One year ago, the grim news that Broadway was shutting down was sweeping through the theater district. Performers were packing up their things and heading home; theater staff members were stationed in lobbies to intercept ticket holders and explain to them that the show was canceled.

As a return date was pushed further and further, performers and theater staff resigned themselves to finding work elsewhere.

But on Friday, the anniversary of the day their beloved industry shut its doors, Broadway singers, dancers, actors and front-of-house staffers gathered in Times Square, just across from the TKTS discount ticket booth, to perform live for a small audience of industry insiders and passersby.

The pop-up show was part concert, part rally. Broadway legend Chita Rivera spoke about the power of theater to heal a beleaguered society, and then André De Shields, decked out in a glittering gold suit and a transparent face shield, sang the opening song from “Pippin” along with an array of Broadway stars, backup singers and dancers.

“I’m just happy that we’re all trying to remind the world that we’re still here, and we will be back,” said Bre Jackson, a singer who belted out a solo in the “Pippin” number.

One year ago, Jackson, 29, was returning to New York from a national tour of “The Book of Mormon” and preparing for five auditions. Within 12 hours, she said, the auditions were all canceled, and suddenly she was thrust into a job market without much need for professional singers and actors. Jackson eventually found work as an office manager for a therapy practice, finding performing gigs every so often.

One of the main purposes of these pop-up performances — of which there have been dozens across the city — is to provide paying gigs for people in the industry who have lost their entire incomes during the pandemic, said Blake Ross, one of the event’s producers. The performance was funded by a collection of organizations, including nonprofits Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and NYCNext.

Although perform inside theaters are unlikely until after Labor Day, the message of the show was that the end of the industry’s nightmare seemed to be getting closer. Last night, President Joe Biden asked states to make all adults eligible to be vaccinated by May 1, a hopeful sign that shows might be able to start rehearsals over the summer.

The performance landed on one of the first warm, springlike days of the year in New York City, adding a jolt of excitement. It felt like a reunion of sorts: After a long time working from home, some people shrieked when they saw each other, keeping their distance but air-hugging or elbow-bumping. To make sure that crowds didn’t form in Father Duffy Square, event planners made no public announcement of the performance, but passersby gathered on the edges of the makeshift stage and stood on elevated surfaces to get better views.

The cast started with a topical classic, George Benson’s “On Broadway,” with a group of high-energy, sneaker-clad and masked backup dancers. (There had been barely any time to rehearse beforehand, so just before showtime, the dancers ran through their choreography just offstage on the concrete.) Next, singers Lillias White, Nikki M. James, Peppermint and Solea Pfeiffer joined in “Home” from “The Wiz.” And a choir sang an original song written about the pandemic hiatus, “We Will Be Back,” by Allen René Louis. Costumes from shows like “Wicked” and “Phantom of the Opera” lined the stage edges, glittering and gleaming on mannequins.

During the pandemic, two musicals, “Mean Girls” and “Frozen,” announced that they would not be returning to Broadway, as well as two plays that were in previews, Martin McDonagh’s “Hangmen” and a revival of Edward Albee’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” On Friday, several shows promised that they would indeed be back, including “Mrs. Doubtfire,” which got through three performances before it was forced to close, and “Six,” which had been scheduled to open March 12, 2020.

That day, Judi Wilfore, house manager for the Imperial Theater, remembers standing in the lobby before the scheduled evening performance of “Ain’t Too Proud” and breaking the news to ticket holders. Even though Broadway shut down on a Thursday, Wilfore came to work that weekend, too, in case any audience members showed up.

Over the summer, Wilfore decided that she needed to find work elsewhere, so she took an online course at Health Education Services, to get certified as a COVID compliance officer. At Friday’s event in Times Square, it was her job to make sure people were following safety guidelines and to manage a team of front-of-house theater staffers who were hired to help run the event.

Wilfore has been a compliance officer for gigs here and there — including the load-out of the “Beetlejuice” set from the Winter Garden Theater — but like many in the industry, she yearns for the eventual return to indoor theater, where she oversaw the bustling movements of staffers and audience members.

“We love what we do,” she said, “and the fact that we haven’t been able to do it in a year is unfathomable.”

One year ago, the grim news that Broadway was shutting down was sweeping through the theater district. Performers were packing up their things and heading home; theater staff members were stationed in lobbies to intercept ticket holders and explain to them that the show was canceled.

One year ago, the grim news that Broadway was shutting down was sweeping through the theater district. Performers were packing up their things and heading home; theater staff members were stationed in lobbies to intercept ticket holders and explain to them that the show was canceled. As a return date was pushed further and further, performers and theater staff resigned themselves to finding work elsewhere. But on Friday, the anniversary of the day their beloved industry shut its doors, Broadway singers, dancers, actors and front-of-house staffers gathered in Times Square, just across from the TKTS discount ticket booth, to perform live for a small audience of industry insiders and passersby. The pop-up show was part concert, part rally. Broadway legend Chita Rivera spoke about the power of theater to heal a beleaguered society, and then André De Shields, decked out in a glittering gold suit and a transparent face shield, sang the opening song from “Pippin” along with an array of Broadway stars, backup singers and dancers. “I’m just happy that we’re all trying to remind the world that we’re still here, and we will be back,” said Bre Jackson, a singer who belted out a solo in the “Pippin” number. One year ago, Jackson, 29, was returning to New York from a national tour of “The Book of Mormon” and preparing for five auditions. Within 12 hours, she said, the auditions were all canceled, and suddenly she was thrust into a job market without much need for professional singers and actors. Jackson eventually found work as an office manager for a therapy practice, finding performing gigs every so often. One of the main purposes of these pop-up performances — of which there have been dozens across the city — is to provide paying gigs for people in the industry who have lost their entire incomes during the pandemic, said Blake Ross, one of the event’s producers. The performance was funded by a collection of organizations, including nonprofits Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and NYCNext. Although perform inside theaters are unlikely until after Labor Day, the message of the show was that the end of the industry’s nightmare seemed to be getting closer. Last night, President Joe Biden asked states to make all adults eligible to be vaccinated by May 1, a hopeful sign that shows might be able to start rehearsals over the summer. The performance landed on one of the first warm, springlike days of the year in New York City, adding a jolt of excitement. It felt like a reunion of sorts: After a long time working from home, some people shrieked when they saw each other, keeping their distance but air-hugging or elbow-bumping. To make sure that crowds didn’t form in Father Duffy Square, event planners made no public announcement of the performance, but passersby gathered on the edges of the makeshift stage and stood on elevated surfaces to get better views. The cast started with a topical classic, George Benson’s “On Broadway,” with a group of high-energy, sneaker-clad and masked backup dancers. (There had been barely any time to rehearse beforehand, so just before showtime, the dancers ran through their choreography just offstage on the concrete.) Next, singers Lillias White, Nikki M. James, Peppermint and Solea Pfeiffer joined in “Home” from “The Wiz.” And a choir sang an original song written about the pandemic hiatus, “We Will Be Back,” by Allen René Louis. Costumes from shows like “Wicked” and “Phantom of the Opera” lined the stage edges, glittering and gleaming on mannequins. During the pandemic, two musicals, “Mean Girls” and “Frozen,” announced that they would not be returning to Broadway, as well as two plays that were in previews, Martin McDonagh’s “Hangmen” and a revival of Edward Albee’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” On Friday, several shows promised that they would indeed be back, including “Mrs. Doubtfire,” which got through three performances before it was forced to close, and “Six,” which had been scheduled to open March 12, 2020. That day, Judi Wilfore, house manager for the Imperial Theater, remembers standing in the lobby before the scheduled evening performance of “Ain’t Too Proud” and breaking the news to ticket holders. Even though Broadway shut down on a Thursday, Wilfore came to work that weekend, too, in case any audience members showed up. Over the summer, Wilfore decided that she needed to find work elsewhere, so she took an online course at Health Education Services, to get certified as a COVID compliance officer. At Friday’s event in Times Square, it was her job to make sure people were following safety guidelines and to manage a team of front-of-house theater staffers who were hired to help run the event. Wilfore has been a compliance officer for gigs here and there — including the load-out of the “Beetlejuice” set from the Winter Garden Theater — but like many in the industry, she yearns for the eventual return to indoor theater, where she oversaw the bustling movements of staffers and audience members. “We love what we do,” she said, “and the fact that we haven’t been able to do it in a year is unfathomable.”

‘We’ll be back,’ broadway says, on shutdown anniversary

A stark contrast was observed in the style of address by two presidential candidates: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump </a>and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden </a>at the rival town halls on Thursday.

Biden, on one hand, looked elaborative, empathetic in his response, which was completely different from Trump's appearance, in which he provided aggressive responses when questions related to his presidency was asked.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/peaceful-transfer-i-absolutely-want-it-says-trump-at-town-hall-meeting-335600">Peaceful transfer, I absolutely want it, says Trump at town hall meeting</a> &nbsp;

Trump continued his optimism about the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 217,000 Americans and for which he has faced a lot of flak.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2020-joe-biden-halts-kamala-harris-travel-after-campaign-staffers-test-positive-335540">US election 2020: Joe Biden halts Kamala Harris' travel after campaign staffers test positive</a>

"We're rounding the corner," he told NBC in Miami despite many states observing an uptick in the infections.&nbsp;

Biden, during his town hall, slammed again Trump for his response to the crisis&nbsp;

"We're in a situation where we have 210,000 plus people dead and what's he doing? Nothing. He's still not wearing masks," Biden told ABC at the event in Philadelphia.

Trump also refused to criticise QAnon, a conspiracy theory movement that propagates Trump is battling a secret war against liberal cult of Satan-worshipping paedophiles.

"I know nothing about QAnon," he said, and then continued to praise the group's stance saying it is "very much against paedophilia."

Biden received much praise for his remarks in which he committed himself in improving the atmosphere, saying "grudges don't work".

"We've got to change the nature of the way we deal with one another," the Democratic contender said.

"If I'm elected president, the first thing -- and not a joke... I'm going to pick up the phone and call them and say, 'Let's get together.'" 
&nbsp;

A stark contrast was observed in the style of address by two presidential candidates: Donald Trump and Joe Biden at the rival town halls on Thursday. Biden, on one hand, looked elaborative, empathetic in his response, which was completely different from Trump's appearance, in which he provided aggressive responses when questions related to his presidency was asked.

A stark contrast was observed in the style of address by two presidential candidates: Donald Trump and Joe Biden at the rival town halls on Thursday. Biden, on one hand, looked elaborative, empathetic in his response, which was completely different from Trump's appearance, in which he provided aggressive responses when questions related to his presidency was asked. Also read | Peaceful transfer, I absolutely want it, says Trump at town hall meeting Trump continued his optimism about the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 217,000 Americans and for which he has faced a lot of flak. Also read | US election 2020: Joe Biden halts Kamala Harris' travel after campaign staffers test positive "We're rounding the corner," he told NBC in Miami despite many states observing an uptick in the infections. Biden, during his town hall, slammed again Trump for his response to the crisis "We're in a situation where we have 210,000 plus people dead and what's he doing? Nothing. He's still not wearing masks," Biden told ABC at the event in Philadelphia. Trump also refused to criticise QAnon, a conspiracy theory movement that propagates Trump is battling a secret war against liberal cult of Satan-worshipping paedophiles. "I know nothing about QAnon," he said, and then continued to praise the group's stance saying it is "very much against paedophilia." Biden received much praise for his remarks in which he committed himself in improving the atmosphere, saying "grudges don't work". "We've got to change the nature of the way we deal with one another," the Democratic contender said. "If I'm elected president, the first thing -- and not a joke... I'm going to pick up the phone and call them and say, 'Let's get together.'"

US election 2020: Trump's coronavirus optimism continues as Joe Biden says Prez did 'nothing'

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/republican-party">Republican Party </a>clashed with California authorities after it placed ballot boxes at conservative churches, gun shops and other areas of the state.&nbsp;

A spokesperson of the party claimed that the boxes are kept simply for "ballot harvesting," which let third parties collect and deliver ballots in a few US states.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2020-how-are-votes-counted-in-the-presidential-election-335422">US election 2020: How are votes counted in the presidential election?</a>

"We're going to continue our ballot harvesting programs," said California Republican Party spokesperson Hector Barajas to local CBS station on Monday, as quoted by news agency AFP.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-fumes-as-facebook-twitter-limit-reach-of-smoking-gun-article-on-biden-and-his-son-335344">Trump fumes as Facebook, Twitter limit reach of 'smoking gun' article on Biden and his son</a>

Californian authorities argue that the boxes are "misleading" voters and have given an ultimatum to the party to remove them by Thursday.&nbsp;

"Misleading voters is wrong, regardless of who is doing it," said California Secretary of State Alex Padilla.&nbsp;

"Political parties and campaigns can engage in get out the vote efforts, but they cannot violate state law," Padilla added in a statement.&nbsp;

"The unofficial, unauthorized drop boxes in question violate state law and jeopardize the security of voters' ballots."

State Attorney General Xavier Becerra warned Republicans of civil or criminal punishment if they fail to remove the ballots.&nbsp;

The Republicans, however, are looking in no mood to remove the boxes as its spokesperson said they would erase the word "official", but they would themselves not remove the boxes.&nbsp;

"Show us within the law, where we should stop," Barajas said.&nbsp;

"Tell us within the law, where we’re breaking the law." 
&nbsp;

The Republican Party clashed with California authorities after it placed ballot boxes at conservative churches, gun shops and other areas of the state. A spokesperson of the party claimed that the boxes are kept simply for "ballot harvesting," which let third parties collect and deliver ballots in a few US states.

The Republican Party clashed with California authorities after it placed ballot boxes at conservative churches, gun shops and other areas of the state. A spokesperson of the party claimed that the boxes are kept simply for "ballot harvesting," which let third parties collect and deliver ballots in a few US states. Also read | US election 2020: How are votes counted in the presidential election? "We're going to continue our ballot harvesting programs," said California Republican Party spokesperson Hector Barajas to local CBS station on Monday, as quoted by news agency AFP. Also read | Trump fumes as Facebook, Twitter limit reach of 'smoking gun' article on Biden and his son Californian authorities argue that the boxes are "misleading" voters and have given an ultimatum to the party to remove them by Thursday. "Misleading voters is wrong, regardless of who is doing it," said California Secretary of State Alex Padilla. "Political parties and campaigns can engage in get out the vote efforts, but they cannot violate state law," Padilla added in a statement. "The unofficial, unauthorized drop boxes in question violate state law and jeopardize the security of voters' ballots." State Attorney General Xavier Becerra warned Republicans of civil or criminal punishment if they fail to remove the ballots. The Republicans, however, are looking in no mood to remove the boxes as its spokesperson said they would erase the word "official", but they would themselves not remove the boxes. "Show us within the law, where we should stop," Barajas said. "Tell us within the law, where we’re breaking the law."

US election 2020: Republicans clash with California officials over ballot boxes

Libya's UN-recognised government announces an immediate ceasefire across the country. Turkey-backed Government of National Accord called for parliamentary and presidential elections to be held in March.

Libya's warring rivals announces immediate ceasefire across the country

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed a memorandum to disallow the votes of illegal migrants in the country from being counted at congressional voting districts after voting maps are redrawn this year.

This has received backlash from Democrats, who have threatened to take legal action. Democratic-led states like New York are already planning to respond legally. However, experts believe the memorandum is legally invalid, and may not even be practiced.

To benefit Republican Party?

If, somehow, this were allowed, the Republican Party would largely benefit from it. A majority of the non-white voting population would then not be allowed to vote. His voter base though, which comprises Caucasian Americans, will be able to vote nevertheless.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/portland-protest-crackdown-biden-accuses-trump-of-egregious-tactics-315040" hreflang="en">Portland protest crackdown: Biden accuses Trump of 'egregious tactics'</a>

Many states in the US have a large immigrant population, including California and New York. If these were to be legally mandated, such states would lose seats in the US House of Representatives. California currently has 53 seats, while New York has 27.

The process of “apportionment” is set to begin in the US, which will carve out voting maps for federal congressional districts.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="http://wionews.com/videos/donald-trump-to-resume-daily-covid-19-briefing-long-queues-for-testing-in-texas-florida-314867/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"Illegal aliens"

"Including these illegal aliens in the population of the state for the purpose of apportionment could result in the allocation of two or three more congressional seats than would otherwise be allocated," the memo said.

Redistricting is set to take place in 2021. This is undertaken to take into account changes in the population, and will be done after the 2020 US census.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-us-capitol-164-pairs-of-shoes-represent-nurses-dead-from-covid-315023" hreflang="en">At US Capitol, 164 pairs of shoes represent nurses dead from COVID</a>

Historically, the distribution of 435 seats has been done keeping in mind the total population, not considering the status of immigration. Trump’s new memorandum will attempt to exclude those who are in the US legally.

The US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi in a statement called the measure “unlawful”, and further said that it was "designed to again inject fear and distrust into vulnerable and traditionally undercounted communities, while sowing chaos with the Census."

The US constitution says that congressional districts should be based on “the whole number of persons” in every district.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed a memorandum to disallow the votes of illegal migrants in the country from being counted at congressional voting districts after voting maps are redrawn this year.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed a memorandum to disallow the votes of illegal migrants in the country from being counted at congressional voting districts after voting maps are redrawn this year. This has received backlash from Democrats, who have threatened to take legal action. Democratic-led states like New York are already planning to respond legally. However, experts believe the memorandum is legally invalid, and may not even be practiced. To benefit Republican Party? If, somehow, this were allowed, the Republican Party would largely benefit from it. A majority of the non-white voting population would then not be allowed to vote. His voter base though, which comprises Caucasian Americans, will be able to vote nevertheless. Also read: Portland protest crackdown: Biden accuses Trump of 'egregious tactics' Many states in the US have a large immigrant population, including California and New York. If these were to be legally mandated, such states would lose seats in the US House of Representatives. California currently has 53 seats, while New York has 27. The process of “apportionment” is set to begin in the US, which will carve out voting maps for federal congressional districts. "Illegal aliens" "Including these illegal aliens in the population of the state for the purpose of apportionment could result in the allocation of two or three more congressional seats than would otherwise be allocated," the memo said. Redistricting is set to take place in 2021. This is undertaken to take into account changes in the population, and will be done after the 2020 US census. Also read: At US Capitol, 164 pairs of shoes represent nurses dead from COVID Historically, the distribution of 435 seats has been done keeping in mind the total population, not considering the status of immigration. Trump’s new memorandum will attempt to exclude those who are in the US legally. The US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi in a statement called the measure “unlawful”, and further said that it was "designed to again inject fear and distrust into vulnerable and traditionally undercounted communities, while sowing chaos with the Census." The US constitution says that congressional districts should be based on “the whole number of persons” in every district.

Trump orders congressional districts to disallow 'illegal aliens' from voting

The U.S. President is suffering setbacks from all sides in the run-up to the Presidential polls. Will he manage to secure another term or is he set to suffer a historic defeat?@palkisu decodes the challenges before Trump.

Gravitas: Will Trump lose 2020 Presidential elections?

The United States is inching close to the Presidential elections and at a time like this losing popularity among the voters can have repercussions. According to an opinion poll conducted by Reuters, only 37% of Americans approve of US President Donald Trump's handling of COVID-19 pandemic.

Reuters poll shows: Donald Trump's popularity decline

United States President Donald Trump, who is currently campaigning for his reelection to White House in the upcoming 2020 Presidential polls has hit out at former US President Barack Obama.

On Monday, Trump said Obama had committed treason by spying on his campaign along with his Democratic rival Joe Biden. He, however, offered no evidence for the same.

This isn’t the first time Trump has hit out at Obama. Since the beginning of his term, he has called Obama an outsider and falsely claimed that he was born outside of the US.

Currently, polls show Trump trailing behind his rival Biden by 13 per cent in the bid for US presidency. Both Biden and Obama are set to hold a fundraiser which has already amassed $4 million.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-obama-fundraiser-has-amassed-4-million-ahead-of-joint-appearance-308071" hreflang="en">Biden-Obama fundraiser has amassed $4 million ahead of joint appearance</a>

Obama is the first Black American president ever. Ironically, the US Justice Department is currently reviewing Trump’s election as president in 2016, suspecting foreign interference in the elections. Earlier, Trump had claimed that Obama was spying on his campaign, but had not accused him of treason until now.

Trump recently told a local TV network, “It's treason. Look, when I came out a long time ago, I said they've been spying on our campaign ... Let's see what happens to them now."

"(William) Barr is doing a great job as attorney general, let's see what they come up with," he added.

However, Barr has claimed that he does not expect any charges against either Obama or Biden.

Recently, US intelligence agencies claimed that Russia played some role in Trump’s race to the White House in 2016. Robert Mueller, former Special Counsel discovered that Russia had peddled propaganda to harm the reputation of his rival Hillary Clinton. During his 21-month long investigation, he also found that both the parties had reached out to each other on multiple occasions.

You might also like:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-likened-his-relationship-with-north-koreas-kim-to-dating-wanted-to-be-the-one-to-break-up-308053" hreflang="en">Trump likened his relationship with North Korea's Kim to 'dating', 'wanted to be the one to break-up'</a>

Trump has been in the centre of another controversy owing to the book released by his ex-aide. The book is titled “The Room Where It Happened”, and has been at the centre of controversy in terms of its content. According to Bolton, Trump had sought political favours from Chinese President Xi Jinping and had allegedly not raised any red flags with China’s treatment of Uighur Muslims, who are reportedly kept in concentration camps.

Recently, Trump held his first post-coronavirus rally in Tulsa, which saw lesser turnout than expected.&nbsp;Reportedly, thousands of tickets were reserved by TikTok and K-pop fans who had no plans of going to the rally.

(With inputs from Reuters)

United States President Donald Trump, who is currently campaigning for his reelection to White House in the upcoming 2020 Presidential polls has hit out at former US President Barack Obama.

United States President Donald Trump, who is currently campaigning for his reelection to White House in the upcoming 2020 Presidential polls has hit out at former US President Barack Obama. On Monday, Trump said Obama had committed treason by spying on his campaign along with his Democratic rival Joe Biden. He, however, offered no evidence for the same. This isn’t the first time Trump has hit out at Obama. Since the beginning of his term, he has called Obama an outsider and falsely claimed that he was born outside of the US. Currently, polls show Trump trailing behind his rival Biden by 13 per cent in the bid for US presidency. Both Biden and Obama are set to hold a fundraiser which has already amassed $4 million. Also read: Biden-Obama fundraiser has amassed $4 million ahead of joint appearance Obama is the first Black American president ever. Ironically, the US Justice Department is currently reviewing Trump’s election as president in 2016, suspecting foreign interference in the elections. Earlier, Trump had claimed that Obama was spying on his campaign, but had not accused him of treason until now. Trump recently told a local TV network, “It's treason. Look, when I came out a long time ago, I said they've been spying on our campaign ... Let's see what happens to them now." "(William) Barr is doing a great job as attorney general, let's see what they come up with," he added. However, Barr has claimed that he does not expect any charges against either Obama or Biden. Recently, US intelligence agencies claimed that Russia played some role in Trump’s race to the White House in 2016. Robert Mueller, former Special Counsel discovered that Russia had peddled propaganda to harm the reputation of his rival Hillary Clinton. During his 21-month long investigation, he also found that both the parties had reached out to each other on multiple occasions. You might also like: Trump likened his relationship with North Korea's Kim to 'dating', 'wanted to be the one to break-up' Trump has been in the centre of another controversy owing to the book released by his ex-aide. The book is titled “The Room Where It Happened”, and has been at the centre of controversy in terms of its content. According to Bolton, Trump had sought political favours from Chinese President Xi Jinping and had allegedly not raised any red flags with China’s treatment of Uighur Muslims, who are reportedly kept in concentration camps. Recently, Trump held his first post-coronavirus rally in Tulsa, which saw lesser turnout than expected. Reportedly, thousands of tickets were reserved by TikTok and K-pop fans who had no plans of going to the rally. (With inputs from Reuters)

Trump accuses Obama of 'treason' for 'spying', offers no evidence

More US States went to polls on 'Super Tuesday' than any other day to pick a Presidential nominee. This report explains the most decisive day ahead of the 2020 Presidential elections.

All you need to know about 'Super Tuesday', US Presidential Elections 2020

US Presidential Elections 2020: Joe Biden projected to win 7 states

Biggest day to the race to the White House 'Super Tuesday' is already here. Democrats in 14 states are choosing who will run against Donald Trump for the November's Presidential elections. In the latest coming in Bernie Sanders has projected to win California, one of the most important states of 'Super Tuesday'. Watch report:

US Presidential Elections 2020: Bernie Sanders wins California in 'Super Tuesday'

A jubilant Joe Biden scored key Super Tuesday victories in Minnesota and across the South, building on the momentum that has swiftly revived his Democratic presidential campaign in recent days. Biden also took Alabama, Tennessee, Oklahoma and the battleground states of North Carolina and Virginia, a strong start as 14 states went to the polls across the nation. Bernie Sanders countered with wins in his home state of Vermont and Colorado, as the race began to shift west, where some polls were starting to close.

US Presidential Elections 2020: Joe Biden celebrates a 'Super Tuesday' with big wins

Supporters of Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen were delighted on Saturday, as the results were almost clear that he was ready to win the presidential election. Election Commission data showed its main rival by more than two million votes, with more than 86% of the vote count. #WION#TaiwanElections #Taiwan

Taiwan Election 2020: Tsai Ing-wen wins presidential election with thumping mandate

Taiwan Election 2020: Tsai Ing-wen wins presidential elections, supporters found delighted

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/billionaire-michael-bloomberg-formally-announces-us-presidential-candidacy-264255">President Donald Trump's</a> campaign said Monday it was banning journalists from Bloomberg News from its electoral events, claiming "bias" by the media group owned by presidential rival Michael Bloomberg.

Brad Parscale, the Trump 2020 campaign manager, said the decision was made after Bloomberg News announced it would not investigate the company boss or&nbsp;his Democrat competitors.

"As President Trump's campaign, we are accustomed to unfair reporting practices, but most news organizations don't announce their biases so publicly," Parscale said in a statement.

The Trump campaign will no longer credential representatives of Bloomberg News for rallies or other campaign events, and will decide "whether to engage with individual reporters or answer inquiries from Bloomberg News on a case-by-case basis," Parscale added.

Bloomberg News editor-in-chief John Micklethwait said in response: "The accusation of bias couldn't be further from the truth. We have covered Donald Trump fairly and in an unbiased way since he became a candidate in 2015 and will continue to do so despite the restrictions imposed by the Trump campaign."

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Mini Mike Bloomberg has instructed his third rate news organization not to investigate him or any Democrat, but to go after President Trump, only. The Failing New York Times thinks that is O.K., because their hatred &amp; bias is so great they can’t even see straight. It’s not O.K.!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1201639937268948992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Trump took to Twitter to blast "Mini Mike" Bloomberg for the news organisation's coverage decision.

"Mini Mike Bloomberg has instructed his third rate news organization not to investigate him or any Democrat, but to go after President Trump, only," the president wrote.

"The Failing New York Times thinks that is OK because their hatred &amp; bias is so great they can't even see straight. It's not OK!" he added in a swipe at the newspaper after its executive editor condemned the Trump campaign's decision.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/potential-presidential-candidate-michael-bloomberg-spends-record-amount-for-tv-ads-264108">Michael Bloomberg's</a> decision to seek the Democratic presidential nomination prompted the news agency, one of the world's biggest, to spell out guidelines last week on how it would handle any conflicts of interest.

The media group said it would not investigate Bloomberg's family or foundations, nor his Democratic rivals, but would publish or summarize investigative pieces on all Democratic candidates.

"There is no point in trying to claim that covering this presidential campaign will be easy," Micklethwait said in a memo to staff last week, citing the company's policy of not writing about itself or direct competitors.

Micklethwait said the journalists would cover the campaign's news "in much the same way as we have done before," with the exception that articles will explicitly state that Bloomberg News's owner is a candidate.

President Donald Trump's campaign said Monday it was banning journalists from Bloomberg News from its electoral events, claiming "bias" by the media group owned by presidential rival Michael Bloomberg.

President Donald Trump's campaign said Monday it was banning journalists from Bloomberg News from its electoral events, claiming "bias" by the media group owned by presidential rival Michael Bloomberg. Brad Parscale, the Trump 2020 campaign manager, said the decision was made after Bloomberg News announced it would not investigate the company boss or his Democrat competitors. "As President Trump's campaign, we are accustomed to unfair reporting practices, but most news organizations don't announce their biases so publicly," Parscale said in a statement. The Trump campaign will no longer credential representatives of Bloomberg News for rallies or other campaign events, and will decide "whether to engage with individual reporters or answer inquiries from Bloomberg News on a case-by-case basis," Parscale added. Bloomberg News editor-in-chief John Micklethwait said in response: "The accusation of bias couldn't be further from the truth. We have covered Donald Trump fairly and in an unbiased way since he became a candidate in 2015 and will continue to do so despite the restrictions imposed by the Trump campaign." Mini Mike Bloomberg has instructed his third rate news organization not to investigate him or any Democrat, but to go after President Trump, only. The Failing New York Times thinks that is O.K., because their hatred & bias is so great they can’t even see straight. It’s not O.K.! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 2, 2019 × Trump took to Twitter to blast "Mini Mike" Bloomberg for the news organisation's coverage decision. "Mini Mike Bloomberg has instructed his third rate news organization not to investigate him or any Democrat, but to go after President Trump, only," the president wrote. "The Failing New York Times thinks that is OK because their hatred & bias is so great they can't even see straight. It's not OK!" he added in a swipe at the newspaper after its executive editor condemned the Trump campaign's decision. Michael Bloomberg's decision to seek the Democratic presidential nomination prompted the news agency, one of the world's biggest, to spell out guidelines last week on how it would handle any conflicts of interest. The media group said it would not investigate Bloomberg's family or foundations, nor his Democratic rivals, but would publish or summarize investigative pieces on all Democratic candidates. "There is no point in trying to claim that covering this presidential campaign will be easy," Micklethwait said in a memo to staff last week, citing the company's policy of not writing about itself or direct competitors. Micklethwait said the journalists would cover the campaign's news "in much the same way as we have done before," with the exception that articles will explicitly state that Bloomberg News's owner is a candidate.

US elections 2020: Trump campaign bars Bloomberg News, alleging 'bias'

Billionaire businessman <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bloomberg-admits-he-was-wrong-apologises-for-stop-and-frisk-in-new-york-262793">Michael&nbsp;Bloomberg</a>, yet to officially declare himself a presidential candidate, took another step towards a run at the White House Thursday by registering with the US Federal Election Commission. &nbsp;

The 77-year-old former mayor of New York filed paperwork to register a committee called "Mike&nbsp;Bloomberg&nbsp;2020," commission spokeswoman Judith Ingram confirmed to AFP.

All candidates must register with the commission if they want to raise or spend campaign funds of more than $5,000, but registration itself does not confirm that a candidate is running.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/michael-bloomberg-to-launch-100-million-digital-anti-trump-campaign-262468">Bloomberg&nbsp;has prepared the groundwork for a possible bid</a> for the Democratic nomination in recent weeks, including registering as a candidate in the states of Alabama, Arkansas and Texas.

A message on his website mikebloomberg.com says the site is "paid for by Mike&nbsp;Bloomberg&nbsp;2020."

Ten days ago he said he was "close" to making a final decision on whether or not to enter the crowded field.

His personal fortune of $50 billion means a&nbsp;Bloomberg&nbsp;candidacy would likely shake up the open race, with 17 candidates already vying to be the Democratic nominee to take on President Donald Trump next year.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bloomberg-files-papers-paving-way-for-us-presidential-bid-260916">Bloomberg's advisors</a> have said that if he does run then he will probably not campaign in the four states that will hold primaries in February.

Instead, he would focus on the 15 primaries scheduled for March 3, known as "Super Tuesday," including the most populous states of California and Texas.

Former vice president Joe Biden leads the race ahead of left-wingers Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, with moderate Pete Buttigieg in fourth place, according to national polls.

Billionaire businessman Michael Bloomberg, yet to officially declare himself a presidential candidate, took another step towards a run at the White House Thursday by registering with the US Federal Election Commission.

Billionaire businessman Michael Bloomberg, yet to officially declare himself a presidential candidate, took another step towards a run at the White House Thursday by registering with the US Federal Election Commission. The 77-year-old former mayor of New York filed paperwork to register a committee called "Mike Bloomberg 2020," commission spokeswoman Judith Ingram confirmed to AFP. All candidates must register with the commission if they want to raise or spend campaign funds of more than $5,000, but registration itself does not confirm that a candidate is running. Bloomberg has prepared the groundwork for a possible bid for the Democratic nomination in recent weeks, including registering as a candidate in the states of Alabama, Arkansas and Texas. A message on his website mikebloomberg.com says the site is "paid for by Mike Bloomberg 2020." Ten days ago he said he was "close" to making a final decision on whether or not to enter the crowded field. His personal fortune of $50 billion means a Bloomberg candidacy would likely shake up the open race, with 17 candidates already vying to be the Democratic nominee to take on President Donald Trump next year. Bloomberg's advisors have said that if he does run then he will probably not campaign in the four states that will hold primaries in February. Instead, he would focus on the 15 primaries scheduled for March 3, known as "Super Tuesday," including the most populous states of California and Texas. Former vice president Joe Biden leads the race ahead of left-wingers Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, with moderate Pete Buttigieg in fourth place, according to national polls.

Michael Bloomberg registers committee in anticipation of 2020 US presidential poll

A gunmen fired on a convoy of buses carrying Muslims in northwest Sri Lanka before the beginning of presidential elections, as per the reports there are no casualties so far.

Voters' convoy ambushed in Sri Lanka

Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey has made a major announcement that could have huge ramifications for the 2020 presidential elections.

Starting November 22 the social media giant will officially stop carrying political advertisements of all kinds.

Taking to Twitter, Dorsey had a very strong message for political leaders across the world. He said that "We believe political message reach should be earned, not bought."

In a series of tweets, Dorsey then went on to explain the thought process behind his decision.

He also said that the decision was not about free speech, but the negative impact on the democratic infrastructure due to the practice of paid advertisements.

The decision will be binding on both candidate ads as well as issue-based ads.

The only political advertisements that will remain on the platform are voter registration ads.

There will be more clarity on the nuances of the policy when an official statement will be released on November 15th.

The decision puts him at odds with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg who has defended his company's decision to put up unverified campaign ads.

Even during his recent testimony in front of the u.S congress, Zuckerberg defended his stance.

As per Facebook's current policy, campaign ads are not fact-checked, which means that candidates can peddle lies of the platform and not be held accountable.

Dorsey called out Zuckerberg's double standard on the issue of fake information on social media.

He said that it was not credible for his company to say it's working hard to control the spread of misinformation. And then do the same when offered money by political parties — an obvious dig aimed at the facebook founder.

Trump's 2020 campaign responded to the decision by calling it dumb.

They said the company was walking away from hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue and called it an effort to muzzle conservative voices.

Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton was all praise for the move, calling it the right thing for democracy across the world.

She also had a poignant question for facebook at the end of her tweet.

America's election campaigns are among the most expensive in the world. And a sizeable portion of this expenditure goes to advertising.

This is why many internet-based companies are hesitant to do what twitter has just announced.

Take a look at these numbers:&nbsp;

6 billion dollars — that is how much US is likely to spend on the 2020 presidential election cycle.

Out of which 1.6 billion dollars will be spent on digital video adverts.

But the playing field is by no means fair.

Since May 2018, Facebook has raked in 857 million dollars in political ad revenue, while youtube has received 122 million dollars.

In comparison, Twitter's ad revenue during the 2018 mid-term elections was only 3 million dollars.

Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey has made a major announcement that could have huge ramifications for the 2020 presidential elections. Starting November 22 the social media giant will officially stop carrying political advertisements of all kinds.

Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey has made a major announcement that could have huge ramifications for the 2020 presidential elections. Starting November 22 the social media giant will officially stop carrying political advertisements of all kinds. Taking to Twitter, Dorsey had a very strong message for political leaders across the world. He said that "We believe political message reach should be earned, not bought." In a series of tweets, Dorsey then went on to explain the thought process behind his decision. He also said that the decision was not about free speech, but the negative impact on the democratic infrastructure due to the practice of paid advertisements. The decision will be binding on both candidate ads as well as issue-based ads. The only political advertisements that will remain on the platform are voter registration ads. There will be more clarity on the nuances of the policy when an official statement will be released on November 15th. The decision puts him at odds with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg who has defended his company's decision to put up unverified campaign ads. Even during his recent testimony in front of the u.S congress, Zuckerberg defended his stance. As per Facebook's current policy, campaign ads are not fact-checked, which means that candidates can peddle lies of the platform and not be held accountable. Dorsey called out Zuckerberg's double standard on the issue of fake information on social media. He said that it was not credible for his company to say it's working hard to control the spread of misinformation. And then do the same when offered money by political parties — an obvious dig aimed at the facebook founder. Trump's 2020 campaign responded to the decision by calling it dumb. They said the company was walking away from hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue and called it an effort to muzzle conservative voices. Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton was all praise for the move, calling it the right thing for democracy across the world. She also had a poignant question for facebook at the end of her tweet. America's election campaigns are among the most expensive in the world. And a sizeable portion of this expenditure goes to advertising. This is why many internet-based companies are hesitant to do what twitter has just announced. Take a look at these numbers: 6 billion dollars — that is how much US is likely to spend on the 2020 presidential election cycle. Out of which 1.6 billion dollars will be spent on digital video adverts. But the playing field is by no means fair. Since May 2018, Facebook has raked in 857 million dollars in political ad revenue, while youtube has received 122 million dollars. In comparison, Twitter's ad revenue during the 2018 mid-term elections was only 3 million dollars.

We believe political message reach should be earned, not bought: Jack Dorsey

Hundreds of Venezuelan government supporters marched through the streets of Caracas on Thursday in a show of support to President Nicolás Maduro.

Hundreds of Venezuelans march in support of Maduro

A public Democratic debate watch party at The Denver Press Club in Denver, Colorado, on Tuesday night drew a mixture of Democrats and independent voters.

No clear candidate yet for Denver debate watchers

Democratic lawmakers accused President Donald Trump on Thursday of giving Russia the green light to interfere in the 2020 US presidential race, while a top Republican ally said Trump was wrong to say he would <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nothing-wrong-with-accepting-dirt-from-foreign-governments-on-opponents-trump-226696">accept political dirt from foreign sources</a>.

The uproar followed televised comments in which the US president told ABC News he would be willing to listen to such damaging information about political opponents as he seeks re-election.

"I think you might want to listen, there isn`t anything wrong with listening,” Trump said in an interview aired on Wednesday.&nbsp;

"It`s not an interference. They have information, I think I`d take it. If I thought there was something wrong, I`d go maybe to the FBI - if I thought there was something wrong."

Trump`s comments came less than three months after Special Counsel Robert Mueller submitted a report that found Russia waged a hacking and influence campaign to help Trump defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election.

Democratic lawmakers roundly condemned the remarks.&nbsp;

"What the president said last night shows clearly, once again, over and over again, that he does not know the difference between right and wrong," said US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the top Democrat in Congress.

While some 2020 Democratic presidential candidates renewed their call to impeach the president, Trump`s comments did not seem to move House Democrats who have been on the fence closer to initiating impeachment proceedings.

Trump`s statement drew a rebuke, however, from one of his closest allies in Congress, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham.

"I think it`s a mistake," said Graham, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.&nbsp;

He accused Democrats of having accepted damaging information from foreign nationals on political opponents and said any public official contacted by a foreign government with an offer of help to their campaign should reject it and inform the FBI.

House of Representatives Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said he was confident Trump was speaking hypothetically. Others prominent Republicans were outspoken in their discomfort, without naming Trump.

"It is never appropriate to allow a foreign government or its agents to interfere in our election process. Period," said Republican Senator Mike Rounds.&nbsp;

Mitt Romney, a senator and former Republican presidential candidate, said it was "unthinkable" to accept adverse information on a political opponent from a foreign source. "It would strike at the very heart of our democracy," he said.

Senate Democrats failed on Thursday to ram through legislation requiring US presidential campaigns to report to the FBI offers of help from an agent of a foreign government. The move was blocked by Republicans who control the chamber.

Senator Mark Warner, who pushed the legislation, recalled Trump`s "Russia, if you are listening" call for Moscow to dig up Clinton`s missing emails during the 2016 campaign.

"The President has given Russia the green light to interfere in the 2020 election," Warner wrote on Twitter earlier.&nbsp;

'Thing of value'

Any foreign contribution of "money or other thing of value" violates US campaign finance law. Legal experts say knowingly soliciting information from a foreign entity would also be illegal.

In a statement on Twitter prefaced with the comment: "I would not have thought that I needed to say this," Federal Election Commission Chair Ellen Weintraub warned political campaigns not to accept foreign help, saying it risked putting them "on the wrong of a federal investigation."

An FBI counterintelligence investigation of Russian election activities in the 2016 presidential election sparked Mueller`s probe, which confirmed US intelligence agencies` findings that Russia worked to help Trump win.

Mueller, whose investigation examined a 2016 meeting at Trump Tower that Trump`s campaign had with Russians promising dirt on Clinton, did not charge Trump campaign staff who attended the meeting.&nbsp;

Trump defended his remarks in a flurry of tweets on Thursday morning in which he said it would be "ridiculous" to report his contacts with foreign leaders to the FBI.

The top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee expressed alarm at Trump`s comments.

"The president has either learned nothing in the last two years or picked up exactly the wrong lesson - that he can accept gleefully foreign assistance again and escape the punishment of the law," Representative Adam Schiff said.

Democratic presidential candidates who renewed calls for Trump`s impeachment included US Senators Elizabeth Warren and Kirsten Gillibrand and US Representative Eric Swalwell.

"A foreign government attacked our 2016 elections to support Trump, Trump welcomed that help, and Trump obstructed the investigation. Now, he said he`d do it all over again. It`s time to impeach Donald Trump,” Warren said.

Democratic lawmakers accused President Donald Trump on Thursday of giving Russia the green light to interfere in the 2020 US presidential race, while a top Republican ally said Trump was wrong to say he would accept political dirt from foreign sources.

Democratic lawmakers accused President Donald Trump on Thursday of giving Russia the green light to interfere in the 2020 US presidential race, while a top Republican ally said Trump was wrong to say he would accept political dirt from foreign sources. The uproar followed televised comments in which the US president told ABC News he would be willing to listen to such damaging information about political opponents as he seeks re-election. "I think you might want to listen, there isn`t anything wrong with listening,” Trump said in an interview aired on Wednesday. "It`s not an interference. They have information, I think I`d take it. If I thought there was something wrong, I`d go maybe to the FBI - if I thought there was something wrong." Trump`s comments came less than three months after Special Counsel Robert Mueller submitted a report that found Russia waged a hacking and influence campaign to help Trump defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election. Democratic lawmakers roundly condemned the remarks. "What the president said last night shows clearly, once again, over and over again, that he does not know the difference between right and wrong," said US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the top Democrat in Congress. While some 2020 Democratic presidential candidates renewed their call to impeach the president, Trump`s comments did not seem to move House Democrats who have been on the fence closer to initiating impeachment proceedings. Trump`s statement drew a rebuke, however, from one of his closest allies in Congress, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham. "I think it`s a mistake," said Graham, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. He accused Democrats of having accepted damaging information from foreign nationals on political opponents and said any public official contacted by a foreign government with an offer of help to their campaign should reject it and inform the FBI. House of Representatives Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said he was confident Trump was speaking hypothetically. Others prominent Republicans were outspoken in their discomfort, without naming Trump. "It is never appropriate to allow a foreign government or its agents to interfere in our election process. Period," said Republican Senator Mike Rounds. Mitt Romney, a senator and former Republican presidential candidate, said it was "unthinkable" to accept adverse information on a political opponent from a foreign source. "It would strike at the very heart of our democracy," he said. Senate Democrats failed on Thursday to ram through legislation requiring US presidential campaigns to report to the FBI offers of help from an agent of a foreign government. The move was blocked by Republicans who control the chamber. Senator Mark Warner, who pushed the legislation, recalled Trump`s "Russia, if you are listening" call for Moscow to dig up Clinton`s missing emails during the 2016 campaign. "The President has given Russia the green light to interfere in the 2020 election," Warner wrote on Twitter earlier. 'Thing of value' Any foreign contribution of "money or other thing of value" violates US campaign finance law. Legal experts say knowingly soliciting information from a foreign entity would also be illegal. In a statement on Twitter prefaced with the comment: "I would not have thought that I needed to say this," Federal Election Commission Chair Ellen Weintraub warned political campaigns not to accept foreign help, saying it risked putting them "on the wrong of a federal investigation." An FBI counterintelligence investigation of Russian election activities in the 2016 presidential election sparked Mueller`s probe, which confirmed US intelligence agencies` findings that Russia worked to help Trump win. Mueller, whose investigation examined a 2016 meeting at Trump Tower that Trump`s campaign had with Russians promising dirt on Clinton, did not charge Trump campaign staff who attended the meeting. Trump defended his remarks in a flurry of tweets on Thursday morning in which he said it would be "ridiculous" to report his contacts with foreign leaders to the FBI. The top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee expressed alarm at Trump`s comments. "The president has either learned nothing in the last two years or picked up exactly the wrong lesson - that he can accept gleefully foreign assistance again and escape the punishment of the law," Representative Adam Schiff said. Democratic presidential candidates who renewed calls for Trump`s impeachment included US Senators Elizabeth Warren and Kirsten Gillibrand and US Representative Eric Swalwell. "A foreign government attacked our 2016 elections to support Trump, Trump welcomed that help, and Trump obstructed the investigation. Now, he said he`d do it all over again. It`s time to impeach Donald Trump,” Warren said.

Trump comments give green light to foreign election meddling: Democrats

Taiwan became the first place in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage on Friday, as thousands of demonstrators outside parliament cheered and waved rainbow flags, despite deep divisions over marriage equality. Lawmakers of the majority Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) backed the bill, which passed 66 to 27, although the measure could complicate President Tsai Ing-wen's bid to win a second term in presidential elections next year.

Taiwan's parliament becomes first in Asia to legalise gay marriage

Mueller report reveals that there was no collusion between Russi-US. Watch full video to know more.

Mueller Report: No collusion between Russia-US

WION explains the good, the bad, and the ugly about the 2019 Indonesia's Presidential Elections. Watch full video to know more. #WIONGravitas, # Indonesia's Presidential Elections, #Indonesia

WION Gravitas: All You Need to Know About Indonesia's Presidential Elections

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