With Macron as the latest addition, here's full list of world leaders who contracted Covid-19

President Donald Trump’s illness from a coronavirus infection last month was the most significant health crisis for a sitting president in nearly 40 years. Yet little remains known about how the virus arrived at the White House and how it spread.

The administration did not take basic steps to track the outbreak, limiting contact tracing, keeping cases a secret, and cutting out the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The origin of the infections, a spokesman said, was “unknowable.”

But one standard public health technique may still shed some light: tracking the cluster’s genetic fingerprints.

To better understand the outbreak, The New York Times worked with prominent geneticists to determine the genetic sequence of viruses that infected two Times journalists believed to have been exposed to the coronavirus as part of their work covering the White House.

The study reveals, for the first time, the genetic sequence of the virus that may have infected Trump and dozens of others, researchers said. That genome is a crucial clue that may allow researchers to identify where the outbreak originated and whether it went on to infect others across the country.

The White House has not disclosed any effort to conduct similar genetic testing, but the study’s results show that it is still possible, even weeks after positive tests. Additional sequencing could help establish the path of the virus through the White House, the role of a possible super spreading event for Judge Amy Coney Barrett, and the origin of an outbreak among the staff of Vice President Mike Pence in the last week or so.

The journalists, Michael D. Shear and Al Drago, both had significant, separate exposure to White House officials in late September, several days before they developed symptoms. They did not spend any time near each other in the weeks before their positive tests.

Shear traveled with Trump and other staff on Air Force One on Sept. 26, when Trump approached within 5-6 feet without a mask. Drago covered the Barrett event that day and a news conference the next day near officials who were not wearing masks and later tested positive. Both journalists wore masks.

The viral genomes of the two journalists shared the same distinct pattern of mutations, the research found. Along with their exposure history, the findings suggest that they were infected as part of the broader White House outbreak, said Trevor Bedford, a geneticist at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of Washington who led the research team.

“These mutations that are possessed by these viruses are quite rare in the United States,” Bedford said. “I am highly convinced that these viruses come from the same outbreak or cluster based on their genomes.”

The study, which has been posted online but not yet peer-reviewed or published in a science journal, followed academic protocols that require genetic samples to be anonymous. Shear and Drago chose to disclose their identities for this article.

Viruses constantly mutate, picking up tiny, accidental alterations to their genetic material as they reproduce. Few mutations alter how a virus functions. But by comparing patterns of mutations across many genetic sequences, scientists can construct family trees of a virus, illuminating how it spreads.

The genomes believed by these researchers to be connected to the White House outbreak do not identify a recent geographic source, in part because they are unusual. The ancestors of those viruses spread to the United States from Europe and were circulating widely across the country in April and May, but the trail goes cold after that, according to Bedford.

Geneticists said the genomes are a key piece of the puzzle that may spur future research to determine where the White House outbreak originated and where it may go next. Scientists collect and publish tens of thousands of new sequences of the coronavirus every month, and additional testing may fill in the picture.

The results show that even weeks after it was identified, the White House outbreak would be better understood by sequencing samples of more people who were infected. Swabs used in positive tests are often kept in labs for months after initial infection, and genetic material for the coronavirus is stable if stored appropriately.

The CDC routinely relies on genetic testing to help understand COVID-19 outbreaks elsewhere across the country. In a study released on Thursday, the CDC cited genetic sequencing and intensive contact tracing that documented a super spreading event at a high school retreat in Wisconsin.

But the Trump administration is not known to have conducted its own genetic analysis of people infected in the outbreak. The White House declined to respond to questions on the genetic sequencing of Trump and the cluster of aides and officials who tested positive or became ill.

There is still a remote possibility, Bedford said, that a previously unseen version of the virus had been circulating undetected in Washington or Northern Virginia and infected both journalists independently from the White House cluster. More testing of the outbreak could eliminate that possibility, he said.

Scientists not involved in the research who reviewed the results agreed with the conclusion that the two samples sharing rare mutations strongly suggested they are part of the same outbreak.

“These genomes are probably going to be identical or nearly identical to the genome that infected the president,” said Michael Worobey, head of the department of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Arizona.

Worobey disputed the White House’s characterization that the source of the outbreak could not be known.

“A lot of things are unknowable if you make no effort to know anything about them, and this falls into this category,” Worobey said. “All of these things actually can be known if you make the effort and you have the transparency that scientists are desperately trying to promote as we sequence hundreds of thousands of these genomes around the world.”

For months, the White House minimized the threat of the virus and eschewed basic safety precautions at official events, like wearing a mask or keeping people 6 feet apart.

At least 11 people who attended a Rose Garden celebration on Sept. 26 for Judge Amy Coney Barrett, which included an indoor event without masks, became infected with the coronavirus, including Trump. Additional genetic testing could help more clearly establish the role of that event.

Bedford and his colleagues were able to obtain a full genetic sequence for the virus that infected Shear and a partial sequence of the virus that infected Drago. Several unusual mutations matched in the two samples, sufficient evidence to determine with a very high probability that they were essentially the same genome, Bedford said.

The work was carried out by a multidisciplinary team of researchers at the University of Washington School of Medicine, the Hutchinson Center, and the Brotman Baty Institute for Precision Medicine in Seattle.

The work is convincing, and it is the best way to piece together the progression of such an outbreak, said David Engelthaler, head of the infectious disease branch of the Translational Genomics Research Institute in Arizona, where he and colleagues have sequenced thousands of genomes to track the spread of the coronavirus, including devastating outbreaks at Native American reservations in the state.

“It’s critical no matter where we are to sequence this virus,” Engelthaler said. “Not just at the White House, but at the White Mountain Apache Reservation here in Arizona.”

President Donald Trump’s illness from a coronavirus infection last month was the most significant health crisis for a sitting president in nearly 40 years. Yet little remains known about how the virus arrived at the White House and how it spread.

President Donald Trump’s illness from a coronavirus infection last month was the most significant health crisis for a sitting president in nearly 40 years. Yet little remains known about how the virus arrived at the White House and how it spread. The administration did not take basic steps to track the outbreak, limiting contact tracing, keeping cases a secret, and cutting out the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The origin of the infections, a spokesman said, was “unknowable.” But one standard public health technique may still shed some light: tracking the cluster’s genetic fingerprints. To better understand the outbreak, The New York Times worked with prominent geneticists to determine the genetic sequence of viruses that infected two Times journalists believed to have been exposed to the coronavirus as part of their work covering the White House. The study reveals, for the first time, the genetic sequence of the virus that may have infected Trump and dozens of others, researchers said. That genome is a crucial clue that may allow researchers to identify where the outbreak originated and whether it went on to infect others across the country. The White House has not disclosed any effort to conduct similar genetic testing, but the study’s results show that it is still possible, even weeks after positive tests. Additional sequencing could help establish the path of the virus through the White House, the role of a possible super spreading event for Judge Amy Coney Barrett, and the origin of an outbreak among the staff of Vice President Mike Pence in the last week or so. The journalists, Michael D. Shear and Al Drago, both had significant, separate exposure to White House officials in late September, several days before they developed symptoms. They did not spend any time near each other in the weeks before their positive tests. Shear traveled with Trump and other staff on Air Force One on Sept. 26, when Trump approached within 5-6 feet without a mask. Drago covered the Barrett event that day and a news conference the next day near officials who were not wearing masks and later tested positive. Both journalists wore masks. The viral genomes of the two journalists shared the same distinct pattern of mutations, the research found. Along with their exposure history, the findings suggest that they were infected as part of the broader White House outbreak, said Trevor Bedford, a geneticist at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of Washington who led the research team. “These mutations that are possessed by these viruses are quite rare in the United States,” Bedford said. “I am highly convinced that these viruses come from the same outbreak or cluster based on their genomes.” The study, which has been posted online but not yet peer-reviewed or published in a science journal, followed academic protocols that require genetic samples to be anonymous. Shear and Drago chose to disclose their identities for this article. Viruses constantly mutate, picking up tiny, accidental alterations to their genetic material as they reproduce. Few mutations alter how a virus functions. But by comparing patterns of mutations across many genetic sequences, scientists can construct family trees of a virus, illuminating how it spreads. The genomes believed by these researchers to be connected to the White House outbreak do not identify a recent geographic source, in part because they are unusual. The ancestors of those viruses spread to the United States from Europe and were circulating widely across the country in April and May, but the trail goes cold after that, according to Bedford. Geneticists said the genomes are a key piece of the puzzle that may spur future research to determine where the White House outbreak originated and where it may go next. Scientists collect and publish tens of thousands of new sequences of the coronavirus every month, and additional testing may fill in the picture. The results show that even weeks after it was identified, the White House outbreak would be better understood by sequencing samples of more people who were infected. Swabs used in positive tests are often kept in labs for months after initial infection, and genetic material for the coronavirus is stable if stored appropriately. The CDC routinely relies on genetic testing to help understand COVID-19 outbreaks elsewhere across the country. In a study released on Thursday, the CDC cited genetic sequencing and intensive contact tracing that documented a super spreading event at a high school retreat in Wisconsin. But the Trump administration is not known to have conducted its own genetic analysis of people infected in the outbreak. The White House declined to respond to questions on the genetic sequencing of Trump and the cluster of aides and officials who tested positive or became ill. There is still a remote possibility, Bedford said, that a previously unseen version of the virus had been circulating undetected in Washington or Northern Virginia and infected both journalists independently from the White House cluster. More testing of the outbreak could eliminate that possibility, he said. Scientists not involved in the research who reviewed the results agreed with the conclusion that the two samples sharing rare mutations strongly suggested they are part of the same outbreak. “These genomes are probably going to be identical or nearly identical to the genome that infected the president,” said Michael Worobey, head of the department of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Arizona. Worobey disputed the White House’s characterization that the source of the outbreak could not be known. “A lot of things are unknowable if you make no effort to know anything about them, and this falls into this category,” Worobey said. “All of these things actually can be known if you make the effort and you have the transparency that scientists are desperately trying to promote as we sequence hundreds of thousands of these genomes around the world.” For months, the White House minimized the threat of the virus and eschewed basic safety precautions at official events, like wearing a mask or keeping people 6 feet apart. At least 11 people who attended a Rose Garden celebration on Sept. 26 for Judge Amy Coney Barrett, which included an indoor event without masks, became infected with the coronavirus, including Trump. Additional genetic testing could help more clearly establish the role of that event. Bedford and his colleagues were able to obtain a full genetic sequence for the virus that infected Shear and a partial sequence of the virus that infected Drago. Several unusual mutations matched in the two samples, sufficient evidence to determine with a very high probability that they were essentially the same genome, Bedford said. The work was carried out by a multidisciplinary team of researchers at the University of Washington School of Medicine, the Hutchinson Center, and the Brotman Baty Institute for Precision Medicine in Seattle. The work is convincing, and it is the best way to piece together the progression of such an outbreak, said David Engelthaler, head of the infectious disease branch of the Translational Genomics Research Institute in Arizona, where he and colleagues have sequenced thousands of genomes to track the spread of the coronavirus, including devastating outbreaks at Native American reservations in the state. “It’s critical no matter where we are to sequence this virus,” Engelthaler said. “Not just at the White House, but at the White Mountain Apache Reservation here in Arizona.”

Tests show genetic signature of virus that may have infected President Trump

As the United States continues to battle the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-worldwide-cases-surpass-40-million-more-than-50-cases-from-us-india-and-brazil-336386">virus</a>, US President Donald Trump&nbsp;at a campaign rally ahead of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/us-election">US elections</a>&nbsp;said the "people are pandemic-ed out".

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-election-2020-trump-lashes-out-at-niaid-director-dr-anthony-fauci-336558/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"You know that their pandemic-ed out. That's why it's so great what your governor has done, he's opened up your state," the US president told a rally in Tucson.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-elections-mikes-to-be-muted-in-next-us-presidential-debate-between-trump-and-biden-to-stop-interruptions-336543">Also Read:&nbsp;Mikes to be muted in next US presidential debate between Trump and Biden to stop interruptions</a>

"And by the way, you get it. You know, like I say, here I am. I'm here. I'm here. And now I'm immune. I can jump into this audience and kiss every man and woman. I'm immune Right? They say," he said with just days left for the US elections on November 3.

Trump had earlier hit out at top government scientist Anthony <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-calls-coronavirus-expert-anthony-fauci-a-disaster-336526">Fauci</a> suggesting that the doctor was an "idiot".

"People are saying, 'whatever -- just leave us alone.' They're tired of it. People are tired of hearing Fauci and all these idiots," the president said.

The United States has been the worst-hit country due to the virus with over 220,110 fatalities and over 8.2 million COVID-19 cases.

"Fauci, if we listened to him, we'd have 700,000 (or) 800,000 deaths," Trump said, adding,"He's been here for, like, 500 years."

Trump had&nbsp;retweeted a post a few months ago that contained the hashtag<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fauci-says-trump-campaign-ad-twisted-his-words-on-coronavirus-334558"> #FireFauci</a> before reassuring the American people that "Tony" was doing a great job.

As the United States continues to battle the virus, US President Donald Trump at a campaign rally ahead of the US elections said the "people are pandemic-ed out".

As the United States continues to battle the virus, US President Donald Trump at a campaign rally ahead of the US elections said the "people are pandemic-ed out". Watch: "You know that their pandemic-ed out. That's why it's so great what your governor has done, he's opened up your state," the US president told a rally in Tucson. Also Read: Mikes to be muted in next US presidential debate between Trump and Biden to stop interruptions "And by the way, you get it. You know, like I say, here I am. I'm here. I'm here. And now I'm immune. I can jump into this audience and kiss every man and woman. I'm immune Right? They say," he said with just days left for the US elections on November 3. Trump had earlier hit out at top government scientist Anthony Fauci suggesting that the doctor was an "idiot". "People are saying, 'whatever -- just leave us alone.' They're tired of it. People are tired of hearing Fauci and all these idiots," the president said. The United States has been the worst-hit country due to the virus with over 220,110 fatalities and over 8.2 million COVID-19 cases. "Fauci, if we listened to him, we'd have 700,000 (or) 800,000 deaths," Trump said, adding,"He's been here for, like, 500 years." Trump had retweeted a post a few months ago that contained the hashtag #FireFauci before reassuring the American people that "Tony" was doing a great job.

People are pandemic-ed out,  and now I'm immune, says Trump in campaign rally

President Donald Trump's son Barron, 14, has contracted coronavirus, US First Lady Melania Trump revealed on Wednesday.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/twitter-suspends-fake-black-accounts-supporting-trump-335177">Also Read:&nbsp;Twitter suspends fake Black accounts supporting Trump</a>

President Trump and Melania were detected with the virus two weeks ago. "Naturally my mind went immediately to our son, luckily he is a strong teenager and exhibited no symptoms," Melania Trump said in a statement.

Trump at a campaign rally in Iowa said: "I don't even think he knew he had it, because they're young and their immune systems are strong and they fight it off."

The US president had earlier spent three days at the Walter Reed hospital in Washington after which he returned to the White House as doctors cleared him to begin campaigning for the US elections which takes place on November 3.

"Barron's fine," Trump said later as the nation continues to battle the virus. Meanwhile, Melania Trump said her symptoms were "minimal" while adding that she hoped to resume her duties "as soon as I can."

"I experienced body aches, a cough and headaches, and felt extremely tired most of the time," the First Lady said, adding, "I chose to go a more natural route in terms of medicine, opting more for vitamins and healthy food."

"In one way I was glad the three of us went through this at the same time so we could take care of one another and spend time together," Melania Trump said.

President Donald Trump's son Barron, 14, has contracted coronavirus, US First Lady Melania Trump revealed on Wednesday. Also Read: Twitter suspends fake Black accounts supporting Trump President Trump and Melania were detected with the virus two weeks ago.

President Donald Trump's son Barron, 14, has contracted coronavirus, US First Lady Melania Trump revealed on Wednesday. Also Read: Twitter suspends fake Black accounts supporting Trump President Trump and Melania were detected with the virus two weeks ago. "Naturally my mind went immediately to our son, luckily he is a strong teenager and exhibited no symptoms," Melania Trump said in a statement. Trump at a campaign rally in Iowa said: "I don't even think he knew he had it, because they're young and their immune systems are strong and they fight it off." The US president had earlier spent three days at the Walter Reed hospital in Washington after which he returned to the White House as doctors cleared him to begin campaigning for the US elections which takes place on November 3. "Barron's fine," Trump said later as the nation continues to battle the virus. Meanwhile, Melania Trump said her symptoms were "minimal" while adding that she hoped to resume her duties "as soon as I can." "I experienced body aches, a cough and headaches, and felt extremely tired most of the time," the First Lady said, adding, "I chose to go a more natural route in terms of medicine, opting more for vitamins and healthy food." "In one way I was glad the three of us went through this at the same time so we could take care of one another and spend time together," Melania Trump said.

Trump's son Barron tests positive for COVID-19

US President Donald <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-receives-an-unusual-endorsement-from-taliban-for-reelection-bid-334424">Trump</a> who was cleared to start campaigning by his doctor, said today that he is "immune" from coronavirus.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-a-first-new-england-journal-of-medicine-joins-never-trumpers-334446">Also Read:&nbsp;In a first, New England Journal of Medicine joins never-Trumpers</a>

"It looks like I'm immune for, I don't know, maybe a long time and maybe a short time, it could be a lifetime, nobody really knows, but I'm immune," Trump told a US TV network on Sunday ahead of his rallies beginning Monday.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/donald-trump-no-longer-a-transmission-risk-white-house-334379/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Trump's physician Sean Conley had said earlier that "he is no longer considered a transmission risk to others" less than a week after the US president returned to the White House after being admitted to Walter Reed hospital.

Trump is set to hold rallies in Florida, Pennsylvania and Iowa starting Monday with the US elections just days away.

According to Conley, the president's tests showed there was "no longer evidence of actively replicating virus" while stating that Trump's viral load was "decreasing".&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/donald-trumps-alternate-constitutional-reality-334422">Trump</a> in his first public appearance since returning to the White House told his supporters from the balcony that he was "feeling great" and that the US will "beat the China virus".

"Science, medicine will eradicate the China virus once and for all, it's going to disappear. It's disappearing," Trump asserted. "I have defeated the China virus, &nbsp;This disease is going to disappear," the US president had said on Saturday from the White House.

US President Donald Trump who was cleared to start campaigning by his doctor, said today that he is "immune" from coronavirus. Also Read: In a first, New England Journal of Medicine joins never-Trumpers "It looks like I'm immune for, I don't know, maybe a long time and maybe a short time, it could be a lifetime, nobody really knows, but I'm immune," Trump told a US TV network on Sunday ahead of his rallies beginning Monday.

US President Donald Trump who was cleared to start campaigning by his doctor, said today that he is "immune" from coronavirus. Also Read: In a first, New England Journal of Medicine joins never-Trumpers "It looks like I'm immune for, I don't know, maybe a long time and maybe a short time, it could be a lifetime, nobody really knows, but I'm immune," Trump told a US TV network on Sunday ahead of his rallies beginning Monday. Watch: Trump's physician Sean Conley had said earlier that "he is no longer considered a transmission risk to others" less than a week after the US president returned to the White House after being admitted to Walter Reed hospital. Trump is set to hold rallies in Florida, Pennsylvania and Iowa starting Monday with the US elections just days away. According to Conley, the president's tests showed there was "no longer evidence of actively replicating virus" while stating that Trump's viral load was "decreasing". Trump in his first public appearance since returning to the White House told his supporters from the balcony that he was "feeling great" and that the US will "beat the China virus". "Science, medicine will eradicate the China virus once and for all, it's going to disappear. It's disappearing," Trump asserted. "I have defeated the China virus, This disease is going to disappear," the US president had said on Saturday from the White House.

It looks like I'm immune from coronavirus, says Trump

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canada-gets-consular-access-to-citizens-detained-in-china-334474">Canada gets consular access to citizens detained in China</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/08/13/154384-justin-trudeau.jpg?itok=IqXBItC3" />

The two Canadian citizens have been in detained in China since December 2018 on the charge of espionage.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/truce-too-fragile-pope-francis-calls-for-dialogue-as-karabakh-ceasefire-under-severe-strain-334515">'Truce too fragile': Pope Francis calls for dialogue as Karabakh ceasefire under severe strain</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/10/11/164442-kara11.jpg?itok=h6vB__8U" />

Azerbaijan's foreign ministry had said that there was overnight shelling in Ganja on Saturday leading to the death of at least seven people with several wounded.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/matter-of-pride-tokyo-unveils-lgbtq-landmark-before-olympics-334508">Matter of pride: Tokyo unveils LGBTQ landmark before Olympics</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/10/11/164436-tokyos-pride-house-1.jpg?itok=zMYGnwdv" />

The International Olympic Committee supported the move by adding that in sports, everyone is equal and thus the IOC is happy with the installation.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/anti-netanyahu-protests-erupt-in-israel-amid-coronavirus-restrictions-334498">Anti-Netanyahu protests erupt in Israel amid coronavirus restrictions</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/10/11/164430-protests.jpg?itok=L1HNONai" />

Large scale protests were witnessed in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem with scattered demonstrations elsewhere in the country.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mexico-accuses-us-of-performing-surgeries-on-women-without-consent-334497">Mexico accuses US of performing surgeries on women without consent</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/10/11/164432-women-detainees-in-us.jpg?itok=C7heXc3y" />

In the accusation, it has been stated that at least two women were forced to undergo a surgery without her consent.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/disappointing-us-slams-north-korea-for-display-of-missile-334519">'Disappointing': US slams North Korea for display of missile</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/10/10/164353-nkorea1.jpg?itok=fLhg1xXF" />

"It is disappointing to see the DPRK (North Korea) continuing to prioritize its prohibited nuclear and ballistic missile program," a US official said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-to-oppose-us-f-35-fighter-jet-sale-to-qatar-334480">Israel to oppose US F-35 fighter jet sale to Qatar</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/09/22/161192-untitled-design-1.jpg?itok=J_ycgfCu" />

US Defense Secretary Mark Esper had earlier said the US would ensure Israel military superiority in the Middle East, amid reports of US sale of F-35 fighters to the United Arab Emirates.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mob-of-40-attacks-police-station-in-paris-suburb-334449">Mob of 40 attacks police station in Paris suburb</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/10/11/164401-paris-police-station.jpg?itok=PC0T3pTN" />

The mob was armed with metal bars and it was using fireworks as mortars. People wanted to enter the police station but were not able to do so.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-delays-manned-spacex-mission-to-space-station-till-november-334433">NASA delays manned SpaceX mission to space station till November</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2018/09/11/41752-nasa-20180219090049.jpg?itok=BbL2N8PC" />

Originally scheduled for October 31st, the planned six-month mission was delayed as Elon Musk-run SpaceX evaluates off-nominal behaviour of Falcon 9 first stage engine gas generators observed during a recent non-NASA mission launch attempt.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-receives-an-unusual-endorsement-from-taliban-for-reelection-bid-334424">Trump receives an unusual endorsement from Taliban for reelection bid</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/10/11/164389-pjimage-18.jpg?itok=As-UaeBD" />

The Taliban also expressed concern over the US president's recent coronavirus infection.

Canada gets consular access to citizens detained in China The two Canadian citizens have been in detained in China since December 2018 on the charge of espionage.

Canada gets consular access to citizens detained in China The two Canadian citizens have been in detained in China since December 2018 on the charge of espionage. 'Truce too fragile': Pope Francis calls for dialogue as Karabakh ceasefire under severe strain Azerbaijan's foreign ministry had said that there was overnight shelling in Ganja on Saturday leading to the death of at least seven people with several wounded. Matter of pride: Tokyo unveils LGBTQ landmark before Olympics The International Olympic Committee supported the move by adding that in sports, everyone is equal and thus the IOC is happy with the installation. Anti-Netanyahu protests erupt in Israel amid coronavirus restrictions Large scale protests were witnessed in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem with scattered demonstrations elsewhere in the country. Mexico accuses US of performing surgeries on women without consent In the accusation, it has been stated that at least two women were forced to undergo a surgery without her consent. 'Disappointing': US slams North Korea for display of missile "It is disappointing to see the DPRK (North Korea) continuing to prioritize its prohibited nuclear and ballistic missile program," a US official said. Israel to oppose US F-35 fighter jet sale to Qatar US Defense Secretary Mark Esper had earlier said the US would ensure Israel military superiority in the Middle East, amid reports of US sale of F-35 fighters to the United Arab Emirates. Mob of 40 attacks police station in Paris suburb The mob was armed with metal bars and it was using fireworks as mortars. People wanted to enter the police station but were not able to do so. NASA delays manned SpaceX mission to space station till November Originally scheduled for October 31st, the planned six-month mission was delayed as Elon Musk-run SpaceX evaluates off-nominal behaviour of Falcon 9 first stage engine gas generators observed during a recent non-NASA mission launch attempt. Trump receives an unusual endorsement from Taliban for reelection bid The Taliban also expressed concern over the US president's recent coronavirus infection.

Top 10 world news today: Paris police attacked, Taliban supports Trump and more

WASHINGTON — Even as he scrambles to shore up support from his base, President Donald Trump on Thursday again suggested that veterans and their families had spread the coronavirus at the White House, floating the idea that a meeting with the loved ones of fallen military members might have been the source of his own infection.

In an interview on Fox Business, Trump described an event at the White House on Sept. 27 with a group of Gold Star families — those whose relatives have died in military conflicts — and said he had “figured there would be a chance” he would become infected there, because the family members “come within an inch of my face sometimes.”

“They want to hug me and they want to kiss me,” he added. “And they do. And frankly, I’m not telling them to back up. I’m not doing it. But I did say it’s obviously dangerous.”

Last week, Trump suggested that Marines and other service members, as well as police officers, might have infected one of his top advisers, Hope Hicks. In fact, by the time the president made those comments, in an interview with Fox News on Thursday night, he had already tested positive using a rapid test and was awaiting the results of a more precise test.

The remarks came weeks after a report in The Atlantic that Trump had disparaged U.S. troops who died in wars as “losers” and “suckers.”

Trump has counted on veterans as well as active-duty service members as a key slice of his political base; in 2016, about 60% voted for him, according to exit polls, and swing-state counties with especially high numbers of veterans helped him win. But that support appears to have slipped.

Groups associated with veterans and disillusioned Republican voters have raised millions of dollars to attack Trump since the Atlantic report early last month, which cited anonymous people who said the president had rejected a visit to a World War I military cemetery in northern France in part because it was “filled with losers.”

Alyssa Farah, a White House spokeswoman, said Trump had not been implicating the families.

“His point was merely that in the time frame that he was potentially exposed,” she said, “there were a number of different venues he’d been at and individuals that he had interacted with that it could have come from.”

WASHINGTON — Even as he scrambles to shore up support from his base, President Donald Trump on Thursday again suggested that veterans and their families had spread the coronavirus at the White House, floating the idea that a meeting with the loved ones of fallen military members might have been the source of his own infection.

WASHINGTON — Even as he scrambles to shore up support from his base, President Donald Trump on Thursday again suggested that veterans and their families had spread the coronavirus at the White House, floating the idea that a meeting with the loved ones of fallen military members might have been the source of his own infection. In an interview on Fox Business, Trump described an event at the White House on Sept. 27 with a group of Gold Star families — those whose relatives have died in military conflicts — and said he had “figured there would be a chance” he would become infected there, because the family members “come within an inch of my face sometimes.” “They want to hug me and they want to kiss me,” he added. “And they do. And frankly, I’m not telling them to back up. I’m not doing it. But I did say it’s obviously dangerous.” Last week, Trump suggested that Marines and other service members, as well as police officers, might have infected one of his top advisers, Hope Hicks. In fact, by the time the president made those comments, in an interview with Fox News on Thursday night, he had already tested positive using a rapid test and was awaiting the results of a more precise test. The remarks came weeks after a report in The Atlantic that Trump had disparaged U.S. troops who died in wars as “losers” and “suckers.” Trump has counted on veterans as well as active-duty service members as a key slice of his political base; in 2016, about 60% voted for him, according to exit polls, and swing-state counties with especially high numbers of veterans helped him win. But that support appears to have slipped. Groups associated with veterans and disillusioned Republican voters have raised millions of dollars to attack Trump since the Atlantic report early last month, which cited anonymous people who said the president had rejected a visit to a World War I military cemetery in northern France in part because it was “filled with losers.” Alyssa Farah, a White House spokeswoman, said Trump had not been implicating the families. “His point was merely that in the time frame that he was potentially exposed,” she said, “there were a number of different venues he’d been at and individuals that he had interacted with that it could have come from.”

Trump suggests Gold Star families may be to blame for his infection

When the Trump administration suspended federal funding in 2019 for most new scientific research projects involving fetal tissue derived from abortions, officials argued that whatever the scientific benefits, there was a pressing moral imperative to find alternative research methods.

“Promoting the dignity of human life from conception to natural death is one of the very top priorities of President Trump’s administration,” the Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement released at the time.

Yet the treatment for COVID-19 received by Donald Trump — a combination of monoclonal antibodies he described as a “cure” in a celebratory video posted on Twitter — was developed using human cells derived from a fetus aborted decades ago.

Remdesivir, an antiviral drug that the president received late last week, was also developed with those cell lines. At least two companies racing to create a vaccine against the coronavirus, Moderna and AstraZeneca, are also relying on the cells. Johnson &amp; Johnson is testing its vaccine in another so-called cell line originally produced from fetal tissue.

As participants in the White House’s Operation Warp Speed, all three vaccine-makers have received federal funding.

A Trump administration official argued Thursday that the president’s embracing of the treatments was not a contradiction. The administration’s policy on fetal tissue research “specifically excluded” cell lines made before June 2019, said the official, who did not wish to be identified because he was not authorized to speak about the matter.

Scientific products made using cell lines that existed before then “would not implicate the administration’s policy on the use of human fetal tissue from elective abortions,” the official said.

Some scientists saw a double standard in the president’s endorsement. “Hypocrisy has never bothered the man, as near as I can tell,” Lawrence Goldstein, a neuroscientist at the University of California, San Diego, who has used fetal tissue in his research, said of Trump.

Dr. Deepak Srivastava, a pediatric cardiologist who led the International Society for Stem Cell Research until July, said, “If they oppose this research, they should be willing to not take a drug that was developed using that.”

For decades, fetal tissue from abortions has been crucial to scientific research into treatments for conditions from birth defects to Ebola to cancer. And fetal tissue has been particularly important for studying the immune system, a key to designing treatments and vaccines for infectious diseases like COVID-19.

The cells used by most of the companies now trying to find a COVID-19 treatment, called the 293T line, were derived from the kidney tissue of a fetus aborted in the 1970s. A similar cell line, Per.C6, was obtained in 1985 from the retinal cells of an aborted 18-week-old fetus.

The treatment that Trump called a cure for COVID-19 is a combination of two monoclonal antibodies manufactured by Regeneron. Those antibodies are synthesized outside the body and then infused into patients to help fight off the infection.

Regeneron tested the antibodies against virus-like particles created using 293T human cells. The viral particles serve as a proxy for the live coronavirus; testing otherwise would require a lab with extremely high biosafety levels. (Eli Lilly, which also is manufacturing monoclonal antibodies, is using the same method.)

“293Ts were used in testing the antibodies’ ability to neutralize the virus,” said Alexandra Bowie, a spokesperson for Regeneron. “They weren’t used in any other way, and fetal tissue was not used in the research.”

Trump’s resounding endorsement of Regeneron may run afoul of some religious groups and conservative leaders who have questioned the cells’ use to find treatments or vaccines for use against the coronavirus.

“One concern regarding the ethical assessment of viral vaccine candidates is the potential use of abortion-derived cell lines in the development, production or testing,” David Prentice, vice president of the Charlotte Lozier Institute, wrote in September.

His analysis identified 13 vaccine candidates for the coronavirus that rely on fetal cell lines.

Such research is “not morally responsible,” said Dr. James Sherley, a research scholar at the Charlotte Lozier Institute and director of the adult stem cell company Asymmetrex. “There are alternatives — there are lots of ways that don’t require the death of anyone.”

But other conservative leaders have sanctioned use of the cells, noting that they were developed decades ago, long before concerns about their fetal origins became a political issue.

In a letter sent to Trump in June, more than 100 members of Congress praised the president for his “efforts to protect the sanctity of all human life” but described 293T and Per.C6 as a “few old cell lines.”

On Thursday, some scientists dismissed that reasoning. “It’s not ethically sound to say, ‘Just because they’re made a long time ago, it’s OK if it’s going to save my life,’” Srivastava said.

Scientists argue that the administration’s position has prevented lifesaving research. Dr. Warner Greene, a researcher at the Gladstone Institutes, a nonprofit research organization in San Francisco, said, “The president’s decision regarding fetal tissue research has thwarted many, many promising lines of investigation.”

At the time of the ban, Greene was investigating a cure for HIV with a collaborator at the Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Hamilton, Montana. The federal ban abruptly cut off their funding.

“Our experiments were stopped and halted in their tracks,” Greene said, adding that the work had not yet resumed.

As the administration sharply restricted fetal tissue research, it set up an ethics board to review scientific proposals at the National Institutes of Health. Grant renewals and new projects using fetal tissue are now considered by the Fetal Tissue Ethics Advisory Board, which met for the first time in July.

In August, the board rejected 13 of the 14 proposals it reviewed; the approved proposal relied on tissue that had already been acquired.

Some critics have suggested that scientists use tissue from spontaneous abortions rather than from elective ones. But spontaneous abortions often result from genetic and developmental abnormalities, rendering them unreliable for use in scientific research.

As an alternative to cells derived from fetal tissue, scientists may use mice engineered to carry human genes that may replicate parts of the immune system.

“There have been other modifications that some argue are almost as good, and they are helpful, but they are not the same as the truly humanized mouse from human fetal tissue,” Srivastava said.

In July, the stem cell society sent the new ethics board a letter, signed by 90 scientific, medical and patient organizations, that urged the board to allow fetal tissue to be used to develop treatments for COVID-19 and other diseases.

“Fetal tissue has unique and valuable properties that often cannot be replaced by other cell types,” the statement said.

The House Committee on Oversight and Reform found last month that the Trump administration’s ban on the use of federal funds for fetal tissue research was “based in ideological objections, not evaluation of the scientific merit of such projects.”

When the Trump administration suspended federal funding in 2019 for most new scientific research projects involving fetal tissue derived from abortions, officials argued that whatever the scientific benefits, there was a pressing moral imperative to find alternative research methods.

When the Trump administration suspended federal funding in 2019 for most new scientific research projects involving fetal tissue derived from abortions, officials argued that whatever the scientific benefits, there was a pressing moral imperative to find alternative research methods. “Promoting the dignity of human life from conception to natural death is one of the very top priorities of President Trump’s administration,” the Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement released at the time. Yet the treatment for COVID-19 received by Donald Trump — a combination of monoclonal antibodies he described as a “cure” in a celebratory video posted on Twitter — was developed using human cells derived from a fetus aborted decades ago. Remdesivir, an antiviral drug that the president received late last week, was also developed with those cell lines. At least two companies racing to create a vaccine against the coronavirus, Moderna and AstraZeneca, are also relying on the cells. Johnson & Johnson is testing its vaccine in another so-called cell line originally produced from fetal tissue. As participants in the White House’s Operation Warp Speed, all three vaccine-makers have received federal funding. A Trump administration official argued Thursday that the president’s embracing of the treatments was not a contradiction. The administration’s policy on fetal tissue research “specifically excluded” cell lines made before June 2019, said the official, who did not wish to be identified because he was not authorized to speak about the matter. Scientific products made using cell lines that existed before then “would not implicate the administration’s policy on the use of human fetal tissue from elective abortions,” the official said. Some scientists saw a double standard in the president’s endorsement. “Hypocrisy has never bothered the man, as near as I can tell,” Lawrence Goldstein, a neuroscientist at the University of California, San Diego, who has used fetal tissue in his research, said of Trump. Dr. Deepak Srivastava, a pediatric cardiologist who led the International Society for Stem Cell Research until July, said, “If they oppose this research, they should be willing to not take a drug that was developed using that.” For decades, fetal tissue from abortions has been crucial to scientific research into treatments for conditions from birth defects to Ebola to cancer. And fetal tissue has been particularly important for studying the immune system, a key to designing treatments and vaccines for infectious diseases like COVID-19. The cells used by most of the companies now trying to find a COVID-19 treatment, called the 293T line, were derived from the kidney tissue of a fetus aborted in the 1970s. A similar cell line, Per.C6, was obtained in 1985 from the retinal cells of an aborted 18-week-old fetus. The treatment that Trump called a cure for COVID-19 is a combination of two monoclonal antibodies manufactured by Regeneron. Those antibodies are synthesized outside the body and then infused into patients to help fight off the infection. Regeneron tested the antibodies against virus-like particles created using 293T human cells. The viral particles serve as a proxy for the live coronavirus; testing otherwise would require a lab with extremely high biosafety levels. (Eli Lilly, which also is manufacturing monoclonal antibodies, is using the same method.) “293Ts were used in testing the antibodies’ ability to neutralize the virus,” said Alexandra Bowie, a spokesperson for Regeneron. “They weren’t used in any other way, and fetal tissue was not used in the research.” Trump’s resounding endorsement of Regeneron may run afoul of some religious groups and conservative leaders who have questioned the cells’ use to find treatments or vaccines for use against the coronavirus. “One concern regarding the ethical assessment of viral vaccine candidates is the potential use of abortion-derived cell lines in the development, production or testing,” David Prentice, vice president of the Charlotte Lozier Institute, wrote in September. His analysis identified 13 vaccine candidates for the coronavirus that rely on fetal cell lines. Such research is “not morally responsible,” said Dr. James Sherley, a research scholar at the Charlotte Lozier Institute and director of the adult stem cell company Asymmetrex. “There are alternatives — there are lots of ways that don’t require the death of anyone.” But other conservative leaders have sanctioned use of the cells, noting that they were developed decades ago, long before concerns about their fetal origins became a political issue. In a letter sent to Trump in June, more than 100 members of Congress praised the president for his “efforts to protect the sanctity of all human life” but described 293T and Per.C6 as a “few old cell lines.” On Thursday, some scientists dismissed that reasoning. “It’s not ethically sound to say, ‘Just because they’re made a long time ago, it’s OK if it’s going to save my life,’” Srivastava said. Scientists argue that the administration’s position has prevented lifesaving research. Dr. Warner Greene, a researcher at the Gladstone Institutes, a nonprofit research organization in San Francisco, said, “The president’s decision regarding fetal tissue research has thwarted many, many promising lines of investigation.” At the time of the ban, Greene was investigating a cure for HIV with a collaborator at the Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Hamilton, Montana. The federal ban abruptly cut off their funding. “Our experiments were stopped and halted in their tracks,” Greene said, adding that the work had not yet resumed. As the administration sharply restricted fetal tissue research, it set up an ethics board to review scientific proposals at the National Institutes of Health. Grant renewals and new projects using fetal tissue are now considered by the Fetal Tissue Ethics Advisory Board, which met for the first time in July. In August, the board rejected 13 of the 14 proposals it reviewed; the approved proposal relied on tissue that had already been acquired. Some critics have suggested that scientists use tissue from spontaneous abortions rather than from elective ones. But spontaneous abortions often result from genetic and developmental abnormalities, rendering them unreliable for use in scientific research. As an alternative to cells derived from fetal tissue, scientists may use mice engineered to carry human genes that may replicate parts of the immune system. “There have been other modifications that some argue are almost as good, and they are helpful, but they are not the same as the truly humanized mouse from human fetal tissue,” Srivastava said. In July, the stem cell society sent the new ethics board a letter, signed by 90 scientific, medical and patient organizations, that urged the board to allow fetal tissue to be used to develop treatments for COVID-19 and other diseases. “Fetal tissue has unique and valuable properties that often cannot be replaced by other cell types,” the statement said. The House Committee on Oversight and Reform found last month that the Trump administration’s ban on the use of federal funds for fetal tissue research was “based in ideological objections, not evaluation of the scientific merit of such projects.”

Trump’s COVID treatments were tested in cells derived from fetal tissue

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-ceasefire-armenia-says-azerbaijan-launching-attacks-towards-karakhanbeyli-334256">After ceasefire, Armenia says Azerbaijan launching new attacks</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/10/10/164311-kara1.jpg?itok=bFR8LcUW" />

Both warring countries had announced a ceasefire agreement in Moscow after nearly two weeks of fighting which erupted on September 27 over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/taiwan-releases-new-passport-design-to-assert-independent-identity-334229">Taiwan releases new passport design to assert independent identity</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/10/10/164294-new-design-of-taiwan-passport.jpg?itok=V_5giDES" />

The new passport design enlarges the word “Taiwan” in English and removes the large English words “Republic of China”, though that name in Chinese and in small English font around the national emblem remain.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/national-day-row-chinese-y-8-asw-aircraft-enters-taiwan-air-space-334300">National Day row: Chinese Y-8 ASW aircraft enters Taiwan air space</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/10/10/164336-gallery1.JPG?itok=CCjfdAhH" />

Taiwan's&nbsp;defence ministry said that one Chinese PLA Y-8 ASW aircraft entered the southwest air defence identification zone (ADIZ).

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-berlin-frankfurt-impose-curfew-as-uk-braces-for-tier-three-lockdown-334315">COVID-19: Berlin, Frankfurt impose curfew as UK braces for tier-three lockdown</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/10/10/164345-cc1.jpg?itok=eRTC3RVG" />

In Berlin, authorities have restricted meetings between 11pm and 6am with only up to 50 people allowed to meet during the day in one place.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-several-eu-nations-uk-withdraws-envoy-from-belarus-334278">After several EU nations, UK withdraws envoy from Belarus</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/10/10/164324-svet.jpg?itok=CrJLkM0_" />

Lukashenko's government had accused ambassadors of Lithuania and Poland of backing the protests which had erupted over a disputed election results on August 9.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-imposes-fines-for-not-wearing-face-masks-as-covid-19-cases-surge-334295">Iran imposes fines for not wearing face masks as COVID-19 cases surge</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/10/10/164333-iranc.jpg?itok=l6jlx6ig" />

Amid a surge in cases, deputy health minister Iraj Harirchi said that non-emergency patients would not be allowed hospitalization for some time due to severe shortages of hospital beds.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-commissioner-mariya-gabriel-tests-positive-for-covid-19-334308">EU commissioner Mariya Gabriel tests positive for COVID-19</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/10/10/164342-mariya-gabriel.jpg?itok=8mZ8Rr_K" />

Gabriel has become the first top official of Brussels to test positive for COVID-19.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/malaysia-captures-60-chinese-nationals-and-6-vessels-for-trespassing-334288">Malaysia captures 60 Chinese nationals and 6 vessels for trespassing</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/05/29/142325-south-china-sea-afp.jpg?itok=P-4kuaLR" />

Along with these Chinese nationals, six Chinese registered fishing vessels were also seized by the maritime authorities.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/allan-lichtman-the-man-who-has-correctly-predicted-us-election-since-1984-334317">Allan Lichtman: The man who has correctly predicted US election since 1984</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/10/10/164346-allan-lichtman.jpg?itok=mj8gIjJa" />

A history professor, Allan Lichtman, is one of those rare experts who has correctly predicted all the US elections since 1984.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/over-1800-students-staff-at-north-england-universities-test-positive-for-coronavirus-334203">Over 1,800 students, staff at North England universities test positive for coronavirus</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/10/10/164271-coronavirus-in-north-england.jpg?itok=C-_tcpeu" />

Newcastle University said 1,003 students and 12 members of staff were confirmed to have been infected with coronavirus in the past week, compared with 94 last Friday.

After ceasefire, Armenia says Azerbaijan launching new attacks Both warring countries had announced a ceasefire agreement in Moscow after nearly two weeks of fighting which erupted on September 27 over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.

After ceasefire, Armenia says Azerbaijan launching new attacks Both warring countries had announced a ceasefire agreement in Moscow after nearly two weeks of fighting which erupted on September 27 over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. Taiwan releases new passport design to assert independent identity The new passport design enlarges the word “Taiwan” in English and removes the large English words “Republic of China”, though that name in Chinese and in small English font around the national emblem remain. National Day row: Chinese Y-8 ASW aircraft enters Taiwan air space Taiwan's defence ministry said that one Chinese PLA Y-8 ASW aircraft entered the southwest air defence identification zone (ADIZ). COVID-19: Berlin, Frankfurt impose curfew as UK braces for tier-three lockdown In Berlin, authorities have restricted meetings between 11pm and 6am with only up to 50 people allowed to meet during the day in one place. After several EU nations, UK withdraws envoy from Belarus Lukashenko's government had accused ambassadors of Lithuania and Poland of backing the protests which had erupted over a disputed election results on August 9. Iran imposes fines for not wearing face masks as COVID-19 cases surge Amid a surge in cases, deputy health minister Iraj Harirchi said that non-emergency patients would not be allowed hospitalization for some time due to severe shortages of hospital beds. EU commissioner Mariya Gabriel tests positive for COVID-19 Gabriel has become the first top official of Brussels to test positive for COVID-19. Malaysia captures 60 Chinese nationals and 6 vessels for trespassing Along with these Chinese nationals, six Chinese registered fishing vessels were also seized by the maritime authorities. Allan Lichtman: The man who has correctly predicted US election since 1984 A history professor, Allan Lichtman, is one of those rare experts who has correctly predicted all the US elections since 1984. Over 1,800 students, staff at North England universities test positive for coronavirus Newcastle University said 1,003 students and 12 members of staff were confirmed to have been infected with coronavirus in the past week, compared with 94 last Friday.

Top 10 world news today: US election predictions, Taiwan's new passport and more

With&nbsp;less than a month to go for the US election 2020,&nbsp;President Donald Trump is currently battling the novel coronavirus which has claimed over 200,000 American lives, raising several unanswered questions about the uncertain future.

He has pulled out of an October&nbsp;15 debate with Democratic rival Joe Biden, blasting the debate commission's decision to make it a virtual event.

This has raised the question&nbsp;that what happens in the election, already well underway, should his condition take a turn for the worse.

Under Section 3 of the US&nbsp;Constitution's&nbsp;25th&nbsp;Amendment, adopted in 1967 following the 1963 assassination of President John Kennedy, Trump could declare in writing his inability to discharge his duties.

Vice President Mike Pence would become acting president, although Trump would remain in office. The president would regain his powers by declaring in writing that he is again ready to discharge them.

The&nbsp;25th&nbsp;Amendment's Section 4 also offers a path to stripping a president of power if, for instance, his Cabinet believes he has become incapacitated, but this has never been invoked.

However, if a presidentail nominee dies shortly before or after the election, that is the Inaugration Day, the final call regarding the residency is of the House of Representatives. Before that, the House might take charge.

Can political parties replace a candidate who dies?

Yes,&nbsp;political parties can take charge but not this close to the Election Day.&nbsp;More than 6.6 million Americans have already voted. This is&nbsp;10 times the number who had voted at this stage in the 2016 election cycle, indicating a potentially record turnout for the November&nbsp;3 contest.

The deadline for candidates&nbsp;to withdraw has passed in all states. The date of the election is set by the federal law and only Congress can change that date.

In a&nbsp;US election, voters do not elect the president directly. USA has an electoral college system. The candidate who secures more than 270 out of 538 electoral votes wins the election. After the popular vote, electors in each state mostly vote for the candidate that the popular vote has favoured.

Not every&nbsp;US state&nbsp;has the same number of electors. Number of electors in a state depends on that&nbsp;state's representation in the US Congress.

What happens if the winning candidate dies before the Congress decalres a winner?

If the winning candidate dies before the Electoral College meets, the electors could coalesce around a replacement candidate recommended by the party, perhaps the vice presidential candidate.

A party’s electors would have an incentive to coalesce around one candidate, he said, because they wouldn’t want to risk throwing the election to the other party. But there is no guarantee they would all agree on a replacement candidate.

Some states have laws that require electors to vote for the presidential candidate who won the statewide vote; other states could quickly pass laws governing the electors in the event that a candidate dies.

The Supreme Court ruled unanimously in July that states may require electors to support the candidate picked by voters in the election. However, the court left open what would happen if the candidate dies.

With less than a month to go for the US election 2020, President Donald Trump is currently battling the novel coronavirus which has claimed over 200,000 American lives, raising several unanswered questions about the uncertain future.

With less than a month to go for the US election 2020, President Donald Trump is currently battling the novel coronavirus which has claimed over 200,000 American lives, raising several unanswered questions about the uncertain future. He has pulled out of an October 15 debate with Democratic rival Joe Biden, blasting the debate commission's decision to make it a virtual event. This has raised the question that what happens in the election, already well underway, should his condition take a turn for the worse. Under Section 3 of the US Constitution's 25th Amendment, adopted in 1967 following the 1963 assassination of President John Kennedy, Trump could declare in writing his inability to discharge his duties. Vice President Mike Pence would become acting president, although Trump would remain in office. The president would regain his powers by declaring in writing that he is again ready to discharge them. The 25th Amendment's Section 4 also offers a path to stripping a president of power if, for instance, his Cabinet believes he has become incapacitated, but this has never been invoked. However, if a presidentail nominee dies shortly before or after the election, that is the Inaugration Day, the final call regarding the residency is of the House of Representatives. Before that, the House might take charge. Can political parties replace a candidate who dies? Yes, political parties can take charge but not this close to the Election Day. More than 6.6 million Americans have already voted. This is 10 times the number who had voted at this stage in the 2016 election cycle, indicating a potentially record turnout for the November 3 contest. The deadline for candidates to withdraw has passed in all states. The date of the election is set by the federal law and only Congress can change that date. In a US election, voters do not elect the president directly. USA has an electoral college system. The candidate who secures more than 270 out of 538 electoral votes wins the election. After the popular vote, electors in each state mostly vote for the candidate that the popular vote has favoured. Not every US state has the same number of electors. Number of electors in a state depends on that state's representation in the US Congress. What happens if the winning candidate dies before the Congress decalres a winner? If the winning candidate dies before the Electoral College meets, the electors could coalesce around a replacement candidate recommended by the party, perhaps the vice presidential candidate. A party’s electors would have an incentive to coalesce around one candidate, he said, because they wouldn’t want to risk throwing the election to the other party. But there is no guarantee they would all agree on a replacement candidate. Some states have laws that require electors to vote for the presidential candidate who won the statewide vote; other states could quickly pass laws governing the electors in the event that a candidate dies. The Supreme Court ruled unanimously in July that states may require electors to support the candidate picked by voters in the election. However, the court left open what would happen if the candidate dies.

US election 2020: What happens if a US presidential candidate dies before the election

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/china-helping-pak-to-set-up-surface-to-air-missile-sites-in-pok-report-333949">China helping Pak to set up surface-to-air missile sites in PoK: Report</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2019/01/31/82413-untitled-design-36.jpg?itok=pX2sh_JI" />

There are about 25 to 40 civilians including 120 Pakistan Army officials working on the construction site.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/spain-invokes-state-of-emergency-over-madrid-lockdown-as-europe-grapples-with-virus-334020">Spain invokes state of emergency over Madrid lockdown as Europe grapples with virus</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/10/09/164157-madrid1.jpg?itok=psihqwl5" />

The Spanish government on Friday invoked a state of emergency in order impose partial lockdown in Madrid amid rising coronavirus cases.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/now-pakistan-decides-to-block-chinese-app-tiktok-333984">Now, Pakistan decides to block Chinese app TikTok</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/10/09/164141-tiktok-to-be-banned-in-pakistan.jpg?itok=vBStUDXg" />

Pakistan decided to raise the issue of banning the popular app as the PTA believes the content available on the app is immoral, indecent and spreads wrong values among the Pakistani youth.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-is-trying-to-wear-out-taiwans-air-force-by-incursions-says-defence-minister-334046">China is trying to wear out Taiwan's Air Force by incursions, says defence minister</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/09/17/160351-untitled-design-2020-09-17t193925255.jpg?itok=7_XSeyAu" />

China, which claims democratic Taiwan as its own territory, has stepped up its military activity near the island, responding to what China calls 'collusion' between Taiwan and the United States.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-ready-to-go-on-campaign-rally-as-soon-as-he-gets-okay-from-his-doctor-white-house-334039">Trump ready to go on campaign rally as soon as he gets 'okay' from his doctor: White House</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/10/09/164167-donaldt1.jpg?itok=j7DXR1-4" />

President Donald Trump had earlier said that he would "probably" hold a campaign rally in Florida and Pennsylvania over the weekend.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/british-prime-minister-boris-johnson-says-progress-in-brexit-talks-with-eu-334002">British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says progress in Brexit talks with EU</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/10/05/163160-untitled-design-63.jpg?itok=369vcZop" />

The two sides say they are inching towards a deal that would govern around $900 billion in trade after December 31, when the current transitional arrangements end, though sticking points remain on fishing, level playing field issues and governance.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indonesia-president-defends-new-jobs-law-says-protests-fueled-by-disinformation-334018">Indonesia president defends new jobs law, says protests fueled by disinformation</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2018/09/12/56935-GettyImages-522201102-20160614050623.jpg?itok=jPWCjtPq" />

The government of President Joko Widodo has championed the legislation as key to boosting Indonesia’s ailing economy by cutting red tape and attracting more foreign direct investment.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/more-people-willing-to-participate-in-regenerons-trial-after-trump-calls-it-a-cure-334011">More people willing to participate in Regeneron's trial after Trump calls it a 'cure'</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/10/09/164153-trump-calls-regeneron-as-cure-of-coronavirus.jpg?itok=HZTsZ1N5" />

Few days ago, Trump claimed that the Regeneron Pharmaceuticals drug is “a blessing from God” and labelled it to be a “cure” for the virus.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-93-people-hospitalised-after-33-storey-building-catches-fire-333988">South Korea: 93 people hospitalised after 33-storey building catches fire</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/10/09/164139-untitled-design-2.jpg?itok=9wXd2wbi" />

Various reports claimed that the fire began on the 12th floor and then spread to the entire building with 136 houses.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/human-microevolution-forming-more-arteries-less-wisdom-teeth-in-babies-334054">Human 'microevolution' forming more arteries, less wisdom teeth in babies</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/04/03/135478-corona-baby.jpg?itok=Q_GiPF2Y" />

In what is being termed as 'microevolution', scientists have found that babies are now being born with a slightly smaller jaw and extra bones in their legs and feet.

China helping Pak to set up surface-to-air missile sites in PoK: Report There are about 25 to 40 civilians including 120 Pakistan Army officials working on the construction site.

China helping Pak to set up surface-to-air missile sites in PoK: Report There are about 25 to 40 civilians including 120 Pakistan Army officials working on the construction site. Spain invokes state of emergency over Madrid lockdown as Europe grapples with virus The Spanish government on Friday invoked a state of emergency in order impose partial lockdown in Madrid amid rising coronavirus cases. Now, Pakistan decides to block Chinese app TikTok Pakistan decided to raise the issue of banning the popular app as the PTA believes the content available on the app is immoral, indecent and spreads wrong values among the Pakistani youth. China is trying to wear out Taiwan's Air Force by incursions, says defence minister China, which claims democratic Taiwan as its own territory, has stepped up its military activity near the island, responding to what China calls 'collusion' between Taiwan and the United States. Trump ready to go on campaign rally as soon as he gets 'okay' from his doctor: White House President Donald Trump had earlier said that he would "probably" hold a campaign rally in Florida and Pennsylvania over the weekend. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says progress in Brexit talks with EU The two sides say they are inching towards a deal that would govern around $900 billion in trade after December 31, when the current transitional arrangements end, though sticking points remain on fishing, level playing field issues and governance. Indonesia president defends new jobs law, says protests fueled by disinformation The government of President Joko Widodo has championed the legislation as key to boosting Indonesia’s ailing economy by cutting red tape and attracting more foreign direct investment. More people willing to participate in Regeneron's trial after Trump calls it a 'cure' Few days ago, Trump claimed that the Regeneron Pharmaceuticals drug is “a blessing from God” and labelled it to be a “cure” for the virus. South Korea: 93 people hospitalised after 33-storey building catches fire Various reports claimed that the fire began on the 12th floor and then spread to the entire building with 136 houses. Human 'microevolution' forming more arteries, less wisdom teeth in babies In what is being termed as 'microevolution', scientists have found that babies are now being born with a slightly smaller jaw and extra bones in their legs and feet.

Top 10 world news today: Taiwan slams China, UK positive about Brexit talks and more

White House physician Sean Conley said today that US President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/americans-now-trust-masks-after-donald-trump-tests-positive-for-covid-19-333171">Donald Trump</a> has had no coronavirus symptoms for the past 24 hours.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trumps-return-leaves-white-house-in-disarray-as-infections-jolt-west-wing-333183">Also Read:&nbsp;Trump’s return leaves White House in disarray as infections jolt West Wing</a>

"The president this morning says 'I feel great," Conley said.

Trump had returned to the White House on Monday after being tested positive for the virus last week. The US president was admitted at the Walter Reed military medical center for three days.

Meawhile, Democrat presidential candidate Joe Biden said he wasn't in favour of going on the TV debate with Trump if the US president still had sytmptoms.

"I'm looking forward to being able to debate him, but I just hope all the protocols are followed," Biden said, adding," "If he still has COVID, we shouldn't have a debate."&nbsp;

Trump had tested positive for COVID-19 just two days after his first debate with Biden.

"It's a very serious problem, so I will be guided by... what the docs say is the right thing to do," Biden added.

Biden and Trump are set to clash again on October 15. The US president had said earlier that he was "looking forward" to the next debate.

White House physician Sean Conley said today that US President Donald Trump has had no coronavirus symptoms for the past 24 hours. Also Read: Trump’s return leaves White House in disarray as infections jolt West Wing "The president this morning says 'I feel great," Conley said.

White House physician Sean Conley said today that US President Donald Trump has had no coronavirus symptoms for the past 24 hours. Also Read: Trump’s return leaves White House in disarray as infections jolt West Wing "The president this morning says 'I feel great," Conley said. Trump had returned to the White House on Monday after being tested positive for the virus last week. The US president was admitted at the Walter Reed military medical center for three days. Meawhile, Democrat presidential candidate Joe Biden said he wasn't in favour of going on the TV debate with Trump if the US president still had sytmptoms. "I'm looking forward to being able to debate him, but I just hope all the protocols are followed," Biden said, adding," "If he still has COVID, we shouldn't have a debate." Trump had tested positive for COVID-19 just two days after his first debate with Biden. "It's a very serious problem, so I will be guided by... what the docs say is the right thing to do," Biden added. Biden and Trump are set to clash again on October 15. The US president had said earlier that he was "looking forward" to the next debate.

Trump has shown no coronavirus symptoms for the past 24 hours: White House physician Sean Conley

President Donald Trump spent three days in the hospital. He arrived and left by helicopter. And he received multiple coronavirus tests, oxygen, steroids and an experimental antibody treatment.

For someone who isn’t president, that would cost more than $100,000 in the American health system. Patients could face significant surprise bills and medical debt even after health insurance paid its share.

The biggest financial risks would come not from the hospital stay but from the services provided elsewhere, including helicopter transit and repeated coronavirus testing.

Trump has praised the high quality of care he received at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, and has played down the risk of the virus. “Don’t be afraid of Covid,” Trump tweeted on Monday, before returning to the White House. “Don’t let it dominate your life.”

Across the country, patients have struggled with both the long-term health and financial effects of contracting coronavirus. Nearly half a million have been hospitalized. Routine tests can result in thousands of dollars in uncovered charges; hospitalized patients have received bills upward of $400,000.

Trump did not have to worry about the costs of his care, which are covered by the federal government. Most Americans, including many who carry health coverage, do worry about receiving medical care they cannot afford.

For some Americans, the bills could start mounting with frequent tests. Insurers are generally required to pay for those tests when physicians order them, but not when employers do.

The Trump administration made that clear in June, when it issued guidance stating that insurers do not have to pay for “testing conducted to screen for general workplace health and safety.” Instead, patients need to pay for that type of testing themselves. Some might be able to get free tests at public sites, and some employers may voluntarily cover the costs. Others could face significant medical debt from tests delivered at hospitals or urgent care centers.

COVID tests can be expensive. Although they typically cost $100, one emergency room in Texas has charged as much as $6,408 for a drive-through test. About 2.4% of coronavirus tests billed to insurers leave the patient responsible for some portion of payment, according to the health data firm Castlight. With 108 million tests performed in the United States, that could amount to millions of tests that leave patients responsible for some share of the cost.

Marta Bartan, who works as a hair colorist in New York City, needed a coronavirus test to return to her job this summer. She received a $1,394 bill from the hospital running the drive-through site where she was tested.

“I was so confused,” said Bartan, who is contesting the bill. “You go in to get a COVID test expecting it to be free. What could they have possibly charged me $1,400 for?”

The bills for the typical American would continue at the hospital, with the routine monitoring that any patient would receive and the drugs provided in the course of care.

Remdesivir, a new coronavirus treatment created by Gilead, costs $3,120 when purchased by private insurers and $2,340 with public programs like Medicare and Medicaid.

Trump also received an experimental antibody treatment from Regeneron. It’s currently available to clinical trial participants or to those granted a “compassionate use” exemption. In either situation, the drug would typically be provided to the patient at no charge. This will most likely change, however, when the treatment finishes trials and hits the commercial market. These types of drugs are hard to manufacture, and other monoclonal antibodies cost thousands of dollars.

Health economists are only starting to understand the full costs of coronavirus treatment, just as scientists are mapping out how the disease works and spreads. They do have some early estimates: The median charge for a coronavirus hospitalization for a patient over 60 is $61,912, according to a claims database, FAIR Health

That figure includes any medical care during the hospital stay, such as an emergency room visit that led to admission or drugs provided by the hospital.

For insured patients, that price would typically be negotiated lower by their health plan. FAIR Health estimates that the median amount paid is $31,575. That amount, like most things in American health care, varies significantly from one patient to another.

In the FAIR Health data on coronavirus patients over 60, one-quarter face charges less than $26,821 for their hospital stay. Another quarter face charges higher than $193,149, in part because of longer stays.

Many, but not all, health insurers have said they will not apply copayments or deductibles to patients’ coronavirus hospital stays, which could help shield patients from large bills.

Uninsured patients, however, could be stuck with the entire hospital charges and not receive any discounts. While the Trump administration did set up a fund to cover coronavirus testing and treatment costs for the uninsured, The New York Times has reported that some Americans without health insurance have received large bills for their hospital stays.

The biggest billing risk for a patient receiving treatment similar to Trump’s would probably come from helicopter rides to the hospital.

Air ambulances are expensive and often not in major health insurance plans’ networks. The median charge for an air ambulance is $38,770, according to a study in the journal Health Affairs published this year. When the helicopter trip is out of network — as about three-quarters of them are — patients are left with a median charge of $21,698 after the insurance payout.

Taking two helicopter rides, as Trump did, could plausibly result in more than $40,000 in medical debt for patients without access to their own aircraft (though of course most people do not leave the hospital by helicopter).

The financial consequences of a coronavirus hospitalization could be long-lasting, if a new Supreme Court challenge to the Affordable Care Act is successful. That case argues that all of Obamacare is unconstitutional, including the health law’s protections for preexisting conditions. The administration filed a brief in June supporting the challenge.

The Supreme Court hears that case on Nov. 10. If the challenge succeeds, COVID-19 could join a long list of preexisting conditions that would leave patients facing higher premiums or denials of coverage. In that case, coronavirus survivors could face a future in which their hospital stays increase their health costs for years to come.

President Donald Trump spent three days in the hospital. He arrived and left by helicopter. And he received multiple coronavirus tests, oxygen, steroids and an experimental antibody treatment.

President Donald Trump spent three days in the hospital. He arrived and left by helicopter. And he received multiple coronavirus tests, oxygen, steroids and an experimental antibody treatment. For someone who isn’t president, that would cost more than $100,000 in the American health system. Patients could face significant surprise bills and medical debt even after health insurance paid its share. The biggest financial risks would come not from the hospital stay but from the services provided elsewhere, including helicopter transit and repeated coronavirus testing. Trump has praised the high quality of care he received at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, and has played down the risk of the virus. “Don’t be afraid of Covid,” Trump tweeted on Monday, before returning to the White House. “Don’t let it dominate your life.” Across the country, patients have struggled with both the long-term health and financial effects of contracting coronavirus. Nearly half a million have been hospitalized. Routine tests can result in thousands of dollars in uncovered charges; hospitalized patients have received bills upward of $400,000. Trump did not have to worry about the costs of his care, which are covered by the federal government. Most Americans, including many who carry health coverage, do worry about receiving medical care they cannot afford. For some Americans, the bills could start mounting with frequent tests. Insurers are generally required to pay for those tests when physicians order them, but not when employers do. The Trump administration made that clear in June, when it issued guidance stating that insurers do not have to pay for “testing conducted to screen for general workplace health and safety.” Instead, patients need to pay for that type of testing themselves. Some might be able to get free tests at public sites, and some employers may voluntarily cover the costs. Others could face significant medical debt from tests delivered at hospitals or urgent care centers. COVID tests can be expensive. Although they typically cost $100, one emergency room in Texas has charged as much as $6,408 for a drive-through test. About 2.4% of coronavirus tests billed to insurers leave the patient responsible for some portion of payment, according to the health data firm Castlight. With 108 million tests performed in the United States, that could amount to millions of tests that leave patients responsible for some share of the cost. Marta Bartan, who works as a hair colorist in New York City, needed a coronavirus test to return to her job this summer. She received a $1,394 bill from the hospital running the drive-through site where she was tested. “I was so confused,” said Bartan, who is contesting the bill. “You go in to get a COVID test expecting it to be free. What could they have possibly charged me $1,400 for?” The bills for the typical American would continue at the hospital, with the routine monitoring that any patient would receive and the drugs provided in the course of care. Remdesivir, a new coronavirus treatment created by Gilead, costs $3,120 when purchased by private insurers and $2,340 with public programs like Medicare and Medicaid. Trump also received an experimental antibody treatment from Regeneron. It’s currently available to clinical trial participants or to those granted a “compassionate use” exemption. In either situation, the drug would typically be provided to the patient at no charge. This will most likely change, however, when the treatment finishes trials and hits the commercial market. These types of drugs are hard to manufacture, and other monoclonal antibodies cost thousands of dollars. Health economists are only starting to understand the full costs of coronavirus treatment, just as scientists are mapping out how the disease works and spreads. They do have some early estimates: The median charge for a coronavirus hospitalization for a patient over 60 is $61,912, according to a claims database, FAIR Health That figure includes any medical care during the hospital stay, such as an emergency room visit that led to admission or drugs provided by the hospital. For insured patients, that price would typically be negotiated lower by their health plan. FAIR Health estimates that the median amount paid is $31,575. That amount, like most things in American health care, varies significantly from one patient to another. In the FAIR Health data on coronavirus patients over 60, one-quarter face charges less than $26,821 for their hospital stay. Another quarter face charges higher than $193,149, in part because of longer stays. Many, but not all, health insurers have said they will not apply copayments or deductibles to patients’ coronavirus hospital stays, which could help shield patients from large bills. Uninsured patients, however, could be stuck with the entire hospital charges and not receive any discounts. While the Trump administration did set up a fund to cover coronavirus testing and treatment costs for the uninsured, The New York Times has reported that some Americans without health insurance have received large bills for their hospital stays. The biggest billing risk for a patient receiving treatment similar to Trump’s would probably come from helicopter rides to the hospital. Air ambulances are expensive and often not in major health insurance plans’ networks. The median charge for an air ambulance is $38,770, according to a study in the journal Health Affairs published this year. When the helicopter trip is out of network — as about three-quarters of them are — patients are left with a median charge of $21,698 after the insurance payout. Taking two helicopter rides, as Trump did, could plausibly result in more than $40,000 in medical debt for patients without access to their own aircraft (though of course most people do not leave the hospital by helicopter). The financial consequences of a coronavirus hospitalization could be long-lasting, if a new Supreme Court challenge to the Affordable Care Act is successful. That case argues that all of Obamacare is unconstitutional, including the health law’s protections for preexisting conditions. The administration filed a brief in June supporting the challenge. The Supreme Court hears that case on Nov. 10. If the challenge succeeds, COVID-19 could join a long list of preexisting conditions that would leave patients facing higher premiums or denials of coverage. In that case, coronavirus survivors could face a future in which their hospital stays increase their health costs for years to come.

How much would Trump’s coronavirus treatment cost most Americans?

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/next-us-presidential-debate-to-be-virtual-trump-says-wont-participate-333504">Next US Presidential debate to be 'virtual'; Trump says won't 'participate'</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/09/30/162387-us-president-donald-trump-and-democratic-rival-joe-biden-at-presidential-debate.jpg?itok=4dAu7LYl" />

The next US presidential debate between President Trump and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden will be "virtual", organizers said on Thursday.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/british-parliaments-defence-committee-says-huawei-colludes-with-chinese-communist-party-333440">British parliament's defence committee says Huawei colludes with Chinese Communist Party</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/02/19/129500-untitled-design-17.jpg?itok=1FgFMmyV" />

The parliament committee has urged Prime Minister Boris Johnson to prepone the deadline set to remove all Huawei equipment from the United Kingdom.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/armenia-says-historic-cathedral-in-nagorno-karabakh-hit-as-fighting-continues-with-azerbaijan-forces-333477">Armenia says historic cathedral in Nagorno-Karabakh hit as fighting continues with Azerbaijan forces</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/10/08/163714-nar1.jpg?itok=ikxLfg7H" />

Foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia are set to meet officials from Russia, US and France in a bid to halt the conflict which has put a severe strain on both countries.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/american-louise-gluck-wins-nobel-prize-in-literature-333470">American Louise Glück wins Nobel Prize in Literature</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/10/08/163710-usa.jpg?itok=STyhxkgW" />

'Literature Laureate Louise Glück made her debut in 1968 with "Firstborn" and was soon acclaimed as one of the most prominent poets in American contemporary literature,' the Noble Committee said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/internet-goes-berserk-after-errant-housefly-on-pences-head-photobombs-vp-debate-333508">Internet goes berserk after errant housefly on Pence's head photobombs VP debate</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/10/08/163766-untitled-design-16.jpg?itok=ZWwnBKN4" />

Taking the top billing at the vice presidential debate, social media immediately pronounced the fly the winner of the event.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-warns-china-against-any-attempt-to-take-taiwan-by-force-333453">US warns China against any attempt to take Taiwan by force</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/09/17/160351-untitled-design-2020-09-17t193925255.jpg?itok=7_XSeyAu" />

The United States national security adviser on on Wednesday cautioned China against any attempt to take Taiwan by force.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/facebook-to-ban-political-ads-after-us-election-poll-ends-to-curb-fake-news-333507">Facebook to ban political ads after US election poll ends to curb fake news</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/09/01/157553-facebook.jpg?itok=ulSFq6IQ" />

Facebook's decision to suspend all such posts is being read as an effort to curb President Trump's warning of not coooperating during the transition of power if he loses the elections.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/another-uyghur-becomes-victim-of-chinas-repressive-regime-333455">Another Uyghur becomes victim of China's repressive regime</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2019/11/18/117187-untitled-design-5.jpg?itok=h3ca4c_R" />

According to Campaign for Uyghurs, the Beijing authorities level the charge of separatism against Uyghurs in the same way that corruption charges are leveled at Han Chinese officials who express any dissent with Xi Jinping`s administration.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/prince-william-launches-most-prestigious-environment-prize-333465">Prince William launches 'most prestigious' environment prize</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/10/08/163706-prince-william-and-david-attenborough.jpg?itok=gfdfA0LT" />

The prize is supported by a coalition of individuals, organisations and businesses with the winners to be announced each year at a ceremony in a different city around the globe.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/partial-lockdown-harmful-to-basic-rights-declares-madrid-court-333446">Partial lockdown 'harmful to basic rights', declares Madrid court</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/10/08/163690-covid1.jpg?itok=KwPE7K4f" />

Spain's national health ministry had reported 23,480 new infections over the weekend with the total number of coronavirus cases rising to 813,412.

Next US Presidential debate to be 'virtual'; Trump says won't 'participate' The next US presidential debate between President Trump and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden will be "virtual", organizers said on Thursday.

Next US Presidential debate to be 'virtual'; Trump says won't 'participate' The next US presidential debate between President Trump and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden will be "virtual", organizers said on Thursday. British parliament's defence committee says Huawei colludes with Chinese Communist Party The parliament committee has urged Prime Minister Boris Johnson to prepone the deadline set to remove all Huawei equipment from the United Kingdom. Armenia says historic cathedral in Nagorno-Karabakh hit as fighting continues with Azerbaijan forces Foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia are set to meet officials from Russia, US and France in a bid to halt the conflict which has put a severe strain on both countries. American Louise Glück wins Nobel Prize in Literature 'Literature Laureate Louise Glück made her debut in 1968 with "Firstborn" and was soon acclaimed as one of the most prominent poets in American contemporary literature,' the Noble Committee said. Internet goes berserk after errant housefly on Pence's head photobombs VP debate Taking the top billing at the vice presidential debate, social media immediately pronounced the fly the winner of the event. US warns China against any attempt to take Taiwan by force The United States national security adviser on on Wednesday cautioned China against any attempt to take Taiwan by force. Facebook to ban political ads after US election poll ends to curb fake news Facebook's decision to suspend all such posts is being read as an effort to curb President Trump's warning of not coooperating during the transition of power if he loses the elections. Another Uyghur becomes victim of China's repressive regime According to Campaign for Uyghurs, the Beijing authorities level the charge of separatism against Uyghurs in the same way that corruption charges are leveled at Han Chinese officials who express any dissent with Xi Jinping`s administration. Prince William launches 'most prestigious' environment prize The prize is supported by a coalition of individuals, organisations and businesses with the winners to be announced each year at a ceremony in a different city around the globe. Partial lockdown 'harmful to basic rights', declares Madrid court Spain's national health ministry had reported 23,480 new infections over the weekend with the total number of coronavirus cases rising to 813,412.

Top 10 world news today: Huawei-China allegation, Nobel Prize in Literature and more

The other night, as President Donald Trump convalesced at Walter Reed, I took a spin through social media to see the latest news on his health.

Instead, what I found were a bunch of paranoid partisans posting grainy, zoomed-in photos, analyzing video footage frame by frame, and people straining to connect the dots on far-fetched conspiracy theories involving a cabal of nefarious elites staging an elaborate cover-up.

No, I didn’t stumble into a room for QAnon, the pro-Trump conspiracy theory. In fact, many of the people sharing bogus and unverified claims on my feeds were die-hard Democrats. Some of them were speculating, with no evidence, that Trump was faking his bout with COVID-19 to engender sympathy and boost his reelection chances. Others claimed that Trump had died and been replaced by a body double (nope), that he had gotten a secret vaccine from Russia and was quarantining until it took effect (also nope) or that he had deliberately contracted the disease to distract the public from a New York Times article about his taxes (creative, but doubtful).

None of these theories passed the smell test, but they were retweeted and shared thousands of times anyway. Zignal Labs, a firm that tracks online misinformation, said that the theory that Trump had faked his illness had been mentioned more than 85,000 times on social media and that the hashtag #TrumpCovidHoax, which trended on Twitter in the United States, had been mentioned more than 75,000 times.

To be clear, none of the rumormongering I saw from the left was comparable to a dangerous extremist movement like QAnon, which alleges that the world is controlled by a cabal of satanic pedophiles led by prominent Democrats. And it’s understandable that people would question the official narrative of Trump’s illness. Presidents have a long history of hiding their health problems from the public, and the barrage of conflicting, confusing and dishonest information emanating from Trump and his medical team this week has made it hard to take their claims at face value.

But it is notable how easily the conspiracist’s creed — that the official narrative is always a lie, and that the truth is out there for those willing to dig for it themselves — has penetrated our national psyche. After Trump tested positive for COVID-19 last week, social media sleuths raced to dissect every statement, tweet and photograph that might reveal clues about his real condition. (Is that lump in his jacket a hidden oxygen tank? Was that video edited to remove a telltale cough?)

Unsatisfied with the official explanations given by Trump’s doctors, they sought out their own sources, like the TikTok account of Claudia Conway, the 15-year-old daughter of the former presidential adviser Kellyanne Conway, who offered a grimmer prognosis.

And when the president did emerge from Walter Reed, armchair pulmonologists pored over his homecoming video as if it were a modern-day Zapruder film, looking for evidence that he was still in dire shape.

Trump’s hospitalization — a high-stakes medical drama starring a president who is known to exaggerate his own health — made for perfect conspiracy theory fodder. And according to several experts I talked to, the lack of reliable information coming from Trump administration officials made speculation about a cover-up inevitable.

“Conspiracy theorists love a vacuum,” said Kathryn Olmsted, a professor of history at the University of California, Davis, who has studied the history of conspiracy theories. “If they’re not getting answers, they’re going to come up with their own.”

Some of what’s happening is related to the dynamics of social media platforms, which favor bold, engaging claims over dry and careful ones. But there seems to be something else happening, too — a force that is pulling us all toward conspiracy theories these days, no matter our political persuasion.

On Tuesday, Facebook officially banned the QAnon movement from its services, labeling it a “militarized social movement.” The purge was good news for those of us who have watched QAnon morph from a fringe message board stunt to a dangerous quasi-religion that organizes mass harassment campaigns, spreads life-threatening misinformation and threatens its enemies with violence.

But while QAnon may be a singularly dangerous movement, the reflexive paranoia and rejection of authority it represents is not an isolated phenomenon, or one that is limited to far-right extremists.

On Monday, as I watched a video clip of the president standing on a White House balcony, I was struck by the realization that virtually no one was simply accepting the scene at face value. Democrats were theorizing about what secret maladies he was trying to cover up. Republicans were speculating about what signals he was trying to send to his political opponents. Everyone was “doing their own research,” and looking behind the curtain for the real story. There was no text, only subtext.

I thought of Martin Gurri, a media theorist whose work I find provocative, even if I disagree with some of his conclusions. In his book “The Revolt of the Public,” Gurri writes that social media, and the internet more broadly, have eroded the authority of long-standing mass-media gatekeepers — like the newspaper you’re reading right now — and replaced it with “vital communities” of digital insurgents who are united around shared interests.

These groups, Gurri writes, develop their own sources of authority. For one group, a phalanx of white-coated doctors standing outside Walter Reed might seem authoritative. For another group, a teenage girl’s TikTok feed or a QAnon believer’s YouTube channel might hold more sway. Every group creates its own evidentiary standards, and processes information in its own way. There is no “consensus reality” they can all agree to because the idea of a single, shared reality was an artifact of the 20th century, when most people got information from a handful of big mainstream sources.

I called Gurri, who told me that he wasn’t surprised that people were turning to conspiracy theories about Trump’s illness. Uncertainty always breeds distrust, and in the age of social media, he said, authority is held by people who can effectively get their message out — even if those messages are false or misleading.

&nbsp;

“Dissemination is validation,” he said. “If you can concoct something that travels on the web, then you’re on the same plane as any expert in the world.”

Gurri, a former CIA analyst, is skeptical that we will ever return to accepting information handed to us by elites at face value. There’s simply too much information now, traveling over too many channels, for people on any side to be satisfied with a single, straightforward answer to any question — whether it’s about the president’s blood oxygen levels, an imaginary pedophile cabal or something else entirely.

&nbsp;

I don’t think, as some of Gurri’s fans in Silicon Valley do, that authority and expertise are relics of a bygone age, and I don’t think we should let social media platforms off the hook for amplifying lies and propaganda. But as I look around my feeds this week, it’s hard not to wonder if he’s right that the internet — and the erosion of authority it has enabled — has made conspiracy theorists of us all.

&nbsp;

“This is not Trump,” Gurri said. “This is structural, and even if Trump loses in November, it’s going to continue.”

The other night, as President Donald Trump convalesced at Walter Reed, I took a spin through social media to see the latest news on his health. Instead, what I found were a bunch of paranoid partisans posting grainy, zoomed-in photos, analyzing video footage frame by frame, and people straining to connect the dots on far-fetched conspiracy theories involving a cabal of nefarious elites staging an elaborate cover-up.

The other night, as President Donald Trump convalesced at Walter Reed, I took a spin through social media to see the latest news on his health. Instead, what I found were a bunch of paranoid partisans posting grainy, zoomed-in photos, analyzing video footage frame by frame, and people straining to connect the dots on far-fetched conspiracy theories involving a cabal of nefarious elites staging an elaborate cover-up. No, I didn’t stumble into a room for QAnon, the pro-Trump conspiracy theory. In fact, many of the people sharing bogus and unverified claims on my feeds were die-hard Democrats. Some of them were speculating, with no evidence, that Trump was faking his bout with COVID-19 to engender sympathy and boost his reelection chances. Others claimed that Trump had died and been replaced by a body double (nope), that he had gotten a secret vaccine from Russia and was quarantining until it took effect (also nope) or that he had deliberately contracted the disease to distract the public from a New York Times article about his taxes (creative, but doubtful). None of these theories passed the smell test, but they were retweeted and shared thousands of times anyway. Zignal Labs, a firm that tracks online misinformation, said that the theory that Trump had faked his illness had been mentioned more than 85,000 times on social media and that the hashtag #TrumpCovidHoax, which trended on Twitter in the United States, had been mentioned more than 75,000 times. To be clear, none of the rumormongering I saw from the left was comparable to a dangerous extremist movement like QAnon, which alleges that the world is controlled by a cabal of satanic pedophiles led by prominent Democrats. And it’s understandable that people would question the official narrative of Trump’s illness. Presidents have a long history of hiding their health problems from the public, and the barrage of conflicting, confusing and dishonest information emanating from Trump and his medical team this week has made it hard to take their claims at face value. But it is notable how easily the conspiracist’s creed — that the official narrative is always a lie, and that the truth is out there for those willing to dig for it themselves — has penetrated our national psyche. After Trump tested positive for COVID-19 last week, social media sleuths raced to dissect every statement, tweet and photograph that might reveal clues about his real condition. (Is that lump in his jacket a hidden oxygen tank? Was that video edited to remove a telltale cough?) Unsatisfied with the official explanations given by Trump’s doctors, they sought out their own sources, like the TikTok account of Claudia Conway, the 15-year-old daughter of the former presidential adviser Kellyanne Conway, who offered a grimmer prognosis. And when the president did emerge from Walter Reed, armchair pulmonologists pored over his homecoming video as if it were a modern-day Zapruder film, looking for evidence that he was still in dire shape. Trump’s hospitalization — a high-stakes medical drama starring a president who is known to exaggerate his own health — made for perfect conspiracy theory fodder. And according to several experts I talked to, the lack of reliable information coming from Trump administration officials made speculation about a cover-up inevitable. “Conspiracy theorists love a vacuum,” said Kathryn Olmsted, a professor of history at the University of California, Davis, who has studied the history of conspiracy theories. “If they’re not getting answers, they’re going to come up with their own.” Some of what’s happening is related to the dynamics of social media platforms, which favor bold, engaging claims over dry and careful ones. But there seems to be something else happening, too — a force that is pulling us all toward conspiracy theories these days, no matter our political persuasion. On Tuesday, Facebook officially banned the QAnon movement from its services, labeling it a “militarized social movement.” The purge was good news for those of us who have watched QAnon morph from a fringe message board stunt to a dangerous quasi-religion that organizes mass harassment campaigns, spreads life-threatening misinformation and threatens its enemies with violence. But while QAnon may be a singularly dangerous movement, the reflexive paranoia and rejection of authority it represents is not an isolated phenomenon, or one that is limited to far-right extremists. On Monday, as I watched a video clip of the president standing on a White House balcony, I was struck by the realization that virtually no one was simply accepting the scene at face value. Democrats were theorizing about what secret maladies he was trying to cover up. Republicans were speculating about what signals he was trying to send to his political opponents. Everyone was “doing their own research,” and looking behind the curtain for the real story. There was no text, only subtext. I thought of Martin Gurri, a media theorist whose work I find provocative, even if I disagree with some of his conclusions. In his book “The Revolt of the Public,” Gurri writes that social media, and the internet more broadly, have eroded the authority of long-standing mass-media gatekeepers — like the newspaper you’re reading right now — and replaced it with “vital communities” of digital insurgents who are united around shared interests. These groups, Gurri writes, develop their own sources of authority. For one group, a phalanx of white-coated doctors standing outside Walter Reed might seem authoritative. For another group, a teenage girl’s TikTok feed or a QAnon believer’s YouTube channel might hold more sway. Every group creates its own evidentiary standards, and processes information in its own way. There is no “consensus reality” they can all agree to because the idea of a single, shared reality was an artifact of the 20th century, when most people got information from a handful of big mainstream sources. I called Gurri, who told me that he wasn’t surprised that people were turning to conspiracy theories about Trump’s illness. Uncertainty always breeds distrust, and in the age of social media, he said, authority is held by people who can effectively get their message out — even if those messages are false or misleading. “Dissemination is validation,” he said. “If you can concoct something that travels on the web, then you’re on the same plane as any expert in the world.” Gurri, a former CIA analyst, is skeptical that we will ever return to accepting information handed to us by elites at face value. There’s simply too much information now, traveling over too many channels, for people on any side to be satisfied with a single, straightforward answer to any question — whether it’s about the president’s blood oxygen levels, an imaginary pedophile cabal or something else entirely. I don’t think, as some of Gurri’s fans in Silicon Valley do, that authority and expertise are relics of a bygone age, and I don’t think we should let social media platforms off the hook for amplifying lies and propaganda. But as I look around my feeds this week, it’s hard not to wonder if he’s right that the internet — and the erosion of authority it has enabled — has made conspiracy theorists of us all. “This is not Trump,” Gurri said. “This is structural, and even if Trump loses in November, it’s going to continue.”

Why conspiracy theories are so addictive right now

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<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/10/06/163369-trumps.jpg?itok=WPHAp7pX" />

President Trump had earlier signed an executive order to prevent federal money from being used to displace US citizens with foreign workers.

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<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/09/19/160639-navalny.jpg?itok=5Byxr5Hz" />

Navalny was admitted in a Siberian hospital and later evacuated to Germany in late August to Berlin's Charite hospital.

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The local police reported that the calligraphy scroll was recovered along with two bronze coins.

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<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/10/07/163451-new-76.jpg?itok=4s1sBY9L" />

His death was announced by his 29-year-old son, Wolfgang, a bass player who joined the band, best known for songs like “Jump” and “Ain’t Talkin ‘Bout Love,” in later years.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/weeks-before-us-election-homeland-security-identifies-white-supremacists-and-russia-as-big-threats-333194">Weeks before US election, Homeland Security identifies white supremacists and Russia as big threats</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/09/30/162413-proud-boys.jpg?itok=oRWBw1y-" />

As per this report, the white supremacist groups have conducted more lethal attacks in the country than any other domestic extremist movement.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-visited-oval-office-after-getting-discharged-white-house-top-official-333222">Trump visited Oval Office after getting discharged: White House top official</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/10/07/163558-dd1.jpg?itok=8SdLQwGD" />

The revelation was made during an interview with a local network when Kudlow was trying to convince Americans that the government is still functioning.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/emmanuelle-charpentier-jennifer-a-doudna-win-nobel-prize-in-chemistry-333141">Emmanuelle Charpentier &amp; Jennifer A. Doudna win Nobel Prize in Chemistry</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/10/07/163524-nobel1.jpg?itok=begTCE4j" />

The Nobel Committee said they were given the award for discovering "one of gene technology’s sharpest tools - the CRISPR/Cas9 genetic scissors."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/neo-nazi-group-branded-as-criminal-organisation-by-greek-court-333125">Neo-Nazi group branded as criminal organisation by Greek court</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/10/07/163522-greek-court-rules-on-golden-dawn.jpg?itok=6B4TrZ_P" />

As per the decision taken, the leaders associated with the group will be facing a heavy sentence.

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<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/10/07/163576-untitled-design.jpg?itok=CmB3Lgtl" />

White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows on Wednesday claimed that he was “not optimistic” about a comprehensive deal on more coronavirus relief package.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/global-warming-makes-september-2020-the-worlds-hottest-month-ever-333135">Global warming makes September, 2020 the world's hottest month ever</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/09/22/161184-untitled-design-1.jpg?itok=73o1jxzT" />

According to the weather service Copernicus, September this year was 0.05 degree Celsius hotter than last year.

Ahead of elections, US imposes new restrictions on H-1B visas President Trump had earlier signed an executive order to prevent federal money from being used to displace US citizens with foreign workers.

Ahead of elections, US imposes new restrictions on H-1B visas President Trump had earlier signed an executive order to prevent federal money from being used to displace US citizens with foreign workers. 'Targeted sanctions unavoidable': Germany warns Russia over Navalny poisoning Navalny was admitted in a Siberian hospital and later evacuated to Germany in late August to Berlin's Charite hospital. Mao Zedong's scroll worth $300 million found cut in half: Hong Kong police The local police reported that the calligraphy scroll was recovered along with two bronze coins. Eddie Van Halen dies at 65, guitar virtuoso ruled '70s, '80s rock His death was announced by his 29-year-old son, Wolfgang, a bass player who joined the band, best known for songs like “Jump” and “Ain’t Talkin ‘Bout Love,” in later years. Weeks before US election, Homeland Security identifies white supremacists and Russia as big threats As per this report, the white supremacist groups have conducted more lethal attacks in the country than any other domestic extremist movement. Trump visited Oval Office after getting discharged: White House top official The revelation was made during an interview with a local network when Kudlow was trying to convince Americans that the government is still functioning. Emmanuelle Charpentier & Jennifer A. Doudna win Nobel Prize in Chemistry The Nobel Committee said they were given the award for discovering "one of gene technology’s sharpest tools - the CRISPR/Cas9 genetic scissors." Neo-Nazi group branded as criminal organisation by Greek court As per the decision taken, the leaders associated with the group will be facing a heavy sentence. 'Not optimistic' about comprehensive coronavirus aid: White House White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows on Wednesday claimed that he was “not optimistic” about a comprehensive deal on more coronavirus relief package. Global warming makes September, 2020 the world's hottest month ever According to the weather service Copernicus, September this year was 0.05 degree Celsius hotter than last year.

Top 10 world news today: Navalny poisoning update, Trump visits Oval Office and more

Here's who has tested positive and negative in Trump's circle

US Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden on Tuesday said that the next&nbsp;debate&nbsp;with US President Donald Trump should not take place if Trump is still infected with coronavirus.

Biden told reporters after a campaign stop near the Civil War battlefield site in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, that&nbsp;"If he still has COVID, we shouldn’t have a debate."

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/heres-who-has-tested-positive-and-negative-in-trumps-circle-332571">Here's who has tested positive and negative in Trump's circle</a>

However, he added that the&nbsp;October&nbsp;15 debate in Miami should only be staged under strict health guidelines and called the coronavirus outbreak that has hit Trump and a wave of other White House officials "a very serious problem."

After days of conflicting messages from doctors and aides about his condition, Trump&nbsp;returned to the White House on Monday after three nights at a hospital. His doctor said on Tuesday that Trump reported no COVID-19 symptoms and was doing "extremely well."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-doing-extremely-well-no-covid-symptoms-white-house-physician-333003" hreflang="en">Trump doing extremely well, no COVID symptoms: White House physician</a>

The Republican president announced early Friday, two days after his first debate with Biden in Cleveland,&nbsp;that he had tested positive for the virus.&nbsp;

While the&nbsp;Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines say people who test positive for the virus should stay home for at least 10 days after symptoms first appear, while people who become severely ill might need to stay home for up to 20 days.

Trump has given no indication he would bow out due to his health, saying in a tweet that he is "looking forward" to the next debate.

Vice President Mike Pence and Biden's running mate, US&nbsp;Senator Kamala Harris, will hold their scheduled debate on Wednesday night in Salt Lake City.

US Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden on Tuesday said that the next debate with US President Donald Trump should not take place if Trump is still infected with coronavirus.

US Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden on Tuesday said that the next debate with US President Donald Trump should not take place if Trump is still infected with coronavirus. Biden told reporters after a campaign stop near the Civil War battlefield site in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, that "If he still has COVID, we shouldn’t have a debate." Also see: Here's who has tested positive and negative in Trump's circle However, he added that the October 15 debate in Miami should only be staged under strict health guidelines and called the coronavirus outbreak that has hit Trump and a wave of other White House officials "a very serious problem." After days of conflicting messages from doctors and aides about his condition, Trump returned to the White House on Monday after three nights at a hospital. His doctor said on Tuesday that Trump reported no COVID-19 symptoms and was doing "extremely well." Also read: Trump doing extremely well, no COVID symptoms: White House physician The Republican president announced early Friday, two days after his first debate with Biden in Cleveland, that he had tested positive for the virus. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines say people who test positive for the virus should stay home for at least 10 days after symptoms first appear, while people who become severely ill might need to stay home for up to 20 days. Trump has given no indication he would bow out due to his health, saying in a tweet that he is "looking forward" to the next debate. Vice President Mike Pence and Biden's running mate, US Senator Kamala Harris, will hold their scheduled debate on Wednesday night in Salt Lake City.

US election 2020: Biden says next presidential debate should be called off

Democratic Presidential candidate Joe Biden on Monday said that US President Donald Trump is&nbsp;"responsible" for catching coronavirus.

The statement came as&nbsp;his Republican rival Trump returned to the White House after a three-night hospital stay for treatment for COVID-19.&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;criticised the president for flouting mask wearing and social distancing guidelines.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-still-infectious-returns-to-white-house-removes-mask-despite-having-covid-332785" hreflang="en">Don’t let coronavirus dominate you: Trump removes mask after leaving hospital</a>

Biden was questioned if he agrees with a recent poll says 65 percent of Americans think the president bears some responsibility for contracting this virus.&nbsp;To which he replied,&nbsp;"Look, anybody who contracts the virus by essentially saying masks don't matter, social distancing doesn't matter, I think is is is responsible."

Trump told Americans "to get out there" and not fear COVID-19 as he returned to the White House on Monday and removed his white surgical mask to pose for pictures.

"Look, anybody who contracts the virus by essentially saying masks don't matter, social distancing doesn't matter, I think is is is responsible,"&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;told an NBC town hall in Miami, Florida.

"I would hope that the president, having gone through what he went through and I'm glad he seems to be coming along pretty well, would communicate the right lesson to the American people. Mask's matter," he added.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/heres-who-has-tested-positive-and-negative-in-trumps-circle-332571" hreflang="en">Here's who has tested positive and negative in Trump's circle</a>

Trump wore a mask as he left the helicopter that flew him back from a military hospital outside Washington and climbed the stairs of the White House South Portico, where he removed it and posed for pictures, waving, saluting and giving thumbs-up signs.

He then turned to walk into the White House, his mask still in his pocket, TV footage showed.

Trump has played down a disease has killed more than 1 million people worldwide and more than 209,000 in the United States alone, the highest death toll of any country.

The Republican president, running for re-election against Democrat Joe&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;in the November&nbsp;3 <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/us-election">US&nbsp;election</a>, was admitted to the Walter Reed Medical Center on Friday after being diagnosed with the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

"Don't let it dominate you. Don't be afraid of it," Trump said in a recorded video message. "We're going back, we're going back to work. We're going to be out front. ... Don't let it dominate your lives. Get out there, be careful."

Shortly after his return, a video with thunderous orchestral music posted to his Twitter handle showed him arriving at the White House and saluting from the South Portico as Marine One flew off. The video was quickly viewed nearly a million times.

Trump has repeatedly flouted social-distancing guidelines meant to curb the virus' spread. He also mocked&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;at last Tuesday's presidential debate for wearing a mask at events, even when he is far from others.

Democratic Presidential candidate Joe Biden on Monday said that US President Donald Trump is "responsible" for catching coronavirus. The statement came as his Republican rival Trump returned to the White House after a three-night hospital stay for treatment for COVID-19.

Democratic Presidential candidate Joe Biden on Monday said that US President Donald Trump is "responsible" for catching coronavirus. The statement came as his Republican rival Trump returned to the White House after a three-night hospital stay for treatment for COVID-19. Biden criticised the president for flouting mask wearing and social distancing guidelines. Also read: Don’t let coronavirus dominate you: Trump removes mask after leaving hospital Biden was questioned if he agrees with a recent poll says 65 percent of Americans think the president bears some responsibility for contracting this virus. To which he replied, "Look, anybody who contracts the virus by essentially saying masks don't matter, social distancing doesn't matter, I think is is is responsible." Trump told Americans "to get out there" and not fear COVID-19 as he returned to the White House on Monday and removed his white surgical mask to pose for pictures. "Look, anybody who contracts the virus by essentially saying masks don't matter, social distancing doesn't matter, I think is is is responsible," Biden told an NBC town hall in Miami, Florida. "I would hope that the president, having gone through what he went through and I'm glad he seems to be coming along pretty well, would communicate the right lesson to the American people. Mask's matter," he added. Also see: Here's who has tested positive and negative in Trump's circle Trump wore a mask as he left the helicopter that flew him back from a military hospital outside Washington and climbed the stairs of the White House South Portico, where he removed it and posed for pictures, waving, saluting and giving thumbs-up signs. He then turned to walk into the White House, his mask still in his pocket, TV footage showed. Trump has played down a disease has killed more than 1 million people worldwide and more than 209,000 in the United States alone, the highest death toll of any country. The Republican president, running for re-election against Democrat Joe Biden in the November 3 US election, was admitted to the Walter Reed Medical Center on Friday after being diagnosed with the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. "Don't let it dominate you. Don't be afraid of it," Trump said in a recorded video message. "We're going back, we're going back to work. We're going to be out front. ... Don't let it dominate your lives. Get out there, be careful." Shortly after his return, a video with thunderous orchestral music posted to his Twitter handle showed him arriving at the White House and saluting from the South Portico as Marine One flew off. The video was quickly viewed nearly a million times. Trump has repeatedly flouted social-distancing guidelines meant to curb the virus' spread. He also mocked Biden at last Tuesday's presidential debate for wearing a mask at events, even when he is far from others.

Joe Biden says Donald Trump 'responsible' for catching COVID-19

Facebook and Twitter have pledged to keep their networks safe from misinformation about the coronavirus to protect the public’s health. But Monday, the sites were tested when President Donald Trump posted that people should not be afraid of the disease.

“Feeling really good! Don’t be afraid of COVID. Don’t let it dominate your life,” Trump wrote on his Facebook and Twitter pages, saying he would be discharged from the Walter Reed military hospital after being treated there for COVID-19 the last few days. “I feel better than I did 20 years ago!”

Medical experts immediately took issue with the post. More than 200,000 Americans have died from the virus, and more than 35 million cases have been reported around the world. Dr. Bob Wachter, chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, said Trump’s tweet was “breathtakingly callous, inhumane &amp;amp; counterproductive.” Dr. Bernard P. Chang of Columbia University’s Department of Emergency Medicine warned that people should remain afraid of the virus.

But Facebook and Twitter did nothing about Trump’s post, even though the companies have publicised their coronavirus misinformation policies.

Facebook has said it does not allow coronavirus posts that can lead to direct physical harm, and will redirect people to a COVID-19 information center. Twitter also removes only posts that contain demonstrably false information with the “highest likelihood of leading to physical harm.”

For Facebook and Twitter, these details matter. They are paying close attention to whether or not Trump is giving a specific direction or command to engage in an activity that could immediately put people in danger. When he suggested in April that experts look into whether people could inject disinfectant to fight off the coronavirus, Facebook and Twitter used the same yardstick and took no action to remove clips and posts about the unproven treatment.

Trump and his director of social media, Dan Scavino, have hewed closely to the line of what is allowed on various social media accounts over the past four years, seemingly pushing the envelope as far as possible without inciting the tech companies to take punitive action.

Facebook did not respond to a request for comment. A Twitter spokesman said the tweet did not violate the company’s rules since it did not include a clear call to action that could potentially cause real-world harm.

By Monday evening, Trump’s tweet and Facebook post on COVID-19 had been viewed by more than 1 million people across both networks. Trump later posted a video reiterating that people should not let the virus dominate their lives. “Get out there,” he said. “The vaccines are coming momentarily.”

Facebook and Twitter have pledged to keep their networks safe from misinformation about the coronavirus to protect the public’s health. But Monday, the sites were tested when President Donald Trump posted that people should not be afraid of the disease.

Facebook and Twitter have pledged to keep their networks safe from misinformation about the coronavirus to protect the public’s health. But Monday, the sites were tested when President Donald Trump posted that people should not be afraid of the disease. “Feeling really good! Don’t be afraid of COVID. Don’t let it dominate your life,” Trump wrote on his Facebook and Twitter pages, saying he would be discharged from the Walter Reed military hospital after being treated there for COVID-19 the last few days. “I feel better than I did 20 years ago!” Medical experts immediately took issue with the post. More than 200,000 Americans have died from the virus, and more than 35 million cases have been reported around the world. Dr. Bob Wachter, chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, said Trump’s tweet was “breathtakingly callous, inhumane &amp; counterproductive.” Dr. Bernard P. Chang of Columbia University’s Department of Emergency Medicine warned that people should remain afraid of the virus. But Facebook and Twitter did nothing about Trump’s post, even though the companies have publicised their coronavirus misinformation policies. Facebook has said it does not allow coronavirus posts that can lead to direct physical harm, and will redirect people to a COVID-19 information center. Twitter also removes only posts that contain demonstrably false information with the “highest likelihood of leading to physical harm.” For Facebook and Twitter, these details matter. They are paying close attention to whether or not Trump is giving a specific direction or command to engage in an activity that could immediately put people in danger. When he suggested in April that experts look into whether people could inject disinfectant to fight off the coronavirus, Facebook and Twitter used the same yardstick and took no action to remove clips and posts about the unproven treatment. Trump and his director of social media, Dan Scavino, have hewed closely to the line of what is allowed on various social media accounts over the past four years, seemingly pushing the envelope as far as possible without inciting the tech companies to take punitive action. Facebook did not respond to a request for comment. A Twitter spokesman said the tweet did not violate the company’s rules since it did not include a clear call to action that could potentially cause real-world harm. By Monday evening, Trump’s tweet and Facebook post on COVID-19 had been viewed by more than 1 million people across both networks. Trump later posted a video reiterating that people should not let the virus dominate their lives. “Get out there,” he said. “The vaccines are coming momentarily.”

How Facebook and Twitter handled Trump’s ‘don’t be afraid of COVID’ post

US President Donald Trump on Sunday made a brief impromptu tour outside the hospital in&nbsp;an SUV.&nbsp; 
 
The trip drew criticism from US intelligence officers and medical proffessionals, who said it put others in the car at risk, exposing them to a coronavirus patient in an enclosed space. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trumps-oxygen-levels-dropped-twice-could-be-discharged-monday-doctors-332513">Also read | Trump's oxygen levels dropped twice, could be discharged Monday: Doctors</a>

“Every single person in the vehicle during that completely unnecessary Presidential ‘drive-by’ just now has to be quarantined for 14 days,” tweeted James P. Phillips, who is also a professor at George Washington University. “They might get sick. They may die. For political theater. Commanded by Trump to put their lives at risk for theater. This is insanity.”&nbsp;

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That Presidential SUV is not only bulletproof, but hermetically sealed against chemical attack. The risk of COVID19 transmission inside is as high as it gets outside of medical procedures. The irresponsibility is astounding. My thoughts are with the Secret Service forced to play.
— Dr. James P. Phillips, MD (@DrPhillipsMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrPhillipsMD/status/1312869454385229827?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2020</a></blockquote>
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“By taking a joy ride outside Walter Reed the president is placing his Secret Service detail at grave risk,” a doctor tweeted.

Donald Trump could be seen wearing a mask as he waved to a crowd from the back of the SUV, after announcing that he would “pay a little surprise to some of the great patriots that we have out on the street.” But experts said that was little comfort. 
 
Supporters are rallying for US President Donald Trump outside of the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where he is being treated for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in Bethesda, Maryland.

In the video, Trump said that he had "a very interesting journey" where he learned a lot about COVID-19 by going to the "real school" and not the "read the book school".

"It has been a very interesting journey. I learned a lot about COVID-19. I learned by really going to the school and this is the real school and this isn't the read the book school. And I get it and I understand it," he said.

The US President further said that he is getting great reports from the doctors at Walter Reed. "The work they do is absolutely amazing," he added. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-talks-of-real-test-ahead-in-his-fight-against-coronavirus-infection-332478">Also Read:&nbsp;Trump talks of 'real test' ahead in his fight against coronavirus infection</a>

Earlier today, Trump had appreciated his supporters who are outside the Walter Reed hospital as he is being treated for novel coronavirus. "I really appreciate all of the fans and supporters outside of the hospital. The fact is, they really love our country and are seeing how we are making it greater than ever before," Trump tweeted.

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I really appreciate all of the fans and supporters outside of the hospital. The fact is, they really love our Country and are seeing how we are MAKING IT GREATER THAN EVER BEFORE!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1312842736563879936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-to-know-about-sean-conley-trumps-white-house-physician-332498">Also Read:&nbsp;What to know about Sean Conley, Trump's White House physician</a>

His medical team had said that Trump experienced two episodes of blood-oxygen drops during his illness but he is likely to be discharged on October 5 (Monday).

On Thursday, President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were tested positive for coronavirus. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

US President Donald Trump on Sunday made a brief impromptu tour outside the hospital in an SUV. The trip drew criticism from US intelligence officers and medical proffessionals, who said it put others in the car at risk, exposing them to a coronavirus patient in an enclosed space.

US President Donald Trump on Sunday made a brief impromptu tour outside the hospital in an SUV. The trip drew criticism from US intelligence officers and medical proffessionals, who said it put others in the car at risk, exposing them to a coronavirus patient in an enclosed space. Also read | Trump's oxygen levels dropped twice, could be discharged Monday: Doctors “Every single person in the vehicle during that completely unnecessary Presidential ‘drive-by’ just now has to be quarantined for 14 days,” tweeted James P. Phillips, who is also a professor at George Washington University. “They might get sick. They may die. For political theater. Commanded by Trump to put their lives at risk for theater. This is insanity.” That Presidential SUV is not only bulletproof, but hermetically sealed against chemical attack. The risk of COVID19 transmission inside is as high as it gets outside of medical procedures. The irresponsibility is astounding. My thoughts are with the Secret Service forced to play. — Dr. James P. Phillips, MD (@DrPhillipsMD) October 4, 2020 × “By taking a joy ride outside Walter Reed the president is placing his Secret Service detail at grave risk,” a doctor tweeted. Donald Trump could be seen wearing a mask as he waved to a crowd from the back of the SUV, after announcing that he would “pay a little surprise to some of the great patriots that we have out on the street.” But experts said that was little comfort. Supporters are rallying for US President Donald Trump outside of the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where he is being treated for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in Bethesda, Maryland. In the video, Trump said that he had "a very interesting journey" where he learned a lot about COVID-19 by going to the "real school" and not the "read the book school". "It has been a very interesting journey. I learned a lot about COVID-19. I learned by really going to the school and this is the real school and this isn't the read the book school. And I get it and I understand it," he said. The US President further said that he is getting great reports from the doctors at Walter Reed. "The work they do is absolutely amazing," he added. Also Read: Trump talks of 'real test' ahead in his fight against coronavirus infection Earlier today, Trump had appreciated his supporters who are outside the Walter Reed hospital as he is being treated for novel coronavirus. "I really appreciate all of the fans and supporters outside of the hospital. The fact is, they really love our country and are seeing how we are making it greater than ever before," Trump tweeted. I really appreciate all of the fans and supporters outside of the hospital. The fact is, they really love our Country and are seeing how we are MAKING IT GREATER THAN EVER BEFORE! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 4, 2020 × Also Read: What to know about Sean Conley, Trump's White House physician His medical team had said that Trump experienced two episodes of blood-oxygen drops during his illness but he is likely to be discharged on October 5 (Monday). On Thursday, President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were tested positive for coronavirus. (With inputs from agencies)

‘Irresponsibility is astounding’: Covid-positive Trump faces criticism for 'joyride'

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Amid the raging conflict, Azerbaijan defence ministry said Armenian forces had shelled several towns, including Ganja, Terter, Beylagan and Barda.

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The Nobel Committee said the "three scientists have made a decisive contribution to the fight against blood-borne hepatitis".

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The health agency said that Paris had crossed three thresholds to be classified as a &nbsp;maximum alert area

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/doctors-to-decide-on-trump-hospital-discharge-later-on-monday-white-house-332683">Doctors to decide on Trump hospital discharge 'later' on Monday: White House</a>

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The president has, meanwhile, signalled his determination to return to the election campaign with an early morning tweetstorm.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/guatemala-sends-back-3500-honduran-migrants-headed-to-us-332689">Guatemala sends back 3,500 Honduran migrants headed to US</a>

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Mexico had closed its borders after the caravan entered eastern Guatemala on Thursday after it broke through a &nbsp;military cordon on the Corinto border.

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<img alt="US spacecraft" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ae460757-a5da-44ec-ab95-dd1e1efc3dcd" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/space1.jpg" />

Kalpana Chawla, the first Indian-born woman to enter space, has had the spacecraft named after her for her key contributions to human spaceflight.

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The coronavirus’s rampage through the White House has had the same effect. What we have seen over recent days is Donald Trump’s presidency in miniature, his worst traits distilled.&nbsp;

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&nbsp;A 26-year-old student was badly injured on Sunday by a man who repeatedly struck him on the head with a shovel outside the synagogue.

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Von der Leyen said she was at a meeting on Tuesday last week attended by a person who tested positive for the coronavirus on Sunday.

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Some people in the locality have said the embassy isn't welcome until Beijing stops its alleged mistreatment of Muslims in China.

NATO appeals to Azerbaijan ally Turkey to calm tensions amid Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Armenia Amid the raging conflict, Azerbaijan defence ministry said Armenian forces had shelled several towns, including Ganja, Terter, Beylagan and Barda.

NATO appeals to Azerbaijan ally Turkey to calm tensions amid Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Armenia Amid the raging conflict, Azerbaijan defence ministry said Armenian forces had shelled several towns, including Ganja, Terter, Beylagan and Barda. US-British scientists win Nobel Prize in medicine for Hepatitis C virus discovery The Nobel Committee said the "three scientists have made a decisive contribution to the fight against blood-borne hepatitis". Bars, cafes in Paris to close as French capital placed on 'maximum' COVID-19 alert The health agency said that Paris had crossed three thresholds to be classified as a maximum alert area Doctors to decide on Trump hospital discharge 'later' on Monday: White House The president has, meanwhile, signalled his determination to return to the election campaign with an early morning tweetstorm. Guatemala sends back 3,500 Honduran migrants headed to US Mexico had closed its borders after the caravan entered eastern Guatemala on Thursday after it broke through a military cordon on the Corinto border. Cargo spacecraft SS Kalpana Chawla arrives at ISS Kalpana Chawla, the first Indian-born woman to enter space, has had the spacecraft named after her for her key contributions to human spaceflight. A president in the hospital and a nation in the dark The coronavirus’s rampage through the White House has had the same effect. What we have seen over recent days is Donald Trump’s presidency in miniature, his worst traits distilled. German police probing 'attempted murder' of Jewish student A 26-year-old student was badly injured on Sunday by a man who repeatedly struck him on the head with a shovel outside the synagogue. EU chief von der Leyen 'self-isolating' after exposure to COVID-19 Von der Leyen said she was at a meeting on Tuesday last week attended by a person who tested positive for the coronavirus on Sunday. China's treatment of Uyghurs sparks anger near new embassy site in London Some people in the locality have said the embassy isn't welcome until Beijing stops its alleged mistreatment of Muslims in China.

Top 10 world news today: NATO appeals to Azerbaijan ally Turkey, Nobel Prize in medicine announced & more!

Trump's physician Sean Conley said that US president's oxygen levels had dropped twice briefly and he is being treated with steroids.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/doctors-say-president-donald-trump-is-doing-well-others-express-concern-332499/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-talks-of-real-test-ahead-in-his-fight-against-coronavirus-infection-332478">Also Read:&nbsp;Trump talks of 'real test' ahead in his fight against coronavirus infection</a>

"Since we spoke last, the president has continued to improve. As with any illness, there are frequent ups and downs over the course," Conley said. Trump's medical team said the US president could be discharged as early as Monday.

Dr. Brian Garibaldi said that the president completed a second dose of remdesivir and the first dose of dexamethasone on Friday. The medical team said Trump continues to improve and he is without fever and hasn't complained of shortness of breath.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-to-know-about-sean-conley-trumps-white-house-physician-332498">Also Read:&nbsp;What to know about Sean Conley, Trump's White House physician</a>

The medical team is continuing to monitor Trump's cardiac functions.

"Yesterday there was an episode when his oxygen dropped down to about 93 per cent," they added.

Trump's physician Sean Conley said that US president's oxygen levels had dropped twice briefly and he is being treated with steroids. Watch: Also Read: Trump talks of 'real test' ahead in his fight against coronavirus infection "Since we spoke last, the president has continued to improve.

Trump's physician Sean Conley said that US president's oxygen levels had dropped twice briefly and he is being treated with steroids. Watch: Also Read: Trump talks of 'real test' ahead in his fight against coronavirus infection "Since we spoke last, the president has continued to improve. As with any illness, there are frequent ups and downs over the course," Conley said. Trump's medical team said the US president could be discharged as early as Monday. Dr. Brian Garibaldi said that the president completed a second dose of remdesivir and the first dose of dexamethasone on Friday. The medical team said Trump continues to improve and he is without fever and hasn't complained of shortness of breath. Also Read: What to know about Sean Conley, Trump's White House physician The medical team is continuing to monitor Trump's cardiac functions. "Yesterday there was an episode when his oxygen dropped down to about 93 per cent," they added.

Trump's oxygen levels dropped twice, could be discharged Monday: Doctors

As President Donald Trump remains hospitalized at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center after testing positive for the coronavirus, one doctor is at the center of his treatment: Sean Conley, the White House physician.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/confusion-around-trumps-health-trump-was-given-oxygen-media-reports-332344/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Stepping out of the hospital with a team of doctors behind him Saturday, Conley gave an optimistic update on Trump’s condition at a news conference. He said the president was “doing very well” and in “exceptionally good spirits” after spending Friday night at the hospital.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-talks-of-real-test-ahead-in-his-fight-against-coronavirus-infection-332478">Also Read:&nbsp;Trump talks of 'real test' ahead in his fight against coronavirus infection</a>

The news conference put a national spotlight on Conley, who offered a distinctly different outlook from what Mark Meadows, the White House chief of staff, told reporters later.

Here’s what we know about Conley.

He became the president’s physician two years ago. 

Conley took on the role of White House physician in 2018 after Dr. Ronny Jackson was nominated to be secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Jackson withdrew his name from consideration for that post amid accusations of inappropriate workplace behavior and was subsequently promoted by Trump to the position of assistant to the president and chief White House medical adviser. He is now running for a House seat in Texas.

In March 2018, Conley was named acting White House physician, and he was officially appointed to the position by Trump in May 2018.

He specializes in osteopathic medicine. 

Conley graduated from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2006, according to records from the Virginia Board of Medicine. Doctors of osteopathic medicine tend to emphasize community medicine and preventive care, take a more holistic approach to medicine and rely heavily on physical diagnosis compared with traditional doctors of medicine.

Conley, who received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Notre Dame, has served as an emergency doctor for the US Navy since 2006.

A native of Pennsylvania, Conley completed his residency at the Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth, Virginia, in 2013. After his residency, Conley served as chief of trauma for the NATO Role 3 Multinational Medical Unit in Afghanistan.

He served as director of the medical center’s Combat Trauma Research Group for a little over two years.

He supported Trump&nbsp;taking hydroxychloroquine. 

In May, Conley gained attention after revealing that Trump had started taking hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malaria drug, while under his care.

Many experts have questioned drug’s effectiveness in treating, preventing or curing COVID-19 despite claims from Trump.

The Food and Drug Administration warned in April that it should be used only in clinical trials or in hospitals. The agency also said the drug could cause dangerous heart rhythm problems.

In a letter in May discussing Trump’s use of hydroxychloroquine, Conley said he and the president had “concluded the potential benefit from treatment outweighed the relative risks.”

At the news conference Saturday, Conley told reporters that Trump was not taking hydroxychloroquine.

“We discussed it,” Conley said. “He asked about it. He’s not on it now.”

As President Donald Trump remains hospitalized at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center after testing positive for the coronavirus, one doctor is at the center of his treatment: Sean Conley, the White House physician.

As President Donald Trump remains hospitalized at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center after testing positive for the coronavirus, one doctor is at the center of his treatment: Sean Conley, the White House physician. Watch: Stepping out of the hospital with a team of doctors behind him Saturday, Conley gave an optimistic update on Trump’s condition at a news conference. He said the president was “doing very well” and in “exceptionally good spirits” after spending Friday night at the hospital. Also Read: Trump talks of 'real test' ahead in his fight against coronavirus infection The news conference put a national spotlight on Conley, who offered a distinctly different outlook from what Mark Meadows, the White House chief of staff, told reporters later. Here’s what we know about Conley. He became the president’s physician two years ago. Conley took on the role of White House physician in 2018 after Dr. Ronny Jackson was nominated to be secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Jackson withdrew his name from consideration for that post amid accusations of inappropriate workplace behavior and was subsequently promoted by Trump to the position of assistant to the president and chief White House medical adviser. He is now running for a House seat in Texas. In March 2018, Conley was named acting White House physician, and he was officially appointed to the position by Trump in May 2018. He specializes in osteopathic medicine. Conley graduated from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2006, according to records from the Virginia Board of Medicine. Doctors of osteopathic medicine tend to emphasize community medicine and preventive care, take a more holistic approach to medicine and rely heavily on physical diagnosis compared with traditional doctors of medicine. Conley, who received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Notre Dame, has served as an emergency doctor for the US Navy since 2006. A native of Pennsylvania, Conley completed his residency at the Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth, Virginia, in 2013. After his residency, Conley served as chief of trauma for the NATO Role 3 Multinational Medical Unit in Afghanistan. He served as director of the medical center’s Combat Trauma Research Group for a little over two years. He supported Trump taking hydroxychloroquine. In May, Conley gained attention after revealing that Trump had started taking hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malaria drug, while under his care. Many experts have questioned drug’s effectiveness in treating, preventing or curing COVID-19 despite claims from Trump. The Food and Drug Administration warned in April that it should be used only in clinical trials or in hospitals. The agency also said the drug could cause dangerous heart rhythm problems. In a letter in May discussing Trump’s use of hydroxychloroquine, Conley said he and the president had “concluded the potential benefit from treatment outweighed the relative risks.” At the news conference Saturday, Conley told reporters that Trump was not taking hydroxychloroquine. “We discussed it,” Conley said. “He asked about it. He’s not on it now.”

What to know about Sean Conley, Trump's White House physician