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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Biden and Trump campaign in heartland states in US election finale

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Living statues paint Trump as racist 'relic'

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A report has claimed that Kamala Harris, Democratic Vice-President candidate is being attacked through online misinformation four times more than her Republican rival Mike Pence.&nbsp;

The fake news regarding the Indian American includes that she is ineligible to run for the election or she was lying about Black and Indian background.&nbsp;

Watch | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-us-election-2020-netizens-go-gaga-after-kamala-harris-dances-in-rain-in-florida-rally-337054">Netizens go gaga after Kamala Harris dances in rain in Florida rally</a>

After getting vice-president ticket, Harris has been at the centre of online misinformation campaigns far more often four times as much than the white men who campaigned for the same job, a report from media intelligence firm Zignal Labs said as reported by news agency The Associated Press.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kamala-harris-niece-slammed-for-tweeting-image-depicting-aunt-as-durga-336638">Kamala Harris' niece slammed for tweeting image depicting aunt as Durga</a>

Jennifer Granston, head of insights at Zignal Labs, said Harris has been attacked much more on her personal identity, particularly as a woman of colour.&nbsp;

The firm found over 1 millions mentions of Harris since June on Twitter with hashtags or terms used to spread misinformation related to her.&nbsp;

It said about 300,000 of these mentions questions Harris's eligibility to serve as US president.&nbsp;

Harris's birth certificate confirms she was on October 20, 1964, in Oakland, California, indicating she being eligible to serve as either vice president or president.

A report has claimed that Kamala Harris, Democratic Vice-President candidate is being attacked through online misinformation four times more than her Republican rival Mike Pence.

A report has claimed that Kamala Harris, Democratic Vice-President candidate is being attacked through online misinformation four times more than her Republican rival Mike Pence. The fake news regarding the Indian American includes that she is ineligible to run for the election or she was lying about Black and Indian background. Watch | Netizens go gaga after Kamala Harris dances in rain in Florida rally After getting vice-president ticket, Harris has been at the centre of online misinformation campaigns far more often four times as much than the white men who campaigned for the same job, a report from media intelligence firm Zignal Labs said as reported by news agency The Associated Press. Also read | Kamala Harris' niece slammed for tweeting image depicting aunt as Durga Jennifer Granston, head of insights at Zignal Labs, said Harris has been attacked much more on her personal identity, particularly as a woman of colour. The firm found over 1 millions mentions of Harris since June on Twitter with hashtags or terms used to spread misinformation related to her. It said about 300,000 of these mentions questions Harris's eligibility to serve as US president. Harris's birth certificate confirms she was on October 20, 1964, in Oakland, California, indicating she being eligible to serve as either vice president or president.

Kamala Harris attacked far more through online misinformation than Pence: Report

The popular social media platform Instagram has decided to make changes in&nbsp;the format of the mobile app to stop any possible spread of misinformation related to the upcoming&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/us-election">US Election 2020</a>&nbsp;— in which&nbsp;the Democrat candidate and former Vice President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;is campaigning against&nbsp;the Republican candidate and current President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>.

Facebook Inc's Instagram has decided to temporarily remove the "Recent" tab from the hashtag pages from Thursday. "As we near the U.S. elections, we’re making changes to make it harder for people to come across possible misinformation on Instagram," the platform said in a statement.

"Starting today, for people in the U.S. we will temporarily remove the “Recent” tab from hashtag pages. We’re doing this to reduce the real-time spread of potentially harmful content that could pop up around the election," the statement added.

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As we near the U.S. elections, we’re making changes to make it harder for people to come across possible misinformation on Instagram.
— Instagram Comms (@InstagramComms) <a href="https://twitter.com/InstagramComms/status/1321957712595427329?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2020</a></blockquote>
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This change will be applicable only for the US users of the photo-video sharing app.&nbsp;

The announcement has come at a time when various big and popular social media platforms are facing criticism for being a source of spread of misinformation, especially related to the US elections and the novel coronavirus.

This change was announced a day after the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/who-the-hell-put-you-in-charge-republicans-lash-out-at-tech-giants-during-senate-debate-338722">CEOS of tech giants Twitter, Facebook and Google faced the US senators </a>about content censoring and favouritism on the social media platforms.&nbsp;"My concern is that these platforms have become powerful arbiters of what is true and what content users can access," said Roger Wicker, the Republican chairman of the Commerce Committee.

While the change has been criticised by a few on social media, others have supported Instagram's move calling it necessary and á small price to pay'. The feature will be restored back to its original use after the election results are announced, local media houses have claimed.

Twitter, too, has brought in few changes such as limiting the 'retweets' without comments and urging users to read articles before sharing them.

The popular social media platform Instagram has decided to make changes in the format of the mobile app to stop any possible spread of misinformation related to the upcoming US Election 2020 — in which the Democrat candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden is campaigning against the Republican candidate and current President Donald Trump.

The popular social media platform Instagram has decided to make changes in the format of the mobile app to stop any possible spread of misinformation related to the upcoming US Election 2020 — in which the Democrat candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden is campaigning against the Republican candidate and current President Donald Trump. Facebook Inc's Instagram has decided to temporarily remove the "Recent" tab from the hashtag pages from Thursday. "As we near the U.S. elections, we’re making changes to make it harder for people to come across possible misinformation on Instagram," the platform said in a statement. "Starting today, for people in the U.S. we will temporarily remove the “Recent” tab from hashtag pages. We’re doing this to reduce the real-time spread of potentially harmful content that could pop up around the election," the statement added. As we near the U.S. elections, we’re making changes to make it harder for people to come across possible misinformation on Instagram. — Instagram Comms (@InstagramComms) October 29, 2020 × This change will be applicable only for the US users of the photo-video sharing app. The announcement has come at a time when various big and popular social media platforms are facing criticism for being a source of spread of misinformation, especially related to the US elections and the novel coronavirus. This change was announced a day after the CEOS of tech giants Twitter, Facebook and Google faced the US senators about content censoring and favouritism on the social media platforms. "My concern is that these platforms have become powerful arbiters of what is true and what content users can access," said Roger Wicker, the Republican chairman of the Commerce Committee. While the change has been criticised by a few on social media, others have supported Instagram's move calling it necessary and á small price to pay'. The feature will be restored back to its original use after the election results are announced, local media houses have claimed. Twitter, too, has brought in few changes such as limiting the 'retweets' without comments and urging users to read articles before sharing them.

Instagram to remove 'Recent' tab to stop spread of US election related misinformation

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

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

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

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

Two prominent Indian-Americans are among Democratic Presidential nominee Joe Biden's core advisors who have been guiding him on issues ranging from the coronavirus pandemic, economic recovery to foreign policy and climate change.

According to a report published in The New York Times, Biden is said to have been leaning on veteran advisors with high-level governmental experience rather than outsiders and ideological rivals to help guide him on subjects including the coronavirus pandemic and the country's diminished standing in the world.

Among those advising him on the pandemic are Dr Vivek Murthy, former US Surgeon General who was appointed by President Barack Obama and Harvard economist Raj Chetty who briefs Biden on economic issues.

Murthy and former head of the Food and Drug Administration David Kessler were among those present on a conference call convened by the Biden campaign when it learned that two people who had travelled with Senator Kamala Harris had tested positive for the coronavirus.

"Biden has spoken often of his briefings with experts, and Dr Murthy and Dr Kessler have been two of the most prominent medical figures whose counsel Biden has sought during the public health crisis," the NYT report said.

The NYT report quoted Kessler as saying that in the early days of the pandemic, he and Murthy would brief Biden "every day, or four times a week."

The report added that Biden has signalled that the government's top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci will have a prominent role in a Biden administration.

On economy, Biden has cast a wide net for economic advice, soliciting input from several hundred policy experts, the report said.

Also, among the most influential foreign policy advisor for Biden is Antony Blinken, who has previously worked for Biden on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and served as a deputy national security adviser and deputy secretary of state under Obama.

"Known more for his diplomatic touch than any fixed ideas, he is considered a likely candidate for national security adviser or secretary of state," the NYT report said.

Two prominent Indian-Americans are among Democratic Presidential nominee Joe Biden's core advisors who have been guiding him on issues ranging from the coronavirus pandemic, economic recovery to foreign policy and climate change.

Two prominent Indian-Americans are among Democratic Presidential nominee Joe Biden's core advisors who have been guiding him on issues ranging from the coronavirus pandemic, economic recovery to foreign policy and climate change. According to a report published in The New York Times, Biden is said to have been leaning on veteran advisors with high-level governmental experience rather than outsiders and ideological rivals to help guide him on subjects including the coronavirus pandemic and the country's diminished standing in the world. Among those advising him on the pandemic are Dr Vivek Murthy, former US Surgeon General who was appointed by President Barack Obama and Harvard economist Raj Chetty who briefs Biden on economic issues. Murthy and former head of the Food and Drug Administration David Kessler were among those present on a conference call convened by the Biden campaign when it learned that two people who had travelled with Senator Kamala Harris had tested positive for the coronavirus. "Biden has spoken often of his briefings with experts, and Dr Murthy and Dr Kessler have been two of the most prominent medical figures whose counsel Biden has sought during the public health crisis," the NYT report said. The NYT report quoted Kessler as saying that in the early days of the pandemic, he and Murthy would brief Biden "every day, or four times a week." The report added that Biden has signalled that the government's top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci will have a prominent role in a Biden administration. On economy, Biden has cast a wide net for economic advice, soliciting input from several hundred policy experts, the report said. Also, among the most influential foreign policy advisor for Biden is Antony Blinken, who has previously worked for Biden on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and served as a deputy national security adviser and deputy secretary of state under Obama. "Known more for his diplomatic touch than any fixed ideas, he is considered a likely candidate for national security adviser or secretary of state," the NYT report said.

Two prominent Indian-Americans are among Joe Biden's core advisors

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

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

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

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

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

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

At the final sprint of campaign season, Joe Biden & Kamala Harris are travelling state to state to woo voters. Meanwhile, at the Arizona rally Donald Trump was joined by UK's famous politician Nigel Farage. WION brings you the highlights

Final sprint on campaign season | U.S. Election 2020 New York Direct

The chief executives of Google, Facebook & Twitter testified before a senate committee on their respective social media moderation practices. But the Senate hearing soon turned into a political scuffle. WION reports

Senate hearing turns into a political showdown | U.S. Election 2020 New York Direct

5 days before US Election 2020, chaos & mayhem has spread across America. A police-shooting in Philadelphia has escalated racial tensions in the country. Mass looting is complicating the debate on police accountability. WION's Palki Sharma gets you the story

Gravitas: US Election 2020: Racial tensions escalate

Facebook shone, Alphabet rallied, Apple sank and Twitter tumbled on Thursday after a mixed bag of quarterly reports from top-tier technology companies that investors have relied on this year to power a stock market rally through the coronavirus pandemic.

Alphabet and Facebook both reported strong rises in advertising sales and some caution about the future. Facebook, which often is conservative with forecasts, said that pandemic-related uncertainty could make for a difficult 2021.

Facebook's stock fell 1%, while Alphabet surged 7%.

"These results are testament to the incredible strength of the Google franchise," said Nicholas Hyett, an equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown. "Where other marketing driven businesses are struggling as advertisers become more cost conscious, it seems some of the cash is in fact finding its way to the internet search giant."

Apple fell over 5% after its iPhone sales missed estimates, although its quarterly revenue and profit beat analysts' expectations. That wiped $100 billion from Apple's stock market value.

Twitter reported fewer new users than Wall Street expected, sending its shares 17% lower. If Twitter falls that much in Friday's trading session it will have been its deepest one-day drop since March, when fear related to the pandemic sent global stock markets into a deep selloff.

Amazon reported a record quarterly profit and forecast a jump in holiday sales, but its shares fell almost 2% after it forecast a jump in costs related to COVID-19.

The results come a day after the CEOs of Facebook, Google and Twitter testified before the Senate Commerce Committee, rebuffing accusations of anti-conservative bias and promising to aggressively defend their platforms from being used to sow chaos in next week's election.

Facebook's profit jumped in the recently-ended quarter as it benefitted from a rebounding online ad market despite a boycott.

The leading social network's profit jumped 29 per cent to $7.8 billion in the quarter on revenue that climbed to $21.2 billion as people continued to rely on the internet and social media to stay connected while staying safe from the pandemic.

Total revenue, which primarily consists of ad sales, rose to $21.47 billion from $17.65 billion in the third quarter ended September 30, beating analysts' estimates of $19.82 billion, according to IBES data from Refinitiv.

Organisers of a Facebook ad boycott vowed to continue their campaign, saying the company's top executives failed to offer meaningful action on curbing hateful content.

The company has been under especially strong pressure ahead of next week's US presidential election and is aiming to avoid a repeat of 2016, when Russia used its platforms to spread election-related misinformation.

Conservatives have accused Facebook and others of political bias as the platforms step up their oversight of content to clamp down on false or violent material. US President Donald Trump has threatened new regulatory measures which could impact the business models of platforms.

Also, Facebook Inc on Thursday warned of a tougher 2021 despite beating analysts` estimates for quarterly revenue as businesses adjusting to the global pandemic continued to rely on the company's digital ad tools.

The social media company said in its outlook that it faced "a significant amount of uncertainty," citing impending privacy changes by Apple and a possible reversal in the shift to online commerce prompted by the pandemic.

Meanwhile, Twitter Inc on Thursday added fewer users than Wall Street had expected and said expenses would accelerate in the current quarter, sending its shares tumbling 13 per cent. 
Shares of Twitter fell to $45.23 in after-market trading.

The San Francisco-based social media company said it had 187 million monetizable daily active users (mDAU) during the third quarter, missing consensus analyst expectations of 195.2 million users, according to IBES data from Refinitiv. The figure stood at 186 million in the previous quarter.

Costs and expenses grew 13 per cent from the same period last year to $880 million, as the company said it spent more on infrastructure-related expenses.

Twitter said it expected its costs and expenses to grow closer to 20 per cent year over year in the current quarter, an acceleration on the rate in the third.

Twitter said total revenue grew 14 per cent year-over-year to $936 million during the quarter ended September&nbsp;30, beating analyst estimates of $777.15 million.

Last year, Twitter suffered from technical glitches that hurt its ability to target ads, though the company has since rolled out fixes.

Ad revenue in the third quarter grew 15 per cent to $808 million from the same period a year ago, surpassing estimates of $645.95 million.

Twitter noted that many companies paused ad spending during the second quarter due to widespread protests after the death of George Floyd in May and said there could be a similar dynamic with the US election.

(with inputs from agencies)

Facebook shone, Alphabet rallied, Apple sank and Twitter tumbled on Thursday after a mixed bag of quarterly reports from top-tier technology companies that investors have relied on this year to power a stock market rally through the coronavirus pandemic.

Facebook shone, Alphabet rallied, Apple sank and Twitter tumbled on Thursday after a mixed bag of quarterly reports from top-tier technology companies that investors have relied on this year to power a stock market rally through the coronavirus pandemic. Alphabet and Facebook both reported strong rises in advertising sales and some caution about the future. Facebook, which often is conservative with forecasts, said that pandemic-related uncertainty could make for a difficult 2021. Facebook's stock fell 1%, while Alphabet surged 7%. "These results are testament to the incredible strength of the Google franchise," said Nicholas Hyett, an equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown. "Where other marketing driven businesses are struggling as advertisers become more cost conscious, it seems some of the cash is in fact finding its way to the internet search giant." Apple fell over 5% after its iPhone sales missed estimates, although its quarterly revenue and profit beat analysts' expectations. That wiped $100 billion from Apple's stock market value. Twitter reported fewer new users than Wall Street expected, sending its shares 17% lower. If Twitter falls that much in Friday's trading session it will have been its deepest one-day drop since March, when fear related to the pandemic sent global stock markets into a deep selloff. Amazon reported a record quarterly profit and forecast a jump in holiday sales, but its shares fell almost 2% after it forecast a jump in costs related to COVID-19. The results come a day after the CEOs of Facebook, Google and Twitter testified before the Senate Commerce Committee, rebuffing accusations of anti-conservative bias and promising to aggressively defend their platforms from being used to sow chaos in next week's election. Facebook's profit jumped in the recently-ended quarter as it benefitted from a rebounding online ad market despite a boycott. The leading social network's profit jumped 29 per cent to $7.8 billion in the quarter on revenue that climbed to $21.2 billion as people continued to rely on the internet and social media to stay connected while staying safe from the pandemic. Total revenue, which primarily consists of ad sales, rose to $21.47 billion from $17.65 billion in the third quarter ended September 30, beating analysts' estimates of $19.82 billion, according to IBES data from Refinitiv. Organisers of a Facebook ad boycott vowed to continue their campaign, saying the company's top executives failed to offer meaningful action on curbing hateful content. The company has been under especially strong pressure ahead of next week's US presidential election and is aiming to avoid a repeat of 2016, when Russia used its platforms to spread election-related misinformation. Conservatives have accused Facebook and others of political bias as the platforms step up their oversight of content to clamp down on false or violent material. US President Donald Trump has threatened new regulatory measures which could impact the business models of platforms. Also, Facebook Inc on Thursday warned of a tougher 2021 despite beating analysts` estimates for quarterly revenue as businesses adjusting to the global pandemic continued to rely on the company's digital ad tools. The social media company said in its outlook that it faced "a significant amount of uncertainty," citing impending privacy changes by Apple and a possible reversal in the shift to online commerce prompted by the pandemic. Meanwhile, Twitter Inc on Thursday added fewer users than Wall Street had expected and said expenses would accelerate in the current quarter, sending its shares tumbling 13 per cent. Shares of Twitter fell to $45.23 in after-market trading. The San Francisco-based social media company said it had 187 million monetizable daily active users (mDAU) during the third quarter, missing consensus analyst expectations of 195.2 million users, according to IBES data from Refinitiv. The figure stood at 186 million in the previous quarter. Costs and expenses grew 13 per cent from the same period last year to $880 million, as the company said it spent more on infrastructure-related expenses. Twitter said it expected its costs and expenses to grow closer to 20 per cent year over year in the current quarter, an acceleration on the rate in the third. Twitter said total revenue grew 14 per cent year-over-year to $936 million during the quarter ended September 30, beating analyst estimates of $777.15 million. Last year, Twitter suffered from technical glitches that hurt its ability to target ads, though the company has since rolled out fixes. Ad revenue in the third quarter grew 15 per cent to $808 million from the same period a year ago, surpassing estimates of $645.95 million. Twitter noted that many companies paused ad spending during the second quarter due to widespread protests after the death of George Floyd in May and said there could be a similar dynamic with the US election. (with inputs from agencies)

Facebook quarterly profit jumps despite ad boycott; Twitter shares drop

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

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

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

Trump and Biden are a stark contrast in battleground Florida

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

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

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

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

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

Trump's hard-line immigration policies go before voters

With only four days to go for the US election 2020,&nbsp;President Donald Trump's differences with rival presidential candidate Joe Biden extend far beyond planet Earth.

However, NASA's moonshot, aerospace company Boeing,&nbsp;Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos, and&nbsp;SpaceX owner and Tesla CEO Elon Musk also have a&nbsp;lot riding on the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/us-election">US&nbsp;election</a> on November 3.

While Republican candidate&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Trump</a>&nbsp;plans to win the race in space call for a 2024 moon mission and ending direct US&nbsp;financial support for the International Space Station in 2025, turning&nbsp;over control of the decades-old orbital laboratory to private space companies.

Biden, on the other hand, would likely call for a delayed&nbsp;moonshot&nbsp;and propose a funding extension for the International Space Station if he wins the White House, according to people familiar with the fledging Biden space agenda.

Earlier,&nbsp;NASA had&nbsp;selected&nbsp;Bezos's Blue Origin and Musk's SpaceX&nbsp;to develop human landers for Artemis moon missions.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bezoss-blue-origin-and-musks-spacex-to-collaborate-in-building-nasas-lunar-lander-296099">Bezos's Blue Origin and Musk's SpaceX to collaborate in building NASA's lunar lander</a>

Pushing back the moon mission could cast more doubt on the long-term fate of Boeing Co's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, just as Elon Musk's SpaceX and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin scramble to bring rival rockets to market as soon as next year.

Extending support for the space station for a decade would also be a major boost for Boeing, whose $225 million annual ISS operations contract is set to expire in 2024 and is at the depths of a financial crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the 737 MAX grounding after fatal crashes.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-shepard-capsule-bezos-blue-origin-conducts-successful-test-flight-for-space-tourism-335120">New Shepard capsule: Bezos' Blue Origin conducts successful test flight for space tourism</a>

Boeing and SpaceX are already supplying spacecraft to ferry astronauts to the ISS under a program begun under the Obama administration and supported by both Trump and Biden.

Though slowing the&nbsp;moonshot&nbsp;would push back contracts for moon landers and related equipment the companies aim to win, the emerging Biden space agenda appears broadly set to promote competition between traditional defense contractors like Boeing and "new space" rivals like SpaceX who promise lower-cost and reusable rocket systems and space vehicles.

Craving consistency

For the commercial space industry, "consistency is key," said Mike French, a vice president at the Aerospace Industries Association trade group who earlier served as NASA chief of staff under Obama.

"If you shake the etch-a-sketch now, you will (be) risking a series of potentially historic accomplishments and the strong and sustained bipartisan support NASA has seen across its portfolio," French told Reuters.

Roughly 20 former senior NASA officials and scientists have assembled as a volunteer subgroup under the Biden campaign's science committee to informally help draw up ideas for a space platform.

Many held jobs in the Obama administration and are jockeying for influential roles on the transition team or in a Biden administration.

Members of the subgroup also want to boost NASA funding for Earth science and support partnerships with other nations. They stressed that Biden's space agenda, and the staff assignments to lead it, were in a formative stage as his campaign prioritizes more pressing issues, like the coronavirus pandemic and joblessness.

A Biden campaign spokesman pointed to earlier remarks from Biden. In August, after SpaceX launched and returned the first astronauts from US&nbsp;soil on a trip to the ISS in nearly a decade, Biden said he looked forward to "leading a bold space program that will continue to send astronaut heroes to expand our exploration and scientific frontiers."

Representatives for Blue Origin and Boeing declined to comment. SpaceX and the Trump campaign did not respond to requests for comment.

Fight over Boeing rocket

But the Biden space group is divided on what to do about Boeing's SLS, several sources said.

The super heavy-lift rocket has been beset by development delays and cost overruns, but supports tens of thousands of jobs in Alabama and California and is seen by backers as central to NASA's exploration plans and the only path to Trump's 2024 timeline for the Artemis mission.

Critics say the rocket's aging technology and launch costs of $1 billion or more permission should prompt a formal White House or Congressional review of the program, particularly if SpaceX and Blue Origin are able to offer new rockets at a lower cost.

It costs as little as $90 million to fly Musk's massive but still less-powerful Falcon Heavy, and some $350 million per launch for United Launch Alliance's legacy Delta IV Heavy.

Whether a Biden space policy would be more friendly to SLS or to newer commercial alternatives from "new space" players will be heavily influenced by his choice for NASA administrator, a role the campaign wants to be filled by a woman, two people said.

NASA views SLS as its only human-rated ride to the moon in the near term, said Doug Loverro, the former NASA head of human spaceflight.

"But is that the long-term direction to continue to pursue?" Loverro asked.

With only four days to go for the US election 2020, President Donald Trump's differences with rival presidential candidate Joe Biden extend far beyond planet Earth.

With only four days to go for the US election 2020, President Donald Trump's differences with rival presidential candidate Joe Biden extend far beyond planet Earth. However, NASA's moonshot, aerospace company Boeing, Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos, and SpaceX owner and Tesla CEO Elon Musk also have a lot riding on the US election on November 3. While Republican candidate Trump plans to win the race in space call for a 2024 moon mission and ending direct US financial support for the International Space Station in 2025, turning over control of the decades-old orbital laboratory to private space companies. Biden, on the other hand, would likely call for a delayed moonshot and propose a funding extension for the International Space Station if he wins the White House, according to people familiar with the fledging Biden space agenda. Earlier, NASA had selected Bezos's Blue Origin and Musk's SpaceX to develop human landers for Artemis moon missions. Also read: Bezos's Blue Origin and Musk's SpaceX to collaborate in building NASA's lunar lander Pushing back the moon mission could cast more doubt on the long-term fate of Boeing Co's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, just as Elon Musk's SpaceX and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin scramble to bring rival rockets to market as soon as next year. Extending support for the space station for a decade would also be a major boost for Boeing, whose $225 million annual ISS operations contract is set to expire in 2024 and is at the depths of a financial crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the 737 MAX grounding after fatal crashes. Also read: New Shepard capsule: Bezos' Blue Origin conducts successful test flight for space tourism Boeing and SpaceX are already supplying spacecraft to ferry astronauts to the ISS under a program begun under the Obama administration and supported by both Trump and Biden. Though slowing the moonshot would push back contracts for moon landers and related equipment the companies aim to win, the emerging Biden space agenda appears broadly set to promote competition between traditional defense contractors like Boeing and "new space" rivals like SpaceX who promise lower-cost and reusable rocket systems and space vehicles. Craving consistency For the commercial space industry, "consistency is key," said Mike French, a vice president at the Aerospace Industries Association trade group who earlier served as NASA chief of staff under Obama. "If you shake the etch-a-sketch now, you will (be) risking a series of potentially historic accomplishments and the strong and sustained bipartisan support NASA has seen across its portfolio," French told Reuters. Roughly 20 former senior NASA officials and scientists have assembled as a volunteer subgroup under the Biden campaign's science committee to informally help draw up ideas for a space platform. Many held jobs in the Obama administration and are jockeying for influential roles on the transition team or in a Biden administration. Members of the subgroup also want to boost NASA funding for Earth science and support partnerships with other nations. They stressed that Biden's space agenda, and the staff assignments to lead it, were in a formative stage as his campaign prioritizes more pressing issues, like the coronavirus pandemic and joblessness. A Biden campaign spokesman pointed to earlier remarks from Biden. In August, after SpaceX launched and returned the first astronauts from US soil on a trip to the ISS in nearly a decade, Biden said he looked forward to "leading a bold space program that will continue to send astronaut heroes to expand our exploration and scientific frontiers." Representatives for Blue Origin and Boeing declined to comment. SpaceX and the Trump campaign did not respond to requests for comment. Fight over Boeing rocket But the Biden space group is divided on what to do about Boeing's SLS, several sources said. The super heavy-lift rocket has been beset by development delays and cost overruns, but supports tens of thousands of jobs in Alabama and California and is seen by backers as central to NASA's exploration plans and the only path to Trump's 2024 timeline for the Artemis mission. Critics say the rocket's aging technology and launch costs of $1 billion or more permission should prompt a formal White House or Congressional review of the program, particularly if SpaceX and Blue Origin are able to offer new rockets at a lower cost. It costs as little as $90 million to fly Musk's massive but still less-powerful Falcon Heavy, and some $350 million per launch for United Launch Alliance's legacy Delta IV Heavy. Whether a Biden space policy would be more friendly to SLS or to newer commercial alternatives from "new space" players will be heavily influenced by his choice for NASA administrator, a role the campaign wants to be filled by a woman, two people said. NASA views SLS as its only human-rated ride to the moon in the near term, said Doug Loverro, the former NASA head of human spaceflight. "But is that the long-term direction to continue to pursue?" Loverro asked.

US election 2020: Why are the polls crucial for NASA's moonshot, Boeing, Bezos and Musk

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Trump, Biden square off in key Midwestern states

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

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

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

Twitter bots poised to spread disinformation before US election

Hollywood star Julia Roberts had an important message to share on her 53rd birthday. The actress took to Instagram on Wednesday (local time) and posted a picture of herself wearing an "I am a voter" t-shirt.&nbsp; 
 
"I AM a Voter! Make sure you are too! #weareinthistogether #getyourjush #whenweallvote," she wrote in the caption.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CG5UvZNMC7E/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">I AM a Voter! Make sure you are too!♥️🤍💙 #weareinthistogether #getyourjush #whenweallvote #🎂</a>

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Earlier on Tuesday, Roberts had used a quote from one of her iconic films - `Notting Hill` - to urge people to vote as she reposted a revised version of her famous dialogue from the romantic drama.&nbsp;

"I`m just a girl standing in front of a boy asking him to vote," the poster read which the 53-years actor complemented by writing, "VOTE 1 week to go!!"&nbsp;

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<div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CG2cwI3sv5A/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd" stroke="none" stroke-width="1"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></a></div>

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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CG2cwI3sv5A/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">💙VOTE❤️ 1 week to go!! #weareinthistogether #earlyvoting #whenweallvote #wearamask #letsdothis ・・・ #Repost @iamavoter</a>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/juliaroberts/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Julia Roberts</a> (@juliaroberts) on <time datetime="2020-10-27T14:44:04+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Oct 27, 2020 at 7:44am PDT</time>
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The `Pretty Woman,` actor has been using her Instagram spread awareness about voting. America goes to vote on November 3.&nbsp;

Hollywood star Julia Roberts had an important message to share on her 53rd birthday. The actress took to Instagram on Wednesday (local time) and posted a picture of herself wearing an "I am a voter" t-shirt.

Hollywood star Julia Roberts had an important message to share on her 53rd birthday. The actress took to Instagram on Wednesday (local time) and posted a picture of herself wearing an "I am a voter" t-shirt. "I AM a Voter! Make sure you are too! #weareinthistogether #getyourjush #whenweallvote," she wrote in the caption. View this post on Instagram I AM a Voter! Make sure you are too!♥️🤍💙 #weareinthistogether #getyourjush #whenweallvote #🎂 A post shared by Julia Roberts (@juliaroberts) on Oct 28, 2020 at 10:31am PDT × Earlier on Tuesday, Roberts had used a quote from one of her iconic films - `Notting Hill` - to urge people to vote as she reposted a revised version of her famous dialogue from the romantic drama. "I`m just a girl standing in front of a boy asking him to vote," the poster read which the 53-years actor complemented by writing, "VOTE 1 week to go!!" View this post on Instagram 💙VOTE❤️ 1 week to go!! #weareinthistogether #earlyvoting #whenweallvote #wearamask #letsdothis ・・・ #Repost @iamavoter A post shared by Julia Roberts (@juliaroberts) on Oct 27, 2020 at 7:44am PDT × The `Pretty Woman,` actor has been using her Instagram spread awareness about voting. America goes to vote on November 3.

Julia Roberts turns 53, makes a 'Notting Hill' reference as she urges fans to vote

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