Bernie Sanders, the Democratic candidate who lost the Primaries to Hillary Clinton, made an official statement in response&nbsp;to the prospect of a Donald Trump presidency.

The Daily Beast reporter Colin Jones carried Sanders&#39; statement in a Tweet.

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Bernie: &quot;To the degree that he pursues racist, sexist, xenophobic and anti-environment policies, we will vigorously oppose him.&rdquo; <a href="https://t.co/WmTFV1TvRi">pic.twitter.com/WmTFV1TvRi</a>
&mdash; Colin Jones (@colinjones) <a href="https://twitter.com/colinjones/status/796498877373448192">November 9, 2016</a></blockquote>
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The full text of the statement reads:&nbsp;

&quot;Donald Trump tapped into the anger of a declining middle class that is sick and tired of establishment politics, establishment politics and the&nbsp;establishment media. People are tired of working longer hours for lower wages, of seeing decent paying jobs go to China and other low-wage countries, of billionaires not paying any federal income taxes and of not being able to afford a college education for their kids -&nbsp;all while the very rich become much richer.

&quot;To the degree to which Mr Trump is serious about pursuing policies that improve the lives of working class families in this country, I and other progressives are prepared to work with him. To the degree that he purses racist, sexist, xenophobic and anti-environment policies, we will vigorously oppose him.&quot;

&nbsp;

Would Bernie have beaten Trump?

Sanders, according to polls, was poised to beat Trump in a head to head race. Why didn&#39;t the two face off, then?

A WikiLeaks dump from only this past weekend suggests&nbsp;the Democratic Party <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/wikileaks-suggests-bernie-sanders-was-blackmailed-during-democratic-primary-8536">blackmailed Bernie Sanders</a> during the Primaries.

In a May&nbsp;interview with CNBC he spoke about the potential isolating effects of extreme wealth after being&nbsp;asked what the impact of Clinton&#39;s wealth could be on her policy making decisions.

According to a released email whose authenticity the&nbsp;Democrats never denied, Clinton Campaign Manager Robby Mook, who had the quote brought to his attention by a staffer, said: &quot;This isn&#39;t in keeping w the agreement. Since we clearly have some leverage, would be good to flag this for him. I could send a signal via Welch--or did you establish a direct line w him?&quot;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/wikileaks-suggests-bernie-sanders-was-blackmailed-during-democratic-primary-8536">Another WikiLeaks revelation</a> was that the Democratic National Committee actively conspired against Bernie Sanders to favour Hillary Clinton.

The Democrats have much explaining to do. &nbsp;

But at a time when politicians and media may&nbsp;go&nbsp;from&nbsp;snubbing Donald Trump to cosying up to him when&nbsp;he&#39;s president,&nbsp;Sanders appears determined to&nbsp;stand&nbsp;up for his beliefs,&nbsp;and&nbsp;willing to denounce&nbsp;his adversaries when necessary.

At least there doesn&#39;t seem to be any leverage stopping him from speaking freely&nbsp;now.&nbsp;

(WION)

'To the extent he pursues racist, sexist, xenophobic and anti-environment policies, we will vigorously oppose him'

Bernie Sanders, the Democratic candidate who lost the Primaries to Hillary Clinton, made an official statement in response to the prospect of a Donald Trump presidency. The Daily Beast reporter Colin Jones carried Sanders' statement in a Tweet. Bernie: "To the degree that he pursues racist, sexist, xenophobic and anti-environment policies, we will vigorously oppose him.” pic.twitter.com/WmTFV1TvRi — Colin Jones (@colinjones) November 9, 2016 × The full text of the statement reads: "Donald Trump tapped into the anger of a declining middle class that is sick and tired of establishment politics, establishment politics and the establishment media. People are tired of working longer hours for lower wages, of seeing decent paying jobs go to China and other low-wage countries, of billionaires not paying any federal income taxes and of not being able to afford a college education for their kids - all while the very rich become much richer. "To the degree to which Mr Trump is serious about pursuing policies that improve the lives of working class families in this country, I and other progressives are prepared to work with him. To the degree that he purses racist, sexist, xenophobic and anti-environment policies, we will vigorously oppose him." Would Bernie have beaten Trump? Sanders, according to polls, was poised to beat Trump in a head to head race. Why didn't the two face off, then? A WikiLeaks dump from only this past weekend suggests the Democratic Party blackmailed Bernie Sanders during the Primaries. In a May interview with CNBC he spoke about the potential isolating effects of extreme wealth after being asked what the impact of Clinton's wealth could be on her policy making decisions. According to a released email whose authenticity the Democrats never denied, Clinton Campaign Manager Robby Mook, who had the quote brought to his attention by a staffer, said: "This isn't in keeping w the agreement. Since we clearly have some leverage, would be good to flag this for him. I could send a signal via Welch--or did you establish a direct line w him?" Another WikiLeaks revelation was that the Democratic National Committee actively conspired against Bernie Sanders to favour Hillary Clinton. The Democrats have much explaining to do. But at a time when politicians and media may go from snubbing Donald Trump to cosying up to him when he's president, Sanders appears determined to stand up for his beliefs, and willing to denounce his adversaries when necessary. At least there doesn't seem to be any leverage stopping him from speaking freely now. (WION)

US Election 2016: Bernie Sanders responds to a Donald Trump presidency

Ronald Rump has reached the Whitest house of the United States of America. Hearing this, there is now a pussy riot in the US also. With love, from Russia.

A self-proclaimed lover of curves will now occupy an oval office. How about that! If you wish hard enough, strong enough, the cosmos serves up your wish.&nbsp; 
Women, white women precisely, have made Rump come. To the highest office, that is.

Defying expectations, women voters slammed the door on the face of his woman opponent, Hilarious Contender. They didn&#39;t like her shimmying.&nbsp;

There were reports of topless protests by women against Rump when the country went to the polls. A Hindu soothsayer read that as a good omen. No wonder Rump loves the Hindus, even if a little less than he loves his steak.&nbsp;

Clearly, Contender and her supporters had underestimated Rump&rsquo;s charm.

But all is not well with the women who will now work with Rump. Sources inside the whitest, brightest house have said there has been a deluge since yesterday of resignation letters from female staff.&nbsp;

One source said women had kept two letters ready, bracing for any eventuality: Rump&rsquo;s presidency or the return of the intern banger.&nbsp; 
It is likely that the house will house only an all-male staff now.&nbsp;

A letter has already been issued by Rump&rsquo;s aide to the house chef ordering him to stop serving women guests food. The aide said, &ldquo;Rump does not want to be blamed for women getting fat. He can&rsquo;t be too careful!&rdquo;&nbsp;

Meanwhile, protocol officers have been instructed to buy stocks of higher high heels and smaller swimsuits, to be gifted to visiting female dignitaries and wives accompanying their statesmen husbands.&nbsp;

In her congratulatory message to Rump, Germany&rsquo;s Angel Mermaid expressed her displeasure at such a move. These are not the values that Germany and the US share, she said. Mermaid has been championing the right of heads of state to wear boring clothes.&nbsp;

Naren Moody of India, on the other hand, has applauded Rump&rsquo;s decision. It is to be noted that Moody&rsquo;s wife does not accompany him anywhere on his many state visits.

Analysts are awaiting Saudi Arabia&rsquo;s reaction to Rump&rsquo;s ascent to the house and the already growing stocks of swimsuits and heels there. It has been murmured in the alleys of think hubs like Crookings that the US and Saudi Arabia are headed for a nasty split.&nbsp;

While Rump&rsquo;s campaign slogans on the strict vetting of immigrants have already strained their relationship, the swimsuit is the straw breaking the Saudi camel&rsquo;s back.

&lsquo;Ronald Rump versus Hilarious Contender&rsquo; &ndash; this was the stuff American nightmares are made of.&nbsp;

Iranians, Indians, Pakistanis, Malawians, Guatemalans, Azerbaijanis on the other hand were seen amorously caressing their passports on voting day. Thank god, they said among themselves, at least we don&#39;t have to make the choice.&nbsp;

The ones without passports have disappeared off the streets.

Reports from Mexico suggest that the excitement around heels and swimsuits has been marred by apprehensions about funding the &ldquo;wall&rdquo;. Preparing for the increased taxes, immigrant Hispanic women in the US have switched to wearing swimsuits as a cost-cutting measure. Which of course is helping the businesses of Mexican drug dealers and rapists thrive.

Psephologists and journalists predicting a resounding victory for Contender riding on the women&rsquo;s vote are gasping. They are now packing their bags for Canada.&nbsp; 
Tarek Fatah awaits them there.

* This is a&nbsp;satire&nbsp;and is not to be taken seriously 
&nbsp;

(WION)

This was the stuff American nightmares are made of. Everybody else thanked their stars they didn't have to make the choice

Ronald Rump has reached the Whitest house of the United States of America. Hearing this, there is now a pussy riot in the US also. With love, from Russia. A self-proclaimed lover of curves will now occupy an oval office. How about that! If you wish hard enough, strong enough, the cosmos serves up your wish. Women, white women precisely, have made Rump come. To the highest office, that is. Defying expectations, women voters slammed the door on the face of his woman opponent, Hilarious Contender. They didn't like her shimmying. There were reports of topless protests by women against Rump when the country went to the polls. A Hindu soothsayer read that as a good omen. No wonder Rump loves the Hindus, even if a little less than he loves his steak. Clearly, Contender and her supporters had underestimated Rump’s charm. But all is not well with the women who will now work with Rump. Sources inside the whitest, brightest house have said there has been a deluge since yesterday of resignation letters from female staff. One source said women had kept two letters ready, bracing for any eventuality: Rump’s presidency or the return of the intern banger. It is likely that the house will house only an all-male staff now. A letter has already been issued by Rump’s aide to the house chef ordering him to stop serving women guests food. The aide said, “Rump does not want to be blamed for women getting fat. He can’t be too careful!” Meanwhile, protocol officers have been instructed to buy stocks of higher high heels and smaller swimsuits, to be gifted to visiting female dignitaries and wives accompanying their statesmen husbands. In her congratulatory message to Rump, Germany’s Angel Mermaid expressed her displeasure at such a move. These are not the values that Germany and the US share, she said. Mermaid has been championing the right of heads of state to wear boring clothes. Naren Moody of India, on the other hand, has applauded Rump’s decision. It is to be noted that Moody’s wife does not accompany him anywhere on his many state visits. Analysts are awaiting Saudi Arabia’s reaction to Rump’s ascent to the house and the already growing stocks of swimsuits and heels there. It has been murmured in the alleys of think hubs like Crookings that the US and Saudi Arabia are headed for a nasty split. While Rump’s campaign slogans on the strict vetting of immigrants have already strained their relationship, the swimsuit is the straw breaking the Saudi camel’s back. ‘Ronald Rump versus Hilarious Contender’ – this was the stuff American nightmares are made of. Iranians, Indians, Pakistanis, Malawians, Guatemalans, Azerbaijanis on the other hand were seen amorously caressing their passports on voting day. Thank god, they said among themselves, at least we don't have to make the choice. The ones without passports have disappeared off the streets. Reports from Mexico suggest that the excitement around heels and swimsuits has been marred by apprehensions about funding the “wall”. Preparing for the increased taxes, immigrant Hispanic women in the US have switched to wearing swimsuits as a cost-cutting measure. Which of course is helping the businesses of Mexican drug dealers and rapists thrive. Psephologists and journalists predicting a resounding victory for Contender riding on the women’s vote are gasping. They are now packing their bags for Canada. Tarek Fatah awaits them there. * This is a satire and is not to be taken seriously (WION)

Satire: Ronald Rump trumps Hilarious Contender

A WikiLeaks release from this past weekend suggests that&nbsp;Bernie Sanders was&nbsp;blackmailed by the Clinton campaign when they competed during&nbsp;the primaries to see who would be the Democratic presidential nominee.

After being asked about the topic, Sanders made some pointed remarks about the potential impact of Clinton&#39;s wealth on her policy making decisions, discussing the possible isolating effect of extreme wealth. He told CNBC in May:

&quot;Theoretically you can be a multibillionaire and in fact be very concerned about the issues of working people. Theoretically that&#39;s true.&quot;

Then he added, &quot;When you hustle money like that, you don&#39;t sit in restaurants like this. You sit in restaurants where you spend, I don&#39;t know what they spend, hundreds of dollars for dinner and so forth. That&#39;s the world you are accustomed to. And that&#39;s the worldview that you adopt. I&#39;m not going to condemn Hillary and Bill Clinton because they&#39;ve made a lot of money. That type of wealth has the potential to isolate you from the reality of the world,&quot; he said.

The WikiLeaks dump shows that not only did a campaign manager&nbsp;object to this comment, particularly Sanders&#39; use of the word &quot;hustle&quot;, or highlight it as something negative in need of counter-messaging, he seemed to believe that he had control of Sanders, who&nbsp;crossed a line by speaking this way&nbsp;despite explicitly saying&nbsp;&quot;I&#39;m not going to condemn Hillary or Bill Clinton&quot;.

Here is Clinton Campaign Manager Robby Mook&#39;s&nbsp;response to this remark after&nbsp;the campaign brought it to his attention,&nbsp;as released by&nbsp;<a href="https://wikileaks.org/podesta-emails/emailid/47397">WikiLeaks</a>: &quot;This isn&#39;t in keeping w the agreement. Since we clearly have some leverage, would be good to flag this for him. I could send a signal via Welch--or did you establish a direct line w him?&quot;

What did Clinton&#39;s campaign have &quot;over&quot; him? What else did this prevent him from saying or doing? Exactly how profound an impact did this have on the US election? None of this is currently evident, but Sanders&#39; supporters are livid, and it seems they have reason to be.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/wikileaks-releases-20000-emails-of-democratic-party-officials-working-against-bernie-sanders-3076">Also read: WikiLeaks releases 20,000 emails of Democratic party officials working against Bernie Sanders</a>

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2016-bernie-sanders-responds-to-a-donald-trump-presidency-8625">Also read: Bernie Sanders responds to a Donald Trump presidency</a>

WikiLeaks, months earlier, also released emails showing that the Democratic National Committee favoured Clinton over Sanders, and, as the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/wikileaks-emails-show-dnc-favored-hillary-clinton-over_us_57930be0e4b0e002a3134b05">Huffington Post</a> reports,&nbsp;considered whether it would be advantageous to highlight his Jewish heritage or his identification as an&nbsp;atheist -- whatever would make a &quot;several points difference with my peeps [voters]&quot;.

While Sanders endorsed Hillary Clinton for president, even still, her campaign has a lot of explaining to do.

(WION)

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

'This isn't in keeping w the agreement. Since we clearly have some leverage...' Clinton's campaign manager said in what seems like silencing

A WikiLeaks release from this past weekend suggests that Bernie Sanders was blackmailed by the Clinton campaign when they competed during the primaries to see who would be the Democratic presidential nominee. After being asked about the topic, Sanders made some pointed remarks about the potential impact of Clinton's wealth on her policy making decisions, discussing the possible isolating effect of extreme wealth. He told CNBC in May: "Theoretically you can be a multibillionaire and in fact be very concerned about the issues of working people. Theoretically that's true." Then he added, "When you hustle money like that, you don't sit in restaurants like this. You sit in restaurants where you spend, I don't know what they spend, hundreds of dollars for dinner and so forth. That's the world you are accustomed to. And that's the worldview that you adopt. I'm not going to condemn Hillary and Bill Clinton because they've made a lot of money. That type of wealth has the potential to isolate you from the reality of the world," he said. The WikiLeaks dump shows that not only did a campaign manager object to this comment, particularly Sanders' use of the word "hustle", or highlight it as something negative in need of counter-messaging, he seemed to believe that he had control of Sanders, who crossed a line by speaking this way despite explicitly saying "I'm not going to condemn Hillary or Bill Clinton". Here is Clinton Campaign Manager Robby Mook's response to this remark after the campaign brought it to his attention, as released by WikiLeaks: "This isn't in keeping w the agreement. Since we clearly have some leverage, would be good to flag this for him. I could send a signal via Welch--or did you establish a direct line w him?" What did Clinton's campaign have "over" him? What else did this prevent him from saying or doing? Exactly how profound an impact did this have on the US election? None of this is currently evident, but Sanders' supporters are livid, and it seems they have reason to be. Also read: WikiLeaks releases 20,000 emails of Democratic party officials working against Bernie Sanders Also read: Bernie Sanders responds to a Donald Trump presidency WikiLeaks, months earlier, also released emails showing that the Democratic National Committee favoured Clinton over Sanders, and, as the Huffington Post reports, considered whether it would be advantageous to highlight his Jewish heritage or his identification as an atheist -- whatever would make a "several points difference with my peeps [voters]". While Sanders endorsed Hillary Clinton for president, even still, her campaign has a lot of explaining to do. (WION)

WikiLeaks suggests Bernie Sanders was blackmailed during Democratic Primary

Mexico said on Wednesday it would work with Donald Trump for the benefit of both nations after his surprise US&nbsp;election win, but reiterated it would not pay for his planned border wall, which stirred up deep resentment during a fraught presidential campaign.

As Trump strode toward victory, the peso plunged 13 per cent in its biggest fall since the Tequila Crisis devaluation 22 years ago, before paring losses to trade down 8.7 per cent at 19.91 per dollar. Still, officials held back from taking action to support the peso despite it hitting lifetime lows overnight.

Trump&#39;s threats to dump the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) agreement with Mexico and Canada, and to tax money sent home by migrants to pay for the controversial wall on the southern border, have made the peso particularly vulnerable to events in the US&nbsp;presidential race.

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<h5>&#39;Very hard times are coming to Mexico,&#39; said analyst Gabriela Siller of Mexican bank BASE</h5>
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Still, President Enrique Pena Nieto said he called to congratulate Trump, and had agreed to meet the New Yorker during the transition phase to discuss joint cooperation, which he hopes would strengthen the competitiveness of North America.

Welcoming Trump&#39;s victory speech pledge to seek &quot;common ground&quot; and partnership with other countries, Pena Nieto said in a televised statement that Mexico shared the same vision.

&quot;Dialogue to make agreements is still the best route for Mexico, and my government will seek opportunities that benefit both nations in this new phase of bilateral relations,&quot; he said.

Nevertheless, Foreign Minister Claudia Ruiz Massieu reiterated that Mexico would not pay for Trump&#39;s proposed wall. The vow to make Mexico pay for the barrier was a key feature of his stump speeches.

Ratings agency Fitch said Trump&#39;s victory may add downside risks to Mexico&#39;s economic growth, while Moody&#39;s warned the government may not meet its goals of cutting its budget deficit if flows of trade or foreign investment wilt under Trump.

Growth worry

Both Moody&#39;s and Standard &amp; Poor&#39;s rating agencies put Mexico&#39;s credit rating on a negative view earlier this year.

Gabriel Casillas, an economist at Banorte, predicted Trump&#39;s victory will shave 0.3 percentage point from 2016 economic growth, and said the peso could suffer for months as the market tries to figure out what Trump could do in office.

&quot;Because of the uncertainty of what Trump could do, consumers will postpone purchases, companies will postpone investments,&quot; Casillas said, but added that he thought Trump&#39;s actual policies will fall short of his rhetoric, not least because unwinding trade with Mexico is easier said than done.&quot;I don&#39;t think Trump will do a lot of the things he said he will do,&quot; he said.

Others were more pessimistic.

Morgan Stanley analysts said in a note that the fallout from a Trump presidency would have &quot;deep ramifications&quot; for the equity market and that foreign investment could stall.

&quot;Risks of a hard landing in Mexico have clearly risen,&quot; the bank&#39;s analysts said.

But for now the market pulled back from its initial panic. The peso recovered from its low after Trump took a measured tone in his victory speech and did not invoke any of his threats against Mexico, analysts said.

Mexico&#39;s benchmark IPC stock index &lt;.MXX&gt; fell more than 3.0 percent initially, but pared losses and closed down 2.23 percent.

&quot;The market has calmed down a bit and given the benefit of doubt to a more conciliatory Trump,&quot; said Marco Oviedo, an economist at Barclays in Mexico City.

Mexican-based economists had expected a snap interest rate rise, but central bank Governor Agustin Carstens told a news conference on Wednesday morning the bank would take any necessary measures pending market conditions.

He said it would hold a monetary policy meeting as scheduled on Nov. 17, but did not announce any immediate steps to support the currency. Mexico has already raised its benchmark interest rate three times this year to support the peso.

Finance Minister Jose Antonio Meade said authorities were monitoring the situation and would act if needed.

The central bank hiked its key interest rate in September by 50 basis points to 4.75 percent to anchor inflation expectations following the peso&#39;s creeping depreciation.

Mexico has more than $175 billion in foreign reserves, and Carstens said last month he would consider using a $90 billion International Monetary Fund flexible credit line &quot;in the event of an external shock.

(Reuters)

Instead, President Enrique Pena Nieto urged the newly-elected Donald Trump to 'work together' for the development of North America

Mexico said on Wednesday it would work with Donald Trump for the benefit of both nations after his surprise US election win, but reiterated it would not pay for his planned border wall, which stirred up deep resentment during a fraught presidential campaign. As Trump strode toward victory, the peso plunged 13 per cent in its biggest fall since the Tequila Crisis devaluation 22 years ago, before paring losses to trade down 8.7 per cent at 19.91 per dollar. Still, officials held back from taking action to support the peso despite it hitting lifetime lows overnight. Trump's threats to dump the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) agreement with Mexico and Canada, and to tax money sent home by migrants to pay for the controversial wall on the southern border, have made the peso particularly vulnerable to events in the US presidential race. 'Very hard times are coming to Mexico,' said analyst Gabriela Siller of Mexican bank BASE × Still, President Enrique Pena Nieto said he called to congratulate Trump, and had agreed to meet the New Yorker during the transition phase to discuss joint cooperation, which he hopes would strengthen the competitiveness of North America. Welcoming Trump's victory speech pledge to seek "common ground" and partnership with other countries, Pena Nieto said in a televised statement that Mexico shared the same vision. "Dialogue to make agreements is still the best route for Mexico, and my government will seek opportunities that benefit both nations in this new phase of bilateral relations," he said. Nevertheless, Foreign Minister Claudia Ruiz Massieu reiterated that Mexico would not pay for Trump's proposed wall. The vow to make Mexico pay for the barrier was a key feature of his stump speeches. Ratings agency Fitch said Trump's victory may add downside risks to Mexico's economic growth, while Moody's warned the government may not meet its goals of cutting its budget deficit if flows of trade or foreign investment wilt under Trump. Growth worry Both Moody's and Standard & Poor's rating agencies put Mexico's credit rating on a negative view earlier this year. Gabriel Casillas, an economist at Banorte, predicted Trump's victory will shave 0.3 percentage point from 2016 economic growth, and said the peso could suffer for months as the market tries to figure out what Trump could do in office. "Because of the uncertainty of what Trump could do, consumers will postpone purchases, companies will postpone investments," Casillas said, but added that he thought Trump's actual policies will fall short of his rhetoric, not least because unwinding trade with Mexico is easier said than done."I don't think Trump will do a lot of the things he said he will do," he said. Others were more pessimistic. Morgan Stanley analysts said in a note that the fallout from a Trump presidency would have "deep ramifications" for the equity market and that foreign investment could stall. "Risks of a hard landing in Mexico have clearly risen," the bank's analysts said. But for now the market pulled back from its initial panic. The peso recovered from its low after Trump took a measured tone in his victory speech and did not invoke any of his threats against Mexico, analysts said. Mexico's benchmark IPC stock index <.MXX> fell more than 3.0 percent initially, but pared losses and closed down 2.23 percent. "The market has calmed down a bit and given the benefit of doubt to a more conciliatory Trump," said Marco Oviedo, an economist at Barclays in Mexico City. Mexican-based economists had expected a snap interest rate rise, but central bank Governor Agustin Carstens told a news conference on Wednesday morning the bank would take any necessary measures pending market conditions. He said it would hold a monetary policy meeting as scheduled on Nov. 17, but did not announce any immediate steps to support the currency. Mexico has already raised its benchmark interest rate three times this year to support the peso. Finance Minister Jose Antonio Meade said authorities were monitoring the situation and would act if needed. The central bank hiked its key interest rate in September by 50 basis points to 4.75 percent to anchor inflation expectations following the peso's creeping depreciation. Mexico has more than $175 billion in foreign reserves, and Carstens said last month he would consider using a $90 billion International Monetary Fund flexible credit line "in the event of an external shock. (Reuters)

We will not pay for border wall, Mexico reiterates

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is leading in three states -- Indiana, Kentucky and New Hampshire -- while his rival Hillary Clinton is projected to win Vermont.

Donald Trump is projected to win traditional Republican strongholds Indiana, Kentucky and Georgia, while Hillary Clinton is projected to bag Vermont.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, polling has closed in crucial swing states --&nbsp;Florida and Virginia.

Early reports indicate that it is tight between the two presidential contenders in Florida and Virginia.

(WION)

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump brace for election outcome after voting closes in some states

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is leading in three states -- Indiana, Kentucky and New Hampshire -- while his rival Hillary Clinton is projected to win Vermont. Donald Trump is projected to win traditional Republican strongholds Indiana, Kentucky and Georgia, while Hillary Clinton is projected to bag Vermont. Meanwhile, polling has closed in crucial swing states -- Florida and Virginia. Early reports indicate that it is tight between the two presidential contenders in Florida and Virginia. (WION)

Live US election 2016: Trump leads in Indiana, Kentucky; Clinton ahead in Vermont and Virginia

Iran&#39;s President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday that the US&nbsp;election results would have no effect on Tehran&#39;s policies, state news agency IRNA quoted him as 
saying, noting that Iran&#39;s expanding economic ties with the world were irreversible.

&quot;The results of the US&nbsp;election have no effect on the policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran,&quot; Rouhani said.

&quot;Iran&#39;s policy for constructive engagement with the world and the lifting of nuclear-related sanctions have made our economic relations with all countries expanding and irreversible.&quot;

He added that Iran&#39;s nuclear deal with six world powers has been reflected in a United Nation Security Council resolution and cannot be dismissed by one government.

US&nbsp;President-elect Donald Trump should stay committed to the international nuclear deal with Iran, Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency on Wednesday.

&quot;The United States should fulfill its commitments in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (the nuclear deal) as a multilateral international agreement,&quot; Zarif was quoted as saying while on a visit to Romania.

Rouhani said there was &quot;no possibility&quot; of its nuclear deal with world powers being overturned by US president-elect Donald Trump despite his threat to rip it up.

&quot;Iran&#39;s understanding in the nuclear deal was that the accord was not concluded with one country or government but was approved by a resolution of the UN Security Council and there is no possibility that it can be changed by a single government,&quot; Rouhani told his cabinet, according to state television.

Last year&#39;s accord with world powers saw international sanctions on Iran lifted in exchange for guarantees that it would not pursue a nuclear weapons capability.&nbsp; 
During the election campaign, Trump described the deal as &quot;disastrous&quot; and said it would be his &quot;number one priority&quot; to dismantle it.

&quot;The United States no longer has the capacity to create Iranophobia and to create a consensus against Iran,&quot; Rouhani said.

&quot;The constructive engagement policies of Iran towards the world, and the fact that international sanctions have been lifted, have placed the Iranian economy on a road where there is no possibility of going backwards.&quot;

(Agencies)

Iran's nuclear deal with six world powers has been reflected in a UNSC resolution and cannot be dismissed by one government, he said

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday that the US election results would have no effect on Tehran's policies, state news agency IRNA quoted him as saying, noting that Iran's expanding economic ties with the world were irreversible. "The results of the US election have no effect on the policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran," Rouhani said. "Iran's policy for constructive engagement with the world and the lifting of nuclear-related sanctions have made our economic relations with all countries expanding and irreversible." He added that Iran's nuclear deal with six world powers has been reflected in a United Nation Security Council resolution and cannot be dismissed by one government. US President-elect Donald Trump should stay committed to the international nuclear deal with Iran, Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency on Wednesday. "The United States should fulfill its commitments in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (the nuclear deal) as a multilateral international agreement," Zarif was quoted as saying while on a visit to Romania. Rouhani said there was "no possibility" of its nuclear deal with world powers being overturned by US president-elect Donald Trump despite his threat to rip it up. "Iran's understanding in the nuclear deal was that the accord was not concluded with one country or government but was approved by a resolution of the UN Security Council and there is no possibility that it can be changed by a single government," Rouhani told his cabinet, according to state television. Last year's accord with world powers saw international sanctions on Iran lifted in exchange for guarantees that it would not pursue a nuclear weapons capability. During the election campaign, Trump described the deal as "disastrous" and said it would be his "number one priority" to dismantle it. "The United States no longer has the capacity to create Iranophobia and to create a consensus against Iran," Rouhani said. "The constructive engagement policies of Iran towards the world, and the fact that international sanctions have been lifted, have placed the Iranian economy on a road where there is no possibility of going backwards." (Agencies)

Iran's Rouhani says Trump election has no effect on Tehran policies

Donald Trump has become the 45th President of the United States of America, pulling off a stunning victory against his rival Hillary Clinton who a day before the election was said to have a 70 per cent chance of winning.

Trump made his victory speech at the Hilton Hotel in Manhattan, New York.&nbsp;

&quot;I pledge to every citizen of our land that I will be president for every American. And that is very important to me,&quot; Donald Trump told a jubilant crowd.&nbsp;

&quot;For those that have chosen not to support me in the past, of which there were a few people, I&#39;m reaching out to you for your guidance and you help so we can work together and unify our great country.&quot;

He was gracious to his rival, saying, &quot;Hillary has worked very hard and very hard over a very long period of time and we owe her a major debt of gratitude for her service to this country.&quot;&nbsp;

&quot;Now it is time for America to bind the wounds of division.&quot;

Local media reports said Hillary Clinton had called Trump to concede the presidency but that she would not be making a concession speech Wednesday

A stunning victory

Trump won Florida, Ohio, North Carolina, Iowa and New Hampshire -- states that were considered to be swing states -- while his rival Hillary Clinton faltered in these key states.

Trump won Florida by 130,000 votes, which imply that third-party&nbsp;votes harmed Clinton in her bid to win&nbsp;the crucial state. Third-party candidates Gary Johnson and Jill Stein won 260,000 votes in the state.

The win in the Sunshine state provided a major impetus for Trump during his stunning success.

The final blow to Clinton came when Trump won Pennsylvania well past midnight in New York.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Well, Trump is winning in a lot of places that Republicans don&#39;t usually win.
&mdash; (((Harry Enten))) (@ForecasterEnten) <a href="https://twitter.com/ForecasterEnten/status/796179642969362432">November 9, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

Trump&#39;s early numbers&nbsp;put Clinton on the backfoot.

Clinton won in Virginia and banked on upper Midwestern states to shore up her numbers. She managed to stay in the race with California&#39;s 55 electoral seats.&nbsp;

Clinton also won three out of four electoral votes in Maine. &nbsp;

Hillary Clinton&#39;s campaign chairman, John Podesta thanked Hillary&#39;s supporters and asked them to go home. She would not be saying anything&nbsp;tonight. . &nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/uselection2016/">Click here for detailed coverage of the US election &gt;&gt;</a>

The other states won by&nbsp;Clinton are New Mexico, Illinois, Connecticut, Vermont, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware and the District of Columbia. Trump has won Missouri, Nebraska, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Kentucky, Indiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee and West Virginia. But none of these are battleground states.

South Carolina caused a minor flutter in the Trump camp as early data showed Clinton to be in the lead. However, he later surged ahead to win the state, which has traditionally been a Republican firewall.&nbsp;

Trump&nbsp;also won Texas, Wyoming, Kansas, North Dakota and South Dakota, whereas Clinton has scooped New York.

&nbsp;

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1">
	<thead>
		<tr>
			<th scope="col">No.</th>
			<th scope="col" style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;States &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</th>
			<th scope="col" style="text-align: center;">Electoral Votes &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</th>
			<th scope="col">Winner &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</th>
		</tr>
	</thead>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>1</td>
			<td>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Alabama</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">9</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="text-align: center;">2</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Alaska &nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">3</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="text-align: center;">3</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Arizona&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">11</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">awaiting</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="text-align: center;">4</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Arkansas</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">6</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="text-align: center;">5</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; California &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">55</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Hillary Clinton</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="text-align: center;">6</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Colorado</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">9</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Hillary Clinton</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="text-align: center;">7</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Connecticut</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">7</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Hillary Clinton</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="text-align: center;">8</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Delaware &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">3</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Hillary Clinton</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="text-align: center;">9</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Florida &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">29</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="text-align: center;">10</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Georgia &nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">16</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="text-align: center;">11</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Hawaii &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">4</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Hillary Clinton</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="text-align: center;">12</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Idaho &nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">4</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="text-align: center;">13</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Illinois&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">20</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Hillary Clinton</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="text-align: center;">14</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Indiana &nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">11</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="text-align: center;">15</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Iowa &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">6</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="text-align: center;">16</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Kansas &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">6</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="text-align: center;">17</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Kentucky &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">8</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="text-align: center;">18</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Louisiana&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">8</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="text-align: center;">19</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Maine&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">4</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Hillary Clinton</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="text-align: center;">20</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Maryland</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">10</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Hillary Clinton</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="text-align: center;">21</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Massachusetts</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">11</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Hillary Clinton</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="text-align: center;">22</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Michigan</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">16</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="text-align: center;">23</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Minnesota&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">10</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Awaiting</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="text-align: center;">24</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Mississippi &nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">6</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="text-align: center;">25</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Missouri &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">10</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="text-align: center;">26</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Montana &nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">3</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="text-align: center;">27</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Nebraska &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">5</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="text-align: center;">28</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Nevada&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">6</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Hillary Clinton</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="text-align: center;">29</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">New Hampshire</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">4</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Awaiting</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="text-align: center;">30</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">New Jersey&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">14</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Hillary Clinton</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="text-align: center;">31</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">New Mexico</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">5</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Hillary Clinton</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="text-align: center;">32</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">New York &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">29</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Hillary Clinton</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="text-align: center;">33</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">North Carolina</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">15</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Donald Trump&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="text-align: center;">34</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">North Dakota</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">3</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="text-align: center;">35</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Ohio &nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">18</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="text-align: center;">36</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Oklahoma &nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">7</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="text-align: center;">37</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Oregon &nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">7</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Hillary Clinton</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="text-align: center;">38</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Pennsylvania</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">20</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="text-align: center;">39</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Rhode Island</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">4</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Hillary Clinton</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="text-align: center;">40</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">South Carolina</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">9</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Donald Trump&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="text-align: center;">41</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">South Dakota&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">3</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="text-align: center;">42</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Tennessee&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">11</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="text-align: center;">43</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Texas &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">38</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="text-align: center;">44</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Utah&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">6</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="text-align: center;">45</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Vermont &nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">3</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Hillary Clinton</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="text-align: center;">46</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Virginia&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">13</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Hillary Clinton</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="text-align: center;">47</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Washington &nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">12</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Hillary Clinton</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="text-align: center;">48</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">West Virginia&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">5</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="text-align: center;">49</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Wisconsin &nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">10</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="text-align: center;">50</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Wyoming &nbsp;</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;3</td>
			<td style="text-align: center;">Donald Trump</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

&nbsp;

What were the battleground states and why did they matter

In US presidential elections, a battleground state has no clear favourite&nbsp;and can gravitate towards either candidate. US presidential nominees campaign hard in these states as they are crucial in winning the presidential race.

In the 2016 US election, the swing states are Ohio, Florida, Iowa, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, Nevada and Colorado.&nbsp;

Since 2000, whichever candidate has gained ground in Ohio has won the election.&nbsp;

Oil prices slide as election numbers come in

Oil prices turned downhill on Wednesday as early counting shows&nbsp;Trump was doing better than expected in several crucial battleground states.

As vote counting advanced, trading activity shot up and prices became highly volatile.

(WION)

Trump won the presidential race on the back of major wins in battleground states

Donald Trump has become the 45th President of the United States of America, pulling off a stunning victory against his rival Hillary Clinton who a day before the election was said to have a 70 per cent chance of winning. Trump made his victory speech at the Hilton Hotel in Manhattan, New York. "I pledge to every citizen of our land that I will be president for every American. And that is very important to me," Donald Trump told a jubilant crowd. "For those that have chosen not to support me in the past, of which there were a few people, I'm reaching out to you for your guidance and you help so we can work together and unify our great country." He was gracious to his rival, saying, "Hillary has worked very hard and very hard over a very long period of time and we owe her a major debt of gratitude for her service to this country." "Now it is time for America to bind the wounds of division." Local media reports said Hillary Clinton had called Trump to concede the presidency but that she would not be making a concession speech Wednesday A stunning victory Trump won Florida, Ohio, North Carolina, Iowa and New Hampshire -- states that were considered to be swing states -- while his rival Hillary Clinton faltered in these key states. Trump won Florida by 130,000 votes, which imply that third-party votes harmed Clinton in her bid to win the crucial state. Third-party candidates Gary Johnson and Jill Stein won 260,000 votes in the state. The win in the Sunshine state provided a major impetus for Trump during his stunning success. The final blow to Clinton came when Trump won Pennsylvania well past midnight in New York. Well, Trump is winning in a lot of places that Republicans don't usually win. — (((Harry Enten))) (@ForecasterEnten) November 9, 2016 × Trump's early numbers put Clinton on the backfoot. Clinton won in Virginia and banked on upper Midwestern states to shore up her numbers. She managed to stay in the race with California's 55 electoral seats. Clinton also won three out of four electoral votes in Maine. Hillary Clinton's campaign chairman, John Podesta thanked Hillary's supporters and asked them to go home. She would not be saying anything tonight. . Click here for detailed coverage of the US election >> The other states won by Clinton are New Mexico, Illinois, Connecticut, Vermont, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware and the District of Columbia. Trump has won Missouri, Nebraska, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Kentucky, Indiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee and West Virginia. But none of these are battleground states. South Carolina caused a minor flutter in the Trump camp as early data showed Clinton to be in the lead. However, he later surged ahead to win the state, which has traditionally been a Republican firewall. Trump also won Texas, Wyoming, Kansas, North Dakota and South Dakota, whereas Clinton has scooped New York. No. States Electoral Votes Winner 1 Alabama 9 Donald Trump 2 Alaska 3 Donald Trump 3 Arizona 11 awaiting 4 Arkansas 6 Donald Trump 5 California 55 Hillary Clinton 6 Colorado 9 Hillary Clinton 7 Connecticut 7 Hillary Clinton 8 Delaware 3 Hillary Clinton 9 Florida 29 Donald Trump 10 Georgia 16 Donald Trump 11 Hawaii 4 Hillary Clinton 12 Idaho 4 Donald Trump 13 Illinois 20 Hillary Clinton 14 Indiana 11 Donald Trump 15 Iowa 6 Donald Trump 16 Kansas 6 Donald Trump 17 Kentucky 8 Donald Trump 18 Louisiana 8 Donald Trump 19 Maine 4 Hillary Clinton 20 Maryland 10 Hillary Clinton 21 Massachusetts 11 Hillary Clinton 22 Michigan 16 Donald Trump 23 Minnesota 10 Awaiting 24 Mississippi 6 Donald Trump 25 Missouri 10 Donald Trump 26 Montana 3 Donald Trump 27 Nebraska 5 Donald Trump 28 Nevada 6 Hillary Clinton 29 New Hampshire 4 Awaiting 30 New Jersey 14 Hillary Clinton 31 New Mexico 5 Hillary Clinton 32 New York 29 Hillary Clinton 33 North Carolina 15 Donald Trump 34 North Dakota 3 Donald Trump 35 Ohio 18 Donald Trump 36 Oklahoma 7 Donald Trump 37 Oregon 7 Hillary Clinton 38 Pennsylvania 20 Donald Trump 39 Rhode Island 4 Hillary Clinton 40 South Carolina 9 Donald Trump 41 South Dakota 3 Donald Trump 42 Tennessee 11 Donald Trump 43 Texas 38 Donald Trump 44 Utah 6 Donald Trump 45 Vermont 3 Hillary Clinton 46 Virginia 13 Hillary Clinton 47 Washington 12 Hillary Clinton 48 West Virginia 5 Donald Trump 49 Wisconsin 10 Donald Trump 50 Wyoming 3 Donald Trump What were the battleground states and why did they matter In US presidential elections, a battleground state has no clear favourite and can gravitate towards either candidate. US presidential nominees campaign hard in these states as they are crucial in winning the presidential race. In the 2016 US election, the swing states are Ohio, Florida, Iowa, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, Nevada and Colorado. Since 2000, whichever candidate has gained ground in Ohio has won the election. Oil prices slide as election numbers come in Oil prices turned downhill on Wednesday as early counting shows Trump was doing better than expected in several crucial battleground states. As vote counting advanced, trading activity shot up and prices became highly volatile. (WION)

US election 2016: Donald Trump next US President

Polling in North Carolina has extended voting hours in eight Durham County due to malfunctioning voting machines.&nbsp;

North Carolina is one of the crucial battleground states that will decide the fate of US presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.

A suit has been filed with a court in North Carolina to force the polling places in Durham County to remain open for a longer period.

There were reports of &quot;check-in problems&quot; with its software, which has resulted in long lines outside the polling places.&nbsp;

This comes after several counties in the state complained of problems with the voting machine.&nbsp;

Optical scanner issues were reported in the following counties&nbsp;&mdash; Cleveland, Gates, Orange, Cumberland, Wake, Craven and Forsyth.

Problems elsewhere

ProPublica has also reported voting problems in&nbsp;New York, Illinois, Kentucky, Texas and Ohio.

Several states &ndash; particularly Arizona and Florida &ndash; struggled to provide obligatory support to bilingual voters.

The poll glitches come at a time when&nbsp;Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has repeatedly insisted that this year&#39;s election process would be roiled by voter fraud, by dead people voting and stolen votes.

Voters also reported long lines and isolated cases of harassment at polling places.

(WION)

Polling places in Durham County will remain open for a longer period due to malfunctioning voting machines

Polling in North Carolina has extended voting hours in eight Durham County due to malfunctioning voting machines. North Carolina is one of the crucial battleground states that will decide the fate of US presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. A suit has been filed with a court in North Carolina to force the polling places in Durham County to remain open for a longer period. There were reports of "check-in problems" with its software, which has resulted in long lines outside the polling places. This comes after several counties in the state complained of problems with the voting machine. Optical scanner issues were reported in the following counties — Cleveland, Gates, Orange, Cumberland, Wake, Craven and Forsyth. Problems elsewhere ProPublica has also reported voting problems in New York, Illinois, Kentucky, Texas and Ohio. Several states – particularly Arizona and Florida – struggled to provide obligatory support to bilingual voters. The poll glitches come at a time when Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has repeatedly insisted that this year's election process would be roiled by voter fraud, by dead people voting and stolen votes. Voters also reported long lines and isolated cases of harassment at polling places. (WION)

US election 2016: North Carolina voting hours extended after software glitch

The United States elects a president every four years and election day is always the first Tuesday of&nbsp;November.

What does it take to qualify for presidentship? You have to be a US citizen by birth, be at least 35-years-old and a US resident for 14 years.

Today&#39;s election will give the United States its 45th president - Democrat Hillary&nbsp;Clinton or Republican&nbsp;Donald Trump.

Polling centre scene

At a polling centre in Brooklyn, New York, voters find out their district, then they get a paper ballot, they get registered and check&nbsp;in. They then move to the polling stations behind to scan their vote and get a sticker saying &#39;I&nbsp;voted&#39;.

&quot;It&#39;s a big decision - first of all a woman president, it&#39;s a big step for the US and I think putting her in office as opposed to Trump makes that difference,&quot; says Janna&nbsp;Ferner-Bell.

&quot;I&#39;m all about Jill Stein. I&#39;m all about the green party. She has integrity, she is smart, the world needs a&nbsp;bigger change,&quot; Karmela&nbsp;Lozina&nbsp;says.

Not all polling centres were quick though - the line in midtown Manhattan stretched out for about two hours. It&#39;s the same location where Donald&nbsp;Trump cast his ballot.

Electoral college

In the United States with the electoral college, you aren&#39;t voting for the president directly, instead you are voting for electors. Those electors will cast the ballot for the president.

So if neither candidate gets the necessary 270 electoral votes, the house of representatives will pick the president and the senate will pick the vice president.

The election process starts at the state level where voters pick a candidate through primaries and caucuses. After this, two major political parties in the US - the Democrats (in blue) and the Republicans (in red) host a nomination convention to unite behind one candidate.

Each nominee also chooses a vice president candidate at this time.

This year, Democratic candidate Hillary&nbsp;Clinton picked Viriginia senator Tim&nbsp;Kaine while Republican candidate Donald&nbsp;Trump chose Indiana governor Mike Pence.

The candidates tour the country through campaign rallies where they explain their views on hot burning issues like domestic policies, foreign policies, the economy, terrorism, gun control, immigration and healthcare.

A&nbsp;lot of states typically are &#39;red&#39; or &#39;blue&#39;&nbsp;states &ndash; but sometimes swing states or &#39;purple&#39;&nbsp;states mean there is equal chance&nbsp;for a Republican or Democratic victory. 
 
When voters cast their ballot, they&nbsp;pick who they want for the country&#39;s top position. These votes represent the popular vote and does not determine the actual winner.

(WION)

With the United States set to get its 45th president, WION explains the process behind the election

The United States elects a president every four years and election day is always the first Tuesday of November. What does it take to qualify for presidentship? You have to be a US citizen by birth, be at least 35-years-old and a US resident for 14 years. Today's election will give the United States its 45th president - Democrat Hillary Clinton or Republican Donald Trump. Polling centre scene At a polling centre in Brooklyn, New York, voters find out their district, then they get a paper ballot, they get registered and check in. They then move to the polling stations behind to scan their vote and get a sticker saying 'I voted'. "It's a big decision - first of all a woman president, it's a big step for the US and I think putting her in office as opposed to Trump makes that difference," says Janna Ferner-Bell. "I'm all about Jill Stein. I'm all about the green party. She has integrity, she is smart, the world needs a bigger change," Karmela Lozina says. Not all polling centres were quick though - the line in midtown Manhattan stretched out for about two hours. It's the same location where Donald Trump cast his ballot. Electoral college In the United States with the electoral college, you aren't voting for the president directly, instead you are voting for electors. Those electors will cast the ballot for the president. So if neither candidate gets the necessary 270 electoral votes, the house of representatives will pick the president and the senate will pick the vice president. The election process starts at the state level where voters pick a candidate through primaries and caucuses. After this, two major political parties in the US - the Democrats (in blue) and the Republicans (in red) host a nomination convention to unite behind one candidate. Each nominee also chooses a vice president candidate at this time. This year, Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton picked Viriginia senator Tim Kaine while Republican candidate Donald Trump chose Indiana governor Mike Pence. The candidates tour the country through campaign rallies where they explain their views on hot burning issues like domestic policies, foreign policies, the economy, terrorism, gun control, immigration and healthcare. A lot of states typically are 'red' or 'blue' states – but sometimes swing states or 'purple' states mean there is equal chance for a Republican or Democratic victory. When voters cast their ballot, they pick who they want for the country's top position. These votes represent the popular vote and does not determine the actual winner. (WION)

US Election 2016: This is how America votes

Several counties in North Carolina are experiencing problems with the voting machine, The Charlotte Observer reports.

Optical scanner issues were reported in the following counties of North Carolina &mdash; Cleveland, Gates, Orange, Cumberland, Wake, Craven and Forsyth.

Narth Carolina is one of the crucial battleground states that will decide the fate of US presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.

There were polling problems reported from Charlotte area as well. Some people said they had to press the button to select Donald Trump at least 10 to 15 times.

North Carolina State Board of Elections has told the counties to revert to paper-based voting systems, BBC reported.

ProPublica has also reported voting problems in&nbsp;New York, Illinois, Kentucky, Texas and Ohio.

Several states &ndash; particularly Arizona and Florida &ndash; struggled to provide obligatory support to bilingual voters.

The poll glitches come at a time when&nbsp;Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has repeatedly insisted that this year&#39;s election process would be roiled by voter fraud, by dead people voting and stolen votes.

Voters also reported long lines and isolated cases of harassment at polling places.

(WION)

Optical scanner issues were reported in several counties of North Carolina

Several counties in North Carolina are experiencing problems with the voting machine, The Charlotte Observer reports. Optical scanner issues were reported in the following counties of North Carolina — Cleveland, Gates, Orange, Cumberland, Wake, Craven and Forsyth. Narth Carolina is one of the crucial battleground states that will decide the fate of US presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. There were polling problems reported from Charlotte area as well. Some people said they had to press the button to select Donald Trump at least 10 to 15 times. North Carolina State Board of Elections has told the counties to revert to paper-based voting systems, BBC reported. ProPublica has also reported voting problems in New York, Illinois, Kentucky, Texas and Ohio. Several states – particularly Arizona and Florida – struggled to provide obligatory support to bilingual voters. The poll glitches come at a time when Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has repeatedly insisted that this year's election process would be roiled by voter fraud, by dead people voting and stolen votes. Voters also reported long lines and isolated cases of harassment at polling places. (WION)

US election 2016: Voting equipment faults reported from North Carolina, New York

Betting exchanges and online trading platforms on Tuesday said Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton held a far higher probability of winning than Republican Donald Trump.

While Trump made modest gains in probability to win on some online platforms as Americans went to the polls on Tuesday, many gave Clinton a better than 75 per cent chance of victory.

Bookmaker Paddy Power said Clinton&#39;s chance of taking the White House dipped slightly to 81.8 per cent on Election Day from 83.3 percent, while Trump&#39;s probability improved to 22 per cent from 20 percent.

&quot;The flow of money is relatively even with it slightly favouring Trump,&quot; said Paddy Power spokesman F&eacute;ilim Mac An Iomaire.

He said Paddy Power has seen at least 20 four- and five-figure bets placed on Tuesday. Different bookmakers and exchanges have different closing times for placing bets.

Record numbers of betters are pouring millions into online platforms in the hope of capturing a financial windfall from the election.

British gambling company Ladbrokes, which has Clinton&#39;s chance of winning at 76 per cent and Trump&#39;s at 24 per cent, said it anticipated more wagers coming in for the outcome of the US&nbsp;presidential election than had been placed on the European Union referendum - or &quot;Brexit&quot; vote.

&quot;The US&nbsp;election has gripped the nation,&quot; said Ladbrokes spokeswoman Jessica Bridge in a written statement. &quot;It [is] the biggest ever non-sporting event the bookmaking industry has witnessed.&quot;

British-based internet betting exchange Betfair&#39;s &quot;Next President&quot; market was on track to surpass Brexit in amount traded, owing to the surprise results of the referendum that were still fresh in many Britons&#39; minds, spokeswoman Naomi Totten said.

The market saw just under $150 million wagered since it opened in November 2012, with $7 million traded in just seven hours on Tuesday.

Clinton is trading at an 80 per cent chance on Betfair and Trump at a 20 per cent chance of winning the White House.

Trading platforms in the United States showed similar probabilities.

On PredictIt, launched in 2014 and jointly run by Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand, and Washington, DC-based political consulting firm Aristotle International Inc, Clinton had an 80 per cent chance of victory down from 81 percent Sunday, while Trump was at 22 percent, up from 20 percent.

(Reuters)

Most of the agencies give Hillary Clinton a better than 75 per cent chance of victory

Betting exchanges and online trading platforms on Tuesday said Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton held a far higher probability of winning than Republican Donald Trump. While Trump made modest gains in probability to win on some online platforms as Americans went to the polls on Tuesday, many gave Clinton a better than 75 per cent chance of victory. Bookmaker Paddy Power said Clinton's chance of taking the White House dipped slightly to 81.8 per cent on Election Day from 83.3 percent, while Trump's probability improved to 22 per cent from 20 percent. "The flow of money is relatively even with it slightly favouring Trump," said Paddy Power spokesman Féilim Mac An Iomaire. He said Paddy Power has seen at least 20 four- and five-figure bets placed on Tuesday. Different bookmakers and exchanges have different closing times for placing bets. Record numbers of betters are pouring millions into online platforms in the hope of capturing a financial windfall from the election. British gambling company Ladbrokes, which has Clinton's chance of winning at 76 per cent and Trump's at 24 per cent, said it anticipated more wagers coming in for the outcome of the US presidential election than had been placed on the European Union referendum - or "Brexit" vote. "The US election has gripped the nation," said Ladbrokes spokeswoman Jessica Bridge in a written statement. "It [is] the biggest ever non-sporting event the bookmaking industry has witnessed." British-based internet betting exchange Betfair's "Next President" market was on track to surpass Brexit in amount traded, owing to the surprise results of the referendum that were still fresh in many Britons' minds, spokeswoman Naomi Totten said. The market saw just under $150 million wagered since it opened in November 2012, with $7 million traded in just seven hours on Tuesday. Clinton is trading at an 80 per cent chance on Betfair and Trump at a 20 per cent chance of winning the White House. Trading platforms in the United States showed similar probabilities. On PredictIt, launched in 2014 and jointly run by Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand, and Washington, DC-based political consulting firm Aristotle International Inc, Clinton had an 80 per cent chance of victory down from 81 percent Sunday, while Trump was at 22 percent, up from 20 percent. (Reuters)

US election: Betting exchanges, online platforms back Clinton to win

The Clinton campaign has issued cease-and-desist warnings to any TV or radio station, demanding that they refrain from airing ads from pro-Trump groups stating that his democratic rival is &quot;under investigation by the FBI&quot;, <a href="http://thehill.com/homenews/media/304854-clinton-campaign-to-media-stop-airing-ads-saying-clinton-is-under">The Hill reports.</a>

CNN reported that the letters were sent on Sunday, the same day that FBI Director James Comey anounced that the newly discovered emails would not change the FBI&#39;s original conclusion from July 5, that Clinton was innocent of any criminal wrongdoing.&nbsp;

&quot;These ads falsely claim Secretary Clinton is under investigation by the FBI,&quot; wrote Marc Elias, the general counsel for the Clinton campaign. He also writes that &quot;at no point&quot; did the FBI &quot;reopen&quot; an investiation into Clinton&#39;s emails. &quot;The claim in these ads is provably false.&quot;

The prospect of misinformation affecting&nbsp;the 2016 US election, and possibly tainting its result,&nbsp;is considerable. There are <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-fears-of-voter-intimidation-suppression-run-high-8541">already early reports </a>from advanced voting related to&nbsp;voter intimidation and voter suppression.&nbsp;

Jon Favreau, President Obama&#39;s chief speech writer from 2005-2013, pointed out that&nbsp;today&#39;s <a href="https://themoscowtimes.com/articles/moscows-news-media-helps-russians-report-vote-fraud-to-the-trump-campaign-56051">Moscow Times</a>&nbsp;reports that&nbsp;Russian news media is sending Russians living in Russia the number to a&nbsp;hotline where they&nbsp;can report so-called vote fraud to Donald Trump. While the hotline&nbsp;is primarily for Russians living in the US, there is an option to &quot;Press 1&quot; for callers located within&nbsp;Russia.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
One last push from a foreign government intervening in our election on behalf of Trump! <a href="https://t.co/0HEouhNPE6">https://t.co/0HEouhNPE6</a>
&mdash; Jon Favreau (@jonfavs) <a href="https://twitter.com/jonfavs/status/796018298324295680">November 8, 2016</a></blockquote>
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This frantic atmopshere of misinformation poses a two-fold threat: that the election result itself&nbsp;is&nbsp;tainted, and that the result is&nbsp;perceived&nbsp;to be tainted. Democracy can&#39;t be strong if its very foundations, a free voting process, is questioned.&nbsp;

(WION)

Trump supporters were airing commercials claiming the Democratic nominee for President is 'under FBI investigation', which is not true

The Clinton campaign has issued cease-and-desist warnings to any TV or radio station, demanding that they refrain from airing ads from pro-Trump groups stating that his democratic rival is "under investigation by the FBI", The Hill reports. CNN reported that the letters were sent on Sunday, the same day that FBI Director James Comey anounced that the newly discovered emails would not change the FBI's original conclusion from July 5, that Clinton was innocent of any criminal wrongdoing. "These ads falsely claim Secretary Clinton is under investigation by the FBI," wrote Marc Elias, the general counsel for the Clinton campaign. He also writes that "at no point" did the FBI "reopen" an investiation into Clinton's emails. "The claim in these ads is provably false." The prospect of misinformation affecting the 2016 US election, and possibly tainting its result, is considerable. There are already early reports from advanced voting related to voter intimidation and voter suppression. Jon Favreau, President Obama's chief speech writer from 2005-2013, pointed out that today's Moscow Times reports that Russian news media is sending Russians living in Russia the number to a hotline where they can report so-called vote fraud to Donald Trump. While the hotline is primarily for Russians living in the US, there is an option to "Press 1" for callers located within Russia. One last push from a foreign government intervening in our election on behalf of Trump! https://t.co/0HEouhNPE6 — Jon Favreau (@jonfavs) November 8, 2016 × This frantic atmopshere of misinformation poses a two-fold threat: that the election result itself is tainted, and that the result is perceived to be tainted. Democracy can't be strong if its very foundations, a free voting process, is questioned. (WION)

Clinton lawyers end ads with 'provably false' claims before election

On the campaign trail, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has explicitly warned, without foundation or evidence, that the US election will be &quot;rigged&quot; against him.

As a result, everybody from state leaders, voting experts and election advocates are preparing for an inordinate amount of confusion and chaos, the Washington Post reports, as the US election begins Tuesday after&nbsp;an unusually fierce and bitter presidential race.

In some states, advanced voters have faced lineups over four hours long. It has even been taken to court, as Democrats have filed lawsuits against&nbsp;Donald Trump&nbsp;supporters.&nbsp;

In Virginia, America&#39;s wealthiest state,&nbsp;a man with<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/armed-man-wearing-trump-shirt-confronts-woman-with-child-at-polling-station-authorities-shrug-8407"> a Trump shirt and a gun </a>stood&nbsp;outside a polling station. He was said to be cooperative with the authorities when they confronted him, and complied with the regulation about standing far enough away from the entrance of the polling station. But he had already&nbsp;asked voters which candidate they favoured, and some, who saw the gun, said they were intimidated.

Election monitors are worried this year as the prospect of voter intimidation appears to be very real after Trump&#39;s&nbsp;direct and repeated calls for his supporters to stake out other polling stations and watch out for suspicious activity.

Actually, the first example of voter fraud was committed by a<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/29/voter-fraud-iowa-trump-supporter"> Trump supporter </a>who voted twice because she feared&nbsp;Trump&#39;s unsubstantiated claim&nbsp;that her vote wouldn&#39;t be counted would come true.

&nbsp;

Specific warnings and consequences

The Washington Post reports that election officials in Pennsylvania and Arizona have become so concerned about voter intimidation that they have issued specific advisories outlining what types of threatening behaviour are not permitted, and exactly what distance they need to keep&nbsp;surrounding&nbsp;polling places.

A notice issued by Pennyslvania&#39;s secretary of state reads &quot;Individuals who conspire to interfere with a person&#39;s right to vote can face up to 10 years in prison&quot;. This was posted after Trump singled out Philadelphia as a place for his supporters to scrutinise.&nbsp;

&quot;The number and tenor of calls we&#39;ve received about problems, the amounf of litigation you already see, it all reflects the moment we&#39;re in,&quot; said Kristen Clarke, president of the nonpartisan Lawyers&#39; Committe for Civil Rights Under Law, as quoted by the Washington Post.

They report that her group will be running America&#39;s largest independent effort to deal with voters complaints, concerns and questions. The nonpartisan organisation &quot;Election Protection will have as many as 4,500 legal volunteers answering calls sent to the hotline 866-OUR-VOTE, and 2,500 volunteers are stationed at polling sites around the US&quot;.

The Washington Post further states that Clarke&#39;s has set up a headquarters in Washington where hundreds of lawyers are working for free so they can attend to all the conerned calls by voters poring in.

&nbsp;

Long lines

The worst problem may not be intimidation exactly, but another form of voter suppression: long lines. By changing laws to reduce the number of polling stations available, especially in areas where minorities (who skew Democrat)&nbsp;live, it means voters need to travel longer to get to a polling station, and need to wait there for longer in order to vote. It&#39;s designed systematically to discourage would-be Democrat&nbsp;voters

On Sunday, the only early voting station in <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/republican-efforts-to-suppress-minority-votes-appear-to-be-working-8440">Cincinnati </a>was at least a quarter-mile long, with thousands of people lined up for hours. The Washington Post reports that food trucks handed out free tacos and cupcakes to encourage people to come out and vote. California, Arizona and Nevada all faced similar problems, the Washington Post reports.

There is special attention being paid to Florida and Ohio, where in 2012 some stations in Miami were so clogged that voters were still casting ballots at 1 am,&nbsp;while President Obama was giving his victory speech, the Washington Post reports.

A group called Stop the Steal, run by Republican operatives and a trump adviser named <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ohio-judge-orders-trump-campaign-to-avoid-voter-intimidation-8368">Roger Stone</a>, has been signing up &quot;vote protectors&quot; to stand outside polling stations. As of yesterday, 3,191 had signed up, the Washington Post reports

&quot;This is our best chance to stop the Democrats from stealing the election from Donald Trump. Help us fight a rigged system,&quot; the group posted on its <a href="https://stopthesteal.org/">website</a>. In&nbsp;addition to signing people up to patrol polling stations, the group also solicits monetary donations&nbsp;from visitors.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/17/man-who-cried-rigged-problem-with-trump-election-claims">The Guardian</a> reports that while 41 per cent of Americans believe the election is rigged, an independent legal expert determined that out of over a billion ballots cast, there were only 31 cases of voter fraud, nowhere near enough to alter an election even slightly.

What this fraught atmosphere this means for the 2016 election, and whether whoever loses the race will accept the result, remains to be seen. Hopefully the fears of fraud, intimidation and suppression turn out to be blown out of proportion, but only time will tell.

(WION)

Officials are taking extra measures to ensure fairness after Trump warned repeatedly, but without evidence, that the election was 'rigged'

On the campaign trail, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has explicitly warned, without foundation or evidence, that the US election will be "rigged" against him. As a result, everybody from state leaders, voting experts and election advocates are preparing for an inordinate amount of confusion and chaos, the Washington Post reports, as the US election begins Tuesday after an unusually fierce and bitter presidential race. In some states, advanced voters have faced lineups over four hours long. It has even been taken to court, as Democrats have filed lawsuits against Donald Trump supporters. In Virginia, America's wealthiest state, a man with a Trump shirt and a gun stood outside a polling station. He was said to be cooperative with the authorities when they confronted him, and complied with the regulation about standing far enough away from the entrance of the polling station. But he had already asked voters which candidate they favoured, and some, who saw the gun, said they were intimidated. Election monitors are worried this year as the prospect of voter intimidation appears to be very real after Trump's direct and repeated calls for his supporters to stake out other polling stations and watch out for suspicious activity. Actually, the first example of voter fraud was committed by a Trump supporter who voted twice because she feared Trump's unsubstantiated claim that her vote wouldn't be counted would come true. Specific warnings and consequences The Washington Post reports that election officials in Pennsylvania and Arizona have become so concerned about voter intimidation that they have issued specific advisories outlining what types of threatening behaviour are not permitted, and exactly what distance they need to keep surrounding polling places. A notice issued by Pennyslvania's secretary of state reads "Individuals who conspire to interfere with a person's right to vote can face up to 10 years in prison". This was posted after Trump singled out Philadelphia as a place for his supporters to scrutinise. "The number and tenor of calls we've received about problems, the amounf of litigation you already see, it all reflects the moment we're in," said Kristen Clarke, president of the nonpartisan Lawyers' Committe for Civil Rights Under Law, as quoted by the Washington Post. They report that her group will be running America's largest independent effort to deal with voters complaints, concerns and questions. The nonpartisan organisation "Election Protection will have as many as 4,500 legal volunteers answering calls sent to the hotline 866-OUR-VOTE, and 2,500 volunteers are stationed at polling sites around the US". The Washington Post further states that Clarke's has set up a headquarters in Washington where hundreds of lawyers are working for free so they can attend to all the conerned calls by voters poring in. Long lines The worst problem may not be intimidation exactly, but another form of voter suppression: long lines. By changing laws to reduce the number of polling stations available, especially in areas where minorities (who skew Democrat) live, it means voters need to travel longer to get to a polling station, and need to wait there for longer in order to vote. It's designed systematically to discourage would-be Democrat voters On Sunday, the only early voting station in Cincinnati was at least a quarter-mile long, with thousands of people lined up for hours. The Washington Post reports that food trucks handed out free tacos and cupcakes to encourage people to come out and vote. California, Arizona and Nevada all faced similar problems, the Washington Post reports. There is special attention being paid to Florida and Ohio, where in 2012 some stations in Miami were so clogged that voters were still casting ballots at 1 am, while President Obama was giving his victory speech, the Washington Post reports. A group called Stop the Steal, run by Republican operatives and a trump adviser named Roger Stone, has been signing up "vote protectors" to stand outside polling stations. As of yesterday, 3,191 had signed up, the Washington Post reports "This is our best chance to stop the Democrats from stealing the election from Donald Trump. Help us fight a rigged system," the group posted on its website. In addition to signing people up to patrol polling stations, the group also solicits monetary donations from visitors. The Guardian reports that while 41 per cent of Americans believe the election is rigged, an independent legal expert determined that out of over a billion ballots cast, there were only 31 cases of voter fraud, nowhere near enough to alter an election even slightly. What this fraught atmosphere this means for the 2016 election, and whether whoever loses the race will accept the result, remains to be seen. Hopefully the fears of fraud, intimidation and suppression turn out to be blown out of proportion, but only time will tell. (WION)

US Election: Fears of voter intimidation, suppression run high

The Afghan conflict is now in its 16th year but finds little mention in the US presidential election campaign. Even a NATO airstrike in north western Kunduz province of Afghanistan which killed 30 civilians including women and children merited no mention. It underscored the point that the news from Afghanistan is uniformly negative.

Reports say that 33 of that country&#39;s 400 districts are under Taliban control.&nbsp;Hundreds of schools, homes and businesses have been destroyed in fighting with nearly 160,000 civilians displaced by the conflict in the first six months of this year.

The Afghan National Army is at 87 per cent of its authorised strength but desertions currently at 33 per cent are rising.

Worse still, the Taliban is now expanding into areas in the north where they never had a base from Kunduz to Takhar and Badakshan. The Taliban are spreading out, plundering mines for semi-precious stones that are sold to fund their movement.

Peace initiatives have floundered in the face of Pakistan&#39;s determination to be the sole arbiter in Kabul. A recent report of the Taliban secretly meeting representatives of the Afghan government saw Islamabad respond with a warning that the Taliban leadership and their families would be denied any further sanctuary in Pakistan if they tried to cut the latter out.

(WION)

It underscored the point that the news from Afghanistan is uniformly negative

The Afghan conflict is now in its 16th year but finds little mention in the US presidential election campaign. Even a NATO airstrike in north western Kunduz province of Afghanistan which killed 30 civilians including women and children merited no mention. It underscored the point that the news from Afghanistan is uniformly negative. Reports say that 33 of that country's 400 districts are under Taliban control. Hundreds of schools, homes and businesses have been destroyed in fighting with nearly 160,000 civilians displaced by the conflict in the first six months of this year. The Afghan National Army is at 87 per cent of its authorised strength but desertions currently at 33 per cent are rising. Worse still, the Taliban is now expanding into areas in the north where they never had a base from Kunduz to Takhar and Badakshan. The Taliban are spreading out, plundering mines for semi-precious stones that are sold to fund their movement. Peace initiatives have floundered in the face of Pakistan's determination to be the sole arbiter in Kabul. A recent report of the Taliban secretly meeting representatives of the Afghan government saw Islamabad respond with a warning that the Taliban leadership and their families would be denied any further sanctuary in Pakistan if they tried to cut the latter out. (WION)

US election campaign never included Afghan conflict

FBI Director James Comey was under attack from some of his own agents and members of Congress on Monday over his handling of an inquiry into Hillary Clinton&#39;s emails, but the White House was remaining supportive, for now.

In stunning fashion, Comey has injected the Federal Bureau of Investigation, meant to be politically neutral, into the thick of the 2016 US&nbsp;presidential race, making a series of announcements on the inquiry.

The latest was on Sunday, when he said the FBI stood by a July decision not to recommend criminal charges against the Democratic presidential candidate. Sunday&#39;s announcement came days after Comey disclosed the FBI was examining a trove of newly discovered emails.

With the election coming on Tuesday, Comey&#39;s statements and the FBI&#39;s overall handling of the emails controversy has drawn fire from congressional Democrats, who criticised the agency for clouding Clinton&#39;s campaign so close to the election, while Republicans questioned why the new inquiry ended so quickly.

FBI &quot;field agents have felt the derivative impact of the criticism fired at Director Comey as a result of the Clinton email scandal,&quot; said Jon Adler, president of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association Foundation, which represents more than 3,500 FBI agents.

He said some agents disapprove of Comey&#39;s handling of the investigation and think he should resign, while others support him, but do not appreciate being in a political crossfire.

A spokesman for the FBI Agents Association said the more than 13,000 active and former special agents it represents have become the victims of &ldquo;unwarranted attacks&rdquo; on their integrity.

&quot;Implications that agents do not respect the confidentiality of those investigations is simply false,&quot; said the association&rsquo;s president Thomas O&rsquo;Connor.

Comey has so far kept the support of President Barack Obama, who has the power to fire the FBI director. &quot;The president views Director Comey as a man of integrity, a man of principle,&quot; White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters in a briefing on Monday. &quot;The president&#39;s views of him have not changed ...he continues to have confidence in his ability to run the FBI.&quot;

The White House has said it will not criticise or defend Comey over his handling of the Clinton email investigation.

Charles Schumer, a close Clinton ally and expected Senate majority leader should Democrats regain control of the chamber, said on October&nbsp;30 that he was &ldquo;appalled at what Director Comey did&rdquo; and owes an explanation to Clinton and the American people.

FBI directors are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate to serve 10 years, unless they are fired or resign.

Only one FBI director in recent history has been fired. William Sessions was fired by President Bill Clinton in 1993 after a report emerged about Sessions using an FBI airplane for personal travel and other unethical practices. FBI Director Louis Freeh resigned in 2001, two years short of the end of his term, amid a scandal over Robert Hanssen, a senior FBI official charged with spying for the Soviet Union and Russia undetected for 15 years.

If Clinton wins the election, as polls suggest, she would also be in the position to fire Comey, but might not do so to avoid being portrayed as seeking political retaliation.

&quot;I don&rsquo;t know what her view will be, but ...you just cannot have an FBI director in place who believes he is accountable to neither the rules nor the attorney general,&rdquo; said Matthew Miller, former chief spokesman for the Obama Justice Department.

Under the federal Hatch Act, Justice Department employees may not engage in partisan political activity while on duty.

On Sunday, Democratic Representative Adam Schiff said Comey&#39;s &quot;original letter&quot; telling Congress that Clinton&#39;s emails were once again under investigation &quot;should never have been sent so close to an election&quot;.

Republican Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley called on the Justice Department&#39;s inspector general on Novemeber&nbsp;2 to examine the FBI&#39;s investigation.

(Reuters)

The FBI Director has drawn the Republican's ire for ending the Clinton email investigation so quickly, and Democrats' for starting it at all

FBI Director James Comey was under attack from some of his own agents and members of Congress on Monday over his handling of an inquiry into Hillary Clinton's emails, but the White House was remaining supportive, for now. In stunning fashion, Comey has injected the Federal Bureau of Investigation, meant to be politically neutral, into the thick of the 2016 US presidential race, making a series of announcements on the inquiry. The latest was on Sunday, when he said the FBI stood by a July decision not to recommend criminal charges against the Democratic presidential candidate. Sunday's announcement came days after Comey disclosed the FBI was examining a trove of newly discovered emails. With the election coming on Tuesday, Comey's statements and the FBI's overall handling of the emails controversy has drawn fire from congressional Democrats, who criticised the agency for clouding Clinton's campaign so close to the election, while Republicans questioned why the new inquiry ended so quickly. FBI "field agents have felt the derivative impact of the criticism fired at Director Comey as a result of the Clinton email scandal," said Jon Adler, president of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association Foundation, which represents more than 3,500 FBI agents. He said some agents disapprove of Comey's handling of the investigation and think he should resign, while others support him, but do not appreciate being in a political crossfire. A spokesman for the FBI Agents Association said the more than 13,000 active and former special agents it represents have become the victims of “unwarranted attacks” on their integrity. "Implications that agents do not respect the confidentiality of those investigations is simply false," said the association’s president Thomas O’Connor. Comey has so far kept the support of President Barack Obama, who has the power to fire the FBI director. "The president views Director Comey as a man of integrity, a man of principle," White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters in a briefing on Monday. "The president's views of him have not changed ...he continues to have confidence in his ability to run the FBI." The White House has said it will not criticise or defend Comey over his handling of the Clinton email investigation. Charles Schumer, a close Clinton ally and expected Senate majority leader should Democrats regain control of the chamber, said on October 30 that he was “appalled at what Director Comey did” and owes an explanation to Clinton and the American people. FBI directors are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate to serve 10 years, unless they are fired or resign. Only one FBI director in recent history has been fired. William Sessions was fired by President Bill Clinton in 1993 after a report emerged about Sessions using an FBI airplane for personal travel and other unethical practices. FBI Director Louis Freeh resigned in 2001, two years short of the end of his term, amid a scandal over Robert Hanssen, a senior FBI official charged with spying for the Soviet Union and Russia undetected for 15 years. If Clinton wins the election, as polls suggest, she would also be in the position to fire Comey, but might not do so to avoid being portrayed as seeking political retaliation. "I don’t know what her view will be, but ...you just cannot have an FBI director in place who believes he is accountable to neither the rules nor the attorney general,” said Matthew Miller, former chief spokesman for the Obama Justice Department. Under the federal Hatch Act, Justice Department employees may not engage in partisan political activity while on duty. On Sunday, Democratic Representative Adam Schiff said Comey's "original letter" telling Congress that Clinton's emails were once again under investigation "should never have been sent so close to an election". Republican Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley called on the Justice Department's inspector general on Novemeber 2 to examine the FBI's investigation. (Reuters)

FBI agents, lawmakers hammer Comey over Clinton emails inquiry

When Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey announced 11 days before the election&nbsp;that the agency would be reviewing a new batch of Democractic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton&#39;s emails,&nbsp;many thought&nbsp;the race&#39;s momentum had swung towards Trump for good.

For days, the headlines had been about&nbsp;Trump&#39;s comments on&nbsp;grabbing women &quot;by the p*ssy&quot;, and now they were about&nbsp;Clinton&#39;s emails again.

But Comey has written a new letter today, saying unequivocally that the FBI&nbsp;have reviewed &quot;all of the&nbsp;communications&nbsp;that were to or from Hillary Clinton while she was Secretary of State&quot;, and that based on this, they have not changed their conclusion from July, which stated&nbsp;that nothing was&nbsp;illegal.&nbsp;

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As expected, the review of the additional emails has not changed the FBI&#39;s original conclusion. <a href="https://t.co/iVMTWRLv4h">pic.twitter.com/iVMTWRLv4h</a>
&mdash; Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepAdamSchiff/status/795360399948390405">November 6, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Comey was criticised for contravening the Department of Justice&#39;s standard policy by commenting on an investigation, seemingly all on his own,&nbsp;so close to the election.&nbsp;

Trump surrogate and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani said, then denied, that he had advanced knowledge that&nbsp;the FBI was reviewing&nbsp;new&nbsp;Clinton emails, which suggested that the FBI was leaking&nbsp;information to him and the Trump campaign.

Whether&nbsp;this&nbsp;Comey letter gets as much prominence&nbsp;in US media is yet to be determined. Also to be determined is whether or not Comey&#39;s&nbsp;new letter will undo the damage his old one did to&nbsp;the Clinton campaign.

(WION)&nbsp;

FBI?chief wrote they have reviewed all communication?'to or from Hillary Clinton while she was secretary', nothing illegal was found

When Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey announced 11 days before the election that the agency would be reviewing a new batch of Democractic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's emails, many thought the race's momentum had swung towards Trump for good. For days, the headlines had been about Trump's comments on grabbing women "by the p*ssy", and now they were about Clinton's emails again. But Comey has written a new letter today, saying unequivocally that the FBI have reviewed "all of the communications that were to or from Hillary Clinton while she was Secretary of State", and that based on this, they have not changed their conclusion from July, which stated that nothing was illegal. As expected, the review of the additional emails has not changed the FBI's original conclusion. pic.twitter.com/iVMTWRLv4h — Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) November 6, 2016 × Comey was criticised for contravening the Department of Justice's standard policy by commenting on an investigation, seemingly all on his own, so close to the election. Trump surrogate and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani said, then denied, that he had advanced knowledge that the FBI was reviewing new Clinton emails, which suggested that the FBI was leaking information to him and the Trump campaign. Whether this Comey letter gets as much prominence in US media is yet to be determined. Also to be determined is whether or not Comey's new letter will undo the damage his old one did to the Clinton campaign. (WION)

New Comey letter clears Clinton, a second time

Advanced voting among African Americans in North Carolina&nbsp;is down by 8.7 per cent from last year, according to Michael McDonald, an Associate Professor at the University of Florida who specialises in American elections.

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Something went very wrong for African-Americans&#39; voting in North Carolina <a href="https://t.co/ZpwjyEavmd">pic.twitter.com/ZpwjyEavmd</a>
&mdash; Michael McDonald (@ElectProject) <a href="https://twitter.com/ElectProject/status/795378059570544645">November 6, 2016</a></blockquote>
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This comes as US District Judge Loretta Biggs slammed a still-continuing North Carolinan voter purge during a hearing Wednesday, telling county attorneys that she was &quot;horrified&quot; by the &quot;insane&quot; process by which residents&nbsp;could be removed from the registered list of voters&nbsp;without their knowledge, <a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2016/11/03/federal_judge_slams_north_carolina_voter_purge.html">Slate </a>reports.&nbsp;&quot;This sounds like something that was put together in 1901&quot;, she said, which&nbsp;as Slate reminds us&nbsp;was when the state used Jim Crow laws to prevent black citizens from&nbsp;voting.

CBS reports that the comments came during an emergency hearing over allegations raised by the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP) that at least three counties in the&nbsp;state are being purged unfairly in a process that targets African Americans.&nbsp;

Lawyers for North Carolina countered that state data shows that in the last two years fewer than 7,000 statewide out of a total of 6.8 million registered voters have been purged.

Meanwhile, McDonald says that the lower numbers in one state are not represenative of&nbsp;African American eagerness to vote&nbsp;overall. In Georgia, the same number has gone up by a considerable margin.

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Again Afr-Am enthusiasm should not be judged by NC alone: Georgia Afr-Am <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/earlyovte?src=hash">#earlyovte</a> up +23,859 from 2012, but NC down -65,650 votes
&mdash; Michael McDonald (@ElectProject) <a href="https://twitter.com/ElectProject/status/795305361435660288">November 6, 2016</a></blockquote>
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But North Carolina wasn&#39;t the only crucial state&nbsp;to experience longer than normal waits for minorities. Also affected was Cincinnati, Ohio,&nbsp;who are expected to vote Democrat.

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4,000 people are waiting in line to vote in Cincinnati right now. This is how long the line is. <a href="https://t.co/bilpnGsrzl">pic.twitter.com/bilpnGsrzl</a>
&mdash; Saahil Desai (@Saahil_Desai) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saahil_Desai/status/795342933364973570">November 6, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Approximately 2500 people in line to vote early in Cincinnati! <a href="https://t.co/Rqfsi7zSoN">pic.twitter.com/Rqfsi7zSoN</a>
&mdash; Allan B (@albhere) <a href="https://twitter.com/albhere/status/795353794980810752">November 6, 2016</a></blockquote>
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This fits a trend. As the New York Times <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/25/opinion/long-lines-at-minority-polling-places.html">reported</a>&nbsp;in a 2014 piece on the same topic, &quot;Some of the longest lines on Election Day occur at polling places in black and&nbsp;Hispanic neighbourhoods.&quot;

A conclusion&nbsp;reached after examining a study by the Brennan Center for Justice&nbsp;was decisive:&nbsp;&quot;There was a clear relationship in those states between the racial makeup of a precinct and the number of voting machines it received from the state.&quot;

This week, the&nbsp;New York Times even published on their website&nbsp;an interactive game called &quot;The Voter Suppression Trail&quot;, allowing users to try to overcome various obstacles in order to cast a vote, while playing as an&nbsp;African American or&nbsp;Latino character.

This controversy surrounding voter suppression&nbsp;comes as Republican presidential candidate&nbsp;Donald Trump has warned -- without foundation, but repeatedly&nbsp;-- that the 2016 US election is &quot;rigged&quot; to favour Hillary Clinton.&nbsp;

&nbsp;(WION)

African American advanced voting is way down in North Carolina, with a 8.7% drop, and lineups in other states are hours-long

Advanced voting among African Americans in North Carolina is down by 8.7 per cent from last year, according to Michael McDonald, an Associate Professor at the University of Florida who specialises in American elections. Something went very wrong for African-Americans' voting in North Carolina pic.twitter.com/ZpwjyEavmd — Michael McDonald (@ElectProject) November 6, 2016 × This comes as US District Judge Loretta Biggs slammed a still-continuing North Carolinan voter purge during a hearing Wednesday, telling county attorneys that she was "horrified" by the "insane" process by which residents could be removed from the registered list of voters without their knowledge, Slate reports. "This sounds like something that was put together in 1901", she said, which as Slate reminds us was when the state used Jim Crow laws to prevent black citizens from voting. CBS reports that the comments came during an emergency hearing over allegations raised by the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP) that at least three counties in the state are being purged unfairly in a process that targets African Americans. Lawyers for North Carolina countered that state data shows that in the last two years fewer than 7,000 statewide out of a total of 6.8 million registered voters have been purged. Meanwhile, McDonald says that the lower numbers in one state are not represenative of African American eagerness to vote overall. In Georgia, the same number has gone up by a considerable margin. Again Afr-Am enthusiasm should not be judged by NC alone: Georgia Afr-Am #earlyovte up +23,859 from 2012, but NC down -65,650 votes — Michael McDonald (@ElectProject) November 6, 2016 × But North Carolina wasn't the only crucial state to experience longer than normal waits for minorities. Also affected was Cincinnati, Ohio, who are expected to vote Democrat. 4,000 people are waiting in line to vote in Cincinnati right now. This is how long the line is. pic.twitter.com/bilpnGsrzl — Saahil Desai (@Saahil_Desai) November 6, 2016 × Approximately 2500 people in line to vote early in Cincinnati! pic.twitter.com/Rqfsi7zSoN — Allan B (@albhere) November 6, 2016 × This fits a trend. As the New York Times reported in a 2014 piece on the same topic, "Some of the longest lines on Election Day occur at polling places in black and Hispanic neighbourhoods." A conclusion reached after examining a study by the Brennan Center for Justice was decisive: "There was a clear relationship in those states between the racial makeup of a precinct and the number of voting machines it received from the state." This week, the New York Times even published on their website an interactive game called "The Voter Suppression Trail", allowing users to try to overcome various obstacles in order to cast a vote, while playing as an African American or Latino character. This controversy surrounding voter suppression comes as Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has warned -- without foundation, but repeatedly -- that the 2016 US election is "rigged" to favour Hillary Clinton. (WION)

Republican efforts to suppress minority votes appear to be working

Rudy Giuliani and Newt Gingrich are in consideration for major positions in Trump's cabinet should he win the presidency, NBC reports

As the 2016 American presidential election finally winds up, a picture is emerging of what the White House will look like should Donald Trump win. NBC reports that the names being considered, according to three campaign advisers who requested anonymity, are Rudy Giuliani for attorny general, Newt Gingrich for secretary of state, retired Lieutenant General Michael Flynn for defense secretary or national security adviser, Trump's finance chairman Steve Mnuchin for Treasury secretary, and Republican National Chairman Committee finance chair Lew Eisenberg for commerce secretary. NBC reports that Trump has not particiapted much in planning the transition, as he is superstitious. NBC says that Trump fears that planning before a victory will "jinx" the campaign. Trump has openly warred with many figures of the Republican establishment, so speculation suggests that he'll promote those who remained loyal to him while the media and political opponents berated him for bragging about sexaully assualting women, stirring up xenophobia by telling lies about immigrants, spreading racist lies on social media and in campaign speeches, and more. Salon characterises Newt Gingrich's tenure as secretary of state duringt he 90s as pushing right on a number of social, economic and foreign policy issues. Giuliani was viewed with considerable sympathy and admiration, as he was New York's mayor during 9/11, but, as Salon claims, he became notorious for "expanding policing powers at the expense of civil rights of poor and non-white citizens". He has consistently defended Trump all throughout the 2016 election. As a pronent of the "broken windows" theory of policing, Giuliani's guiding philosophy is that arresting everyday criminals, rather than addressing the root causes of crime, will rid the city of crime. LiberationNews reports that, citing the NYPD's own statistics, the year before Giuliani took office, 720 New Yorkers were arrested for misdemeanor marijuana-related charges. In his last year as mayor, that number jumped to 60,000. NBC reports that the conservative Heritage Foundation is helping to vet names, along with members of Mitt Romey's presidential run and George W Bush's administration. It will be interesting to note how many veteran Republicans make it into Trump's inner clique, given that the theme of his campaign has been "drain the swamp" and that he's positioned himself as an outsider without Washington inner-circle connections. NBC reports that running mate Mike Pence is heavily involved in the selection process, and is expected to play as active a role in a Trump administration as Joe Biden and Al Gore played while they were vice presidents. A possible barometer to tell whether Trump will strengthen or destroy bridges with established Republicans is how he will appoint the current Republican National Chairman, Reince Priebus, who is currently under consideration to be Trump's chief of staff. Priebus didn't object to Trump, and was his dependable defender, while other Republicans distanced themselves over the course of the 2016 presidential campaign. (WION)

Donald Trump likely to install loyalists in White House, if elected

As the United States&nbsp;goes to the polls in two days, Bangladesh hopes that the next US administration would relax its protectionist measures to encourage higher consumer spending in its retail economy.

Despite the South Asian country strengthening its ties with China, security and strategic experts in Bangladesh hope that the US would make room for the Bangladeshi economy to prosper with more trade preferences and less political prejudice.

Bangladesh is of &quot;deep strategic interest&quot;&nbsp;for the United States from a security perspective. With attacks waged by militant outfits on locals and foreigners by Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh and Ansar Al Islam in affiliation with Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and Al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) respectively, the US plays a key role in helping Dhaka combat terrorism.

Climate Change

Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change and despite the US being the largest emitter of greenhouse gases,&nbsp;it has shown little responsibility in the area, observers said.

&ldquo;The US has to show minimum responsibility. If it doesn&rsquo;t then it would be disastrous,&rdquo; Dr Atiq Rahman, the executive director of Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies, told WION.

Very little about climate change has been discussed during the US presidential election but Dhaka expects the US to take&nbsp;some responsibility in mitigation and finance.

Trade and investment

Bangladeshi exports to the US stand at $6.22 billion and remittances have earned Bangladesh $2.4 billion in the&nbsp;financial year 2015-16. According to Bangladesh&rsquo;s central bank, the United States is the third-largest remitting nation after the UAE and Saudi Arab.

Industrialists hope that the next US president will provide Bangladesh greater market access by reducing tariffs on garment supplies. Bangladesh is one of the highest tariff payers in the US for its garment products, at 15.41 per cent.

Bangladesh also wants the US to reinstate the Generalised System of Preferences. The GSP&nbsp;is a preferential tariff system provided by developed countries to developing countries&nbsp;

The US had scrapped the GSP after Bangladesh experienced the horrifying Rana Plaza factory disaster in April 2013.

&ldquo;After the unfortunate Rana Plaza incident, we have with commendable speed met the targets that [were] set on us,&rdquo; said former state minister for foreign affairs Abul Hasan Chowdhury.

However, Bangladeshi industrialists hope Trump does not become the next president.

&quot;There are concerns about increased protectionist measures if Trump comes to power. We don&rsquo;t know how far it will go, we don&rsquo;t know what his chances are, but obviously his presidency will be damaging for emerging markets like Bangladesh,&rdquo; said Syed Nasim Manzur, who is the president of Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Dhaka.

Manzur, also the managing director of Apex Footwear Limited, is one of the largest Bangladeshi suppliers of leather goods to global markets including the US. He bemoaned that suspension of GSP had raised manufacturing costs.

&ldquo;We are hoping for an administration that will revive spending in the US retail economy because that will then prop up demand for Bangladeshi products in the US market,&rdquo; he said while speaking to WION.

Security and strategy

With Bangladesh and China entering into a strategic partnership in which China would be providing $24.45 billion in financial assistance to 27 development projects and another $13.6 billion in joint ventures, security and strategic experts say it would be interesting to see how the United States plays its cards.

&ldquo;So far the US has not offered any huge investment prospect that would match the type that we have been offered by China,&rdquo; says Muhammad Shahiduzzaman, professor of International Relations at the University of Dhaka.

The US has also been wary of China being involved so much in the Bay of Bengal or around the vicinity of Bangladesh&rsquo;s territorial waters.

Additionally, most of Bangladesh&rsquo;s arms deals have gone to China and very recently to Russia.

But experts want Bangladesh to keep a balanced geopolitical relationship with countries around the world for its economic prosperity.

The US has very deep partnership with India not only in economy but also in security, says Prof Shahiduzzaman. &ldquo;It would be Bangladesh&rsquo;s responsibility to act with India in a manner where these two powers would accommodate our relationship with China in clear economic terms,&rdquo; he said.

Bangladesh is looking forward to an economic buildup, which would require that &ldquo;we treat our relationships on the question of mega projects with a clear degree of utility in terms of maximizing our ability to develop the infrastructure,&rdquo; he said.

The country has had a better relation with the Clinton administration and the democrats but for a country like Bangladesh where United States is the biggest market for readymade garments and also for other areas of export, it cannot undermine the republicans in anyway if they come to power, say experts.

As regards Bangladesh&rsquo;s preference towards the presidential candidates, Rahman believes, Bangladesh en masse is supporting Hillary Clinton. The country has been against Donald Trump for spewing a litany of sexist and racist slurs.

(WION)

Industrialists hope that the next US dispensation will provide Bangladesh greater market access by lowering tariffs on garment supplies

As the United States goes to the polls in two days, Bangladesh hopes that the next US administration would relax its protectionist measures to encourage higher consumer spending in its retail economy. Despite the South Asian country strengthening its ties with China, security and strategic experts in Bangladesh hope that the US would make room for the Bangladeshi economy to prosper with more trade preferences and less political prejudice. Bangladesh is of "deep strategic interest" for the United States from a security perspective. With attacks waged by militant outfits on locals and foreigners by Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh and Ansar Al Islam in affiliation with Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and Al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) respectively, the US plays a key role in helping Dhaka combat terrorism. Climate Change Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change and despite the US being the largest emitter of greenhouse gases, it has shown little responsibility in the area, observers said. “The US has to show minimum responsibility. If it doesn’t then it would be disastrous,” Dr Atiq Rahman, the executive director of Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies, told WION. Very little about climate change has been discussed during the US presidential election but Dhaka expects the US to take some responsibility in mitigation and finance. Trade and investment Bangladeshi exports to the US stand at $6.22 billion and remittances have earned Bangladesh $2.4 billion in the financial year 2015-16. According to Bangladesh’s central bank, the United States is the third-largest remitting nation after the UAE and Saudi Arab. Industrialists hope that the next US president will provide Bangladesh greater market access by reducing tariffs on garment supplies. Bangladesh is one of the highest tariff payers in the US for its garment products, at 15.41 per cent. Bangladesh also wants the US to reinstate the Generalised System of Preferences. The GSP is a preferential tariff system provided by developed countries to developing countries The US had scrapped the GSP after Bangladesh experienced the horrifying Rana Plaza factory disaster in April 2013. “After the unfortunate Rana Plaza incident, we have with commendable speed met the targets that [were] set on us,” said former state minister for foreign affairs Abul Hasan Chowdhury. However, Bangladeshi industrialists hope Trump does not become the next president. "There are concerns about increased protectionist measures if Trump comes to power. We don’t know how far it will go, we don’t know what his chances are, but obviously his presidency will be damaging for emerging markets like Bangladesh,” said Syed Nasim Manzur, who is the president of Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Dhaka. Manzur, also the managing director of Apex Footwear Limited, is one of the largest Bangladeshi suppliers of leather goods to global markets including the US. He bemoaned that suspension of GSP had raised manufacturing costs. “We are hoping for an administration that will revive spending in the US retail economy because that will then prop up demand for Bangladeshi products in the US market,” he said while speaking to WION. Security and strategy With Bangladesh and China entering into a strategic partnership in which China would be providing $24.45 billion in financial assistance to 27 development projects and another $13.6 billion in joint ventures, security and strategic experts say it would be interesting to see how the United States plays its cards. “So far the US has not offered any huge investment prospect that would match the type that we have been offered by China,” says Muhammad Shahiduzzaman, professor of International Relations at the University of Dhaka. The US has also been wary of China being involved so much in the Bay of Bengal or around the vicinity of Bangladesh’s territorial waters. Additionally, most of Bangladesh’s arms deals have gone to China and very recently to Russia. But experts want Bangladesh to keep a balanced geopolitical relationship with countries around the world for its economic prosperity. The US has very deep partnership with India not only in economy but also in security, says Prof Shahiduzzaman. “It would be Bangladesh’s responsibility to act with India in a manner where these two powers would accommodate our relationship with China in clear economic terms,” he said. Bangladesh is looking forward to an economic buildup, which would require that “we treat our relationships on the question of mega projects with a clear degree of utility in terms of maximizing our ability to develop the infrastructure,” he said. The country has had a better relation with the Clinton administration and the democrats but for a country like Bangladesh where United States is the biggest market for readymade garments and also for other areas of export, it cannot undermine the republicans in anyway if they come to power, say experts. As regards Bangladesh’s preference towards the presidential candidates, Rahman believes, Bangladesh en masse is supporting Hillary Clinton. The country has been against Donald Trump for spewing a litany of sexist and racist slurs. (WION)

Bangladesh wants next US administration to lower trade barriers

A man clad in a Donald Trump&nbsp;shirt stood&nbsp;outside a Loudun Country, Virginia polling station Friday carrying a 357 magnum, the Huffington Post reports.&nbsp;There is apparently nothing the authorities can do about it.

Erika Cotti told the Huffington Post that she encountered the man when she went to vote at the county&#39;s registrar&#39;s office.

&quot;I had my 9-year-old son with me. I felt intimidated,&quot; she said. &quot;And I had to explain to my 9-year-old why a man with a 357 magnum is standing outside the polling station.&quot;

Cotti said that she rejected the Republican sample ballot she was offered.&nbsp;&quot;He&#39;s like, &#39;Who are you going to vote for, crooked Hillary?&#39; And I was like, that&#39;s really none of your business.&quot; Cotti added that the man was standing on the sidewalk outside of the office when they left, and blocked their path.

A local registrar,&nbsp;Judy Brown, confirmed that the man was standing outside her office, handing out Republican Party literature. He had a holstered gun in an open carry state, so law enforcement was powerless to do anything, Brown told Huffington Post.

Virginia is the wealthiest county in America.&nbsp;

In the US, while there is broad national legislation bearing on guns, the laws concerning open-carry versus concealed-carry vary from&nbsp;state to state.

Brown told the Huffington post that the man was &quot;being nice&quot; to people, and appeared to be observing the rule forbiding canvassing within forty feet zone of the polling station entrance.

Next, Brown said her office contacted the local Republican Party, which spoke to the man and convinced him to pull his Trump shirt over the weapon, blocking it from sight.

The Loudon County Republican Committee Chairman, Will Estrada, told the Huffington Post that the man was a former law enforcement official, and also a veteran with a perrmit to carry a concealed weapon. Estrada specifically said that he doesn&#39;t want to ban volunteers from carrying weapons, even at polling stations.

CNN reports that on Friday, a federal judge warned Trump&#39;s campaign, and Republican operative Roger Stone, against any &quot;voter intimidation&quot; activity in Ohio. The Democrats have brought several cases&nbsp;

A federal judge Friday warned Donald Trump&#39;s campaign and Republican operative Roger Stone against any &quot;voter intimidation&quot; activity in Ohio, the result of one of several cases brought by Democrats before Election Day.

The Huffington Post&nbsp;pointed to a pretty startling&nbsp;inconsistency; while a&nbsp;man outside a polling station carrying a gun doesn&#39;t bother them this time, their tolerance appears to be selective.

Conservative media outlets and Republican politicians spent significant time and money attacking Obama&#39;s administration over how the Justice Department handled a 2008&nbsp;incident involving a man standing outside a polling place carrying a nightstick. But, the Huffington Post points out, what&#39;s interesting is the man who promoted and condemned the video of the nightstick-wielder is a man named Mike Roman, who reports say has been working on so-called election protection efforts related to the Trump campaign.

Despite all of Donald Trump&#39;s rhetoric about the election being rigged, it&#39;s unlikely that&nbsp;Republicans will&nbsp;be galvanised to protect the freedom from voter intimidation over this latest incident in Virginia.

(WION)

&nbsp;

'Who are you going to vote for, Crooked Hillary?' he asked. 'That's really none of your business'

A man clad in a Donald Trump shirt stood outside a Loudun Country, Virginia polling station Friday carrying a 357 magnum, the Huffington Post reports. There is apparently nothing the authorities can do about it. Erika Cotti told the Huffington Post that she encountered the man when she went to vote at the county's registrar's office. "I had my 9-year-old son with me. I felt intimidated," she said. "And I had to explain to my 9-year-old why a man with a 357 magnum is standing outside the polling station." Cotti said that she rejected the Republican sample ballot she was offered. "He's like, 'Who are you going to vote for, crooked Hillary?' And I was like, that's really none of your business." Cotti added that the man was standing on the sidewalk outside of the office when they left, and blocked their path. A local registrar, Judy Brown, confirmed that the man was standing outside her office, handing out Republican Party literature. He had a holstered gun in an open carry state, so law enforcement was powerless to do anything, Brown told Huffington Post. Virginia is the wealthiest county in America. In the US, while there is broad national legislation bearing on guns, the laws concerning open-carry versus concealed-carry vary from state to state. Brown told the Huffington post that the man was "being nice" to people, and appeared to be observing the rule forbiding canvassing within forty feet zone of the polling station entrance. Next, Brown said her office contacted the local Republican Party, which spoke to the man and convinced him to pull his Trump shirt over the weapon, blocking it from sight. The Loudon County Republican Committee Chairman, Will Estrada, told the Huffington Post that the man was a former law enforcement official, and also a veteran with a perrmit to carry a concealed weapon. Estrada specifically said that he doesn't want to ban volunteers from carrying weapons, even at polling stations. CNN reports that on Friday, a federal judge warned Trump's campaign, and Republican operative Roger Stone, against any "voter intimidation" activity in Ohio. The Democrats have brought several cases A federal judge Friday warned Donald Trump's campaign and Republican operative Roger Stone against any "voter intimidation" activity in Ohio, the result of one of several cases brought by Democrats before Election Day. The Huffington Post pointed to a pretty startling inconsistency; while a man outside a polling station carrying a gun doesn't bother them this time, their tolerance appears to be selective. Conservative media outlets and Republican politicians spent significant time and money attacking Obama's administration over how the Justice Department handled a 2008 incident involving a man standing outside a polling place carrying a nightstick. But, the Huffington Post points out, what's interesting is the man who promoted and condemned the video of the nightstick-wielder is a man named Mike Roman, who reports say has been working on so-called election protection efforts related to the Trump campaign. Despite all of Donald Trump's rhetoric about the election being rigged, it's unlikely that Republicans will be galvanised to protect the freedom from voter intimidation over this latest incident in Virginia. (WION)

Armed man wearing Trump shirt confronts woman with child at polling station, authorities shrug

Rudy Giuliani said on Friday that he knew&nbsp;the FBI planned to review more emails in connection with Hillary Clinton before FBI Director James Comey made a public&nbsp;announcement about the investigation last week,&nbsp;confirming&nbsp;that the agency leaked information to Donald Trump&#39;s presidential campaign.

&quot;Did I hear about it? Darn right I heard about it&quot;, he said.

Watch the clip below to hear Giuliani&#39;s admission:

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
WATCH: Rudy Giuliani admits that Trump campaign had advanced warning from the <a href="https://twitter.com/FBI">@FBI</a> about Comey&#39;s letter. <a href="https://t.co/7AOJopgQOB">pic.twitter.com/7AOJopgQOB</a>
&mdash; Correct The Record (@CorrectRecord) <a href="https://twitter.com/CorrectRecord/status/794539625348038658">November 4, 2016</a></blockquote>
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The former mayor of New York City had recently dropped hints that he had advance knowledge that the FBI was going to look at emails potentially connected to Clinton&#39;s private server. The FBI had discovered more Clinton-related emails in a separate investigation targetting the former congressman Anthony Weiner for allegedly sexting a minor.

Giuliani said he felt Comey&#39;s annoucement was going to be made &quot;three or four weeks ago&quot;, meaning the FBI was sitting on this knowledge but, controversially, Comey decided to release it only 11 days before the election.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/rudy-giuliani-fbi-clinton-emails_us_581c9e3fe4b0e80b02c93d6b">Huffington Posts</a> reports that for months Giuliani had bragged that &quot;outraged FBI agents&quot; told him that they&#39;re frustrated by the handling of the Clinton investigation. Just days before FBI Director James Comey announced that they would be reviewing newly uncovered&nbsp;emails, Giuliani said that Trump&#39;s campaign had a &quot;couple of surprises left&quot;.

A day before Comey&#39;s announcement about the investigation, Giuliani told&nbsp;Fox News,&nbsp;&quot;We got a couple things up our sleeve&nbsp;that should turn this around&quot;.

<a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2016/10/28/politics/fbi-reviewing-new-emails-in-clinton-probe-director-tells-senate-judiciary-committee/">CNN&nbsp;</a>reports that Comey decided to make the announcement regarding Clinton&#39;s emails despite concerns from the US Department of Justice (DOJ) that doing so only 11 days before the US presidential&nbsp;election would affect the outcome. One source told CNN that it was contrary to department polices and procedure to comment so close to the November 8 election. While there was no direct contact between Comey and both Attorney General Loretta Lynch and Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates in the (DOJ), the disagreement was communicated to him via DOJ staff.&nbsp;

Comey decided to ignore this concern. This comes nearly four months after the FBI chief said he woudn&#39;t recommend criminal charges over Clinton&#39;s use of the private server for emails.

(WION)

'Did I hear about it? You're darn right I heard about it'

Rudy Giuliani said on Friday that he knew the FBI planned to review more emails in connection with Hillary Clinton before FBI Director James Comey made a public announcement about the investigation last week, confirming that the agency leaked information to Donald Trump's presidential campaign. "Did I hear about it? Darn right I heard about it", he said. Watch the clip below to hear Giuliani's admission: WATCH: Rudy Giuliani admits that Trump campaign had advanced warning from the @FBI about Comey's letter. pic.twitter.com/7AOJopgQOB — Correct The Record (@CorrectRecord) November 4, 2016 × The former mayor of New York City had recently dropped hints that he had advance knowledge that the FBI was going to look at emails potentially connected to Clinton's private server. The FBI had discovered more Clinton-related emails in a separate investigation targetting the former congressman Anthony Weiner for allegedly sexting a minor. Giuliani said he felt Comey's annoucement was going to be made "three or four weeks ago", meaning the FBI was sitting on this knowledge but, controversially, Comey decided to release it only 11 days before the election. Huffington Posts reports that for months Giuliani had bragged that "outraged FBI agents" told him that they're frustrated by the handling of the Clinton investigation. Just days before FBI Director James Comey announced that they would be reviewing newly uncovered emails, Giuliani said that Trump's campaign had a "couple of surprises left". A day before Comey's announcement about the investigation, Giuliani told Fox News, "We got a couple things up our sleeve that should turn this around". CNN reports that Comey decided to make the announcement regarding Clinton's emails despite concerns from the US Department of Justice (DOJ) that doing so only 11 days before the US presidential election would affect the outcome. One source told CNN that it was contrary to department polices and procedure to comment so close to the November 8 election. While there was no direct contact between Comey and both Attorney General Loretta Lynch and Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates in the (DOJ), the disagreement was communicated to him via DOJ staff. Comey decided to ignore this concern. This comes nearly four months after the FBI chief said he woudn't recommend criminal charges over Clinton's use of the private server for emails. (WION)

Rudy Giuliani confirms FBI leaked information to him, Trump campaign

The FBI and US&nbsp;intelligence agencies are examining faked documents aimed at discrediting the Hillary Clinton campaign as part of a broader investigation into what US&nbsp;officials believe has been an attempt by Russia to disrupt the presidential election, people with knowledge of the matter said.

US&nbsp;Senator Tom Carper, a Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security Committee, has referred one of the documents to the FBI for investigation on the grounds that his name and stationery were forged to appear authentic.

In a document forged to appear as though Carper was writing a letter to Clinton, Carper is quoted as saying the Department of Homeland Security had advised him of a risk that a &quot;massive&quot; cyber attack &quot;could change the election results in favour of a specific candidate&quot;. The document dated October 3 was reviewed by Reuters.

It concludes, &quot;Any suspicious incident will be immediately reported to your assistants so that a recount of votes could be timely organised. You will not lose the election because of some compromised electronic voting systems.&quot; The fake Carper letter is one of several documents presented to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the US&nbsp;Department of Justice for review in recent weeks, the sources said.

Carper spokeswoman Meghan Pennington confirmed on Friday that the senator had sent a copy of the letter to the FBI and the Senate&rsquo;s chief law enforcement officer.

&quot;Our office became aware of a fake letter on Senator Carper&rsquo;s official letterhead and immediately referred it to federal law enforcement to investigate its genesis,&quot; Pennington said.

As part of an investigation into suspected Russian hacking, FBI investigators have also asked Democratic Party officials to provide copies of other suspected faked documents that have been circulating along with emails and other legitimate documents taken in the hack, people involved in those conversations said.

A spokesman for the FBI confirmed the agency was &ldquo;in receipt of a complaint about an alleged fake letter&rdquo; related to the election but declined further comment. Others with knowledge of the matter said the FBI was also examining other fake documents that recently surfaced.

US&nbsp;intelligence officials have warned privately that a campaign they believe is backed by the Russian government to undermine the credibility of the US&nbsp;presidential election could move beyond the hacking of Democratic Party email systems. That could include posting fictional evidence of voter fraud or other misinformation in the run-up to voting on November&nbsp;8, US&nbsp;officials have said.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Russian officials deny any such effort.&nbsp;

In addition to the Carper letter, the FBI has also reviewed a seven-page electronic document that carries the logos of Democratic pollster Joel Benenson&rsquo;s firm, the Benenson Strategy Group, and the Clinton Foundation, a person with knowledge of the matter said.

The document, identified as a fake by the Clinton campaign, claims poll ratings had plunged for Clinton and called for &ldquo;severe strategy changes for November&rdquo; that could include &ldquo;staged civil unrest&rdquo; and &ldquo;radiological attack&rdquo; with dirty bombs to disrupt the vote.

Like the Carper letter, it was not immediately clear where the fraudulent document had originated or how it had begun to circulate. &nbsp;&nbsp;

On October&nbsp;20, Roger Stone, a former Trump aide and Republican operative, linked to a copy of the document on Twitter with the tag, &ldquo;If this is real: OMG!!&rdquo;&nbsp;Stone did not respond to emails requesting comment.

Benenson&rsquo;s firm had no immediate comment. Craig Minassian, a spokesman for the Clinton Foundation, said the document was &ldquo;fake.&rdquo; He said he did not know if the FBI had examined it.

A spokesman for the Clinton campaign, Glen Caplin, said the document was a fake and part of a &ldquo;desperate stunt&rdquo; to capitalise on the leak of Democratic emails by Wikileaks. &nbsp;

The developments highlight the unusually prominent role US&nbsp;law enforcement and intelligence agencies have played in a contentious election and an ongoing debate about how public they can or should be about their inquiries.

FBI Director James Comey, a Republican appointed by President Obama, touched off an outcry from Democrats last week when he alerted Congress that agents had found other emails that could be linked to an inquiry into Clinton&rsquo;s use of a private email server when she was Secretary of State, effectively re-opening an investigation he had closed in July.

(Reuters)

Investigators believe it's part of a broader campaign conducted by Russia to disrupt the US election, those with knowledge of the matter say

The FBI and US intelligence agencies are examining faked documents aimed at discrediting the Hillary Clinton campaign as part of a broader investigation into what US officials believe has been an attempt by Russia to disrupt the presidential election, people with knowledge of the matter said. US Senator Tom Carper, a Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security Committee, has referred one of the documents to the FBI for investigation on the grounds that his name and stationery were forged to appear authentic. In a document forged to appear as though Carper was writing a letter to Clinton, Carper is quoted as saying the Department of Homeland Security had advised him of a risk that a "massive" cyber attack "could change the election results in favour of a specific candidate". The document dated October 3 was reviewed by Reuters. It concludes, "Any suspicious incident will be immediately reported to your assistants so that a recount of votes could be timely organised. You will not lose the election because of some compromised electronic voting systems." The fake Carper letter is one of several documents presented to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the US Department of Justice for review in recent weeks, the sources said. Carper spokeswoman Meghan Pennington confirmed on Friday that the senator had sent a copy of the letter to the FBI and the Senate’s chief law enforcement officer. "Our office became aware of a fake letter on Senator Carper’s official letterhead and immediately referred it to federal law enforcement to investigate its genesis," Pennington said. As part of an investigation into suspected Russian hacking, FBI investigators have also asked Democratic Party officials to provide copies of other suspected faked documents that have been circulating along with emails and other legitimate documents taken in the hack, people involved in those conversations said. A spokesman for the FBI confirmed the agency was “in receipt of a complaint about an alleged fake letter” related to the election but declined further comment. Others with knowledge of the matter said the FBI was also examining other fake documents that recently surfaced. US intelligence officials have warned privately that a campaign they believe is backed by the Russian government to undermine the credibility of the US presidential election could move beyond the hacking of Democratic Party email systems. That could include posting fictional evidence of voter fraud or other misinformation in the run-up to voting on November 8, US officials have said. Russian officials deny any such effort. In addition to the Carper letter, the FBI has also reviewed a seven-page electronic document that carries the logos of Democratic pollster Joel Benenson’s firm, the Benenson Strategy Group, and the Clinton Foundation, a person with knowledge of the matter said. The document, identified as a fake by the Clinton campaign, claims poll ratings had plunged for Clinton and called for “severe strategy changes for November” that could include “staged civil unrest” and “radiological attack” with dirty bombs to disrupt the vote. Like the Carper letter, it was not immediately clear where the fraudulent document had originated or how it had begun to circulate. On October 20, Roger Stone, a former Trump aide and Republican operative, linked to a copy of the document on Twitter with the tag, “If this is real: OMG!!” Stone did not respond to emails requesting comment. Benenson’s firm had no immediate comment. Craig Minassian, a spokesman for the Clinton Foundation, said the document was “fake.” He said he did not know if the FBI had examined it. A spokesman for the Clinton campaign, Glen Caplin, said the document was a fake and part of a “desperate stunt” to capitalise on the leak of Democratic emails by Wikileaks. The developments highlight the unusually prominent role US law enforcement and intelligence agencies have played in a contentious election and an ongoing debate about how public they can or should be about their inquiries. FBI Director James Comey, a Republican appointed by President Obama, touched off an outcry from Democrats last week when he alerted Congress that agents had found other emails that could be linked to an inquiry into Clinton’s use of a private email server when she was Secretary of State, effectively re-opening an investigation he had closed in July. (Reuters)

FBI examining fake documents targeting Clinton campaign

Republican presidential candidate&nbsp;Donald Trump warned&nbsp;an Albuquerque, New Mexico&nbsp;rally that&nbsp;Hillary Clinton&#39;s &quot;open borders&quot; policy could permit as many as 650 million immigrants in a week.

He said, &quot;You could have 650 million people pour in and we do nothing about it. Think of it, that&#39;s what could happen. You triple the size of your country in one week. Once you lose control of the borders you have no country.&quot;

It&#39;s hard to say what aspect of this claim is the most outlandish: The figure of 650 million is beyond preposterous. CNN says that in 2014, the US had just over one million legal immigrants, nowhere near Trump&#39;s 650 million. The insinuation that there are mobs of dangerous people trying to enter the US in order to fatally undermine it is unsubstantiated. The US is not at risk of losing its borders, its country is not on the brink of disaster.

Trump has claimed that Mexico is deliberately sending rapists into the US, and has compared Syrian refugees fleeing war to Greek soldiers hiding in the Trojan Horse to kill their wartime enemies. Trump has invoked the Trojan Horse multiple times, but his analogy is backwards. It is unlikely&nbsp;has has ever&nbsp;read Homer or Virgil. At the very least, he is rusty.

The Guardian reports that Clinton is on&nbsp;record for favouring comprehensive immigration reform, to provide a way for&nbsp;undocumented immigrants currently living in the country to become legal citizens. She has never said anything about increasing the population by roughly 200 per cent in one week.

&nbsp;

Election fraud

The comments come after Trump has repeatedlt&nbsp;fanned the flames of paranoia over election fraud. In a presidential debate, Trump refused to say whether or not he would accept the result of the election. This was widely-condemned as an unprecedented repudiation of the basic tenets of American democracy.

The Guardian claims that a recent study found 31 cases of in-person voter fraud out of one&nbsp;billion ballots cast between 2000-2014.

Trump has repeatedly called on supporters to patrol election booths to watch out for so-called&nbsp;fraud, which both Democrats and Republicans have denied exists and which was widely considered to be a call to intimidate voters.

Actually, a Trump supporter from&nbsp;Des Moines was charged with voter&nbsp;fraud,&nbsp;saying she voted twice because she believed&nbsp;Trump&#39;s claim that the election was rigged, and&nbsp;feared her vote for Trump would be changed&nbsp;to a vote for Clinton. (If it was actually rigged, then logically, she&nbsp;voted twice for Clinton.)

What Trump&#39;s&nbsp;dog whistles mean for an intimidation-free election vary from state to state: Bloomberg news reports that&nbsp;in&nbsp;Texas guns aren&#39;t allowed in polling centres, while they are in Pennsylvania.

Trump&#39;s has told his followers that after they vote on November 8, it&#39;s their duty to go to &quot;some other place&quot; to make sure there&#39;s no voter fraud. &quot;Go sit there with your friends and make sure it&#39;s on the up-and-up.&quot;&nbsp;

The call to go to &quot;some other place&quot; was interpreted by many as telling white people to go non-white communities, while &quot;...make sure it&#39;s on the up-and-up&quot; is way of telling them to fight against the impending fraud, but without&nbsp;uttering those&nbsp;exact words aloud.

Bloomberg reports that US federal law prohibits conduct that could be perceived as intimidating to voters on the basis of race or ethnicity. They cited&nbsp;New York University&#39;s Brennan Center for Justice, which claims this includes a direct&nbsp;confrontation with voters, using threatening language or raised voices, and disseminating misleading information on election.

(WION)

In his latest rally, Trump stoked immigration paranoia, again, while also fanning the flames of election fraud, again

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump warned an Albuquerque, New Mexico rally that Hillary Clinton's "open borders" policy could permit as many as 650 million immigrants in a week. He said, "You could have 650 million people pour in and we do nothing about it. Think of it, that's what could happen. You triple the size of your country in one week. Once you lose control of the borders you have no country." It's hard to say what aspect of this claim is the most outlandish: The figure of 650 million is beyond preposterous. CNN says that in 2014, the US had just over one million legal immigrants, nowhere near Trump's 650 million. The insinuation that there are mobs of dangerous people trying to enter the US in order to fatally undermine it is unsubstantiated. The US is not at risk of losing its borders, its country is not on the brink of disaster. Trump has claimed that Mexico is deliberately sending rapists into the US, and has compared Syrian refugees fleeing war to Greek soldiers hiding in the Trojan Horse to kill their wartime enemies. Trump has invoked the Trojan Horse multiple times, but his analogy is backwards. It is unlikely has has ever read Homer or Virgil. At the very least, he is rusty. The Guardian reports that Clinton is on record for favouring comprehensive immigration reform, to provide a way for undocumented immigrants currently living in the country to become legal citizens. She has never said anything about increasing the population by roughly 200 per cent in one week. Election fraud The comments come after Trump has repeatedlt fanned the flames of paranoia over election fraud. In a presidential debate, Trump refused to say whether or not he would accept the result of the election. This was widely-condemned as an unprecedented repudiation of the basic tenets of American democracy. The Guardian claims that a recent study found 31 cases of in-person voter fraud out of one billion ballots cast between 2000-2014. Trump has repeatedly called on supporters to patrol election booths to watch out for so-called fraud, which both Democrats and Republicans have denied exists and which was widely considered to be a call to intimidate voters. Actually, a Trump supporter from Des Moines was charged with voter fraud, saying she voted twice because she believed Trump's claim that the election was rigged, and feared her vote for Trump would be changed to a vote for Clinton. (If it was actually rigged, then logically, she voted twice for Clinton.) What Trump's dog whistles mean for an intimidation-free election vary from state to state: Bloomberg news reports that in Texas guns aren't allowed in polling centres, while they are in Pennsylvania. Trump's has told his followers that after they vote on November 8, it's their duty to go to "some other place" to make sure there's no voter fraud. "Go sit there with your friends and make sure it's on the up-and-up." The call to go to "some other place" was interpreted by many as telling white people to go non-white communities, while "...make sure it's on the up-and-up" is way of telling them to fight against the impending fraud, but without uttering those exact words aloud. Bloomberg reports that US federal law prohibits conduct that could be perceived as intimidating to voters on the basis of race or ethnicity. They cited New York University's Brennan Center for Justice, which claims this includes a direct confrontation with voters, using threatening language or raised voices, and disseminating misleading information on election. (WION)

Trump falsely claims Clinton could triple US population in one week

French President Emmanuel Macron appointed veteran centrist François Bayrou as the new prime minister on Friday (Dec 13) following the collapse of the previous government of PM Michel Barnier.

In other news,&nbsp;US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a surprise visit to Iraq on Friday (Dec 13) and pledged to work with Baghdad to ensure no resurgence of the Islamic State group after the former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad regime's ouster from Syria.&nbsp;

Click on the headlines&nbsp;to read more:

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-is-francois-bayrou-the-new-french-pm-who-will-battle-the-political-chaos-783765">Who is Francois Bayrou? The new French PM set to battle the political&nbsp;chaos</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/12/13/471050-00036qc2wd.jpg?imwidth=400" />

French President Emmanuel Macron appointed veteran centrist François Bayrou as the new prime minister on Friday (Dec 13) following the collapse of the previous government of PM Michel Barnier.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/syria-crisis-updates-blinken-vows-to-work-with-iraq-against-is-syrians-celebrate-assads-fall-783807">West Asia crisis: Blinken vows to work with Iraq against IS</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/12/13/471080-luigi-mangione-18.png?imwidth=400" />

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a surprise visit to Iraq on Friday (Dec 13) and pledged to work with Baghdad to ensure no resurgence of the Islamic State group after the former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad regime's ouster from Syria.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-airstrike-targets-ukraines-energy-system-in-retaliation-for-us-supplied-missile-use-783735">Russian airstrike targets Ukraine’s energy system in retaliation for US-supplied missile use</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/12/06/469922-untitled-design-8.jpg?imwidth=400" />

Russia carried out a major aerial strike on Ukraine on Friday (Dec&nbsp;13) morning, deploying cruise missiles and drones to target energy infrastructure, particularly in the western border regions. The attack is part of a renewed campaign against Ukraine’s electricity network, which has already caused extended power outages for millions of civilians.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/three-indian-students-murdered-in-canada-says-new-delhi-783790">'Terrible tragedies': Three Indian students killed in Canada, says New Delhi</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/12/13/471068-untitled-4.png?imwidth=400" />

India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday (Dec 13) that three Indian students were murdered in Canada in the last week or so, adding, it was in touch with the victims' families and the local authorities to ensure a thorough investigation.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/parents-of-kolkata-rape-murder-victim-slam-failing-system-after-sandip-ghosh-one-other-granted-bail-783797">Parents of murdered RG Kar doctor slam system after ex-principal gets bail</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/08/13/449072-untitled-design-54.png?imwidth=400" />

The parents of the junior doctor who was raped and murdered at&nbsp;RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in the Indian city of&nbsp;Kolkata&nbsp;expressed their heartbreak and disappointment after two&nbsp;accused in the case were granted bail on Friday (Dec 13).

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-can-influence-putin-on-peace-estonia-fm-margus-tsahkna-783707">India can influence Putin on peace: Estonia FM Margus Tsahkna</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/12/13/471009-sibal-interview.jpg?imwidth=400" />

Estonia's Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna has emphasised that India can influence Russian President Vladimir Putin for peace as the war in Ukraine enters its third year in 2025.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/drones-seen-in-new-jersey-white-house-says-no-proof-that-sightings-pose-national-security-threat-783775">Drones seen in New Jersey: White House says no proof that sightings pose national security threat</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/12/13/471054-untitled-3.png?imwidth=400" />

The White House on Friday (Dec 13) said that the United States (US) administration had no evidence that the recent drone sightings in the US state of New Jersey posed a national security or a public safety threat.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/jamaica-proposes-bill-to-remove-king-charles-as-head-state-and-become-a-republic-783796">Jamaica proposes bill to remove King Charles as head state and become a republic</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/12/13/471073-luigi-mangione-17.png?imwidth=400" />

In the first step to remove King Charles as head state and become a country republic, the Jamaican government presented a bill in parliament on Wednesday (Dec 11) to abolish the constitutional monarchy.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-2025-icc-approves-hybird-model-after-long-saga-india-to-play-in-dubai-report-783784">Champions Trophy 2025: ICC approves hybrid model after long saga - Report</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/09/13/454589-champions-trophy-2025-pcb-to-spend-this-whooping-amount-on-stadium-renovation.png?imwidth=400" />

The saga surrounding the Champions Trophy 2025 is over as the International Cricket Council (ICC) has approved the hybrid mode, meaning India will not travel to Pakistan for the coveted tournament.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/actor-allu-arjun-granted-bail-from-high-court-783754">Actor Allu Arjun granted bail from High court in Pushpa 2 stampede case</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/12/13/471055-happy-30th-birthday-45.png?imwidth=400" />

Actor Allu Arjun has been granted interim bail from the High Court in connection with the death of a woman in Hyderabad. Earlier in the day (Dec 13), the Pushpa 2 actor was arrested in a case filed against him for causing a stampede-like situation that resulted in the death of a woman.&nbsp;

Slamming Clinton's policy on Syria, Trump warned that her plan could 'drag the US into a world war against Russia'

French President Emmanuel Macron appointed veteran centrist François Bayrou as the new prime minister on Friday (Dec 13) following the collapse of the previous government of PM Michel Barnier. In other news, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a surprise visit to Iraq on Friday (Dec 13) and pledged to work with Baghdad to ensure no resurgence of the Islamic State group after the former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad regime's ouster from Syria. Click on the headlines to read more: Who is Francois Bayrou? The new French PM set to battle the political chaos French President Emmanuel Macron appointed veteran centrist François Bayrou as the new prime minister on Friday (Dec 13) following the collapse of the previous government of PM Michel Barnier. West Asia crisis: Blinken vows to work with Iraq against IS US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a surprise visit to Iraq on Friday (Dec 13) and pledged to work with Baghdad to ensure no resurgence of the Islamic State group after the former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad regime's ouster from Syria. Russian airstrike targets Ukraine’s energy system in retaliation for US-supplied missile use Russia carried out a major aerial strike on Ukraine on Friday (Dec 13) morning, deploying cruise missiles and drones to target energy infrastructure, particularly in the western border regions. The attack is part of a renewed campaign against Ukraine’s electricity network, which has already caused extended power outages for millions of civilians. 'Terrible tragedies': Three Indian students killed in Canada, says New Delhi India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday (Dec 13) that three Indian students were murdered in Canada in the last week or so, adding, it was in touch with the victims' families and the local authorities to ensure a thorough investigation. Parents of murdered RG Kar doctor slam system after ex-principal gets bail The parents of the junior doctor who was raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in the Indian city of Kolkata expressed their heartbreak and disappointment after two accused in the case were granted bail on Friday (Dec 13). India can influence Putin on peace: Estonia FM Margus Tsahkna Estonia's Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna has emphasised that India can influence Russian President Vladimir Putin for peace as the war in Ukraine enters its third year in 2025. Drones seen in New Jersey: White House says no proof that sightings pose national security threat The White House on Friday (Dec 13) said that the United States (US) administration had no evidence that the recent drone sightings in the US state of New Jersey posed a national security or a public safety threat. Jamaica proposes bill to remove King Charles as head state and become a republic In the first step to remove King Charles as head state and become a country republic, the Jamaican government presented a bill in parliament on Wednesday (Dec 11) to abolish the constitutional monarchy. Champions Trophy 2025: ICC approves hybrid model after long saga - Report The saga surrounding the Champions Trophy 2025 is over as the International Cricket Council (ICC) has approved the hybrid mode, meaning India will not travel to Pakistan for the coveted tournament. Actor Allu Arjun granted bail from High court in Pushpa 2 stampede case Actor Allu Arjun has been granted interim bail from the High Court in connection with the death of a woman in Hyderabad. Earlier in the day (Dec 13), the Pushpa 2 actor was arrested in a case filed against him for causing a stampede-like situation that resulted in the death of a woman.

Hillary Clinton's policies could spark World War III: Trump

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