead of a November 12 deadline.

TikTok said in a statement it was "deeply moved by the outpouring of support" form its users "who have worked to protect their rights to expression."

US District Court Judge Wendy Beetlestone enjoined the Commerce Department from barring data hosting within the United States for TikTok, content delivery services and other technical transactions.

In her ruling, Beetlestone said the order would "have the effect of shutting down, within the United States, a platform for expressive activity used by approximately 700 million individuals globally. Over 100 million of these TikTok users are within the United States, and at least 50 million of these US users use the app on a daily basis."

It is the second restraint issued in favor of TikTok by US judges against a set of executive orders issued by Trump which sought to ban new downloads of the app beginning in September, and ban it outright by November 12.

Earlier on September 27, US District Judge Carl Nichols in Washington issued a preliminary injunction in a suit brought by TikTok owner ByteDance that stopped the US Commerce Department from ordering Apple Inc and Alphabet Inc's Google app stores to remove TikTok for download by new users. That order had been set to take effect later that day.

Judges in both cases said in rulings that the chances of proving in court that Trump overstepped his authority were good.

They also equated &nbsp;TikTok to films, photographs, and news wires with legal protections.

Beetlestone noted in her ruling that concerns expressed by the US in justifying the ban were expressed hypothetically.

Talks have been ongoing to finalise a preliminary deal for Walmart Inc and Oracle Corp to take stakes in a new company, TikTok Global, that would oversee US operations. US&nbsp; 
President Donald Trump said last month the deal had his "blessing."

The Trump administration contends TikTok poses national security concerns as personal data collected on 100 million Americans who use the app could be obtained by China`s government.

TikTok has repeatedly defended itself against allegations of data transfers to the Chinese government.&nbsp;

It says its servers where user information is stored are located in the United States and Singapore.

The company has also said the ban is unnecessary since negotiations are underway to restructure the ownership of TikTok to address national security issues raised by the administration.

A tentative deal has been unveiled that would make Silicon Valley giant Oracle the technology partner for TikTok and a stakeholder in a new entity to be known as TikTok Global.

(with inputs from agencies)

A US federal judge has issued an injunction temporarily blocking an executive order by President Donald Trump aimed at banning TikTok, throwing up a legal roadblock ahead of a November 12 deadline.

A US federal judge has issued an injunction temporarily blocking an executive order by President Donald Trump aimed at banning TikTok, throwing up a legal roadblock ahead of a November 12 deadline. TikTok said in a statement it was "deeply moved by the outpouring of support" form its users "who have worked to protect their rights to expression." US District Court Judge Wendy Beetlestone enjoined the Commerce Department from barring data hosting within the United States for TikTok, content delivery services and other technical transactions. In her ruling, Beetlestone said the order would "have the effect of shutting down, within the United States, a platform for expressive activity used by approximately 700 million individuals globally. Over 100 million of these TikTok users are within the United States, and at least 50 million of these US users use the app on a daily basis." It is the second restraint issued in favor of TikTok by US judges against a set of executive orders issued by Trump which sought to ban new downloads of the app beginning in September, and ban it outright by November 12. Earlier on September 27, US District Judge Carl Nichols in Washington issued a preliminary injunction in a suit brought by TikTok owner ByteDance that stopped the US Commerce Department from ordering Apple Inc and Alphabet Inc's Google app stores to remove TikTok for download by new users. That order had been set to take effect later that day. Judges in both cases said in rulings that the chances of proving in court that Trump overstepped his authority were good. They also equated TikTok to films, photographs, and news wires with legal protections. Beetlestone noted in her ruling that concerns expressed by the US in justifying the ban were expressed hypothetically. Talks have been ongoing to finalise a preliminary deal for Walmart Inc and Oracle Corp to take stakes in a new company, TikTok Global, that would oversee US operations. US President Donald Trump said last month the deal had his "blessing." The Trump administration contends TikTok poses national security concerns as personal data collected on 100 million Americans who use the app could be obtained by China`s government. TikTok has repeatedly defended itself against allegations of data transfers to the Chinese government. It says its servers where user information is stored are located in the United States and Singapore. The company has also said the ban is unnecessary since negotiations are underway to restructure the ownership of TikTok to address national security issues raised by the administration. A tentative deal has been unveiled that would make Silicon Valley giant Oracle the technology partner for TikTok and a stakeholder in a new entity to be known as TikTok Global. (with inputs from agencies)

US judge blocks Trump bid to ban TikTok

Trump's covid vaccine announcement was made during the presidential debate with Democratic challenger Joe Biden for the final time before the elections.

Covid vaccine ready and expected within weeks, claims Trump

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden Friday had the dais to himself as he and the incumbent US president, Donald Trump, sparred over American Midwest in the run up to the November 3 vote.

The resurgent coronavirus has passed the milestone of nine million cases in the US, and as would be apparent, Biden intensified his attacks on Trump over his mishandling of the pandemic.

Trump held a rally in Michigan before heading to Wisconsin and Minnesota -- all states battling climbing numbers of virus cases.

"We just want normal," Trump told supporters -- many of them unmasked -- at an outdoor rally near Detroit as he pushed states to relax public health restrictions and resume daily life.

He again bucked his own administration's health experts as he downplayed the Covid-19 threat, saying "if you get it, you're going to get better, and then you're going to be immune."

Covid-19 has killed nearly 230,000 people in the US, which is experiencing surges in most states as the winter flu season looms.

"We can not afford four more years of Donald Trump," Biden said at a socially distanced drive-in rally in St. Paul, Minnesota.

"So honk your horn if you want America to lead again!" he said, embracing the awkward pandemic-era campaign trend of rallying supporters in their vehicles.

"Honk your horn if you want to have civility again, and honk your horn if you want America to be united again!"

"Donald Trump has given up (and) waved the white flag," Biden told a drive-in rally with more than 300 cars in Des Moines.

Trump flipped Iowa, Michigan and Wisconsin from the Democrats to clinch his shock victory four years ago.&nbsp;Now polls show Biden leading in all three, albeit narrowly in Iowa.

It was Biden's first visit to Iowa since his inauspicious campaign start in February, when he placed a dismal fourth in the opening Democratic nominating contest.

With voters concerned about the health hazards of crowded polling stations on November 3, a record 86 million have already cast early ballots by mail or in person.

Even as the US hit a grim new high in daily Covid-19 infections Thursday, Trump has stuck to his guns, downplaying the dangers and branding Democrats as rampaging "socialists" intent on shuttering the country.

And while Trump has touted the economic successes of his presidency, including positive GDP figures Thursday, US stocks closed out their worst week since March, highlighting concerns about a shaky recovery.

After a campaign largely muted by the pandemic, Biden is on the offensive, pushing Trump onto the back foot in unexpected battlegrounds like Texas, a large, traditionally conservative bastion now rated a toss-up by multiple analysts.

On Friday, the state reported that a staggering nine million residents had already voted, surpassing its entire 2016 total.

On Saturday Biden returns to the Midwest bringing with him perhaps his strongest surrogate: ex-president Barack Obama, making his first joint in-person campaign appearance of the year with his former VP.

Trump will spend the day campaigning in the critical state of Pennsylvania, where he narrowly trails Biden in polls.

Biden will follow suit there both Sunday and Monday in a clear sign that his campaign sees the Keystone State as absolutely crucial to his victory.

Trump and Biden on Thursday campaigned in Florida.

(with inputs)

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden Friday had the dais to himself as he and the incumbent US president, Donald Trump, sparred over American Midwest in the run up to the November 3 vote.

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden Friday had the dais to himself as he and the incumbent US president, Donald Trump, sparred over American Midwest in the run up to the November 3 vote. The resurgent coronavirus has passed the milestone of nine million cases in the US, and as would be apparent, Biden intensified his attacks on Trump over his mishandling of the pandemic. Trump held a rally in Michigan before heading to Wisconsin and Minnesota -- all states battling climbing numbers of virus cases. "We just want normal," Trump told supporters -- many of them unmasked -- at an outdoor rally near Detroit as he pushed states to relax public health restrictions and resume daily life. He again bucked his own administration's health experts as he downplayed the Covid-19 threat, saying "if you get it, you're going to get better, and then you're going to be immune." Covid-19 has killed nearly 230,000 people in the US, which is experiencing surges in most states as the winter flu season looms. "We can not afford four more years of Donald Trump," Biden said at a socially distanced drive-in rally in St. Paul, Minnesota. "So honk your horn if you want America to lead again!" he said, embracing the awkward pandemic-era campaign trend of rallying supporters in their vehicles. "Honk your horn if you want to have civility again, and honk your horn if you want America to be united again!" "Donald Trump has given up (and) waved the white flag," Biden told a drive-in rally with more than 300 cars in Des Moines. Trump flipped Iowa, Michigan and Wisconsin from the Democrats to clinch his shock victory four years ago. Now polls show Biden leading in all three, albeit narrowly in Iowa. It was Biden's first visit to Iowa since his inauspicious campaign start in February, when he placed a dismal fourth in the opening Democratic nominating contest. With voters concerned about the health hazards of crowded polling stations on November 3, a record 86 million have already cast early ballots by mail or in person. Even as the US hit a grim new high in daily Covid-19 infections Thursday, Trump has stuck to his guns, downplaying the dangers and branding Democrats as rampaging "socialists" intent on shuttering the country. And while Trump has touted the economic successes of his presidency, including positive GDP figures Thursday, US stocks closed out their worst week since March, highlighting concerns about a shaky recovery. After a campaign largely muted by the pandemic, Biden is on the offensive, pushing Trump onto the back foot in unexpected battlegrounds like Texas, a large, traditionally conservative bastion now rated a toss-up by multiple analysts. On Friday, the state reported that a staggering nine million residents had already voted, surpassing its entire 2016 total. On Saturday Biden returns to the Midwest bringing with him perhaps his strongest surrogate: ex-president Barack Obama, making his first joint in-person campaign appearance of the year with his former VP. Trump will spend the day campaigning in the critical state of Pennsylvania, where he narrowly trails Biden in polls. Biden will follow suit there both Sunday and Monday in a clear sign that his campaign sees the Keystone State as absolutely crucial to his victory. Trump and Biden on Thursday campaigned in Florida. (with inputs)

Biden and Trump campaign in heartland states in US election finale

Nordstrom, the high-end department store chain, said it planned to board up some of its 350 stores and hire extra security for Election Day on Tuesday. Tiffany &amp; Co., the luxury jeweler, said “windows of select stores in key cities will be boarded in anticipation of potential election-related activity.” Saks Fifth Avenue said it was “implementing additional security measures at certain locations in the event of civil unrest due to the current election.”

In Beverly Hills, California, police said they would take a “proactive approach” and close Rodeo Drive, a renowned strip of luxury retailers, on Tuesday and Wednesday, citing the likelihood of increased “protest activity.” Police, working with private security companies, said they would also be on “full alert” throughout Beverly Hills starting on Halloween and continuing into election week.

The nation is on edge as the bitter presidential contest finally nears an end, the latest flashpoint in a bruising year that has included the pandemic and widespread protests over social justice. Anxiety has been mounting for months that the election’s outcome could lead to civil unrest, no matter who wins. In the retail industry, many companies are not simply concerned about possible mayhem — they are planning for it.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iranians-behind-hacked-us-election-data-fbi-and-homeland-security-reveal-339165" hreflang="en">Iranians behind hacked US election data, FBI and Homeland Security reveal</a>

In a show of just how volatile the situation seems to the industry, 120 representatives from 60 retail brands attended a video conference this week hosted by the National Retail Federation, which involved training for store employees on how to de-escalate tensions among customers, including those related to the election. The trade group also hired security consultants who have prepped retailers about which locations around the country are likely to be the most volatile when the polls close.

“I am 50-plus years old, and I didn’t think I would live to see this,” said Shane Fernett, who owns a contracting business in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and has been stocking up on plywood to board up his retail customers. “You read about this in third-world countries, not America.”

For the retail industry, 2020 has been filled with bankruptcies, store closures and plummeting sales as tens of millions of Americans struggled with job losses because of the pandemic. Protests over police violence against Black citizens sent millions of people into the streets, demonstrations that in some cases devolved into the looting and burning of stores in a number of cities. Worries about unrest around the election have been fanned by President Donald Trump, who has declined to say whether he would agree to a peaceful transfer of power if his Democratic challenger, Joe Biden, is victorious.

Protests flared again this week after Walter Wallace Jr., a Black man with mental health issues who was carrying a knife, was killed by police in Philadelphia. That set off looting and clashes with police in parts of the city. Citing the civil unrest in Philadelphia, Walmart said Thursday that it was removing all of its firearms and ammunition from its sales floors across the country. On Friday, Walmart said it was returning guns to the sales floor, after determining that the incidents of unrest “have remained geographically isolated.”

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-moves-his-election-night-party-to-the-white-house-339149" hreflang="en">Trump 'moves' his election night party to the White House</a>

This year, businesses have already sustained at least $1 billion in insured losses from looting and vandalism largely set off by the killing of George Floyd by a Minnesota police officer in May, according to one estimate cited by the Insurance Information Institute, an industry group.

It is on target to be the most costly period of civil unrest in history, likely surpassing damages during the 1992 riots in Los Angeles and many of the civil rights protests of the late 1960s.

The situation in 2020 has drawn comparisons to protests in the 1960s, but Derek Hyra, an associate professor in the School of Public Affairs at American University, said that recent unrest had been more geographically widespread, affecting a wider swath of businesses.

Protecting properties from potential damage is not a simple decision. Retailers can risk alienating their customers by erecting plywood, particularly if the anticipated unrest does not materialize.

“You are sending a message when you do that,” Stephanie Martz, general counsel of the National Retail Federation, said. “You don’t want to necessarily engage in this kind of grim forecasting.”

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/volatile-voters-could-still-decide-the-us-election-they-tend-to-dislike-trump-339230" hreflang="en">‘Volatile’ voters could still decide the US election. They tend to dislike Trump</a>

Some companies aren’t taking chances — the iconic Macy’s location in Manhattan’s Herald Square was boarded up Friday. But other large businesses are keeping their plans vague.

Target, with about 1,900 stores, said in a statement, “like many businesses, we’re taking precautionary steps to ensure safety at our stores, including giving our store leaders guidance on how to take care of their teams.”

A spokesman for CVS, which operates nearly 10,000 stores, said: “Our local leadership teams are empowered to take steps that they determine will best support the safety of our stores, employees and customers. This includes the option to board select store locations.”

Gap Inc., with more than 2,000 stores in North America, said it had “contingency plans set in place for any issues that may arise and will continue to monitor the situation carefully and closely next week.”

Behind the scenes, though, many businesses are making explicit preparations.

Tom Buiocchi, who runs an online platform called ServiceChannel that connects retailers with local contractors in cities across the country, said more than 500 stores have filled out work orders to board up or take other protective measures ahead of the election.

He said he had discussions this week with a group of luxury retailers who were reluctant about being the first ones to take any visible precautions. “No one wants to be the only one boarding up in a community; it can be off brand,” Buiocchi said.

Some retailers have debated whether erecting boards would make them more of a target. Others are taking steps like purchasing different screws for the plywood than the ones they used in June, hoping to thwart looters with screw guns. The costs of boarding up businesses can range from a few hundred dollars to $31,000 for large department stores with display windows.

For the stores that stay open through election night and the uncertain days that could follow, their workers will again be thrust into a volatile situation. Already, retail employees are faced with the potential for violence in trying to ensure that customers wear masks to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Election week could pose more dangers.

The training offered by the retail federation was originally meant to help workers defuse tense situations around mask wearing by advising employees to make nonthreatening eye contact and speak with empathy, said Martz, the group’s top lawyer.

She acknowledged that there could be added danger for workers Tuesday night because police are likely to be stretched thin if there are protests. “People are so divided, and it is such a tinderbox,” Martz said.

Nordstrom, the high-end department store chain, said it planned to board up some of its 350 stores and hire extra security for Election Day on Tuesday. Tiffany & Co.

Nordstrom, the high-end department store chain, said it planned to board up some of its 350 stores and hire extra security for Election Day on Tuesday. Tiffany & Co., the luxury jeweler, said “windows of select stores in key cities will be boarded in anticipation of potential election-related activity.” Saks Fifth Avenue said it was “implementing additional security measures at certain locations in the event of civil unrest due to the current election.” In Beverly Hills, California, police said they would take a “proactive approach” and close Rodeo Drive, a renowned strip of luxury retailers, on Tuesday and Wednesday, citing the likelihood of increased “protest activity.” Police, working with private security companies, said they would also be on “full alert” throughout Beverly Hills starting on Halloween and continuing into election week. The nation is on edge as the bitter presidential contest finally nears an end, the latest flashpoint in a bruising year that has included the pandemic and widespread protests over social justice. Anxiety has been mounting for months that the election’s outcome could lead to civil unrest, no matter who wins. In the retail industry, many companies are not simply concerned about possible mayhem — they are planning for it. Also read | Iranians behind hacked US election data, FBI and Homeland Security reveal In a show of just how volatile the situation seems to the industry, 120 representatives from 60 retail brands attended a video conference this week hosted by the National Retail Federation, which involved training for store employees on how to de-escalate tensions among customers, including those related to the election. The trade group also hired security consultants who have prepped retailers about which locations around the country are likely to be the most volatile when the polls close. “I am 50-plus years old, and I didn’t think I would live to see this,” said Shane Fernett, who owns a contracting business in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and has been stocking up on plywood to board up his retail customers. “You read about this in third-world countries, not America.” For the retail industry, 2020 has been filled with bankruptcies, store closures and plummeting sales as tens of millions of Americans struggled with job losses because of the pandemic. Protests over police violence against Black citizens sent millions of people into the streets, demonstrations that in some cases devolved into the looting and burning of stores in a number of cities. Worries about unrest around the election have been fanned by President Donald Trump, who has declined to say whether he would agree to a peaceful transfer of power if his Democratic challenger, Joe Biden, is victorious. Protests flared again this week after Walter Wallace Jr., a Black man with mental health issues who was carrying a knife, was killed by police in Philadelphia. That set off looting and clashes with police in parts of the city. Citing the civil unrest in Philadelphia, Walmart said Thursday that it was removing all of its firearms and ammunition from its sales floors across the country. On Friday, Walmart said it was returning guns to the sales floor, after determining that the incidents of unrest “have remained geographically isolated.” Also read| Trump 'moves' his election night party to the White House This year, businesses have already sustained at least $1 billion in insured losses from looting and vandalism largely set off by the killing of George Floyd by a Minnesota police officer in May, according to one estimate cited by the Insurance Information Institute, an industry group. It is on target to be the most costly period of civil unrest in history, likely surpassing damages during the 1992 riots in Los Angeles and many of the civil rights protests of the late 1960s. The situation in 2020 has drawn comparisons to protests in the 1960s, but Derek Hyra, an associate professor in the School of Public Affairs at American University, said that recent unrest had been more geographically widespread, affecting a wider swath of businesses. Protecting properties from potential damage is not a simple decision. Retailers can risk alienating their customers by erecting plywood, particularly if the anticipated unrest does not materialize. “You are sending a message when you do that,” Stephanie Martz, general counsel of the National Retail Federation, said. “You don’t want to necessarily engage in this kind of grim forecasting.” Also read| ‘Volatile’ voters could still decide the US election. They tend to dislike Trump Some companies aren’t taking chances — the iconic Macy’s location in Manhattan’s Herald Square was boarded up Friday. But other large businesses are keeping their plans vague. Target, with about 1,900 stores, said in a statement, “like many businesses, we’re taking precautionary steps to ensure safety at our stores, including giving our store leaders guidance on how to take care of their teams.” A spokesman for CVS, which operates nearly 10,000 stores, said: “Our local leadership teams are empowered to take steps that they determine will best support the safety of our stores, employees and customers. This includes the option to board select store locations.” Gap Inc., with more than 2,000 stores in North America, said it had “contingency plans set in place for any issues that may arise and will continue to monitor the situation carefully and closely next week.” Behind the scenes, though, many businesses are making explicit preparations. Tom Buiocchi, who runs an online platform called ServiceChannel that connects retailers with local contractors in cities across the country, said more than 500 stores have filled out work orders to board up or take other protective measures ahead of the election. He said he had discussions this week with a group of luxury retailers who were reluctant about being the first ones to take any visible precautions. “No one wants to be the only one boarding up in a community; it can be off brand,” Buiocchi said. Some retailers have debated whether erecting boards would make them more of a target. Others are taking steps like purchasing different screws for the plywood than the ones they used in June, hoping to thwart looters with screw guns. The costs of boarding up businesses can range from a few hundred dollars to $31,000 for large department stores with display windows. For the stores that stay open through election night and the uncertain days that could follow, their workers will again be thrust into a volatile situation. Already, retail employees are faced with the potential for violence in trying to ensure that customers wear masks to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Election week could pose more dangers. The training offered by the retail federation was originally meant to help workers defuse tense situations around mask wearing by advising employees to make nonthreatening eye contact and speak with empathy, said Martz, the group’s top lawyer. She acknowledged that there could be added danger for workers Tuesday night because police are likely to be stretched thin if there are protests. “People are so divided, and it is such a tinderbox,” Martz said.

Boarded-up windows and increased security: Retailers brace for the election

John Holland, 74, is proud to call himself a political independent, and he has always made a point of voting for the candidate he prefers, not a party to which he had sworn allegiance. In mid-October he told a New York Times/Siena College poll he was unconvinced by either President Donald Trump or Joe Biden.

Ultimately, Holland, a retired education-technology professional in Minnesota, did choose, and like many late-deciding voters, he said his choice emerged “from a values point of view.”

“I said, ‘Would I want President Trump to be the grandfather of any one of my grandchildren?’ And the answer was no,” he said this week, explaining that he had donned a mask and walked to an early polling site to cast a ballot for Biden.

Four years ago, voters like Holland — leery of both major-party candidates, undecided until the eleventh hour and guided by their gut more than by policy — decided the election. This year, polling shows far fewer undecided voters remain, but in close battleground states they could still be pivotal.

And while voters who were negative on both major candidates in 2016 broke big for Trump as the “lesser of two evils,” particularly in the Midwest, they appear generally disinclined to do so again.

Among the most likely people to remain unconvinced of either major candidate are Latinos, Asian Americans, young people and those with a history of voting for a third-party candidate. None of those groups have shown much warmth toward Trump over the past four years — but each of them has also given Biden trouble, from the primary campaign through today.

Combining data from Times/Siena polls of battlegrounds and the nation going back months, undecideds leaning toward Biden outweigh those leaning toward Trump, though not by an overwhelming margin. Perhaps more meaningfully, Biden has a slight advantage among voters who didn’t express a favorable view of either candidate. The largest share of those voters — a little more than half — still hadn’t settled on one to support, meaning there was room for movement.

The universe of such voters is small, but in states like Georgia or North Carolina, where the race could come down to 1 or 2 percentage points, “those volatile voters could make the difference,” said Patrick Murray, the director of polling at Monmouth University.

In a Times/Siena poll of the country released last week, 9% of likely voters said they were still torn or they planned to support a third-party candidate. When including voters who said they were supporting Biden or Trump but only when pushed, that climbed to 13%.

Murray prefers the term “volatile voters,” rather than undecided. In this group he includes those expressing no vote preference, those choosing a third-party candidate and those who lean toward Trump or Biden but could still change their minds.

When Trump faced Hillary Clinton four years ago, Murray said, around 20% of likely voters fell into the volatile category. This year, it has been consistently closer to half that share, and it is dropping.

Those who remain also tend to be more certain now than they were four years ago that they don’t like Trump: 54% of volatile voters in the most recent national Times/Siena poll expressed an unfavorable opinion of him, compared with just 28% favorable.

“The Trump unfavorables are basically etched in stone,” Murray said. “You’d need something ground-shaking about Biden to come out” for voters holding a negative view of Trump to vote for him.

Those Without Strong Political Views

Voters who remain ambivalent about their choices tend not to be particularly motivated by political issues, and they often don’t hold the sort of ideological convictions that would place either candidate off-limits.

The Democratic nominee still has work to do to bring anti-Trump undecideds into his camp; Biden was seen unfavorably by 47% of volatile voters in that Times/Siena poll.

In 2016, Clinton’s loss was owed to voters who stayed home as much as to those who cast ballots against her. This lowered the sheer number of votes Trump needed to carry a closely contested state.

He won Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Florida without majority support in any of them, nudged across the finish line by last-minute deciders.

As Biden edges above 50% support in various national and swing-state polls, the chances of Trump winning in a similar fashion this year have diminished.

But Republicans are heartened by their success in some key states at driving up registration among target voters, particularly white people without college degrees, feeding their hopes that an Election Day surge in a state like Pennsylvania might be enough to turn back Biden’s advantage among early voters. That would be especially true if Republicans can keep enough negative-on-both voters away from the polls.

Steven Cameron and his wife, Amy, live just outside San Antonio in a state that could flip blue for the first time since 1976. Speaking by phone this week, the couple said they were still unsure of whom to support, mostly because they didn’t feel they could trust either Biden or Trump to tell the truth.

“I would rather a person tell me that they don’t know the answer than to say something that’s not true,” said Steve Cameron, 58, who confessed that he and his wife were feeling overwhelmed and dispirited by all the campaign news.

Who Tends to Be Undecided?

One core Democratic group that tends to be more frequently undecided is Latino voters, a demographic that Biden has struggled with all year. In all Times/Siena general election surveys this year through mid-October, close to a quarter of Hispanic respondents fell into the volatile-voter category. This was partly contributing to the weakness of Biden’s lead among Latino voters compared with Clinton’s 2016 margins.

This year, Trump’s base of support has grown a little bit larger and much more reliable than it was four years ago — but so has his opposition. The president has remained widely disliked for four years, and national polls have tended to show him unable to match the 46% support he garnered nationwide in 2016, allowing him to pull off an Electoral College win.

While voters know where they stand on Trump, views of Biden have been more slippery. His favorability ratings have ticked up markedly, especially among young voters and liberals, but he still shows vulnerability among some key demographics, particularly Latinos.

Volatile voters generally don’t like either candidate, but they are more likely to say they would rather see Biden handling the coronavirus pandemic than Trump — in line with trends among the entire electorate. And 56% of these voters expected the pandemic to grow worse before it got better, while just 26% said they thought the worst was behind us, according to the latest Times/Siena poll. Sixty-three percent said they were worried that they or a family member might catch the virus, higher than the share among Trump supporters, but lower than for Biden supporters.

While Biden supporters tended to say that their financial situation has grown worse during the pandemic, Trump supporters actually said the opposite: 55% of them attested that their finances had grown better over the past eight months. For those not supporting either candidate, half said the pandemic had not made a difference to their finances either way, compared with only about 1 in 3 among major-candidate supporters. Fewer than 1 in 5 ambivalent voters said it had made a big impact.

Some don’t see the virus and politics being related. “It’s a health issue, and it’s something that our country has to deal with, I agree with that, but I’d rather hear about what the candidates are going to do for our country,” Steve Cameron, a carpenter, said. “So I don’t think that that should be an election issue.”

The Camerons agreed that they often think of things in apolitical terms, and they don’t lean strongly toward either party. But with Texas and its 38 electoral votes in play this year, they fully intend to exercise their “freedom of choice” when Election Day comes, said Amy Cameron, an office administrator.

“I feel that we have to pick somebody to run the country,” her husband added. “So we’re going to pick the one from our heart that we think would do the best job, even though we’re not 100% behind either.”

John Holland, 74, is proud to call himself a political independent, and he has always made a point of voting for the candidate he prefers, not a party to which he had sworn allegiance.

John Holland, 74, is proud to call himself a political independent, and he has always made a point of voting for the candidate he prefers, not a party to which he had sworn allegiance. In mid-October he told a New York Times/Siena College poll he was unconvinced by either President Donald Trump or Joe Biden. Ultimately, Holland, a retired education-technology professional in Minnesota, did choose, and like many late-deciding voters, he said his choice emerged “from a values point of view.” “I said, ‘Would I want President Trump to be the grandfather of any one of my grandchildren?’ And the answer was no,” he said this week, explaining that he had donned a mask and walked to an early polling site to cast a ballot for Biden. Four years ago, voters like Holland — leery of both major-party candidates, undecided until the eleventh hour and guided by their gut more than by policy — decided the election. This year, polling shows far fewer undecided voters remain, but in close battleground states they could still be pivotal. And while voters who were negative on both major candidates in 2016 broke big for Trump as the “lesser of two evils,” particularly in the Midwest, they appear generally disinclined to do so again. Among the most likely people to remain unconvinced of either major candidate are Latinos, Asian Americans, young people and those with a history of voting for a third-party candidate. None of those groups have shown much warmth toward Trump over the past four years — but each of them has also given Biden trouble, from the primary campaign through today. Combining data from Times/Siena polls of battlegrounds and the nation going back months, undecideds leaning toward Biden outweigh those leaning toward Trump, though not by an overwhelming margin. Perhaps more meaningfully, Biden has a slight advantage among voters who didn’t express a favorable view of either candidate. The largest share of those voters — a little more than half — still hadn’t settled on one to support, meaning there was room for movement. The universe of such voters is small, but in states like Georgia or North Carolina, where the race could come down to 1 or 2 percentage points, “those volatile voters could make the difference,” said Patrick Murray, the director of polling at Monmouth University. In a Times/Siena poll of the country released last week, 9% of likely voters said they were still torn or they planned to support a third-party candidate. When including voters who said they were supporting Biden or Trump but only when pushed, that climbed to 13%. Murray prefers the term “volatile voters,” rather than undecided. In this group he includes those expressing no vote preference, those choosing a third-party candidate and those who lean toward Trump or Biden but could still change their minds. When Trump faced Hillary Clinton four years ago, Murray said, around 20% of likely voters fell into the volatile category. This year, it has been consistently closer to half that share, and it is dropping. Those who remain also tend to be more certain now than they were four years ago that they don’t like Trump: 54% of volatile voters in the most recent national Times/Siena poll expressed an unfavorable opinion of him, compared with just 28% favorable. “The Trump unfavorables are basically etched in stone,” Murray said. “You’d need something ground-shaking about Biden to come out” for voters holding a negative view of Trump to vote for him. Those Without Strong Political Views Voters who remain ambivalent about their choices tend not to be particularly motivated by political issues, and they often don’t hold the sort of ideological convictions that would place either candidate off-limits. The Democratic nominee still has work to do to bring anti-Trump undecideds into his camp; Biden was seen unfavorably by 47% of volatile voters in that Times/Siena poll. In 2016, Clinton’s loss was owed to voters who stayed home as much as to those who cast ballots against her. This lowered the sheer number of votes Trump needed to carry a closely contested state. He won Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Florida without majority support in any of them, nudged across the finish line by last-minute deciders. As Biden edges above 50% support in various national and swing-state polls, the chances of Trump winning in a similar fashion this year have diminished. But Republicans are heartened by their success in some key states at driving up registration among target voters, particularly white people without college degrees, feeding their hopes that an Election Day surge in a state like Pennsylvania might be enough to turn back Biden’s advantage among early voters. That would be especially true if Republicans can keep enough negative-on-both voters away from the polls. Steven Cameron and his wife, Amy, live just outside San Antonio in a state that could flip blue for the first time since 1976. Speaking by phone this week, the couple said they were still unsure of whom to support, mostly because they didn’t feel they could trust either Biden or Trump to tell the truth. “I would rather a person tell me that they don’t know the answer than to say something that’s not true,” said Steve Cameron, 58, who confessed that he and his wife were feeling overwhelmed and dispirited by all the campaign news. Who Tends to Be Undecided? One core Democratic group that tends to be more frequently undecided is Latino voters, a demographic that Biden has struggled with all year. In all Times/Siena general election surveys this year through mid-October, close to a quarter of Hispanic respondents fell into the volatile-voter category. This was partly contributing to the weakness of Biden’s lead among Latino voters compared with Clinton’s 2016 margins. This year, Trump’s base of support has grown a little bit larger and much more reliable than it was four years ago — but so has his opposition. The president has remained widely disliked for four years, and national polls have tended to show him unable to match the 46% support he garnered nationwide in 2016, allowing him to pull off an Electoral College win. While voters know where they stand on Trump, views of Biden have been more slippery. His favorability ratings have ticked up markedly, especially among young voters and liberals, but he still shows vulnerability among some key demographics, particularly Latinos. Volatile voters generally don’t like either candidate, but they are more likely to say they would rather see Biden handling the coronavirus pandemic than Trump — in line with trends among the entire electorate. And 56% of these voters expected the pandemic to grow worse before it got better, while just 26% said they thought the worst was behind us, according to the latest Times/Siena poll. Sixty-three percent said they were worried that they or a family member might catch the virus, higher than the share among Trump supporters, but lower than for Biden supporters. While Biden supporters tended to say that their financial situation has grown worse during the pandemic, Trump supporters actually said the opposite: 55% of them attested that their finances had grown better over the past eight months. For those not supporting either candidate, half said the pandemic had not made a difference to their finances either way, compared with only about 1 in 3 among major-candidate supporters. Fewer than 1 in 5 ambivalent voters said it had made a big impact. Some don’t see the virus and politics being related. “It’s a health issue, and it’s something that our country has to deal with, I agree with that, but I’d rather hear about what the candidates are going to do for our country,” Steve Cameron, a carpenter, said. “So I don’t think that that should be an election issue.” The Camerons agreed that they often think of things in apolitical terms, and they don’t lean strongly toward either party. But with Texas and its 38 electoral votes in play this year, they fully intend to exercise their “freedom of choice” when Election Day comes, said Amy Cameron, an office administrator. “I feel that we have to pick somebody to run the country,” her husband added. “So we’re going to pick the one from our heart that we think would do the best job, even though we’re not 100% behind either.”

‘Volatile’ voters could still decide the US election. They tend to dislike Trump

A veteran law enforcement officer in Charleston, South Carolina, campaigning to unseat her boss has vowed to root out racial bias in the 900-member Sheriff’s Department and rebuild trust in the Black community.

A former judge in Iberia Parish, Louisiana, who is running for district attorney, has promised to change how prosecutors make charging, plea and bail decisions.

And in Hamilton County, Ohio, the race for the top prosecutor pits a Republican incumbent running on a “tough-on-crime” platform against a Democrat and former judge who is pushing to eliminate cash bail for nonviolent offenses and create a conviction integrity unit.

While the coronavirus and battered economy have overtaken issues of race as the focal points in presidential and congressional campaigns, despite the disproportionate impact of both on communities of color, systemic racism and police reform have emerged as dominant themes in a number of local elections. In states across America, from California to Kentucky to New York, many voters said they saw the races for sheriffs, prosecutors and council representatives as having more consequence to their lives.

In South Carolina, Kristin Graziano, a 32-year police veteran, is challenging Sheriff Al Cannon, who has held the Charleston County post since 1988. Graziano, a Democrat, said she had been thinking about race and policing for years, particularly after the death of Walter Scott, a Black man who was killed by a white North Charleston police officer in 2015.

Graziano, 53, has centered much of her candidacy on issues of accountability and diversifying the department, which covers a county that is almost one-third Black. If elected, Graziano, who is white, would be the first woman to serve as a sheriff in the state.

“When unarmed men get shot in the back running away from police and when people get choked out in handcuffs, obviously those are not right,” said Graziano, who began her law enforcement career in Charlottesville, Virginia. “It’s a systemic problem, it’s always been a systemic problem. I think it’s a very small portion that have the bias, but we have to own it.”

Cannon, who is white, said the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers, which led to thousands of protests across the country this summer and conversations about race and racism, sharpened a collective focus on racial injustices. But, he said, his department was already making progress, including efforts to reduce the county’s inmate population.

And about three months ago, Cannon, 74, said he moved to avoid “flash points,” such as directing the force to issue citations rather than make arrests for possession of small amounts of marijuana.

Both candidates said they were encouraged by the surge in early voting in Charleston County. As of Thursday, about 76,000 people had voted in person, compared with 43,000 in 2016. And mail-in ballots jumped from 16,000 to 52,000, county records show.

Hoping to harness the energy at demonstrations amid a national conversation about race, organizers pushed massive voter registration drives over the summer. The Movement for Black Lives, a coalition of activist groups, hosted a series of virtual town halls and conventions focused on election issues. And local chapters of Black Lives Matter hosted Instagram live chats with candidates to weigh their positions on issues of race and policing.

Rock the Vote, a nonprofit organization aimed at registering young voters, said its platform had surpassed 2 million registered voters this year, up from 1.7 million in 2016. Since Floyd’s death, Voto Latino, a nonprofit political organization, registered 451,976 voters across the country.

“Following the murder of George Floyd, we saw an explosion in voter registrations,” said Danny Turkel, communications manager of Voto Latino, noting that the organization registered 97,000 voters in June alone. He said a July poll showed that three-quarters of Latinos surveyed supported the Black Lives Matter movement and 64% said police reform was among their top reasons to vote.

But there is a racial divide over the importance of race in this election season.

In a Pew Research Center survey that interviewed 7,485 registered voters in July and August, at the height of the unrest and the nation’s reckoning over systemic racism, 85% of Black and 66% of Hispanic respondents viewed “race and ethnic inequality” as very important to their vote, compared with 43% of white voters.

Still, a growing number of Black and Latino voters support President Donald Trump, despite his refusal to denounce white nationalism and his calls for “law and order” in the wake of some protests that turned violent. A large national poll released on Thursday showed the president winning 9% of Black voters this year, up from 8% in 2016, and 35% of Latino voters, up from 29%.

“The stakes, I will say, have never been higher,” said Martin Luther King III, the son of the famed civil rights leader. “I think the vast majority of Black Americans — and really Americans — believe that we’ve got to address the issue of race, systematic racism.”

In Louisville, Kentucky, where a protest movement galvanized by the police killing of 26-year-old Breonna Taylor has persisted for 150 days, the focus has been on changing the makeup of the Louisville Metro Council, which has the power to change police policy and, in June, passed a bill known as Breonna’s Law that banned no-knock warrants.

“Folks are paying attention to that and they’re connecting it to their ballots, and that is vitally important,” Attica Scott, a Kentucky state representative, said. “Until folks really understand how local and state and federal government work, they won’t necessarily be the kind of informed voters who can create this change.”

Last year, the office of Bo Duhé, the district attorney for Louisiana’s 16th Judicial Circuit, made an unusual motion to have Lori Landry, the first Black female judge in the district, removed from more than 300 cases. Duhé’s office argued that Landry was biased against prosecutors, in part because she accused them of racial bias in their treatment of defendants.

Now Landry, who left the bench in July, is challenging Duhé in his reelection bid.

She has centered her campaign on the racial disparities she complained about from the bench, and she said the national conversation on race has only highlighted injustices that have left her more worried than when she was growing up.

“I was never afraid for the safety of my brothers like I’m afraid for the safety of my 21- and 28-year-old nephews,” Landry, 57, said. “It has shaped me as a person. But it also has pushed me in a race that I might not otherwise be in.”

Duhé, who is white, did not respond to calls and emails seeking comment. But in interviews with other news outlets he has stressed the need to protect victims and provide alternatives to incarceration for defendants.

For some Black residents of the 16th circuit, which includes Iberia, St. Mary and St. Martin Parishes, the district attorney’s race has been a rallying cry for change in a criminal justice system that they have long felt was stacked against them.

Many still feel the sting of the tenure of Louis Ackal, the former Iberia Parish sheriff whose deputies accused him of brutal, racist acts and who was acquitted on charges of federal civil rights abuses. And many local residents see the district attorney’s office, which has always been led by white men, as upholding a system that has made Louisiana among the states with the highest incarceration rates, with Black men and boys nine times more likely to be locked up before trial than their white counterparts.

Robby Carrier-Bethel, a community activist in New Iberia, said a lot of new young people are engaging in the political process this year, helping with door-to-door canvassing, phone banking and social media outreach for Landry. There are some indications that the efforts are moving Black voters toward the polls. Black voter registration is slightly up this year in the 16th circuit compared with four years ago, while registration among white voters has fallen.

Carrier-Bethel, 60, said the urgency of this election lay in her concern that hard-won racial advancements of generations past could be lost.

“Realizing that actually makes you stop and pause,” she said. “You understand fully what’s at stake and that you have to be the protector of those rights.”

A veteran law enforcement officer in Charleston, South Carolina, campaigning to unseat her boss has vowed to root out racial bias in the 900-member Sheriff’s Department and rebuild trust in the Black community.

A veteran law enforcement officer in Charleston, South Carolina, campaigning to unseat her boss has vowed to root out racial bias in the 900-member Sheriff’s Department and rebuild trust in the Black community. A former judge in Iberia Parish, Louisiana, who is running for district attorney, has promised to change how prosecutors make charging, plea and bail decisions. And in Hamilton County, Ohio, the race for the top prosecutor pits a Republican incumbent running on a “tough-on-crime” platform against a Democrat and former judge who is pushing to eliminate cash bail for nonviolent offenses and create a conviction integrity unit. While the coronavirus and battered economy have overtaken issues of race as the focal points in presidential and congressional campaigns, despite the disproportionate impact of both on communities of color, systemic racism and police reform have emerged as dominant themes in a number of local elections. In states across America, from California to Kentucky to New York, many voters said they saw the races for sheriffs, prosecutors and council representatives as having more consequence to their lives. In South Carolina, Kristin Graziano, a 32-year police veteran, is challenging Sheriff Al Cannon, who has held the Charleston County post since 1988. Graziano, a Democrat, said she had been thinking about race and policing for years, particularly after the death of Walter Scott, a Black man who was killed by a white North Charleston police officer in 2015. Graziano, 53, has centered much of her candidacy on issues of accountability and diversifying the department, which covers a county that is almost one-third Black. If elected, Graziano, who is white, would be the first woman to serve as a sheriff in the state. “When unarmed men get shot in the back running away from police and when people get choked out in handcuffs, obviously those are not right,” said Graziano, who began her law enforcement career in Charlottesville, Virginia. “It’s a systemic problem, it’s always been a systemic problem. I think it’s a very small portion that have the bias, but we have to own it.” Cannon, who is white, said the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers, which led to thousands of protests across the country this summer and conversations about race and racism, sharpened a collective focus on racial injustices. But, he said, his department was already making progress, including efforts to reduce the county’s inmate population. And about three months ago, Cannon, 74, said he moved to avoid “flash points,” such as directing the force to issue citations rather than make arrests for possession of small amounts of marijuana. Both candidates said they were encouraged by the surge in early voting in Charleston County. As of Thursday, about 76,000 people had voted in person, compared with 43,000 in 2016. And mail-in ballots jumped from 16,000 to 52,000, county records show. Hoping to harness the energy at demonstrations amid a national conversation about race, organizers pushed massive voter registration drives over the summer. The Movement for Black Lives, a coalition of activist groups, hosted a series of virtual town halls and conventions focused on election issues. And local chapters of Black Lives Matter hosted Instagram live chats with candidates to weigh their positions on issues of race and policing. Rock the Vote, a nonprofit organization aimed at registering young voters, said its platform had surpassed 2 million registered voters this year, up from 1.7 million in 2016. Since Floyd’s death, Voto Latino, a nonprofit political organization, registered 451,976 voters across the country. “Following the murder of George Floyd, we saw an explosion in voter registrations,” said Danny Turkel, communications manager of Voto Latino, noting that the organization registered 97,000 voters in June alone. He said a July poll showed that three-quarters of Latinos surveyed supported the Black Lives Matter movement and 64% said police reform was among their top reasons to vote. But there is a racial divide over the importance of race in this election season. In a Pew Research Center survey that interviewed 7,485 registered voters in July and August, at the height of the unrest and the nation’s reckoning over systemic racism, 85% of Black and 66% of Hispanic respondents viewed “race and ethnic inequality” as very important to their vote, compared with 43% of white voters. Still, a growing number of Black and Latino voters support President Donald Trump, despite his refusal to denounce white nationalism and his calls for “law and order” in the wake of some protests that turned violent. A large national poll released on Thursday showed the president winning 9% of Black voters this year, up from 8% in 2016, and 35% of Latino voters, up from 29%. “The stakes, I will say, have never been higher,” said Martin Luther King III, the son of the famed civil rights leader. “I think the vast majority of Black Americans — and really Americans — believe that we’ve got to address the issue of race, systematic racism.” In Louisville, Kentucky, where a protest movement galvanized by the police killing of 26-year-old Breonna Taylor has persisted for 150 days, the focus has been on changing the makeup of the Louisville Metro Council, which has the power to change police policy and, in June, passed a bill known as Breonna’s Law that banned no-knock warrants. “Folks are paying attention to that and they’re connecting it to their ballots, and that is vitally important,” Attica Scott, a Kentucky state representative, said. “Until folks really understand how local and state and federal government work, they won’t necessarily be the kind of informed voters who can create this change.” Last year, the office of Bo Duhé, the district attorney for Louisiana’s 16th Judicial Circuit, made an unusual motion to have Lori Landry, the first Black female judge in the district, removed from more than 300 cases. Duhé’s office argued that Landry was biased against prosecutors, in part because she accused them of racial bias in their treatment of defendants. Now Landry, who left the bench in July, is challenging Duhé in his reelection bid. She has centered her campaign on the racial disparities she complained about from the bench, and she said the national conversation on race has only highlighted injustices that have left her more worried than when she was growing up. “I was never afraid for the safety of my brothers like I’m afraid for the safety of my 21- and 28-year-old nephews,” Landry, 57, said. “It has shaped me as a person. But it also has pushed me in a race that I might not otherwise be in.” Duhé, who is white, did not respond to calls and emails seeking comment. But in interviews with other news outlets he has stressed the need to protect victims and provide alternatives to incarceration for defendants. For some Black residents of the 16th circuit, which includes Iberia, St. Mary and St. Martin Parishes, the district attorney’s race has been a rallying cry for change in a criminal justice system that they have long felt was stacked against them. Many still feel the sting of the tenure of Louis Ackal, the former Iberia Parish sheriff whose deputies accused him of brutal, racist acts and who was acquitted on charges of federal civil rights abuses. And many local residents see the district attorney’s office, which has always been led by white men, as upholding a system that has made Louisiana among the states with the highest incarceration rates, with Black men and boys nine times more likely to be locked up before trial than their white counterparts. Robby Carrier-Bethel, a community activist in New Iberia, said a lot of new young people are engaging in the political process this year, helping with door-to-door canvassing, phone banking and social media outreach for Landry. There are some indications that the efforts are moving Black voters toward the polls. Black voter registration is slightly up this year in the 16th circuit compared with four years ago, while registration among white voters has fallen. Carrier-Bethel, 60, said the urgency of this election lay in her concern that hard-won racial advancements of generations past could be lost. “Realizing that actually makes you stop and pause,” she said. “You understand fully what’s at stake and that you have to be the protector of those rights.”

After a summer of racial reckoning, race is on the ballot

After roiling for two days following the killing of of a black man, Philadelphia city council restricts Philadelphia Police Department. The use of pepper spray, rubber bullets & tear gas has been banned. Will the new rules calm Philadelphia down?

Philadelphia Council restricts police force | U.S. Election 2020 New York Direct

The US Election 2020 has drawn renewed attention on the demographic shifts & change in electorate composition. 2020 witnesses a growing population of first-time voters, ethnic & racial minorities. How will the demographic changes affect election results?

Surge in young & minority voters | U.S. Election 2020 New York Direct

In the historic US Election 2020 over 82 million Americans have already voted. Election night is expected to bring confusion & anxiety to voters & election officials. There is rise in the controversy of counting mail-in ballots post November 3rd. WION reports.

Will votes received post Nov 3rd be counted? | U.S. Election 2020 New York Direct

Just 4 days before election, U.S. economy reports a record growth for the third quarter of 2020. Donald Trump uses the report as a score card for his administration. But with millions still out of work & no stimulus in sight, What does this projection mean for citizens?

Trump uses economic report as score card | U.S. Election 2020 New York Direct

Geoffrey Berman was outraged. The top federal prosecutor in Manhattan, Berman had traveled to Washington in June 2019 to discuss a particularly delicate case with Attorney General William Barr and some of his top aides: a criminal investigation into Halkbank, a state-owned Turkish bank suspected of violating U.

Geoffrey Berman was outraged. The top federal prosecutor in Manhattan, Berman had traveled to Washington in June 2019 to discuss a particularly delicate case with Attorney General William Barr and some of his top aides: a criminal investigation into Halkbank, a state-owned Turkish bank suspected of violating U.S. sanctions law by funneling billions of dollars of gold and cash to Iran. For months, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey had been pressing President Donald Trump to quash the investigation, which threatened not only the bank but potentially members of Erdogan’s family and political party. When Berman sat down with Barr, he was stunned to be presented with a settlement proposal that would give Erdogan a critical concession. Barr pressed Berman to allow the bank to avoid an indictment by paying a fine and acknowledging some wrongdoing. In addition, the Justice Department would agree to end investigations and criminal cases involving Turkish and bank officials who were allied with Erdogan and suspected of participating in the sanctions-busting scheme. Berman didn’t buy it. The bank had the right to try to negotiate a settlement. But his prosecutors were still investigating key individuals, including some with ties to Erdogan, and believed the scheme had helped finance Iran’s nuclear weapons program. “This is completely wrong,” Berman later told lawyers in the Justice Department, according to people who were briefed on the proposal and his response. “You don’t grant immunity to individuals unless you are getting something from them — and we wouldn’t be here.” It was not the first time Berman, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, had fended off attempts by top Justice Department political appointees to disrupt the Halkbank investigation. Six months earlier, Matthew Whitaker, the acting attorney general who ran the department from November 2018 until Barr arrived in February 2019, rejected a request from Berman for permission to file criminal charges against the bank, two lawyers involved in the investigation said. Whitaker blocked the move shortly after Erdogan repeatedly pressed Trump in a series of conversations in November and December 2018 to resolve the Halkbank matter. The president’s apparent eagerness to please Erdogan has drawn scrutiny for years. So has the scale and intensity of the lobbying effort by Turkey on issues like its demand for the extradition of one of Erdogan’s political rivals, a Turkish religious leader living in self-imposed exile in the United States. Erdogan had a big political stake in the outcome because the case had become a major embarrassment for him in Turkey. At the White House, Trump’s handling of the matter became troubling even to some senior officials at the time. The president was discussing an active criminal case with the authoritarian leader of a nation in which Trump does business; he reported receiving at least $2.6 million in net income from operations in Turkey from 2015 through 2018, according to tax records obtained by The New York Times. And Trump’s sympathetic response to Erdogan was especially jarring because it involved accusations that the bank had undercut Trump’s policy of economically isolating Iran, a centerpiece of his Middle East plan. Former White House officials said they came to fear that the president was open to swaying the criminal justice system to advance a transactional and ill-defined agenda of his own. “He would interfere in the regular government process to do something for a foreign leader,” John Bolton, Trump’s former national security adviser, said in a recent interview. “In anticipation of what? In anticipation of another favor from that person down the road.” In the case of Halkbank, it was only after an intense foreign policy clash between Trump and Erdogan over Syria last fall that the United States would proceed to lodge charges against the bank, though not against any additional individuals. Yet the administration’s bitterness over Berman’s unwillingness to go along with Barr’s proposal would linger and ultimately contribute to Berman’s dismissal. The Justice Department initially declined to comment, but after this article was published online, a department spokesperson, Kerri Kupec, provided a statement emphasizing that Barr had backed the decision last fall to indict the bank. “The attorney general instructed SDNY to move ahead with charges and approved the charges brought,” she said, referring to the federal prosecutors in Manhattan. This account is based on interviews with more than two dozen current and former Turkish and U.S. government officials, lobbyists and lawyers with direct knowledge of the interactions. Representatives for the Turkish government, Halkbank, and the White House declined to comment. Turkey had mounted an elaborate influence campaign in Washington to deal with Halkbank. It predated Trump’s election but came to encompass a broad cast of players, including Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor; Michael Flynn, Trump’s first national security adviser; and Brian Ballard, a lobbyist and fundraiser for the president. After senior Turkish government officials lobbied Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Trump, Mnuchin pressed the Justice Department not to impose too large a fine on Halkbank because Turkey could not afford it, two federal officials said. Mnuchin’s office declined to comment on Halkbank but added that the Treasury and Justice Departments “routinely consult and coordinate” on sanctions cases and fines. Bolton and others said they could not fully explain why Trump seemed so determined to please Erdogan. “This was a relationship that was really important for the United States to handle,” said Fiona Hill, who oversaw policy on Turkey and Europe for the National Security Council under Trump. “And at every turn, the president kept leaping in, and he wasn’t following the strategic threads of the relationship.” The Halkbank Campaign Turkey’s lobbying campaign had started before Trump took office. During a one-day visit to the country in August 2016 by Vice President Joe Biden, the Turkish president pulled Biden aside under a tree for a private conversation, according to an aide to the vice president on the trip. The investigation of Halkbank, Erdogan claimed, was a “big conspiracy” instigated by his rival Fethullah Gulen, a charismatic Muslim cleric. Gulen left Turkey in the late 1990s and moved to Pennsylvania where, in Erdogan’s telling, he plotted an unsuccessful coup attempt just a month earlier, according to a summary of the conversation provided to the Times by the Biden aide. Erdogan asked Biden to remove Preet Bharara, then the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. That office was in the early stages of an investigation into Halkbank and had already indicted a Turkish Iranian gold trader, Reza Zarrab, for helping to orchestrate the sanctions evasion scheme. Erdogan also wanted the Obama administration to remove the judge overseeing Zarrab’s case in Manhattan, the Biden aide said. And he wanted Zarrab released and allowed to return to Turkey. According to the Biden aide’s account, Erdogan said that if the United States really meant what it said about repairing relations, the case needed to go away. Speaking to reporters before he left Turkey, Biden made clear that there were limits to what the United States could or should do to address Erdogan’s requests, including any effort to extradite Gulen. “If the president were to take this into his own hands, what would happen would be, he would be impeached for violating the separation of powers,” Biden said, with Erdogan at his side. The Turkish president did not give up. He again raised Halkbank with Biden during a visit to New York for the United Nations General Assembly and then twice in calls with President Barack Obama in the weeks before he left office in January 2017, aides to Obama and Biden said. In an interview, Bharara said he never heard questions about the Halkbank investigation from anyone at the Obama White House or the attorney general’s office. Trump’s election brought an immediate shift in Turkey’s outreach effort. The Trump family had helped build Trump Towers Istanbul, a successful residential and retail complex that attracted Erdogan to its ribbon-cutting in 2012. “I’ve gotten to know Turkey very well,” Trump said in 2015. “They’re amazing people. They’re incredible people. They have a strong leader.” In Turkey, there was confidence that Erdogan’s agenda would now win attention and support at the highest levels of the U.S. administration. Records show that the bank and the Turkish government paid Ballard’s lobbying firm $4.6 million over two years for work on Halkbank and other matters, including meetings and phone calls with the vice president’s office, the State Department, members of Congress and Jay Sekulow, one of Trump’s personal lawyers. Ballard’s team argued that the Halkbank case was a foreign policy matter and that the need to maintain close relations with Turkey, a NATO member, had to be taken into account. But the investigation by the federal prosecutors in Manhattan ground ahead. By early 2018, it had led to the indictments of nine defendants, including Turkey’s former economy minister and three Halkbank officials, on charges such as bank fraud and money laundering related to the sanctions evasion scheme. One defendant, Mehmet Hakan Atilla, the bank’s deputy general manager for international banking, was tried and, in January 2018, convicted. Zarrab, the gold trader, had pleaded guilty and testified about how the scheme had relied on false documents and front companies and how he had paid millions of dollars in bribes to the economy minister and Halkbank’s general manager. He also testified that the operation had Erdogan’s knowledge and approval as well as that of Erdogan’s son-in-law, Berat Albayrak, who now serves as Turkey’s finance minister. When Berman was appointed U.S. attorney in January 2018, prosecutors were turning their focus to the bank itself and the possibility of charging others involved in the scheme. Halkbank’s lawyers held repeated talks in 2018 with Berman’s office over whether a “global settlement” could be reached. But the two sides were far apart, according to people briefed on the meetings. The prosecutors said they were prepared to allow the bank to avoid indictment if it agreed to pay a heavy fine, reform its operations and make a series of admissions about its conduct, the people who were briefed said. But the bank’s lawyers argued that Halkbank and its executives had done nothing wrong, that they had been deceived by Zarrab and that his testimony was untrue. They said the bank would not make the required admissions. There were indications by then that Turkey’s arguments were being heard in Washington. At the Treasury Department, Mnuchin considered the violations Halkbank had been accused of to be serious — and he believed the U.S. government was right to demand that the bank admit wrongdoing, according to one White House official involved in the negotiations. But Mnuchin raised concerns about how large a fine might be imposed on Halkbank. French banking giant Société Générale agreed that same year to pay U.S. authorities more than $2 billion to resolve charges that it had violated U.S. sanctions against Cuba and bribed officials in Libya, among other accusations. A fine on that scale would threaten the future of Halkbank, lobbyists and lawyers for the bank argued, as did top Turkish officials in conversations with members of the Trump administration. One direct appeal to Mnuchin came from Albayrak, Erdogan’s son-in-law. In 2018, Mnuchin reached out about the scale of a potential fine to Jeff Sessions, the attorney general at the time. Justice Department officials then asked Southern District prosecutors whether the size of the fine they were demanding was negotiable, one lawyer involved in the effort said. The response was affirmative: The amount was less important than securing an admission of wrongdoing. “We need an admission of liability” was the message the Manhattan prosecutors sent back to Washington, according to two lawyers involved in the matter. ‘Well, It Looks Convincing to Me’ On the second day of a trip to Buenos Aires, Argentina, in late 2018 for the annual Group of 20 gathering of world leaders, Trump met with Erdogan for talks intended to be focused on issues like continued tensions over Islamic State group operations in Syria. But the conversation quickly went off course. Erdogan made clear that he was frustrated with the continued pestering by Southern District prosecutors concerning Halkbank, and he wanted Trump to intervene to help wrap up the investigation, Bolton said in the interview. Erdogan handed Trump a copy of a memo written by Halkbank’s lawyers explaining why Turkey believed the Justice Department had misconstrued U.S. sanctions law. It argued that Halkbank’s trading with Iran was not illegal because it was largely based on trades of gold and food that were not in dollars and did not involve U.S. banks. Trump flipped through the memo quickly, Bolton said. “Well, it looks convincing to me,” Trump said, according to Bolton, who also recounted the meeting in his recent book. By Bolton’s account, Trump also told Erdogan that he wanted to replace the prosecutors in Berman’s office in Manhattan, whom Trump considered to be holdovers from the Obama era. Two weeks later, in mid-December 2018, Trump and Erdogan spoke by phone. The president began by assuring Erdogan that the government and Halkbank were close to a resolution, and Erdogan expressed his appreciation, according to Bolton. In Turkey around this time, Erdogan told reporters that Trump, in an earlier conversation about Halkbank, had assured him that Trump “would instruct the relevant ministers immediately” to take care of the matter. Bolton said in the interview that his concern, as he listened to these conversations, was that Turkey and Halkbank now “had a direct channel in the Oval Office — they weren’t going to negotiate in good faith” with the prosecutors. “Why should they?” The prosecutors in Manhattan had just drafted a memo for Whitaker and Rod Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general, detailing why the Justice Department should give them the authority to file criminal charges against the bank, two lawyers said. Rosenstein was convinced that the evidence was compelling, perhaps even more so than in other sanctions evasion cases in which the United States had charged banks, lawyers familiar with the investigation said. The memo from the prosecutors also noted that the actions Halkbank was accused of taking were helping to support Iran’s economy, which was antithetical to Trump’s foreign policy goal of tightening economic pressure on the country. Rosenstein urged Berman to come to Washington to present the Southern District’s argument to Whitaker. The goal was not to file charges immediately against the bank. Instead, the plan was to give the Southern District more leverage to squeeze Halkbank to accept a deferred prosecution agreement that included an admission of wrongdoing. But Whitaker, who declined requests for comment, had a long-standing disdain for the Southern District, which has been called the Sovereign District for the way it guards its independence from Washington. In a book published this year, Whitaker wrote that the Southern District always “dreamed up new ways to torment President Trump throughout my tenure at the Department of Justice.” Berman arrived at the Justice Department headquarters and reported to Rosenstein’s office. But shortly before the meeting was to begin, Rosenstein was summoned to Whitaker’s office without Berman. Whitaker told Rosenstein that he did not want the case to move forward and that he wanted the matter shut down, according to lawyers involved in the investigation. Whitaker cited concern that charges against the bank might result in a threat to U.S. forces in Syria, a suggestion that others in the department said they found hard to understand. Justice Department officials decided to ignore Whitaker’s edict, concluding that they most likely would outlast Whitaker in the department, since he was serving on an acting basis. They did not see appeasing Erdogan as sufficient justification for closing the investigation. ‘This Is Not How We Do Things at the Southern District’ Barr was confirmed as the new attorney general in mid-February 2019, a few months after Whitaker had pushed to end the case. The prosecutors in Manhattan were encouraged that they might now get the charging authority they wanted. But Erdogan and his top advisers continued to lobby Trump and members of his Cabinet, including Mnuchin and now Barr. In mid-June 2019, when Berman met with Barr in Washington, the attorney general pushed Berman to agree to allow the Justice Department to drop charges against the defendants and terminate investigations of other suspected conspirators, according to a former department lawyer familiar with the session. Among the defendants with charges pending were Halkbank’s former general manager, Suleyman Aslan, and Turkey’s former economy minister, Mehmet Zafer Caglayan. The suggestion that the Justice Department would offer Turkish officials protection from criminal charges, even without their agreement to assist in the investigation, was unacceptable and unethical, Berman argued, according to lawyers close to the investigation. Justice Department policy specifically says that criminal conduct by individuals is not resolved when a company admits wrongdoing. “This is not how we do things at the Southern District,” Berman told Barr, adding that he would not agree to such a move and that his office would not be part of it. In the interview with the Times, Bolton said he did not know the details of Barr’s intervention in the Halkbank negotiations. But he said he was disturbed by the tenor of the interaction between Trump and Erdogan related to Halkbank. “It was so idiosyncratic, so personal to Trump in the pursuit of personal relationships, that it was very dangerous,” Bolton said. “And it does look like obstruction of justice.” Just how idiosyncratic became more apparent last October, when Erdogan sent troops into Syria. Trump, who had initially given Erdogan the green light to do so, then faced an intense bipartisan backlash, leading him within days to take a tougher line with Turkey, threatening economic reprisals. “You don’t want to be responsible for slaughtering thousands of people, and I don’t want to be responsible for destroying the Turkish economy — and I will,” Trump wrote to the Turkish leader Oct. 9, 2019, without elaborating. On Oct. 15, the Justice Department gave the prosecutors in Manhattan approval to file charges against Halkbank, a direct slap at Erdogan. The prosecutors rushed to present evidence before a grand jury and secured a six-count indictment that same day charging Halkbank with money laundering, bank fraud and conspiracy to violate the Iran sanctions. So far, no additional individuals have been charged. When the charges against the bank were announced, Berman said in a statement that the “bank’s audacious conduct was supported and protected by high-ranking Turkish government officials, some of whom received millions of dollars in bribes to promote and protect the scheme.” In June, eight months after the indictment was returned, Trump fired Berman. Justice Department officials cited his handling of the Halkbank matter, including his blocking of the proposed global settlement, as a key reason for his removal.

Turkish bank case showed Erdogan’s influence with Donald Trump

A week before Election Day, living statues depicting a golden President Donald Trump in unflattering poses were on temporary display at the Lincoln Memorial and Trump International Hotel.

Living statues paint Trump as racist 'relic'

On the roof of his house overlooking the sea in northeast Scotland, David Milne stands below a Mexican flag and stares down at a palatial golf clubhouse owned by Donald Trump.

Milne has been a major opponent of the development ever since the US president began building the Trump International Golf Links near the village of Balmedie in 2006.

But he is now scratching his head in disbelief that the local Aberdeenshire Council has given the go ahead for a second course beside the sand dunes just a few miles away.

"There's no justification for this golf course," he told AFP.

"The first course that's here is losing money. It's never turned a profit since it opened its doors. It's done nothing but damage to this area.

"So, why do you want to build a second one and destroy more landscape?"

Milne said the surrounding countryside and its coastal paths used to be visited by throngs of tourists and bird-watchers.

But tramping through the dunes off the windswept beach is nearly impossible now, as the course has been blocked off with wire fencing.

- Loss-making -

Trump International Golf Links is one of three golf resorts the outspoken US tycoon-turned-politician and his family own in Europe.

One is in Ireland while the two others -- Turnberry and Trump International -- are in Scotland, the ancestral home of his mother, Mary, who came from the northwest Isle of Lewis.

Trump bought the 1,400 acres (567 hectares) of land north of the city of Aberdeen in 2006, and in characteristic style pledged to build "the world's best golf course".

He promised to create 6,000 jobs and invest £1 billion ($1.3 billion, 1.1 billion euros).

The links opened in 2012 but in October last year, Trump International Golf Club Scotland reported a loss of £1.07 million for 2018 after a £1.25 million loss in 2017.

The two courses employed around 650 temporary and permanent staff in 2018.

Milne says Trump offered him $260,000, jewellery and a golf club membership for his house, which is built on roughly one-fifth of an acre of land bordering the course.

But he refused. In retaliation, a row of trees was planted in front of his house. Then a fence was built and Trump sent him the $3,500 bill, he added.

"The Mexican flag first went up when I first heard Donald Trump talking about the wall on the Mexican border and making the Mexicans pay for it," he said.

"That struck a chord with me because he's already tried that, right here at this site."

On a sand dune where construction for the new Trump course has been given the go ahead, local Democratic and Green Group councillor Paul Johnston is as baffled as Milne.

"The success of the other one has to be proven first and it's not exactly a success," said Johnston, who opposed the plans on environmental grounds.

"Far from it. It makes a loss every year. A lot of people around here probably do feel misled by the whole fiasco."

Not everyone is opposed, however.

Stewart Spence, the 70-year-old owner of the five-star Marcliffe Hotel in Aberdeen, a half-hour drive from Balmedie, said Trump's investment has paid dividends locally.

"The amount of business it has brought into the area obviously is enormous," he said.

"The spin-off has been for restaurants, chauffeur drivers and everything else. People will come and stay two or three nights.

"They might eat one night at my hotel and the other nights they go out to eat in restaurants."

- Flagging interest -

Trump visited Scotland before his shock 2016 presidential election win, and was serenaded on his arrival at Glasgow Prestwick Airport by a spoof Mariachi band, "Juan Direction".

The musicians were also armed with a wheelbarrow full of bricks for his border wall.

Trump's chaotic four years as the president has taken its toll on his political opponents in the United States, where he is seeking a second term of office at elections next week.

In Scotland, Milne knows how they feel.

He said he has been promised a lifetime supply of Mexican flags from friends he gained there by refusing to budge.

"I put the flag up as a token of respect and solidarity with the Mexican people," he said, his voice cracking with emotion.

"I said the flag would fly as long as Donald Trump is president. Should he lose the election, the flag will come down.

"That is not a reflection on the Mexican people. It's just no longer required. They won."

On the roof of his house overlooking the sea in northeast Scotland, David Milne stands below a Mexican flag and stares down at a palatial golf clubhouse owned by Donald Trump.

On the roof of his house overlooking the sea in northeast Scotland, David Milne stands below a Mexican flag and stares down at a palatial golf clubhouse owned by Donald Trump. Milne has been a major opponent of the development ever since the US president began building the Trump International Golf Links near the village of Balmedie in 2006. But he is now scratching his head in disbelief that the local Aberdeenshire Council has given the go ahead for a second course beside the sand dunes just a few miles away. "There's no justification for this golf course," he told AFP. "The first course that's here is losing money. It's never turned a profit since it opened its doors. It's done nothing but damage to this area. "So, why do you want to build a second one and destroy more landscape?" Milne said the surrounding countryside and its coastal paths used to be visited by throngs of tourists and bird-watchers. But tramping through the dunes off the windswept beach is nearly impossible now, as the course has been blocked off with wire fencing. - Loss-making - Trump International Golf Links is one of three golf resorts the outspoken US tycoon-turned-politician and his family own in Europe. One is in Ireland while the two others -- Turnberry and Trump International -- are in Scotland, the ancestral home of his mother, Mary, who came from the northwest Isle of Lewis. Trump bought the 1,400 acres (567 hectares) of land north of the city of Aberdeen in 2006, and in characteristic style pledged to build "the world's best golf course". He promised to create 6,000 jobs and invest £1 billion ($1.3 billion, 1.1 billion euros). The links opened in 2012 but in October last year, Trump International Golf Club Scotland reported a loss of £1.07 million for 2018 after a £1.25 million loss in 2017. The two courses employed around 650 temporary and permanent staff in 2018. Milne says Trump offered him $260,000, jewellery and a golf club membership for his house, which is built on roughly one-fifth of an acre of land bordering the course. But he refused. In retaliation, a row of trees was planted in front of his house. Then a fence was built and Trump sent him the $3,500 bill, he added. "The Mexican flag first went up when I first heard Donald Trump talking about the wall on the Mexican border and making the Mexicans pay for it," he said. "That struck a chord with me because he's already tried that, right here at this site." On a sand dune where construction for the new Trump course has been given the go ahead, local Democratic and Green Group councillor Paul Johnston is as baffled as Milne. "The success of the other one has to be proven first and it's not exactly a success," said Johnston, who opposed the plans on environmental grounds. "Far from it. It makes a loss every year. A lot of people around here probably do feel misled by the whole fiasco." Not everyone is opposed, however. Stewart Spence, the 70-year-old owner of the five-star Marcliffe Hotel in Aberdeen, a half-hour drive from Balmedie, said Trump's investment has paid dividends locally. "The amount of business it has brought into the area obviously is enormous," he said. "The spin-off has been for restaurants, chauffeur drivers and everything else. People will come and stay two or three nights. "They might eat one night at my hotel and the other nights they go out to eat in restaurants." - Flagging interest - Trump visited Scotland before his shock 2016 presidential election win, and was serenaded on his arrival at Glasgow Prestwick Airport by a spoof Mariachi band, "Juan Direction". The musicians were also armed with a wheelbarrow full of bricks for his border wall. Trump's chaotic four years as the president has taken its toll on his political opponents in the United States, where he is seeking a second term of office at elections next week. In Scotland, Milne knows how they feel. He said he has been promised a lifetime supply of Mexican flags from friends he gained there by refusing to budge. "I put the flag up as a token of respect and solidarity with the Mexican people," he said, his voice cracking with emotion. "I said the flag would fly as long as Donald Trump is president. Should he lose the election, the flag will come down. "That is not a reflection on the Mexican people. It's just no longer required. They won."

Locals teed off about new Trump golf course in Scotland

In a recent press release from the&nbsp;Office of Science and Technology Policy, the office applauded the current US President&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;for ending the novel coronavirus in the country which has now recorded more than <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-records-more-than-90000-coronavirus-cases-in-24-hours-338894">90,000 cases</a> within 24 hours.

The press release applauded the Trump administration for taking&nbsp;“decisive actions to engage scientists and health professionals in academia, industry, and government to understand, treat, and defeat the disease.”

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-elections-2020-over-78-million-votes-cast-texas-california-lead-turnout-338843">Also read|&nbsp;US elections 2020: Over 78 million votes cast; Texas, California lead turnout</a>

However, the White House has now backtracked and claimed that the statement was "poorly worded". As per the clarification, the office wanted to convey ending the coronavirus pandemic as one of the&nbsp;main goals of the administration, rather than listing it as an achieved accomplishment.

The clarification came from the&nbsp;White House Communications director Alyssa Farah during an interview with the American news channel Fox News. Calling it a poorly worded statement, she said, "The intent was to say that it is our goal to end the virus."

The said press release was published on Tuesday and also had a 62-pages long report which had technological and scientific accomplishments that the US has achieved under the presidency of Donald Trump. "From the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the administration has taken decisive actions to engage scientists and health professionals in academia, industry, and government to understand, treat, and defeat the disease," the report states.

The press release was mocked and criticised with many pointing&nbsp;out that the President himself was infected with the deadly virus and had to be rushed to the military hospital. The statement from the White House came a few hours before the US recorded&nbsp;91,295 new infections within the last 24 hours.

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Handling of the coronavirus has been a top topic of the heated debate and election rallies with&nbsp;the&nbsp;Democrat candidate and former Vice President&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;blaming Trump for mishandling the virus and promising to tackle the pandemic from the first day of his presidency.&nbsp;"Even if I win it's going to take a lot of hard work to end this pandemic," he said in Wilmington.

"I'm not running on a false promise of being able to end this pandemic by flipping a switch," he added. "But what I can promise you is this: we'll start on Day 1 by doing the right thing. We'll let science guide our decisions."

This recent surge in the cases on Thursday has taken the total tally to 8.94 million cases, which is still the highest number of recorded cases in the world.&nbsp;

In a recent press release from the Office of Science and Technology Policy, the office applauded the current US President Donald Trump for ending the novel coronavirus in the country which has now recorded more than 90,000 cases within 24 hours.

In a recent press release from the Office of Science and Technology Policy, the office applauded the current US President Donald Trump for ending the novel coronavirus in the country which has now recorded more than 90,000 cases within 24 hours. The press release applauded the Trump administration for taking “decisive actions to engage scientists and health professionals in academia, industry, and government to understand, treat, and defeat the disease.” Also read| US elections 2020: Over 78 million votes cast; Texas, California lead turnout However, the White House has now backtracked and claimed that the statement was "poorly worded". As per the clarification, the office wanted to convey ending the coronavirus pandemic as one of the main goals of the administration, rather than listing it as an achieved accomplishment. The clarification came from the White House Communications director Alyssa Farah during an interview with the American news channel Fox News. Calling it a poorly worded statement, she said, "The intent was to say that it is our goal to end the virus." The said press release was published on Tuesday and also had a 62-pages long report which had technological and scientific accomplishments that the US has achieved under the presidency of Donald Trump. "From the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the administration has taken decisive actions to engage scientists and health professionals in academia, industry, and government to understand, treat, and defeat the disease," the report states. The press release was mocked and criticised with many pointing out that the President himself was infected with the deadly virus and had to be rushed to the military hospital. The statement from the White House came a few hours before the US recorded 91,295 new infections within the last 24 hours. × Handling of the coronavirus has been a top topic of the heated debate and election rallies with the Democrat candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden blaming Trump for mishandling the virus and promising to tackle the pandemic from the first day of his presidency. "Even if I win it's going to take a lot of hard work to end this pandemic," he said in Wilmington. "I'm not running on a false promise of being able to end this pandemic by flipping a switch," he added. "But what I can promise you is this: we'll start on Day 1 by doing the right thing. We'll let science guide our decisions." This recent surge in the cases on Thursday has taken the total tally to 8.94 million cases, which is still the highest number of recorded cases in the world.

White House backtracks on listing 'ending coronavirus' as Donald Trump's achievement

With four days to go for the US election 2020, President&nbsp;Donald Trump has been dumped by a very famous wax&nbsp;museum called&nbsp;Madame Tussauds.

The waxwork museum Madame Tussauds in Berlin loaded its effigy of TV star-turned Republican presidential candidate into a dumpster on Friday, a move apparently intended to reflect its expectations of next Tuesday's presidential&nbsp;election.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2020-president-donald-trumps-wildest-prediction-till-date-338554" hreflang="en">US election 2020: President Donald Trump's wildest prediction till date</a>

In what seemed a further calculated insult, the statue of his predecessor and nemesis Barack Obama, who counted Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel among his closest allies, remained in place, beaming and besuited.

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"Today's activity is rather of a symbolic character ahead of the&nbsp;elections in the United States," said the museum's marketing manager Orkide Yalcindag. "We here at Madame Tussauds Berlin removed Donald Trump's waxwork as a preparatory measure."

Trump has trailed his Democratic challenger Joe Biden in national opinion polls for months, partly because of widespread disapproval of his handling of the coronavirus&nbsp;pandemic sweeping Europe and the United States, though recent polls have shown him gaining ground in a handful of key states.

Madame Tussauds's display also includes former US&nbsp;presidents: regardless of the outcome, Trump and his dumpster are likely to be wheeled back before long.

With four days to go for the US election 2020, President Donald Trump has been dumped by a very famous wax museum called Madame Tussauds. The waxwork museum Madame Tussauds in Berlin loaded its effigy of TV star-turned Republican presidential candidate into a dumpster on Friday, a move apparently intended to reflect its expectations of next Tuesday's presidential election.

With four days to go for the US election 2020, President Donald Trump has been dumped by a very famous wax museum called Madame Tussauds. The waxwork museum Madame Tussauds in Berlin loaded its effigy of TV star-turned Republican presidential candidate into a dumpster on Friday, a move apparently intended to reflect its expectations of next Tuesday's presidential election. Also read| US election 2020: President Donald Trump's wildest prediction till date In what seemed a further calculated insult, the statue of his predecessor and nemesis Barack Obama, who counted Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel among his closest allies, remained in place, beaming and besuited. "Today's activity is rather of a symbolic character ahead of the elections in the United States," said the museum's marketing manager Orkide Yalcindag. "We here at Madame Tussauds Berlin removed Donald Trump's waxwork as a preparatory measure." Trump has trailed his Democratic challenger Joe Biden in national opinion polls for months, partly because of widespread disapproval of his handling of the coronavirus pandemic sweeping Europe and the United States, though recent polls have shown him gaining ground in a handful of key states. Madame Tussauds's display also includes former US presidents: regardless of the outcome, Trump and his dumpster are likely to be wheeled back before long.

This Madame Tussauds museum dumped US President Donald Trump before the election

Less a week is left for the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/us-election">US Election 2020</a>, and the two leaders —&nbsp;the&nbsp;Democrat candidate and former Vice President&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;the Republican candidate and current President&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;— have started the last leg of their election campaigns.

The two leaders are taking direct hits at each other now, with the opinions polls showing&nbsp;Joe Biden&nbsp;in lead for now, with several experts now predicting an unexpected result at the end of the elections.

While&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;is attacking&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;for downplaying and mishandling the coronavirus pandemic,&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;has painted a rather grim picture of&nbsp;Biden's&nbsp;American infront of his own supporters.

In an election rally in&nbsp;Goodyear, Arizona on Wednesday,&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;told his supporters that if the country elects&nbsp;Joe Biden as their next president, the Americans will have to bid farewell to Christmas and Thanksgiving — few of the most important festivals of the Americans. "If you vote for Biden, it means no kids in school, no graduations, no weddings, no Thanksgiving, no Christmas and no Fourth of July together,” he said.

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“He'll bury you in regulations, dismantle your police departments, dissolve our borders, confiscate your guns, terminate religious liberty, destroy your suburbs," Trump said.

Biden&nbsp;has often blamed&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;for reopening the economy way faster, causing more damage to human lives.&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;also took a hit at&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;for this calling these elections a choice between "a TRUMP BOOM or a BIDEN LOCKDOWN. Its a choice between our plan to Kill the virus or Bidens plan to kill the American Dream!"

Experts believe that this is&nbsp;Trump's&nbsp;way of attacking the emotional side of the voters, while&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;is still playing with the logical and practical side of the election campaigning.

The statements came while Joe Biden&nbsp;was holding small and socially-distanced public gatherings with the voters who had cast their ballot either by mail-in and/or voted early.&nbsp;Biden, too, with his wife Jill Biden, cast an early ballot in Wilimington on Wednesday. He also met with few health experts to discuss coronvirus relief strategy, while&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;was painting a grim winter picture for the Americans.

Less a week is left for the US Election 2020, and the two leaders — the Democrat candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden and the Republican candidate and current President Donald Trump — have started the last leg of their election campaigns.

Less a week is left for the US Election 2020, and the two leaders — the Democrat candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden and the Republican candidate and current President Donald Trump — have started the last leg of their election campaigns. The two leaders are taking direct hits at each other now, with the opinions polls showing Joe Biden in lead for now, with several experts now predicting an unexpected result at the end of the elections. While Biden is attacking Trump for downplaying and mishandling the coronavirus pandemic, Trump has painted a rather grim picture of Biden's American infront of his own supporters. In an election rally in Goodyear, Arizona on Wednesday, Trump told his supporters that if the country elects Joe Biden as their next president, the Americans will have to bid farewell to Christmas and Thanksgiving — few of the most important festivals of the Americans. "If you vote for Biden, it means no kids in school, no graduations, no weddings, no Thanksgiving, no Christmas and no Fourth of July together,” he said. × “He'll bury you in regulations, dismantle your police departments, dissolve our borders, confiscate your guns, terminate religious liberty, destroy your suburbs," Trump said. Biden has often blamed Trump for reopening the economy way faster, causing more damage to human lives. Trump also took a hit at Biden for this calling these elections a choice between "a TRUMP BOOM or a BIDEN LOCKDOWN. Its a choice between our plan to Kill the virus or Bidens plan to kill the American Dream!" Experts believe that this is Trump's way of attacking the emotional side of the voters, while Biden is still playing with the logical and practical side of the election campaigning. The statements came while Joe Biden was holding small and socially-distanced public gatherings with the voters who had cast their ballot either by mail-in and/or voted early. Biden, too, with his wife Jill Biden, cast an early ballot in Wilimington on Wednesday. He also met with few health experts to discuss coronvirus relief strategy, while Trump was painting a grim winter picture for the Americans.

US Election 2020: Donald Trump predicts no Christmas and Thanksgiving if Joe Biden wins

With election day inching closer the opinion charts are tightening. Over 73 million Americans have already voted & the poll trends are showing a dramatic shift. With just 5 days before polls, the gap between Donald Trump & Joe Biden is closing in. WION reports.

Who is leading in battleground states? | U.S. Election 2020 New York Direct

For the most important elections in the history of America, Hollywood celebrities have started opening up about their political opinions. Some are using social media to announce their favourite candidates, while others are asking people to vote. WION reports.

Can celebrities sway election results? | U.S. Election 2020 New York Direct

The US Election 2020 is the most expensive election in the American history. The cost of this year's federal election is set to hit $14 billion mark. The 2020 presidential race has shattered all past records & campaign teams are splurging like there's no tomorrow. WION reports.

It's raining money for 2020 election campaigns | U.S. Election 2020 New York Direct

The incumbent US president, Donald Trump, and his Democratic rival Joe Biden rallied supporters on Thursday in the closely fought state of Florida. Their respective addresses at the rallies highlighted their contrasting approaches to the resurgent coronavirus pandemic.

With its 29 electoral votes, the state is a major prize in Tuesday's election. Trump's victory in Florida in 2016 was vital to his surprise election win.

Opinion polls show Biden with a significant edge nationally, but with a tighter lead in the battleground states that play a decisive role in the final result.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Wednesday showed Trump had moved into a tie with Biden in Florida, with 49% saying they would vote for Biden and 47% for the president.

Thousands of people, many of them without masks, crowded together at an outdoor event in Tampa on Thursday to hear Trump.

"Could you imagine losing to this guy? Could you imagine?" Trump said, adding he was confident of winning a second term.

Biden held "drive-in" rally in the same city -- where attendees remained in or near their cars to avoid the possible spread of the coronavirus. Supporters at the event wore masks, as required by Biden's campaign, although they did not always maintain social distancing.

Biden criticised Trump for holding what he termed a "super-spreader event" and attacked the president's repeated assertion that the country had moved past the worst days of the pandemic, despite rising cases nationwide.

"Donald Trump has waved the white flag, abandoned our families and surrendered to this virus," Biden said. "But the American people never give up; we never give in."

The pandemic that has upended life across the United States, killed more than 227,000 people and caused millions of job losses, is roaring back.

Trump has repeatedly dismissed the threat of the pandemic, saying this week his opponents and the news media would stop paying attention to it right after the election, even as leaders in Europe scramble to contain a second wave and public health experts predict a grim winter in the United States.

Officials in Gastonia, North Carolina, warned people who attended an Oct. 21 Trump rally there that two people who took part tested positive for COVID-19.

Following his own bout with COVID-19, the president has had a hectic campaign schedule, holding as many as three rallies a day in different states, while Biden has taken a more measured tack, spending two days this week close to his home base of Delaware.

In all, he plans to visit 10 states in the last days of the campaign and will host 11 rallies in the final 48 hours, a campaign official said.

Biden's own Tampa speech was cut short by a sudden downpour. He is expected to travel to Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa on Friday.

Meanwhile, more than 80 million Americans have already cast ballots in the presidential election. That surge includes more than 51 million ballots cast by mail, a long-standing practice of American elections that is surging in popularity because of the pandemic. State officials and experts have warned that it may take days or even weeks to tally them as some states have rules that forbid counting early votes before Election Day.

(with inputs)

The incumbent US president, Donald Trump, and his Democratic rival Joe Biden rallied supporters on Thursday in the closely fought state of Florida. Their respective addresses at the rallies highlighted their contrasting approaches to the resurgent coronavirus pandemic.

The incumbent US president, Donald Trump, and his Democratic rival Joe Biden rallied supporters on Thursday in the closely fought state of Florida. Their respective addresses at the rallies highlighted their contrasting approaches to the resurgent coronavirus pandemic. With its 29 electoral votes, the state is a major prize in Tuesday's election. Trump's victory in Florida in 2016 was vital to his surprise election win. Opinion polls show Biden with a significant edge nationally, but with a tighter lead in the battleground states that play a decisive role in the final result. A Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Wednesday showed Trump had moved into a tie with Biden in Florida, with 49% saying they would vote for Biden and 47% for the president. Thousands of people, many of them without masks, crowded together at an outdoor event in Tampa on Thursday to hear Trump. "Could you imagine losing to this guy? Could you imagine?" Trump said, adding he was confident of winning a second term. Biden held "drive-in" rally in the same city -- where attendees remained in or near their cars to avoid the possible spread of the coronavirus. Supporters at the event wore masks, as required by Biden's campaign, although they did not always maintain social distancing. Biden criticised Trump for holding what he termed a "super-spreader event" and attacked the president's repeated assertion that the country had moved past the worst days of the pandemic, despite rising cases nationwide. "Donald Trump has waved the white flag, abandoned our families and surrendered to this virus," Biden said. "But the American people never give up; we never give in." The pandemic that has upended life across the United States, killed more than 227,000 people and caused millions of job losses, is roaring back. Trump has repeatedly dismissed the threat of the pandemic, saying this week his opponents and the news media would stop paying attention to it right after the election, even as leaders in Europe scramble to contain a second wave and public health experts predict a grim winter in the United States. Officials in Gastonia, North Carolina, warned people who attended an Oct. 21 Trump rally there that two people who took part tested positive for COVID-19. Following his own bout with COVID-19, the president has had a hectic campaign schedule, holding as many as three rallies a day in different states, while Biden has taken a more measured tack, spending two days this week close to his home base of Delaware. In all, he plans to visit 10 states in the last days of the campaign and will host 11 rallies in the final 48 hours, a campaign official said. Biden's own Tampa speech was cut short by a sudden downpour. He is expected to travel to Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa on Friday. Meanwhile, more than 80 million Americans have already cast ballots in the presidential election. That surge includes more than 51 million ballots cast by mail, a long-standing practice of American elections that is surging in popularity because of the pandemic. State officials and experts have warned that it may take days or even weeks to tally them as some states have rules that forbid counting early votes before Election Day. (with inputs)

Trump and Biden are a stark contrast in battleground Florida

President Donald Trump and Joe Biden are holding dueling rallies on Thursday in the key battleground state of Florida

US Election 2020: Donald Trump, Joe Biden hold dueling Florida rallies

Rapper Lil Wayne had a 'great meeting' with US President Donald Trump recently.&nbsp; On Thursday, the 38-year-old rapper tweeted a photo of himself standing next to the US president.&nbsp;

"Just had a great meeting with @realdonaldtrump @potus besides what he’s done so far with criminal reform, the platinum plan is going to give the community real ownership," Wayne said. "He listened to what we had to say today and assured he will and can get it done."

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Just had a great meeting with <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realdonaldtrump</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@potus</a> besides what he’s done so far with criminal reform, the platinum plan is going to give the community real ownership. He listened to what we had to say today and assured he will and can get it done. 🤙🏾 <a href="https://t.co/Q9c5k1yMWf">pic.twitter.com/Q9c5k1yMWf</a>
— Lil Wayne WEEZY F (@LilTunechi) <a href="https://twitter.com/LilTunechi/status/1321941986174226432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Trump's proposed 'Platinum Plan' includes creating 3 million jobs for the Black community over the next four years, increasing access to capital by nearly $500 billion and strengthening Trump’s immigration policies to protect American jobs. 
 
The meeting between the rapper and the President took place at the Trump National Doral Miami resort. 
 
As a business mogul, Trump was often mentioned in hip-hop music with artists hailing his wealth in several of the songs. Lil Wayne too had mentioned Trump's wealth in few on his songs. But after Trump got elected as the President, he has been rejected by most in the hip-hop community.&nbsp; 
 
Lil Wayne had voiced his support for Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton in 2016. He hasn't clearly voiced his support form Trump so far this year.&nbsp; 
 
The rapper's meeting with the President comes days after rapper Ice Cube spoke up about his role as the advisor for the Trump administration on the proposed Platinum plan.&nbsp; 
 
Ice Cube had received intense criticism when it was revealed that he would be advising the Trump administration over the new proposed plan.&nbsp; 
 
Ice Cube, who has been a vocal critic of Trump, had released a song titled "Arrest the President" in 2018. The rapper clarified recently that he did not endorse anyone in 2020, but had spoken with both the Trump and Biden campaigns after releasing his "Contract With Black America" in July.&nbsp; 
 
"Black progress is a bipartisan issue. When we created the Contract With Black America we excepted to talk to both sides of the isle. &nbsp;Talking truth to power is part of the process,"Ice Cube tweeted.&nbsp;

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Black progress is a bipartisan issue. When we created the Contract With Black America we excepted to talk to both sides of the isle. Talking truth to power is part of the process.
— Ice Cube (@icecube) <a href="https://twitter.com/icecube/status/1316719546326278144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 15, 2020</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Rapper Lil Wayne had a 'great meeting' with US President Donald Trump recently. On Thursday, the 38-year-old rapper tweeted a photo of himself standing next to the US president.

Rapper Lil Wayne had a 'great meeting' with US President Donald Trump recently. On Thursday, the 38-year-old rapper tweeted a photo of himself standing next to the US president. "Just had a great meeting with @realdonaldtrump @potus besides what he’s done so far with criminal reform, the platinum plan is going to give the community real ownership," Wayne said. "He listened to what we had to say today and assured he will and can get it done." Just had a great meeting with @realdonaldtrump @potus besides what he’s done so far with criminal reform, the platinum plan is going to give the community real ownership. He listened to what we had to say today and assured he will and can get it done. 🤙🏾 pic.twitter.com/Q9c5k1yMWf — Lil Wayne WEEZY F (@LilTunechi) October 29, 2020 × Trump's proposed 'Platinum Plan' includes creating 3 million jobs for the Black community over the next four years, increasing access to capital by nearly $500 billion and strengthening Trump’s immigration policies to protect American jobs. The meeting between the rapper and the President took place at the Trump National Doral Miami resort. As a business mogul, Trump was often mentioned in hip-hop music with artists hailing his wealth in several of the songs. Lil Wayne too had mentioned Trump's wealth in few on his songs. But after Trump got elected as the President, he has been rejected by most in the hip-hop community. Lil Wayne had voiced his support for Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton in 2016. He hasn't clearly voiced his support form Trump so far this year. The rapper's meeting with the President comes days after rapper Ice Cube spoke up about his role as the advisor for the Trump administration on the proposed Platinum plan. Ice Cube had received intense criticism when it was revealed that he would be advising the Trump administration over the new proposed plan. Ice Cube, who has been a vocal critic of Trump, had released a song titled "Arrest the President" in 2018. The rapper clarified recently that he did not endorse anyone in 2020, but had spoken with both the Trump and Biden campaigns after releasing his "Contract With Black America" in July. "Black progress is a bipartisan issue. When we created the Contract With Black America we excepted to talk to both sides of the isle. Talking truth to power is part of the process,"Ice Cube tweeted. Black progress is a bipartisan issue. When we created the Contract With Black America we excepted to talk to both sides of the isle. Talking truth to power is part of the process. — Ice Cube (@icecube) October 15, 2020 ×

Rapper Lil Wayne meets Donald Trump, posts picture of the 'great meeting'

McALLEN, Texas — The leadership of the Department of Homeland Security gathered Thursday under the shadow of 30-foot, black-painted, steel bollards to promote the near completion of 400 miles of President Donald Trump’s border wall.

The politics of the moment, five days before the election, was lost on no one.

“The only reason we haven’t reached another crisis is because of the policies and procedures this administration put into place over the last several years, including the construction of an effective border wall system,” Chad Wolf, the acting homeland security secretary, told reporters, photographers and cameramen. “Abolishing these measures or reversing course is absolutely no way forward.”

Immigration has not been a central theme of the race between Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democratic nominee, but the future of some of the president’s hard-line policies at the border will be determined by the results.

The Homeland Security Department has been racing to deliver on Trump’s promise of 450 miles of border wall before the end of the year. The agency is still about a week away from the 400-mile marker, according to Customs and Border Protection officials, and nearly all of the construction has been in areas where dilapidated fencing or vehicle barriers already stood.

But the steel structure on the border, built without congressional approval, is something of a monument to the president’s determination. It has affected the environment, private property owners and, Homeland Security officials say, the job of border agents.

Department leaders in recent days have traversed the nation, including in battleground states, to emphasize routine arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, criticize Democrats and blast so-called sanctuary city policies. The agency has also erected billboards in Pennsylvania to warn of the dangers posed by immigrants without legal status.

All of that has amplified criticism that the department has become an arm of the Trump campaign.

“There are partisan politics behind it, not operational reasons,” said David Lapan, a former spokesman for the Homeland Security and Defense departments under Trump. “Over the time of the Trump administration, DHS has been seen as more and more politicized.”

The nonprofit government watchdog American Oversight requested that the Homeland Security Department’s inspector general investigate whether the senior leadership had violated the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees from engaging in political activities on the job.

Standing in front of a line of Border Patrol agents, Wolf dismissed the criticism and defended policies that have effectively halted migration across the southwest border, leaving families in squalid tent camps in some of the most dangerous areas in Mexico.

The Homeland Security officials also attacked the policy proposals of Biden, who has pledged to halt wall construction and end the Remain in Mexico program that has forced tens of thousands of migrants to wait in Mexico for court hearings on asylum claims.

Mark Morgan, the acting commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, said Biden’s policies would prompt a migrant “invasion,” although he acknowledged in a separate interview that most migrants who crossed the border last year were not criminals but rather Central American families fleeing poverty.

Asked in an interview whether his language could incite violence, Morgan responded defensively.

“That’s what people immediately want to go to, is that we’re being xenophobic, we’re racist, right?” he said, adding: “I have no problem saying that the overwhelming majority of those trying to illegally enter the United States are not bad people, right? But some are. So my question is, how many?”

Most illegal crossings into the United States in recent years have been in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas, but only 7 miles of the wall have been constructed in the area.

Private landowners in South Texas say the wall will cut through their properties; they have forced the Trump administration to go through the arduous process of asserting eminent domain in court. To make good on Trump’s promised 450 miles, the administration has concentrated construction in areas owned by the federal government, over terrain that already impedes border crossers.

Chief Rodney Scott of Border Patrol conceded that the Rio Grande Valley “was higher priority for the U.S. Border Patrol.” But, he added, “we elected to go ahead and shift down to a lower priority because I could make a difference there and then.”

That approach has damaged ecosystems and disrupted the migration of endangered wildlife, said Laiken Jordahl, a borderlands campaigner at the Center for Biological Diversity.

“This 400-mile celebration is not insignificant,” he said. “This is something communities and Indigenous nations across the borderlands are mourning. This marks 400 miles of destruction.”

The Trump administration has secured about $15 billion to build 731 miles of border wall, with much of the money transferred from the Defense Department and funds that had been appropriated by Congress for military construction projects and narcotics interdiction.

With the president’s deadline nearing, the government has stepped up litigation against landowners in South Texas. It has filed 106 lawsuits against landowners this year to survey, seize and potentially begin construction, an increase from 27 lawsuits filed in 2019, said Ricky Garza, a staff lawyer for the Texas Civil Rights Project. The federal government filed 22 cases in September alone.

“This is an attack on our culture, our heritage, our very identity, and that is why we are fighting,” said Melissa Cigarroa, a landowner who said the government had threatened to sue her for access to her property in Zapata County, Texas. “We feel it viscerally.”

Homeland Security officials say the border wall is critical. It has allowed the agency to funnel migration into specific areas, where they can strategically place Border Patrol agents to apprehend migrants. They say it has freed those agents to make more arrests rather than respond to families seeking protection.

This month, the agency is expected to record the highest monthly total of illegal crossings for the year, Wolf said. But the blockade on asylum came not from a wall of steel but a web of policy changes, especially the Remain in Mexico policy, which has forced more than 60,000 migrants back to Mexico to await court dates to have their asylum claims assessed.

The department has also used a public health emergency declaration to rapidly return migrants, including unaccompanied children, to Mexico or their home countries without providing chances to have their asylum claims heard.

While the department has said the rule has prevented the spread of disease in the United States, immigration lawyers say it conflicts with immigration laws that say migrants must have a chance to have their fear of persecution in their home countries heard when they step on U.S. soil.

Morgan again pushed back.

“There are times when someone’s want and need to claim asylum is superseded by something of far greater value,” he said, “and that’s lives of American citizens.”

He added that migrants were still provided the opportunity to have fear of torture assessed by an immigration officer, although that screening carries a much higher bar than screenings for persecution.

Morgan said the Mexican government had not verified reports of widespread violence against migrants in Mexico. But immigration advocacy organizations have recorded hundreds of attacks against those forced by the United States to return to Mexico, with some disseminating recordings of extortion attempts by cartels.

Morgan blamed the migrants.

“They’re intentionally leaving the sheltered environment, re-engaging the smuggling organizations, even when they’ve been told not to, to try to get illegally in the United States,” he said. “That’s when they’re exposing themselves.”

McALLEN, Texas — The leadership of the Department of Homeland Security gathered Thursday under the shadow of 30-foot, black-painted, steel bollards to promote the near completion of 400 miles of President Donald Trump’s border wall.

McALLEN, Texas — The leadership of the Department of Homeland Security gathered Thursday under the shadow of 30-foot, black-painted, steel bollards to promote the near completion of 400 miles of President Donald Trump’s border wall. The politics of the moment, five days before the election, was lost on no one. “The only reason we haven’t reached another crisis is because of the policies and procedures this administration put into place over the last several years, including the construction of an effective border wall system,” Chad Wolf, the acting homeland security secretary, told reporters, photographers and cameramen. “Abolishing these measures or reversing course is absolutely no way forward.” Immigration has not been a central theme of the race between Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democratic nominee, but the future of some of the president’s hard-line policies at the border will be determined by the results. The Homeland Security Department has been racing to deliver on Trump’s promise of 450 miles of border wall before the end of the year. The agency is still about a week away from the 400-mile marker, according to Customs and Border Protection officials, and nearly all of the construction has been in areas where dilapidated fencing or vehicle barriers already stood. But the steel structure on the border, built without congressional approval, is something of a monument to the president’s determination. It has affected the environment, private property owners and, Homeland Security officials say, the job of border agents. Department leaders in recent days have traversed the nation, including in battleground states, to emphasize routine arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, criticize Democrats and blast so-called sanctuary city policies. The agency has also erected billboards in Pennsylvania to warn of the dangers posed by immigrants without legal status. All of that has amplified criticism that the department has become an arm of the Trump campaign. “There are partisan politics behind it, not operational reasons,” said David Lapan, a former spokesman for the Homeland Security and Defense departments under Trump. “Over the time of the Trump administration, DHS has been seen as more and more politicized.” The nonprofit government watchdog American Oversight requested that the Homeland Security Department’s inspector general investigate whether the senior leadership had violated the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees from engaging in political activities on the job. Standing in front of a line of Border Patrol agents, Wolf dismissed the criticism and defended policies that have effectively halted migration across the southwest border, leaving families in squalid tent camps in some of the most dangerous areas in Mexico. The Homeland Security officials also attacked the policy proposals of Biden, who has pledged to halt wall construction and end the Remain in Mexico program that has forced tens of thousands of migrants to wait in Mexico for court hearings on asylum claims. Mark Morgan, the acting commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, said Biden’s policies would prompt a migrant “invasion,” although he acknowledged in a separate interview that most migrants who crossed the border last year were not criminals but rather Central American families fleeing poverty. Asked in an interview whether his language could incite violence, Morgan responded defensively. “That’s what people immediately want to go to, is that we’re being xenophobic, we’re racist, right?” he said, adding: “I have no problem saying that the overwhelming majority of those trying to illegally enter the United States are not bad people, right? But some are. So my question is, how many?” Most illegal crossings into the United States in recent years have been in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas, but only 7 miles of the wall have been constructed in the area. Private landowners in South Texas say the wall will cut through their properties; they have forced the Trump administration to go through the arduous process of asserting eminent domain in court. To make good on Trump’s promised 450 miles, the administration has concentrated construction in areas owned by the federal government, over terrain that already impedes border crossers. Chief Rodney Scott of Border Patrol conceded that the Rio Grande Valley “was higher priority for the U.S. Border Patrol.” But, he added, “we elected to go ahead and shift down to a lower priority because I could make a difference there and then.” That approach has damaged ecosystems and disrupted the migration of endangered wildlife, said Laiken Jordahl, a borderlands campaigner at the Center for Biological Diversity. “This 400-mile celebration is not insignificant,” he said. “This is something communities and Indigenous nations across the borderlands are mourning. This marks 400 miles of destruction.” The Trump administration has secured about $15 billion to build 731 miles of border wall, with much of the money transferred from the Defense Department and funds that had been appropriated by Congress for military construction projects and narcotics interdiction. With the president’s deadline nearing, the government has stepped up litigation against landowners in South Texas. It has filed 106 lawsuits against landowners this year to survey, seize and potentially begin construction, an increase from 27 lawsuits filed in 2019, said Ricky Garza, a staff lawyer for the Texas Civil Rights Project. The federal government filed 22 cases in September alone. “This is an attack on our culture, our heritage, our very identity, and that is why we are fighting,” said Melissa Cigarroa, a landowner who said the government had threatened to sue her for access to her property in Zapata County, Texas. “We feel it viscerally.” Homeland Security officials say the border wall is critical. It has allowed the agency to funnel migration into specific areas, where they can strategically place Border Patrol agents to apprehend migrants. They say it has freed those agents to make more arrests rather than respond to families seeking protection. This month, the agency is expected to record the highest monthly total of illegal crossings for the year, Wolf said. But the blockade on asylum came not from a wall of steel but a web of policy changes, especially the Remain in Mexico policy, which has forced more than 60,000 migrants back to Mexico to await court dates to have their asylum claims assessed. The department has also used a public health emergency declaration to rapidly return migrants, including unaccompanied children, to Mexico or their home countries without providing chances to have their asylum claims heard. While the department has said the rule has prevented the spread of disease in the United States, immigration lawyers say it conflicts with immigration laws that say migrants must have a chance to have their fear of persecution in their home countries heard when they step on U.S. soil. Morgan again pushed back. “There are times when someone’s want and need to claim asylum is superseded by something of far greater value,” he said, “and that’s lives of American citizens.” He added that migrants were still provided the opportunity to have fear of torture assessed by an immigration officer, although that screening carries a much higher bar than screenings for persecution. Morgan said the Mexican government had not verified reports of widespread violence against migrants in Mexico. But immigration advocacy organizations have recorded hundreds of attacks against those forced by the United States to return to Mexico, with some disseminating recordings of extortion attempts by cartels. Morgan blamed the migrants. “They’re intentionally leaving the sheltered environment, re-engaging the smuggling organizations, even when they’ve been told not to, to try to get illegally in the United States,” he said. “That’s when they’re exposing themselves.”

Trump's hard-line immigration policies go before voters

There is some good news for President Donald Trump, something he is going to hit home upon. U.S. economy grew at a historic pace in the third quarter but the deep scars from the COVID-19 recession could take a year or more to heal.

US economy posts record growth in third-quarter at a historic pace

Political heat is stirring up ahead of the US election in duelling campaign rallies in key election state of Florida. Rival Joe Biden & President Donald Trump pulled out all stops to appeal to the voters just days before the voting day. Watch the report to know more.

Political heat stirs up ahead of the US Election; Trump & Biden's final appeal to voters

Donald Trump and Joe Biden square off with rallies in key Midwestern states on Friday as resurgent coronavirus further highlights their sharp differences just four days before the US presidential election.

Even with the United States reaching another daily record in new Covid-19 infections on Thursday, President Trump stuck to his strategy of downplaying its dangerousness and calling for businesses to reopen.

He has also ramped up fear-mongering, warning of rampaging "socialists" and seeking to portray his Democratic challenger as intent on shutting the country down.

Biden has sought to persuade the few remaining undecided voters that he would provide a steady hand on the wheel and heal America's "soul," calling Trump irresponsible.

The former vice president has held drive-in, socially distanced rallies, while Trump's gatherings have often seen attendees ignore such guidelines and eschew masks.

The two candidates plan to be in three Midwestern states on Friday, with both campaigning in Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Trump will also travel to Michigan and Biden also plans to be in Iowa.

Trump's wins in Michigan, Wisconsin and Iowa helped propel him to victory in 2016.

But polling averages from the RealClearPolitics.com site show Biden up in all four of those states, ranging from 6.5 percentage points in Michigan to just one point in Iowa.

Still, Democrats and Republicans alike have repeatedly warned of the unreliability of polls, pointing to Trump's shock defeat of Hillary Clinton in 2016 despite surveys showing her to be the clear favorite.

- Florida rallies -

Trump and Biden are concentrating their efforts on battleground states that will decide the election in the days before the November 3 polls, and on Thursday both were in the crucial state of Florida.

Trump, 74, held another raucous rally in Tampa, telling the cheering crowd that coronavirus lockdowns under Biden would banish normal life.

"They will allow you nothing," the Republican said.

"We're never going to lock down again.... We're open for business," he said, telling supporters that his own recent bout with Covid-19 proved that it can be beaten.

"You know, the bottom line is you get better," he said.

But the pandemic, which has already taken 228,000 American lives, has shown its resilience and is undergoing a long-predicted second wave.

On Thursday more than 91,000 new US infections were recorded, according to a Johns Hopkins University tally, the highest 24-hour total since the pandemic began.

Trump however did receive good news Thursday in his argument that he is best placed to bring about an economic recovery.

New figures showed an annual growth rate of 33.1 percent in the third quarter -- a jaw-dropping statistic that reflected the economy's rebound from such a low base.

Biden, addressing a socially distanced drive-in event in Broward County, reminded supporters that of all the states there are few as important as Florida in deciding the outcome of tight elections.

Rebuffing Trump's central charge, the 77-year-old emphasized his claim that he would bring responsible leadership after months of the White House downplaying the virus' danger.

"I'm not going to shut down the economy, I'm not going to shut down the country. I'm going to shut down the virus," he said in Tampa.

While Trump mocks him for holding small campaign events, Biden said he was leading by example, instead of staging the president's "super-spreader" events.

"The heart and soul of this country is at stake," he said.

- Huge early voting -

Trump sets the pace with a frenetic schedule, but Biden's strikingly quiet campaign is also revving up.

After Florida, Trump flew to Fort Bragg in North Carolina for a meeting with troops. A planned rally in the toss-up state was postponed until Monday due to the weather, the campaign said.

Mother nature intruded on Biden's Tampa rally too, as a heavy downpour forced him to cut his remarks short.

Trump defeated Clinton in Florida in 2016 but an NBC News/Marist poll released Thursday had Biden with a 51-47 point lead there.

A stunning 81 million Americans have already cast their ballots early in the hugely consequential election.

Donald Trump and Joe Biden square off with rallies in key Midwestern states on Friday as resurgent coronavirus further highlights their sharp differences just four days before the US presidential election.

Donald Trump and Joe Biden square off with rallies in key Midwestern states on Friday as resurgent coronavirus further highlights their sharp differences just four days before the US presidential election. Even with the United States reaching another daily record in new Covid-19 infections on Thursday, President Trump stuck to his strategy of downplaying its dangerousness and calling for businesses to reopen. He has also ramped up fear-mongering, warning of rampaging "socialists" and seeking to portray his Democratic challenger as intent on shutting the country down. Biden has sought to persuade the few remaining undecided voters that he would provide a steady hand on the wheel and heal America's "soul," calling Trump irresponsible. The former vice president has held drive-in, socially distanced rallies, while Trump's gatherings have often seen attendees ignore such guidelines and eschew masks. The two candidates plan to be in three Midwestern states on Friday, with both campaigning in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Trump will also travel to Michigan and Biden also plans to be in Iowa. Trump's wins in Michigan, Wisconsin and Iowa helped propel him to victory in 2016. But polling averages from the RealClearPolitics.com site show Biden up in all four of those states, ranging from 6.5 percentage points in Michigan to just one point in Iowa. Still, Democrats and Republicans alike have repeatedly warned of the unreliability of polls, pointing to Trump's shock defeat of Hillary Clinton in 2016 despite surveys showing her to be the clear favorite. - Florida rallies - Trump and Biden are concentrating their efforts on battleground states that will decide the election in the days before the November 3 polls, and on Thursday both were in the crucial state of Florida. Trump, 74, held another raucous rally in Tampa, telling the cheering crowd that coronavirus lockdowns under Biden would banish normal life. "They will allow you nothing," the Republican said. "We're never going to lock down again.... We're open for business," he said, telling supporters that his own recent bout with Covid-19 proved that it can be beaten. "You know, the bottom line is you get better," he said. But the pandemic, which has already taken 228,000 American lives, has shown its resilience and is undergoing a long-predicted second wave. On Thursday more than 91,000 new US infections were recorded, according to a Johns Hopkins University tally, the highest 24-hour total since the pandemic began. Trump however did receive good news Thursday in his argument that he is best placed to bring about an economic recovery. New figures showed an annual growth rate of 33.1 percent in the third quarter -- a jaw-dropping statistic that reflected the economy's rebound from such a low base. Biden, addressing a socially distanced drive-in event in Broward County, reminded supporters that of all the states there are few as important as Florida in deciding the outcome of tight elections. Rebuffing Trump's central charge, the 77-year-old emphasized his claim that he would bring responsible leadership after months of the White House downplaying the virus' danger. "I'm not going to shut down the economy, I'm not going to shut down the country. I'm going to shut down the virus," he said in Tampa. While Trump mocks him for holding small campaign events, Biden said he was leading by example, instead of staging the president's "super-spreader" events. "The heart and soul of this country is at stake," he said. - Huge early voting - Trump sets the pace with a frenetic schedule, but Biden's strikingly quiet campaign is also revving up. After Florida, Trump flew to Fort Bragg in North Carolina for a meeting with troops. A planned rally in the toss-up state was postponed until Monday due to the weather, the campaign said. Mother nature intruded on Biden's Tampa rally too, as a heavy downpour forced him to cut his remarks short. Trump defeated Clinton in Florida in 2016 but an NBC News/Marist poll released Thursday had Biden with a 51-47 point lead there. A stunning 81 million Americans have already cast their ballots early in the hugely consequential election.

Trump, Biden square off in key Midwestern states

Be aware: Fake Twitter accounts will very likely sow disinformation in the few remaining days before Election Day on Nov. 3.

This week, researchers at the University of Southern California released a new study that identified thousands of automated accounts, or “bots,” on Twitter posting information related to President Donald Trump, Joe Biden and their campaigns. The study examined over 240 million election-related tweets from June through September.

Many of these bots, the study said, spread falsehoods related to the coronavirus and far-right conspiracy theories such QAnon and “pizzagate.” The study said that bots accounted for 20% of all tweets involving these political conspiracy theories.

“These bots are an integral part of the discussion” on social media, said Emilio Ferrara, the University of Southern California professor who led the study.

A Twitter spokesman questioned the study’s methods. “Research that uses only publicly available data is deeply flawed by design and often makes egregiously reductive claims based on these limited signals,” the spokesman said. “We continue to confront a changing threat landscape.”

Social media companies such as Twitter and Facebook have long worked to remove this kind of activity, which has been used by groups trying to foment discord in past elections in the United States and abroad. And the University of Southern California study showed that about two-thirds of the conspiracy-spreading bots it identified were no longer active by the middle of September.

In some cases, bots exhibit suspicious behavior. They might “follow” an unusually large number of other accounts — a number nearly as large as the number of accounts following them — or their usernames will include random digits.

But identifying bots with the naked eye is far from an exact science. And researchers say that automated accounts have grown more sophisticated in recent months. Typically, they say, bots are driven by a mix of automated software and human operators, who work to orchestrate and vary the behavior of the fake accounts to avoid detection.

Some bots show signs of automation — like only retweeting rather than tweeting new material or posting very frequently — but it can be difficult to definitively prove that accounts are inauthentic, researchers say. An automated account may stop tweeting at night, for example, as if there is a person behind it who is sleeping.

“You can clearly see they are automated,” said Pik-Mai Hui, an Indiana University researcher who has helped build a new set of tools that aim to track these bots in real time. “But they are operated in a way that makes it very difficult to say with complete certainty.”

These bots are operating on both sides of the political spectrum, according to the study from the University of Southern California. But right-leaning bots outnumbered their left-leaning counterparts by a ratio of 4-to-1 in the study, and the right-leaning bots were more than 12 times more likely to spread false conspiracy theories.

The study indicates that 13% of all accounts tweeting about conspiracy theories are automated, and because they tweet at a higher rate, they are sending a much larger proportion of the overall material.

“This is the most concerning part,” Ferrara said. “They are increasing the effect of the echo chamber.”

Be aware: Fake Twitter accounts will very likely sow disinformation in the few remaining days before Election Day on Nov. 3. This week, researchers at the University of Southern California released a new study that identified thousands of automated accounts, or “bots,” on Twitter posting information related to President Donald Trump, Joe Biden and their campaigns.

Be aware: Fake Twitter accounts will very likely sow disinformation in the few remaining days before Election Day on Nov. 3. This week, researchers at the University of Southern California released a new study that identified thousands of automated accounts, or “bots,” on Twitter posting information related to President Donald Trump, Joe Biden and their campaigns. The study examined over 240 million election-related tweets from June through September. Many of these bots, the study said, spread falsehoods related to the coronavirus and far-right conspiracy theories such QAnon and “pizzagate.” The study said that bots accounted for 20% of all tweets involving these political conspiracy theories. “These bots are an integral part of the discussion” on social media, said Emilio Ferrara, the University of Southern California professor who led the study. A Twitter spokesman questioned the study’s methods. “Research that uses only publicly available data is deeply flawed by design and often makes egregiously reductive claims based on these limited signals,” the spokesman said. “We continue to confront a changing threat landscape.” Social media companies such as Twitter and Facebook have long worked to remove this kind of activity, which has been used by groups trying to foment discord in past elections in the United States and abroad. And the University of Southern California study showed that about two-thirds of the conspiracy-spreading bots it identified were no longer active by the middle of September. In some cases, bots exhibit suspicious behavior. They might “follow” an unusually large number of other accounts — a number nearly as large as the number of accounts following them — or their usernames will include random digits. But identifying bots with the naked eye is far from an exact science. And researchers say that automated accounts have grown more sophisticated in recent months. Typically, they say, bots are driven by a mix of automated software and human operators, who work to orchestrate and vary the behavior of the fake accounts to avoid detection. Some bots show signs of automation — like only retweeting rather than tweeting new material or posting very frequently — but it can be difficult to definitively prove that accounts are inauthentic, researchers say. An automated account may stop tweeting at night, for example, as if there is a person behind it who is sleeping. “You can clearly see they are automated,” said Pik-Mai Hui, an Indiana University researcher who has helped build a new set of tools that aim to track these bots in real time. “But they are operated in a way that makes it very difficult to say with complete certainty.” These bots are operating on both sides of the political spectrum, according to the study from the University of Southern California. But right-leaning bots outnumbered their left-leaning counterparts by a ratio of 4-to-1 in the study, and the right-leaning bots were more than 12 times more likely to spread false conspiracy theories. The study indicates that 13% of all accounts tweeting about conspiracy theories are automated, and because they tweet at a higher rate, they are sending a much larger proportion of the overall material. “This is the most concerning part,” Ferrara said. “They are increasing the effect of the echo chamber.”

Twitter bots poised to spread disinformation before US election

As tech giants faced an intense hearing on Senate on Wednesday, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey was in the centre to face the ire of conservative lawmakers.&nbsp;

"My concern is that these platforms have become powerful arbiters of what is true and what content users can access," said Roger Wicker, the Republican chairman of the Commerce Committee, as quoted by the news agency AFP.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pick-eye-pish-eye-senators-struggle-to-pronounce-google-ceo-sundar-pichais-name-338710">'Pick Eye', 'Pish Eye': Senators struggle to pronounce Google CEO Sundar Pichai's name</a>

He said the panel had "dozens of examples of conservative content being censored," asking Dorsey on how Twitter decides to label or remove any post.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/facebook-ceo-mark-zuckerberg-hit-by-bad-connection-causes-delay-in-us-senate-hearing-338615">Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg hit by 'bad connection', causes delay in US Senate hearing</a>

"Your platform allows foreign dictators to post propaganda without restriction yet your routinely restrict the president of the United States," the Republican senator said, referring to one post from China accusing the US military of bringing the coronavirus.

Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, came down heavily on Dorsey, even shouting at him at times and accusing Twitter of "silencing people" on speeches which it disagreed with.&nbsp;

He also rebuked Dorsey on Twitter's decision to restrict access to a New York Post story of questionable provenance that made corruption allegations against Joe Biden's son.

"Mr Dorsey who the hell elected you and put you in charge of what the media are allowed to report and what the American people are allowed to hear?" Cruz said.&nbsp;

Trump also endorsed in a tweet Republicans criticism during Senate as he faces a tough battle in the upcoming presidential election and accused social media giants to cover up "corruption" of Biden.&nbsp;

He also demanded "Repeal Section 230!", a section that protects social media organisations from content posted by the users.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

As tech giants faced an intense hearing on Senate on Wednesday, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey was in the centre to face the ire of conservative lawmakers. "My concern is that these platforms have become powerful arbiters of what is true and what content users can access," said Roger Wicker, the Republican chairman of the Commerce Committee, as quoted by the news agency AFP.

As tech giants faced an intense hearing on Senate on Wednesday, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey was in the centre to face the ire of conservative lawmakers. "My concern is that these platforms have become powerful arbiters of what is true and what content users can access," said Roger Wicker, the Republican chairman of the Commerce Committee, as quoted by the news agency AFP. Also read | 'Pick Eye', 'Pish Eye': Senators struggle to pronounce Google CEO Sundar Pichai's name He said the panel had "dozens of examples of conservative content being censored," asking Dorsey on how Twitter decides to label or remove any post. Also read | Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg hit by 'bad connection', causes delay in US Senate hearing "Your platform allows foreign dictators to post propaganda without restriction yet your routinely restrict the president of the United States," the Republican senator said, referring to one post from China accusing the US military of bringing the coronavirus. Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, came down heavily on Dorsey, even shouting at him at times and accusing Twitter of "silencing people" on speeches which it disagreed with. He also rebuked Dorsey on Twitter's decision to restrict access to a New York Post story of questionable provenance that made corruption allegations against Joe Biden's son. "Mr Dorsey who the hell elected you and put you in charge of what the media are allowed to report and what the American people are allowed to hear?" Cruz said. Trump also endorsed in a tweet Republicans criticism during Senate as he faces a tough battle in the upcoming presidential election and accused social media giants to cover up "corruption" of Biden. He also demanded "Repeal Section 230!", a section that protects social media organisations from content posted by the users.

'Who the hell put you in charge?' Republicans lash out at tech giants during Senate debate

The United States has agreed to sell top-of-the-line F-35 fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates following its recognition of Israel, potentially shifting the regional power balance, a lawmaker said Thursday.

President Donald Trump's administration informally gave a required notification to&nbsp;Congress&nbsp;on the sale, which could "significantly change the military balance in the Gulf and affect Israel's military edge," said Representative Eliot Engel, a Democrat who leads the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

The United Arab Emirates, which has been increasingly assertive in the region, including in Yemen and Libya,&nbsp;sought the advanced warplanes as it spoke to the United States ahead of its landmark recognition of Israel last month.

The normalization,&nbsp;followed by similar moves by Bahrain and Sudan, was a diplomatic coup for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but the Jewish state has also long opposed US sales of top-end warplanes to any Arab states including Egypt and Jordan, which already have peace treaties with Israel.

But Netanyahu indicated last week that Israel would not object to the UAE deal after Defense Minister Benny Gantz, his uneasy coalition partner, received assurances during a trip to the Pentagon that Israel would maintain its military edge.

US Defense Secretary Mark Esper was visiting Israel on Thursday for talks with Gantz about bolstering the US ally's military capacities.

A State Department official declined to confirm the UAE deal, saying that it does not comment on notifications to&nbsp;Congress.

The notification comes five days before US elections in which Trump is trailing in published polls to Democrat Joe Biden.

Congress, where the Democrats control the House of Representatives and are seen as having a chance of winning the Senate, has the power to block the UAE sale.

"The export of this aircraft requires very careful consideration and&nbsp;Congress&nbsp;must analyze all the ramifications.&nbsp;Rushing these sales is not in anyone's interest," Engel said.

The United States has agreed to sell top-of-the-line F-35 fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates following its recognition of Israel, potentially shifting the regional power balance, a lawmaker said Thursday.

The United States has agreed to sell top-of-the-line F-35 fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates following its recognition of Israel, potentially shifting the regional power balance, a lawmaker said Thursday. President Donald Trump's administration informally gave a required notification to Congress on the sale, which could "significantly change the military balance in the Gulf and affect Israel's military edge," said Representative Eliot Engel, a Democrat who leads the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The United Arab Emirates, which has been increasingly assertive in the region, including in Yemen and Libya, sought the advanced warplanes as it spoke to the United States ahead of its landmark recognition of Israel last month. The normalization, followed by similar moves by Bahrain and Sudan, was a diplomatic coup for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but the Jewish state has also long opposed US sales of top-end warplanes to any Arab states including Egypt and Jordan, which already have peace treaties with Israel. But Netanyahu indicated last week that Israel would not object to the UAE deal after Defense Minister Benny Gantz, his uneasy coalition partner, received assurances during a trip to the Pentagon that Israel would maintain its military edge. US Defense Secretary Mark Esper was visiting Israel on Thursday for talks with Gantz about bolstering the US ally's military capacities. A State Department official declined to confirm the UAE deal, saying that it does not comment on notifications to Congress. The notification comes five days before US elections in which Trump is trailing in published polls to Democrat Joe Biden. Congress, where the Democrats control the House of Representatives and are seen as having a chance of winning the Senate, has the power to block the UAE sale. "The export of this aircraft requires very careful consideration and Congress must analyze all the ramifications. Rushing these sales is not in anyone's interest," Engel said.

US plans sales of top-end fighter jets to UAE: Lawmaker

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