After a civil debate, the Vice President Mike Pence and Senator Kamala Harris received a lot of comments — positive and negative — on the internet.

Majority viewers agreed on various social media platforms that the fly photo-bombing on Pence's head was the highlight of the debate from pence's area. However, Harris' uncle,&nbsp;Balachandran Gopalan, talked instead about the albatross around Pence's neck.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/internet-goes-berserk-after-errant-housefly-on-pences-head-photobombs-vp-debate-333508">Also read|&nbsp;Internet goes berserk after errant housefly on Pence's head photobombs VP debate</a>

Gopalan is Indian-origin Kamal Harris' uncle and has been a proud supporter of the running mate of Biden. Today, after the debate, while everyone was talking about the fly, Gopalan said he felt sorry for Pence.&nbsp;

He believes his relative had an upper hand in judiciary due to her professional background and also on the subject of the pandemic as she belongs to a party which has not been blamed for mishandling the pandemic.

"I felt a little sorry for Pence. You can't ask about the judiciary — she was on the judiciary committee, was attorney general, on Black Lives Matter she's an expert, on the pandemic, he's on weak ground," Gopalan said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/shut-him-up-celebrities-show-support-as-vice-president-mike-pence-takes-on-kamala-harris-333435">Also read|&nbsp;'Shut him up': Celebrities show support as Vice President Mike Pence takes on Kamala Harris</a>

Talking about how this debate was different than the first Presidential debate, Gopalan also pointed out that people expected a lot from the Senator.&nbsp;"Expectations were too much of Kamala — 'she'll wipe the floor', etc. But Pence has also been a Congressman knows how to debate. But Pence has an albatross around his neck — and that's Trump," he said.

Gopalan is Harris' mother Shyamala Gopalan's brother and lives in India's capital city New Delhi.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/next-us-presidential-debate-to-be-virtual-trump-says-wont-participate-333504">Also read|&nbsp;Next US Presidential debate to be 'virtual'; Trump says won't 'participate'</a>

Recalling Harris' mother, Gopalan said Shyamala would have been proud of Kamala Harris after today's debate and also talked about how she takes on her mother but in a kinder way. "Her mother would have been happy for Kamala," he said. "Although maybe Shyamala was far more impatient than Kamala at times," he added. "I wouldn't be surprised if Shyamala was the debater or in the audience -- she would have said 'what rubbish are you talking, vice-president'. But Kamala was kinder."

Kamala, 55-year-old,&nbsp;was born in California in 1964 to a Jamaican father, economics professor John Harris, and breast cancer specialist Shyamala Gopalan.

Meanwhile the internet has appreciated Harris' stand against Pence interrupting her during her time to speak.

After a civil debate, the Vice President Mike Pence and Senator Kamala Harris received a lot of comments — positive and negative — on the internet. Majority viewers agreed on various social media platforms that the fly photo-bombing on Pence's head was the highlight of the debate from pence's area.

After a civil debate, the Vice President Mike Pence and Senator Kamala Harris received a lot of comments — positive and negative — on the internet. Majority viewers agreed on various social media platforms that the fly photo-bombing on Pence's head was the highlight of the debate from pence's area. However, Harris' uncle, Balachandran Gopalan, talked instead about the albatross around Pence's neck. Also read| Internet goes berserk after errant housefly on Pence's head photobombs VP debate Gopalan is Indian-origin Kamal Harris' uncle and has been a proud supporter of the running mate of Biden. Today, after the debate, while everyone was talking about the fly, Gopalan said he felt sorry for Pence. He believes his relative had an upper hand in judiciary due to her professional background and also on the subject of the pandemic as she belongs to a party which has not been blamed for mishandling the pandemic. "I felt a little sorry for Pence. You can't ask about the judiciary — she was on the judiciary committee, was attorney general, on Black Lives Matter she's an expert, on the pandemic, he's on weak ground," Gopalan said. Also read| 'Shut him up': Celebrities show support as Vice President Mike Pence takes on Kamala Harris Talking about how this debate was different than the first Presidential debate, Gopalan also pointed out that people expected a lot from the Senator. "Expectations were too much of Kamala — 'she'll wipe the floor', etc. But Pence has also been a Congressman knows how to debate. But Pence has an albatross around his neck — and that's Trump," he said. Gopalan is Harris' mother Shyamala Gopalan's brother and lives in India's capital city New Delhi. Also read| Next US Presidential debate to be 'virtual'; Trump says won't 'participate' Recalling Harris' mother, Gopalan said Shyamala would have been proud of Kamala Harris after today's debate and also talked about how she takes on her mother but in a kinder way. "Her mother would have been happy for Kamala," he said. "Although maybe Shyamala was far more impatient than Kamala at times," he added. "I wouldn't be surprised if Shyamala was the debater or in the audience -- she would have said 'what rubbish are you talking, vice-president'. But Kamala was kinder." Kamala, 55-year-old, was born in California in 1964 to a Jamaican father, economics professor John Harris, and breast cancer specialist Shyamala Gopalan. Meanwhile the internet has appreciated Harris' stand against Pence interrupting her during her time to speak.

Trump is albatross around Pence's neck: Kamala Harris' uncle comments after VP debate

&nbsp;

The social media giant Facebook has decided to stop all political and social ad campaigns after the US polls close on November 03.

Facebook had earlier declared that the platform will not be entertaining or allowing any political ad campaigns near the upcoming <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/us-election">US elections</a>. However, a fixed timeline was not revealed at that time.

Now, the decision has been announced explaining that in addition to the political campaigns, all ads created to social issues will also face the ban.&nbsp;

<a href="wionews.com/world/six-takeaways-from-the-vice-presidential-debate-333402">Also read:&nbsp;Six takeaways from the vice-presidential debate</a>

In addition to this, if any political party claims victory or predicts results before the the administration or main media houses release the result, Facebook will be adding additional notices around those posts.

"If a candidate or party declares premature victory before a race is called by major media outlets, we will add more specific information in the notifications that counting is still in progress and no winner has been determined," said vice president of integrity Guy Rosen.

The decision has been taken as an extension of the careful approach that various social media platforms such as Twitter and&nbsp;Facebook have adopted for the past few months in respect to the misinformation being spread about the US elections.

Facebook's decision to suspend all such posts is&nbsp;being read as an effort to curb President Trump's warning of not coooperating during the transition of power if he loses the elections.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/next-us-presidential-debate-to-be-virtual-trump-says-wont-participate-333504">Also read:&nbsp;Next US Presidential debate to be 'virtual'; Trump says won't 'participate'</a>

"We will remove statements of intent or advocacy to go to an election site with military language," the&nbsp;vice president of content policy Monika Bickert.

"We will also remove calls to go to polls to monitor if it involves exerting control or showing power."

This decision has come after Facebook actively banned the posts that urged citizens to head out and cast their votes, as the social media platform said it sends out a wrong message with respect to the existing COVID-19 guidelines of staying indoors.

Facebook has also revealed that the platform has removed nearly 120,000 posts on Facebook and Instagram that were spreading the wrong information and and has added warning labels on more than 150 million posts on Facebook.

The platform is also redirecting people to voting information centre that has been set up by facebook and has, till now, helped nearly 2.5 million people register to vote.

The experts at Facebook are also prepared to spot, identify and kill the posts and content that can go viral and result in acivil unrest.

Nick Clegg, a former deputy British prime minister who is Facebook's head of global affairs, said recently that the social platform could take exceptional steps to "restrict the circulation of content" in case of turmoil.

"There are some break-glass options available to us if there really is an extremely chaotic and, worse still, violent set of circumstances," Clegg said,

The social media giant Facebook has decided to stop all political and social ad campaigns after the US polls close on November 03. Facebook had earlier declared that the platform will not be entertaining or allowing any political ad campaigns near the upcoming US elections.

The social media giant Facebook has decided to stop all political and social ad campaigns after the US polls close on November 03. Facebook had earlier declared that the platform will not be entertaining or allowing any political ad campaigns near the upcoming US elections. However, a fixed timeline was not revealed at that time. Now, the decision has been announced explaining that in addition to the political campaigns, all ads created to social issues will also face the ban. Also read: Six takeaways from the vice-presidential debate In addition to this, if any political party claims victory or predicts results before the the administration or main media houses release the result, Facebook will be adding additional notices around those posts. "If a candidate or party declares premature victory before a race is called by major media outlets, we will add more specific information in the notifications that counting is still in progress and no winner has been determined," said vice president of integrity Guy Rosen. The decision has been taken as an extension of the careful approach that various social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook have adopted for the past few months in respect to the misinformation being spread about the US elections. Facebook's decision to suspend all such posts is being read as an effort to curb President Trump's warning of not coooperating during the transition of power if he loses the elections. Also read: Next US Presidential debate to be 'virtual'; Trump says won't 'participate' "We will remove statements of intent or advocacy to go to an election site with military language," the vice president of content policy Monika Bickert. "We will also remove calls to go to polls to monitor if it involves exerting control or showing power." This decision has come after Facebook actively banned the posts that urged citizens to head out and cast their votes, as the social media platform said it sends out a wrong message with respect to the existing COVID-19 guidelines of staying indoors. Facebook has also revealed that the platform has removed nearly 120,000 posts on Facebook and Instagram that were spreading the wrong information and and has added warning labels on more than 150 million posts on Facebook. The platform is also redirecting people to voting information centre that has been set up by facebook and has, till now, helped nearly 2.5 million people register to vote. The experts at Facebook are also prepared to spot, identify and kill the posts and content that can go viral and result in acivil unrest. Nick Clegg, a former deputy British prime minister who is Facebook's head of global affairs, said recently that the social platform could take exceptional steps to "restrict the circulation of content" in case of turmoil. "There are some break-glass options available to us if there really is an extremely chaotic and, worse still, violent set of circumstances," Clegg said,

Facebook to ban political ads after US election poll ends to curb fake news

Calling Iran, China and Russia as "leading influencers", White House in Wednesday expressed its concerns over the hacking of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/us-election">2020 presidential election </a>in the United States

"My biggest concern on something that can happen on the Election Day - hackers hacking to the Secretary of State website to change vote totals," White House National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien said, as quoted by Sputnik News.&nbsp;

Also read&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="US Vice-Presidential debate: Kamala Harris blasts Trump govt for 'greatest failure' over COVID-19 pandemic">US Vice-Presidential debate: Kamala Harris blasts Trump govt for 'greatest failure' over COVID-19 pandemic</a>

He also described Russia, China and Iran as "leading influencers" on the presidential election.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-says-china-will-pay-big-price-for-coronavirus-outbreak-333368">Donald Trump says China will pay 'big price' for coronavirus outbreak</a>

In early September, Microsoft unveiled a report which accused Russia, China and Iran of causing cyberattacks to target individuals and organisations who are related to the US election.&nbsp;

"In recent weeks, Microsoft has detected cyberattacks targeting people and organisations involved in the upcoming presidential election, including unsuccessful attacks on people associated with both the Trump and Biden campaigns," said Microsoft's corporate vice president Tom Burt.

The tech giant also said staff from the campaigns of President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;and Democratic nominee <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden </a>have also been targetted.&nbsp;

"The activity we are announcing today makes clear that foreign activity groups have stepped up their efforts targeting the 2020 election as had been anticipated, and is consistent with what the US government and others have reported," Burt added.&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

Calling Iran, China and Russia as "leading influencers", White House in Wednesday expressed its concerns over the hacking of 2020 presidential election in the United States "My biggest concern on something that can happen on the Election Day - hackers hacking to the Secretary of State website to change vote totals," White House National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien said, as quoted by Sputnik News.

Calling Iran, China and Russia as "leading influencers", White House in Wednesday expressed its concerns over the hacking of 2020 presidential election in the United States "My biggest concern on something that can happen on the Election Day - hackers hacking to the Secretary of State website to change vote totals," White House National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien said, as quoted by Sputnik News. Also read | US Vice-Presidential debate: Kamala Harris blasts Trump govt for 'greatest failure' over COVID-19 pandemic He also described Russia, China and Iran as "leading influencers" on the presidential election. Also read | Donald Trump says China will pay 'big price' for coronavirus outbreak In early September, Microsoft unveiled a report which accused Russia, China and Iran of causing cyberattacks to target individuals and organisations who are related to the US election. "In recent weeks, Microsoft has detected cyberattacks targeting people and organisations involved in the upcoming presidential election, including unsuccessful attacks on people associated with both the Trump and Biden campaigns," said Microsoft's corporate vice president Tom Burt. The tech giant also said staff from the campaigns of President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden have also been targetted. "The activity we are announcing today makes clear that foreign activity groups have stepped up their efforts targeting the 2020 election as had been anticipated, and is consistent with what the US government and others have reported," Burt added.

US election 2020: White House official expresses concern over hacking on day of voting

Vice President Mike Pence and Sen. Kamala Harris sat a dozen feet apart Wednesday, separated by Plexiglas and an ideological chasm, for a 90-minute debate that for all the hype seems unlikely to affect the trajectory of presidential campaign.

Harris wanted to talk about President Donald Trump. Pence wanted to talk about Joe Biden. And neither had much interest in answering any of the questions posed by the moderator — or by the other candidate — leading to a mostly staid series of two-minute set pieces.

It was civil. It was conventional. It was not especially scintillating or revealing. But that was still a vast improvement over the unruly shout-out that Americans suffered through last week in the first presidential debate. It even felt normal — minus the Plexiglas plates erected onstage — as neither candidate focused on the most compelling news development in the nation: Trump’s contracting of the coronavirus, his hospitalization and return to the White House amid unanswered questions about the full nature of his medical status.

By the end of the night, the debate seemed a news cycle or a presidential tweet away from being forgotten, and for a Biden ticket that is ahead in the polls, that is welcome news. That is the first of six takeaways from the lone vice-presidential debate, with 27 days left until Election Day:

The race was not upended.&nbsp;

It was telling that a fly that landed on Pence’s head partway through the debate was among the biggest buzz generators of the night.

For all the high Democratic expectations around Harris and her past debate performances, she did not eviscerate Pence. As for Pence, he turned in an effective, dutiful, conservative case for Trump, the likes of which the president rarely articulates himself.

“There are things the campaigns can use from this,” said Matt Gorman, a Republican strategist. “But the trajectory of the race is in the same place it was 24 hours ago.”

And that trajectory is not good for Trump.

“Mike Pence threw snacks to his base but offered nothing substantive to gain ground,” said Jess O’Connell, a Democratic strategist.

Given the age of Biden, 77, and the fact that this would be a 74-year-old Trump’s final term, it is quite possible that clips from the debate could have a bigger impact on the 2024 race than on 2020.&nbsp;

Harris tried to keep 2020 as a referendum on Trump.&nbsp;

It is not often that the first lines of a debate will be among the most important, but the opening answer from Harris amounted to a succinct summary not just of her strategy for the next 90 minutes, but of the Democratic plan for the final four weeks of the race: “The American people have witnessed what is the greatest failure of any presidential administration in the history of our country.”

She was talking about the coronavirus. And looking straight into the camera, she delivered a devastating critique of the Trump administration’s handling of the pandemic, ticking off a series of blunt and brutal statistics: 210,000 dead, 7 million cases, one in five businesses closed and more than 30 million filing for unemployment.

Harris navigated the potentially tricky waters of attacking the administration without personalizing matters around a president still recovering from the virus.

She accused the administration of muzzling the truth (“They knew, and they covered it up”) and not having a clear path forward (“They still don’t have a plan. They still don’t have a plan”).

And that was just in her first two minutes, which she ended with an exclamation point: “This administration has forfeited their right to reelection.”

Pence had few strong answers, acknowledging the “very challenging time” the nation had been through while trying to focus on some of Trump’s early actions, like suspending travel from China. But his final thought in his first scripted answer was a swipe at Biden, saying that the Democratic plan for COVID-19 of looked “a little bit like plagiarism, which is something Joe Biden knows a little bit about."

It was a sign that …

… Pence wanted to make the election an ideological choice.

Pence was most comfortable on the economy and the traditional Republican message of cutting taxes and regulations, pitching the specifics of the Trump tax cuts in more granular and understandable detail than Trump managed in his own debate performance.

“The American economy — the American comeback is on the ballot,” Pence said.

Over and over, he redirected — sometimes smoothly and sometimes not — questions back to the Biden agenda. When Harris said that Biden would repeal the full Trump tax bill, he pounced, saying that doing so would hike taxes for many Americans ( Harris clarified with Biden’s pledge not to raise taxes on those earning less than $400,000 per year).

The point was not the specifics. It was to frame the election as a choice between competing visions, even if Pence intentionally sought to blur the differences between Harris’ own positions during the primary, such as embracing the Green New Deal and opposing fracking, with those of Biden, who has not taken those same positions.

When in doubt, Pence returned to economics. Such as when he was asked if climate change was an existential threat. Mr. Pence paused, dodged and pivoted to the safe space: “Once again, Sen. Harris is denying the fact that they’re going to raise taxes."

Sara Fagen, a Republican strategist and a former senior official in the George W. Bush White House, praised Pence’s economic focus. “He needed to make the case on the economy, and he’s effectively drawing a contrast between two economic visions for America,” she said.

&nbsp; 
Pence’s interruptions revealed the stage’s gender dynamics.

In the early stretches of the debate, Harris took an extended opportunity not just to defend Biden’s credentials but, step by step, to walk through her own: a former San Francisco district attorney, California attorney general, U.S. senator (“only the second Black woman”) and member of the Senate Intelligence Committee.

“Women always have overcompensate on résumé,” said Alexis Grenell, a Democratic strategist. “Men are evaluated based on potential, and women have to come with receipts. You can hear that in Kamala’s answer.”

There were other gender dynamics at play, including Pence’s regular interruptions.

“I’m speaking,” Harris pushed back at one point. “Mr. Vice President, I’m speaking,” she said at another. “He interrupted me, and I’d like to just finish, please,” she said a third time.

It was hard not to see the interjections and pushback refracted through the lens of gender in a contest where the outsize support of women is lifting the Democratic ticket.

Karen Finney, a Democratic strategist, said that Harris “clearly came prepared with strategies for Pence interrupting, talking over her and running over time.”

“She was no doubt aware of the various dynamics and need to thread the needle on balancing being assertive and letting certain attacks go at points so as not to be seen as 'angry’ or ‘overly aggressive,’ which are common sexist racist tropes about women.” said Finney, who was an adviser on Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign.

Pence, it should be noted, was the only man on the stage Wednesday, with Harris across from him and Susan Page, the Washington bureau chief of USA Today, serving as moderator.

Harris got tangled up on the courts

The weakest moment of the night for Harris came on the courts, when Pence challenged her directly to answer whether she and Biden would endorse expanding the Supreme Court if Trump’s nominee for the current vacancy, Amy Coney Barrett, was seated.

Harris dodged. Pence called her out. And Harris dodged some more.

Pence declared at the end of a squirm-worthy segment: “You gave a non-answer. Joe Biden gave a non-answer. The straight answer is, they are going to pack the Supreme Court if they somehow win this election.”

The Biden campaign has clearly decreed that not answering this question — the former vice president has evaded it himself — is more politically palatable than any actual answer it might give. And on Wednesday night, that put Harris in a bind.

“She will be in media trainings as an example of what not to do when avoiding a question,” said Gorman, the Republican strategist.

With four weeks until the election — and upcoming Supreme Court confirming hearings — it is not clear how long the dodge will remain more tenable than an answer.

Harris eventually returned to familiar and safer ground when it comes to the courts: the Trump administration’s lawsuit seeking to unwind the Affordable Care Act. She turned to the camera to accuse Trump of trying to gut it “literally in the midst of a public health pandemic.”

Pence and Harris spar on race and racial justice.

Harris’ mere presence onstage — the first woman of color on a major party ticket — was a statement in and of itself, an accomplishment Pence acknowledged directly by congratulating her on the “the historic nature of your nomination.”

Still, Pence sought to undercut Harris’ credentials and appeal to Black voters, accusing her of prosecuting more African Americans than whites and saying she did not “lift a finger” for a criminal justice bill that Trump eventually signed.

He elided the inconsistencies of making that argument moments after he had said that it would be an “great insult” to say America was “systemically racist” or that law enforcement officers have an “implicit bias.”

Harris forcefully defended her record. “I will not sit here and be lectured by the vice president on what it means to enforce the laws of our country,” she said.

The two candidates also differed on whether there had been justice for Breonna Taylor, the Black woman who was killed in her home in Louisville, Kentucky, during a police raid. “I don’t believe so,” Harris said. “I trust our justice system,” Pence said of a grand jury decision not to press further charges.

It was a disagreement — but, like much of the night, an expected and uneventful one.

Vice President Mike Pence and Sen. Kamala Harris sat a dozen feet apart Wednesday, separated by Plexiglas and an ideological chasm, for a 90-minute debate that for all the hype seems unlikely to affect the trajectory of presidential campaign.

Vice President Mike Pence and Sen. Kamala Harris sat a dozen feet apart Wednesday, separated by Plexiglas and an ideological chasm, for a 90-minute debate that for all the hype seems unlikely to affect the trajectory of presidential campaign. Harris wanted to talk about President Donald Trump. Pence wanted to talk about Joe Biden. And neither had much interest in answering any of the questions posed by the moderator — or by the other candidate — leading to a mostly staid series of two-minute set pieces. It was civil. It was conventional. It was not especially scintillating or revealing. But that was still a vast improvement over the unruly shout-out that Americans suffered through last week in the first presidential debate. It even felt normal — minus the Plexiglas plates erected onstage — as neither candidate focused on the most compelling news development in the nation: Trump’s contracting of the coronavirus, his hospitalization and return to the White House amid unanswered questions about the full nature of his medical status. By the end of the night, the debate seemed a news cycle or a presidential tweet away from being forgotten, and for a Biden ticket that is ahead in the polls, that is welcome news. That is the first of six takeaways from the lone vice-presidential debate, with 27 days left until Election Day: The race was not upended. It was telling that a fly that landed on Pence’s head partway through the debate was among the biggest buzz generators of the night. For all the high Democratic expectations around Harris and her past debate performances, she did not eviscerate Pence. As for Pence, he turned in an effective, dutiful, conservative case for Trump, the likes of which the president rarely articulates himself. “There are things the campaigns can use from this,” said Matt Gorman, a Republican strategist. “But the trajectory of the race is in the same place it was 24 hours ago.” And that trajectory is not good for Trump. “Mike Pence threw snacks to his base but offered nothing substantive to gain ground,” said Jess O’Connell, a Democratic strategist. Given the age of Biden, 77, and the fact that this would be a 74-year-old Trump’s final term, it is quite possible that clips from the debate could have a bigger impact on the 2024 race than on 2020. Harris tried to keep 2020 as a referendum on Trump. It is not often that the first lines of a debate will be among the most important, but the opening answer from Harris amounted to a succinct summary not just of her strategy for the next 90 minutes, but of the Democratic plan for the final four weeks of the race: “The American people have witnessed what is the greatest failure of any presidential administration in the history of our country.” She was talking about the coronavirus. And looking straight into the camera, she delivered a devastating critique of the Trump administration’s handling of the pandemic, ticking off a series of blunt and brutal statistics: 210,000 dead, 7 million cases, one in five businesses closed and more than 30 million filing for unemployment. Harris navigated the potentially tricky waters of attacking the administration without personalizing matters around a president still recovering from the virus. She accused the administration of muzzling the truth (“They knew, and they covered it up”) and not having a clear path forward (“They still don’t have a plan. They still don’t have a plan”). And that was just in her first two minutes, which she ended with an exclamation point: “This administration has forfeited their right to reelection.” Pence had few strong answers, acknowledging the “very challenging time” the nation had been through while trying to focus on some of Trump’s early actions, like suspending travel from China. But his final thought in his first scripted answer was a swipe at Biden, saying that the Democratic plan for COVID-19 of looked “a little bit like plagiarism, which is something Joe Biden knows a little bit about." It was a sign that … … Pence wanted to make the election an ideological choice. Pence was most comfortable on the economy and the traditional Republican message of cutting taxes and regulations, pitching the specifics of the Trump tax cuts in more granular and understandable detail than Trump managed in his own debate performance. “The American economy — the American comeback is on the ballot,” Pence said. Over and over, he redirected — sometimes smoothly and sometimes not — questions back to the Biden agenda. When Harris said that Biden would repeal the full Trump tax bill, he pounced, saying that doing so would hike taxes for many Americans ( Harris clarified with Biden’s pledge not to raise taxes on those earning less than $400,000 per year). The point was not the specifics. It was to frame the election as a choice between competing visions, even if Pence intentionally sought to blur the differences between Harris’ own positions during the primary, such as embracing the Green New Deal and opposing fracking, with those of Biden, who has not taken those same positions. When in doubt, Pence returned to economics. Such as when he was asked if climate change was an existential threat. Mr. Pence paused, dodged and pivoted to the safe space: “Once again, Sen. Harris is denying the fact that they’re going to raise taxes." Sara Fagen, a Republican strategist and a former senior official in the George W. Bush White House, praised Pence’s economic focus. “He needed to make the case on the economy, and he’s effectively drawing a contrast between two economic visions for America,” she said. Pence’s interruptions revealed the stage’s gender dynamics. In the early stretches of the debate, Harris took an extended opportunity not just to defend Biden’s credentials but, step by step, to walk through her own: a former San Francisco district attorney, California attorney general, U.S. senator (“only the second Black woman”) and member of the Senate Intelligence Committee. “Women always have overcompensate on résumé,” said Alexis Grenell, a Democratic strategist. “Men are evaluated based on potential, and women have to come with receipts. You can hear that in Kamala’s answer.” There were other gender dynamics at play, including Pence’s regular interruptions. “I’m speaking,” Harris pushed back at one point. “Mr. Vice President, I’m speaking,” she said at another. “He interrupted me, and I’d like to just finish, please,” she said a third time. It was hard not to see the interjections and pushback refracted through the lens of gender in a contest where the outsize support of women is lifting the Democratic ticket. Karen Finney, a Democratic strategist, said that Harris “clearly came prepared with strategies for Pence interrupting, talking over her and running over time.” “She was no doubt aware of the various dynamics and need to thread the needle on balancing being assertive and letting certain attacks go at points so as not to be seen as 'angry’ or ‘overly aggressive,’ which are common sexist racist tropes about women.” said Finney, who was an adviser on Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign. Pence, it should be noted, was the only man on the stage Wednesday, with Harris across from him and Susan Page, the Washington bureau chief of USA Today, serving as moderator. Harris got tangled up on the courts The weakest moment of the night for Harris came on the courts, when Pence challenged her directly to answer whether she and Biden would endorse expanding the Supreme Court if Trump’s nominee for the current vacancy, Amy Coney Barrett, was seated. Harris dodged. Pence called her out. And Harris dodged some more. Pence declared at the end of a squirm-worthy segment: “You gave a non-answer. Joe Biden gave a non-answer. The straight answer is, they are going to pack the Supreme Court if they somehow win this election.” The Biden campaign has clearly decreed that not answering this question — the former vice president has evaded it himself — is more politically palatable than any actual answer it might give. And on Wednesday night, that put Harris in a bind. “She will be in media trainings as an example of what not to do when avoiding a question,” said Gorman, the Republican strategist. With four weeks until the election — and upcoming Supreme Court confirming hearings — it is not clear how long the dodge will remain more tenable than an answer. Harris eventually returned to familiar and safer ground when it comes to the courts: the Trump administration’s lawsuit seeking to unwind the Affordable Care Act. She turned to the camera to accuse Trump of trying to gut it “literally in the midst of a public health pandemic.” Pence and Harris spar on race and racial justice. Harris’ mere presence onstage — the first woman of color on a major party ticket — was a statement in and of itself, an accomplishment Pence acknowledged directly by congratulating her on the “the historic nature of your nomination.” Still, Pence sought to undercut Harris’ credentials and appeal to Black voters, accusing her of prosecuting more African Americans than whites and saying she did not “lift a finger” for a criminal justice bill that Trump eventually signed. He elided the inconsistencies of making that argument moments after he had said that it would be an “great insult” to say America was “systemically racist” or that law enforcement officers have an “implicit bias.” Harris forcefully defended her record. “I will not sit here and be lectured by the vice president on what it means to enforce the laws of our country,” she said. The two candidates also differed on whether there had been justice for Breonna Taylor, the Black woman who was killed in her home in Louisville, Kentucky, during a police raid. “I don’t believe so,” Harris said. “I trust our justice system,” Pence said of a grand jury decision not to press further charges. It was a disagreement — but, like much of the night, an expected and uneventful one.

Six takeaways from the vice-presidential debate

Donald Trump's ex-counselor & close aide Kellyanne Conway tested positive along with her 15-year-old daughter Claudia Conway. Now, a remark made by Claudia Conway on President's White House return, has taken over social media platforms like a storm.

A 15-year-old Whistleblower?

With no clarity over Donald Trump's campaign plans, Joe Biden is dominating the campaign game. The democratic challenger took his campaign to the key swing state Florida which had flipped from blue to red in 2016. Can Joe Biden 'swing' Florida back to blue?

US Election 2020: Joe Biden woos a key Trump bloc in Florida

President Donald Trump on Tuesday called an abrupt end to negotiations with Democrats over additional COVID-19 relief

US President Donald Trump halts COVID-19 relief talks

HARRIS vs PENCE showdown comes with the highest stakes for a Vice Presidential Debate in modern history. Kamala Harris is the 1st Jamaican-Indian woman to participate in a presidential election campaign in the U.S history. WION tells you moments to look out for.

US Election 2020: Harris & Pence prepare for a historic clash

WASHINGTON — Four years ago, when Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia faced off against Mike Pence at the vice-presidential debate, the encounter put two drastically different debate styles on display: Pence came across as mild-mannered and more formal while Kaine, a litigator by training, was more of an attack dog, with a tendency to interrupt and talk over Pence. Even as Pence made little effort to directly rebut attacks against Donald Trump, Kaine tried at nearly every turn to offer praise for his running mate, Hillary Clinton.

Ahead of this year’s vice-presidential debate Wednesday between Sen. Kamala Harris of California and Pence, The New York Times spoke to Kaine about what Harris should expect, how the news of Trump’s coronavirus diagnosis might affect the vice president and whether Kaine is offering Harris any advice.

The following is an edited and condensed version of the conversation, which was conducted Friday, after Trump announced he had tested positive for the coronavirus but before he was hospitalized.

Q: How does Harris prepare for a debate now in this environment, with the news that Trump has tested positive for the coronavirus?

A: Does it make the debate more important? Does it make the debate less important because people won’t be thinking about the vice-presidential debate? It’s hard to say.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kamala-harris-and-mike-pence-debate-what-to-watch-for-333064">Also read|&nbsp;Kamala Harris and Mike Pence debate: What to watch for</a>

The 2016 debate, there was no incumbent. So both tickets were basically Hillary and Donald Trump wanting to be president and each ticket making the case, “If we succeed, here’s what we want to do, here’s why you should elect us.”

When you have an incumbent, the debate is heavily about, “OK, well, you had a chance, what did you do?” It’s the Ronald Reagan question of Jimmy Carter in 1980, where he looks the American public in the face: “Are you better off than you were four years ago?”

So that makes this debate different — both the presidential and vice-presidential debates. It’s not just about, ‘Well, here’s what we’re going to do.’ The Trump-Pence administration has a record. And one of the most top-of-mind pieces of the record is 210,000 people dead and millions having lost their jobs under the Trump administration. And he (Trump) asked Mike Pence on Feb. 26: “Be the head of our coronavirus task force. Lead this effort for the United States.” I would venture to say that that role is the most important role that Pence has ever had in his life, even more than the title of vice president.

So Trump, and the administration more generally, having downplayed this — “it’s a hoax, it’s going to go away soon, we have it under control, any American can get a test” — undercutting scientists like Dr. Fauci over and over and over again, the catastrophic failure of the United States relative to other nations and dealing with both the health crisis and then the economic devastation that resulted from it, that is really square. And it was squarely on the table in the presidential debate, and it’s going to be squarely on the table in the vice-presidential debate because it’s top of mind for everybody, because Pence was asked to assume a leadership role. And now because the president, who undermined all the science all the way along and said it was a hoax or wasn’t a big problem, has now been diagnosed.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kamala-harris-a-disco-dancing-teenager-yearned-for-home-in-canada-332767">Also read|&nbsp;Kamala Harris, a disco-dancing teenager, yearned for home in Canada</a>

Q: What is it like debating Pence? What advice are you going to give to Harris?

A: I’ll answer the first question, not the second one because we’re in conversation about advice, but why would I make that public?

Pence is a professional communicator. He was a radio talk show host before he was in politics, so he can deliver a line. And, I think it’s frustrating when you’re onstage with somebody who’s delivering a line that’s false. But he does it — he can do it very, very well.

Now, Kamala’s good. She’s a prosecutor, and she has evidence to argue. When she was in court back in the day, she would have to argue the evidence. She’s got a lot of evidence to argue. But the vice president is a trained communicator who can look in a camera and basically say anything, even if it’s contrary to the facts, and say it as if he believes it.

Q: I know you aren’t going to discuss the advice you are giving, but has Harris called you for advice or have you spoken about ——

A: Yes.

Q: Multiple times? Or how often?

A: We have communicated — and I’ll just use that phrase more broadly — communicated one-on-one. And our staffs have talked a number of times, and we’re not done.

Q: Given that, as you said, Pence is a professional communicator, does this kind of huge news — in your experience — does he get rattled by it? Is he going to stay the course? What do you think this does for him?

A: My prediction is — he has done nothing but be a wonderful salesman for Donald Trump and then talk about how great Donald Trump is going to be; he’s going to do that same thing. At the debate, he will be praising his boss over and over again. He stands next to Donald Trump and smiles and nods and talks about how fantastic he is, and he’ll do that at the debate. The challenge for him is, how can you do that without it going in a completely discordant way with Americans who are suffering?

Q: One more question and this one is not about the debate. What do you think Joe Biden and the campaign should do at this point, in terms of their schedule? How do you campaign in this environment?

A: They need to do what they’ve already done, which is be smart about being safe, keeping their staff safe and keeping voters safe. But they also need to be aggressive in getting around the country, following good safety rules. And I suspect that they’re going to do that.

This is not a hiatus of the campaign. No. We’re in the closing stretch of the campaign, and they’ve got to be aggressively campaigning. But the good news is, they will only do it in a way that is mindful of their own safety and the safety of everybody around them.

WASHINGTON — Four years ago, when Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia faced off against Mike Pence at the vice-presidential debate, the encounter put two drastically different debate styles on display: Pence came across as mild-mannered and more formal while Kaine, a litigator by training, was more of an attack dog, with a tendency to interrupt and talk over Pence.

WASHINGTON — Four years ago, when Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia faced off against Mike Pence at the vice-presidential debate, the encounter put two drastically different debate styles on display: Pence came across as mild-mannered and more formal while Kaine, a litigator by training, was more of an attack dog, with a tendency to interrupt and talk over Pence. Even as Pence made little effort to directly rebut attacks against Donald Trump, Kaine tried at nearly every turn to offer praise for his running mate, Hillary Clinton. Ahead of this year’s vice-presidential debate Wednesday between Sen. Kamala Harris of California and Pence, The New York Times spoke to Kaine about what Harris should expect, how the news of Trump’s coronavirus diagnosis might affect the vice president and whether Kaine is offering Harris any advice. The following is an edited and condensed version of the conversation, which was conducted Friday, after Trump announced he had tested positive for the coronavirus but before he was hospitalized. Q: How does Harris prepare for a debate now in this environment, with the news that Trump has tested positive for the coronavirus? A: Does it make the debate more important? Does it make the debate less important because people won’t be thinking about the vice-presidential debate? It’s hard to say. Also read| Kamala Harris and Mike Pence debate: What to watch for The 2016 debate, there was no incumbent. So both tickets were basically Hillary and Donald Trump wanting to be president and each ticket making the case, “If we succeed, here’s what we want to do, here’s why you should elect us.” When you have an incumbent, the debate is heavily about, “OK, well, you had a chance, what did you do?” It’s the Ronald Reagan question of Jimmy Carter in 1980, where he looks the American public in the face: “Are you better off than you were four years ago?” So that makes this debate different — both the presidential and vice-presidential debates. It’s not just about, ‘Well, here’s what we’re going to do.’ The Trump-Pence administration has a record. And one of the most top-of-mind pieces of the record is 210,000 people dead and millions having lost their jobs under the Trump administration. And he (Trump) asked Mike Pence on Feb. 26: “Be the head of our coronavirus task force. Lead this effort for the United States.” I would venture to say that that role is the most important role that Pence has ever had in his life, even more than the title of vice president. So Trump, and the administration more generally, having downplayed this — “it’s a hoax, it’s going to go away soon, we have it under control, any American can get a test” — undercutting scientists like Dr. Fauci over and over and over again, the catastrophic failure of the United States relative to other nations and dealing with both the health crisis and then the economic devastation that resulted from it, that is really square. And it was squarely on the table in the presidential debate, and it’s going to be squarely on the table in the vice-presidential debate because it’s top of mind for everybody, because Pence was asked to assume a leadership role. And now because the president, who undermined all the science all the way along and said it was a hoax or wasn’t a big problem, has now been diagnosed. Also read| Kamala Harris, a disco-dancing teenager, yearned for home in Canada Q: What is it like debating Pence? What advice are you going to give to Harris? A: I’ll answer the first question, not the second one because we’re in conversation about advice, but why would I make that public? Pence is a professional communicator. He was a radio talk show host before he was in politics, so he can deliver a line. And, I think it’s frustrating when you’re onstage with somebody who’s delivering a line that’s false. But he does it — he can do it very, very well. Now, Kamala’s good. She’s a prosecutor, and she has evidence to argue. When she was in court back in the day, she would have to argue the evidence. She’s got a lot of evidence to argue. But the vice president is a trained communicator who can look in a camera and basically say anything, even if it’s contrary to the facts, and say it as if he believes it. Q: I know you aren’t going to discuss the advice you are giving, but has Harris called you for advice or have you spoken about —— A: Yes. Q: Multiple times? Or how often? A: We have communicated — and I’ll just use that phrase more broadly — communicated one-on-one. And our staffs have talked a number of times, and we’re not done. Q: Given that, as you said, Pence is a professional communicator, does this kind of huge news — in your experience — does he get rattled by it? Is he going to stay the course? What do you think this does for him? A: My prediction is — he has done nothing but be a wonderful salesman for Donald Trump and then talk about how great Donald Trump is going to be; he’s going to do that same thing. At the debate, he will be praising his boss over and over again. He stands next to Donald Trump and smiles and nods and talks about how fantastic he is, and he’ll do that at the debate. The challenge for him is, how can you do that without it going in a completely discordant way with Americans who are suffering? Q: One more question and this one is not about the debate. What do you think Joe Biden and the campaign should do at this point, in terms of their schedule? How do you campaign in this environment? A: They need to do what they’ve already done, which is be smart about being safe, keeping their staff safe and keeping voters safe. But they also need to be aggressive in getting around the country, following good safety rules. And I suspect that they’re going to do that. This is not a hiatus of the campaign. No. We’re in the closing stretch of the campaign, and they’ve got to be aggressively campaigning. But the good news is, they will only do it in a way that is mindful of their own safety and the safety of everybody around them.

Tim Kaine on what it's like to debate Mike Pence

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/around-40-nations-rebuke-chinas-human-rights-policies-in-xinjiang-tibet-333035">Around 40 nations rebuke China's human rights policies in Xinjiang, Tibet</a> 
 
<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/07/03/147950-uyghur-reuters.jpg?itok=xnik66d8" />

A cross-regional group of 39 United Nations member countries issued a stinging public rebuke on Tuesday of the Chinese government’s widespread human rights violations especially in Xinjiang and Tibet, and expressed grave concern at the impact of its new national security law on human rights in Hong Kong.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-warns-nagorno-karabakh-risks-becoming-islamist-militant-stronghold-333038">Russia warns Nagorno-Karabakh risks becoming Islamist militant stronghold</a> 
 
<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/10/05/163213-armenia1.jpg?itok=e8HRZHen" />

The Kremlin on Tuesday warned that Nagorno-Karabakh can become ''a launch pad for Islamist militants'' if the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict continues.Moscow expressed alarm after the deadliest fighting in more than 25 years between ethnic Armenian and Azeri forces entered a tenth day.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/exit-the-dragon-china-faces-heat-as-citizens-across-countries-increasingly-view-it-in-bad-light-333033">Exit the dragon: China faces heat as citizens across countries increasingly view it in bad light</a> 
 
<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/10/07/163458-jinping-final.jpg?itok=kfH0vmdS" />

China is known for its strong-arm military tactics as well as surreptitious economic maneuvers. But the end goal remains perfectly aligned with its objectives of dominance.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-spreads-among-trumps-inner-circle-top-white-house-aide-stephen-miller-tests-positive-333021">Coronavirus spreads among Trump’s inner circle, top White House aide Stephen Miller tests positive</a> 
 
<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2018/09/12/29792-white%25252520house%25252520%252528wikimedia%25252520commons%252529-20170929050046.JPG?itok=Oh0m9cLP" />

The top White house aide and a senior policy adviser to US President Donald Trump, Stephen Miller, tested positive for Covid-19, taking the number of White House staffers infected by the deadly virus to at least 10. 
&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/economic-fallout-of-pandemic-not-as-bad-as-feared-says-imf-chief-kristalina-georgieva-333036/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Around 40 nations rebuke China's human rights policies in Xinjiang, Tibet A cross-regional group of 39 United Nations member countries issued a stinging public rebuke on Tuesday of the Chinese government’s widespread human rights violations especially in Xinjiang and Tibet, and expressed grave concern at the impact of its new national security law on human rights in Hong Kong.

Around 40 nations rebuke China's human rights policies in Xinjiang, Tibet A cross-regional group of 39 United Nations member countries issued a stinging public rebuke on Tuesday of the Chinese government’s widespread human rights violations especially in Xinjiang and Tibet, and expressed grave concern at the impact of its new national security law on human rights in Hong Kong. Russia warns Nagorno-Karabakh risks becoming Islamist militant stronghold The Kremlin on Tuesday warned that Nagorno-Karabakh can become ''a launch pad for Islamist militants'' if the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict continues.Moscow expressed alarm after the deadliest fighting in more than 25 years between ethnic Armenian and Azeri forces entered a tenth day. Exit the dragon: China faces heat as citizens across countries increasingly view it in bad light China is known for its strong-arm military tactics as well as surreptitious economic maneuvers. But the end goal remains perfectly aligned with its objectives of dominance. Coronavirus spreads among Trump’s inner circle, top White House aide Stephen Miller tests positive The top White house aide and a senior policy adviser to US President Donald Trump, Stephen Miller, tested positive for Covid-19, taking the number of White House staffers infected by the deadly virus to at least 10.

Morning news brief: Covid in White House, 40 nations slam China over Xinjiang and more

The polls showed the former vice president ahead by 5 percentage points in Pennsylvania, matching the poll’s credibility interval.

US Election 2020: Reuters, Ipsos poll shows Biden leading in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin

After three nights at hospital, the strongly medicated Donald Trump stages a dramatic comeback to the White House with the remarkable NO-MASK photo-op. Trump's doctors claim that the President has no symptoms, no clarification on his retest or medical condition has been made.

US Election 2020: A remarkable comeback with mask removal

Michelle Obama is going after President Donald Trump in a scathing new video that accuses him of “willful mismanagement” of the coronavirus crisis and of racism.

Michelle Obama slams Donald Trump over willful mismanagement of Covid-19 crisis

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

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

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

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

Presidential endorsements started by the newspapers in US. Ahead of US Election 2020, Joe Biden backed by many major publications like Washington Post & New York Times.

US Election 2020: Joe Biden backed by major publications

The coronavirus’s rampage through America threw a spotlight on its failings — on the galling inequality, the fatal partisanship, the susceptibility to fiction and the way in which rugged individualism had curdled into plain old selfishness.

The coronavirus’s rampage through the White House has had the same effect. What we have seen over recent days is Donald Trump’s presidency in miniature, his worst traits distilled. Two in particular — mendacity and recklessness — are on especially unsettling display.

When exactly did the president get sick and precisely how sick did he get? That’s knowable, but we still don’t really know it. He’s in the hospital. We’re in the dark.

How many people might he have exposed to the coronavirus since first experiencing symptoms himself? We’re still plumbing that mystery. We’re still doing that tally.

What is clear amid all this defensive murkiness is that Trump’s dismissive attitude toward the virus became its accomplice, as his disdain for masks and perverse sense of invincibility translated into a packed calendar of events and blasé behavior by the people attending them that amounted to epidemiological suicide.

Illness isn’t illuminating him, not to judge by a stunt he pulled early Sunday evening, when he left Walter Reed National Military Medical Center briefly to ride past and wave at supporters outside. Although he wore a mask, “Every single person in the vehicle during that completely unnecessary Presidential ‘drive-by’ just now has to be quarantined for 14 days,” Dr. James P. Phillips, an attending physician at Walter Reed, wrote on Twitter. “They might get sick. They may die. For political theater. Commanded by Trump to put their lives at risk for theater. This is insanity.”

Reviewing the timeline of the president’s activities leading up to his positive coronavirus test, journalists have focused, for good reason, on the Rose Garden ceremony on Sept. 26 at which he introduced his latest Supreme Court nominee, Judge Amy Coney Barrett, to the nation. At least a half-dozen people who have tested positive for the coronavirus over the past few days were there, in a crowd where neither social distancing nor face covering was enforced. It may have been a superspreader event.

But the crazy part is that Trump’s next five days were a sequence of potential superspreader events, because his look-Ma-no-mask presidency is its own potential superspreader event: the rallies, the big convention speech outside the White House, the sessions of debate prep and the debate itself, at which the safety protocol decreed that everyone in the audience wear a mask.

Trump’s family members and Trump’s chief of staff did not and, according to the debate’s moderator, Chris Wallace, waved away an official from the Cleveland Clinic who offered masks to them. Wallace recounted that situation on “Fox News Sunday,” asking a Trump adviser if they think that “rules for everybody else” don’t apply to them.

Great question. With an obvious answer. They are trapped by their own denialism, which demands that they model the lack of concern that they push on voters, and they elevate looking undaunted over being smart, confidence over prudence, because that’s the administration’s way.

Besides, masks would have incensed Trump, who, based on his debate performance, needed to be cooled down, not fired up. As Annie Karni and Maggie Haberman reported in The New York Times, he created a “top-down culture of fear” about exhibiting any worry about infection. “If you wanted to make the boss happy,” Karni and Haberman wrote, “you left the mask at home.”

That’s a metaphor for a whole lot more. If you want to make the boss happy, you tell him that his inauguration drew many more people than it did. You tell him bad news is fake. You tell him the polls are off. You tell him Robert Mueller’s investigation is a hoax. You tell him that President Barack Obama spied on his campaign.

You become Attorney General Bill Barr, a one-man factory of exonerations and excuses. You abet his existence in an alternate reality, where the sun is always shining and will magically zap an inconvenient virus into oblivion.

Trump’s aides abetted him all the way to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, supplemental oxygen, steroids and remdesivir. In the course of making the boss happy, they helped make him sick.

A president’s diagnosis with a serious illness should be a moment of at least temporary conciliation, unity and healing, when political adversaries put away their weapons, journalists muffle their alarms and Americans say a public prayer for a speedy recovery.

But Trump’s path to this point and his manner at this point prevent that. They compel the telling of hard truths, because they’re so reflective of the mistakes made in battling this pandemic.

“What I hope is that what we have seen with the president is a cautionary tale for people” and that more of them “wear a mask to help other people,” one governor said publicly. That governor was a Republican, Mike DeWine of Ohio.

I’ve heard nothing yet from Trump or senior White House officials that suggests that necessary lessons have been learned — that a commitment to a new conscientiousness has been made. As of early Sunday evening, they’d offered absolutely no public information or assurances about contact tracing for all the people who’d attended Trump events recently or crossed paths with him.

On Saturday evening, Trump tweeted out a four-minute video in which he had the good grace to thank the medical professionals tending to him and the many Americans who’d sent kind wishes his way.

Nevertheless, he persisted in his irresponsibility. Instead of promoting mask wearing and proper social distancing — a message that would have had tremendous power, given the circumstances of its delivery — he defended all those crammed events of his, saying the alternative was sequestering himself upstairs in the White House and abdicating his duties.

“I had no choice,” he said, preposterously. There’s a middle ground between hiding out and a schedule that summons maskless throngs and dispenses with all caution. He just didn’t care to inhabit it.

And while he found no time in that video to discuss proper protection against the coronavirus, he did reassure Americans that medical advances, such as new treatments, would save the day. “They’re miracles, coming from God,” he said. That statement isn’t an incentive to behave better. It’s an invitation to nonchalance.

Early Sunday evening, he released another video, just over a minute long. Again, no mention of masks. No mention of social distancing. But lavish self-congratulation.

“We have enthusiasm like probably nobody has ever had — people that love the job we’re doing,” he said of his administration’s supporters. “We have more enthusiasm than maybe anybody.”

It’s certainly not the fruit of candor or transparency. He and his administration have demonstrated neither since the tweet in the wee hours of Friday morning when he told the world that he had the coronavirus.

Physicians and administration officials have contradicted one another. They have contradicted themselves. They have moved and muddled the timeline of his first symptoms and treatments. They have given us every reason to wonder about a cover-up and made calm impossible and trust a joke.

“What is the actual state of President Trump’s health — now and over the past 24 hours?” Jonathan Swan of Axios wrote late Saturday. “It’s one of the most high-stakes questions in the world, and I cannot answer it, despite having spent since 5 a.m. on Friday on my phone with sources inside and close to the White House.”

In fact, Swan added, some of those sources merely echoed and amplified his wonderment.

“They’re utterly perplexed about what’s going on,” he wrote. “They, like us, have little confidence in what they are being told.”

To my ears they’re not just talking about Trump’s current illness. They’re talking about his administration’s sickness from the start.

The coronavirus’s rampage through America threw a spotlight on its failings — on the galling inequality, the fatal partisanship, the susceptibility to fiction and the way in which rugged individualism had curdled into plain old selfishness.

The coronavirus’s rampage through America threw a spotlight on its failings — on the galling inequality, the fatal partisanship, the susceptibility to fiction and the way in which rugged individualism had curdled into plain old selfishness. The coronavirus’s rampage through the White House has had the same effect. What we have seen over recent days is Donald Trump’s presidency in miniature, his worst traits distilled. Two in particular — mendacity and recklessness — are on especially unsettling display. When exactly did the president get sick and precisely how sick did he get? That’s knowable, but we still don’t really know it. He’s in the hospital. We’re in the dark. How many people might he have exposed to the coronavirus since first experiencing symptoms himself? We’re still plumbing that mystery. We’re still doing that tally. What is clear amid all this defensive murkiness is that Trump’s dismissive attitude toward the virus became its accomplice, as his disdain for masks and perverse sense of invincibility translated into a packed calendar of events and blasé behavior by the people attending them that amounted to epidemiological suicide. Illness isn’t illuminating him, not to judge by a stunt he pulled early Sunday evening, when he left Walter Reed National Military Medical Center briefly to ride past and wave at supporters outside. Although he wore a mask, “Every single person in the vehicle during that completely unnecessary Presidential ‘drive-by’ just now has to be quarantined for 14 days,” Dr. James P. Phillips, an attending physician at Walter Reed, wrote on Twitter. “They might get sick. They may die. For political theater. Commanded by Trump to put their lives at risk for theater. This is insanity.” Reviewing the timeline of the president’s activities leading up to his positive coronavirus test, journalists have focused, for good reason, on the Rose Garden ceremony on Sept. 26 at which he introduced his latest Supreme Court nominee, Judge Amy Coney Barrett, to the nation. At least a half-dozen people who have tested positive for the coronavirus over the past few days were there, in a crowd where neither social distancing nor face covering was enforced. It may have been a superspreader event. But the crazy part is that Trump’s next five days were a sequence of potential superspreader events, because his look-Ma-no-mask presidency is its own potential superspreader event: the rallies, the big convention speech outside the White House, the sessions of debate prep and the debate itself, at which the safety protocol decreed that everyone in the audience wear a mask. Trump’s family members and Trump’s chief of staff did not and, according to the debate’s moderator, Chris Wallace, waved away an official from the Cleveland Clinic who offered masks to them. Wallace recounted that situation on “Fox News Sunday,” asking a Trump adviser if they think that “rules for everybody else” don’t apply to them. Great question. With an obvious answer. They are trapped by their own denialism, which demands that they model the lack of concern that they push on voters, and they elevate looking undaunted over being smart, confidence over prudence, because that’s the administration’s way. Besides, masks would have incensed Trump, who, based on his debate performance, needed to be cooled down, not fired up. As Annie Karni and Maggie Haberman reported in The New York Times, he created a “top-down culture of fear” about exhibiting any worry about infection. “If you wanted to make the boss happy,” Karni and Haberman wrote, “you left the mask at home.” That’s a metaphor for a whole lot more. If you want to make the boss happy, you tell him that his inauguration drew many more people than it did. You tell him bad news is fake. You tell him the polls are off. You tell him Robert Mueller’s investigation is a hoax. You tell him that President Barack Obama spied on his campaign. You become Attorney General Bill Barr, a one-man factory of exonerations and excuses. You abet his existence in an alternate reality, where the sun is always shining and will magically zap an inconvenient virus into oblivion. Trump’s aides abetted him all the way to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, supplemental oxygen, steroids and remdesivir. In the course of making the boss happy, they helped make him sick. A president’s diagnosis with a serious illness should be a moment of at least temporary conciliation, unity and healing, when political adversaries put away their weapons, journalists muffle their alarms and Americans say a public prayer for a speedy recovery. But Trump’s path to this point and his manner at this point prevent that. They compel the telling of hard truths, because they’re so reflective of the mistakes made in battling this pandemic. “What I hope is that what we have seen with the president is a cautionary tale for people” and that more of them “wear a mask to help other people,” one governor said publicly. That governor was a Republican, Mike DeWine of Ohio. I’ve heard nothing yet from Trump or senior White House officials that suggests that necessary lessons have been learned — that a commitment to a new conscientiousness has been made. As of early Sunday evening, they’d offered absolutely no public information or assurances about contact tracing for all the people who’d attended Trump events recently or crossed paths with him. On Saturday evening, Trump tweeted out a four-minute video in which he had the good grace to thank the medical professionals tending to him and the many Americans who’d sent kind wishes his way. Nevertheless, he persisted in his irresponsibility. Instead of promoting mask wearing and proper social distancing — a message that would have had tremendous power, given the circumstances of its delivery — he defended all those crammed events of his, saying the alternative was sequestering himself upstairs in the White House and abdicating his duties. “I had no choice,” he said, preposterously. There’s a middle ground between hiding out and a schedule that summons maskless throngs and dispenses with all caution. He just didn’t care to inhabit it. And while he found no time in that video to discuss proper protection against the coronavirus, he did reassure Americans that medical advances, such as new treatments, would save the day. “They’re miracles, coming from God,” he said. That statement isn’t an incentive to behave better. It’s an invitation to nonchalance. Early Sunday evening, he released another video, just over a minute long. Again, no mention of masks. No mention of social distancing. But lavish self-congratulation. “We have enthusiasm like probably nobody has ever had — people that love the job we’re doing,” he said of his administration’s supporters. “We have more enthusiasm than maybe anybody.” It’s certainly not the fruit of candor or transparency. He and his administration have demonstrated neither since the tweet in the wee hours of Friday morning when he told the world that he had the coronavirus. Physicians and administration officials have contradicted one another. They have contradicted themselves. They have moved and muddled the timeline of his first symptoms and treatments. They have given us every reason to wonder about a cover-up and made calm impossible and trust a joke. “What is the actual state of President Trump’s health — now and over the past 24 hours?” Jonathan Swan of Axios wrote late Saturday. “It’s one of the most high-stakes questions in the world, and I cannot answer it, despite having spent since 5 a.m. on Friday on my phone with sources inside and close to the White House.” In fact, Swan added, some of those sources merely echoed and amplified his wonderment. “They’re utterly perplexed about what’s going on,” he wrote. “They, like us, have little confidence in what they are being told.” To my ears they’re not just talking about Trump’s current illness. They’re talking about his administration’s sickness from the start.

A president in the hospital and a nation in the dark

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

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

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

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

Former first lady of the United States Michelle Obama has accused President Donald Trump of "willful mismanagement" of the coronavirus crisis and of racism in a scathing new video four weeks before election day November 3.

Donald Trump is a "racist" president whose strategy of fearmongering, division and promoting ugly conspiracy theories could "destroy" America if he is re-elected, the former first lady said Tuesday.

In a 24-minute video offering closing arguments for Democratic White House nominee Joe Biden, Obama described Trump and his Republican allies as unfairly "stoking fears" about African Americans.

Obama noted&nbsp;that more Americans have died from COVID-19 than those who died in the Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam and Korean wars combined. To her charade, she adds that "our commander in chief, sadly, has been missing in action."&nbsp;She also calls&nbsp;on all young and Black voters to not "waste" their votes.

Trump is "morally wrong" for taking actions that intimidate voters and for "lying" about how minorities will ruin US suburbs, she said.

"What the president is doing is once again patently false, it's morally wrong, and yes, it is racist," said the 56-year-old wife of Barack Obama, the nation's first black president.

But she warned such tactics have the potential to work, particularly because Americans lack the time and energy to fact-check everything being spread online or in US media.

"Because this is a difficult time, a confusing time, and when people hear these lies and crazy conspiracies repeated over and over and over again, they don't know what to think," she said.&nbsp;

"And the one thing this president is really, really good at is using fear and confusion, and spreading lies to win," Obama added.

Trump has declared himself the "law and order" president, and has repeatedly slammed protesters taking on racial injustice as violent extremists.

Obama's video targets a wide range of voters. Along with speaking to "black and brown folks," she urged white Americans to imagine "the millions of folks who look like me, and fought and died and toiled as slaves and soldiers and laborers to help build this country."

"As a black woman, like the majority of those in the country, having "done everything in my power to live a life of dignity and service and honesty, the knowledge that any of my fellow Americans is more afraid of me than the chaos that we are living through right now, well that hurts," she said.

"It is a heaviness that sits on our hearts."

Obama criticised Trump's "failure" to tackle the coronavirus, his belittling US military personnel as "losers" and his devotion to "enriching himself" and wealthy cronies.

Biden, she said, offers contrasting values aimed at helping working class families, healing divisions and protecting the environment.

"Search your hearts and your conscience, and then vote for Joe Biden like your lives depend on it," she said.

Former first lady of the United States Michelle Obama has accused President Donald Trump of "willful mismanagement" of the coronavirus crisis and of racism in a scathing new video four weeks before election day November 3.

Former first lady of the United States Michelle Obama has accused President Donald Trump of "willful mismanagement" of the coronavirus crisis and of racism in a scathing new video four weeks before election day November 3. Donald Trump is a "racist" president whose strategy of fearmongering, division and promoting ugly conspiracy theories could "destroy" America if he is re-elected, the former first lady said Tuesday. In a 24-minute video offering closing arguments for Democratic White House nominee Joe Biden, Obama described Trump and his Republican allies as unfairly "stoking fears" about African Americans. Obama noted that more Americans have died from COVID-19 than those who died in the Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam and Korean wars combined. To her charade, she adds that "our commander in chief, sadly, has been missing in action." She also calls on all young and Black voters to not "waste" their votes. Trump is "morally wrong" for taking actions that intimidate voters and for "lying" about how minorities will ruin US suburbs, she said. "What the president is doing is once again patently false, it's morally wrong, and yes, it is racist," said the 56-year-old wife of Barack Obama, the nation's first black president. But she warned such tactics have the potential to work, particularly because Americans lack the time and energy to fact-check everything being spread online or in US media. "Because this is a difficult time, a confusing time, and when people hear these lies and crazy conspiracies repeated over and over and over again, they don't know what to think," she said. "And the one thing this president is really, really good at is using fear and confusion, and spreading lies to win," Obama added. Trump has declared himself the "law and order" president, and has repeatedly slammed protesters taking on racial injustice as violent extremists. Obama's video targets a wide range of voters. Along with speaking to "black and brown folks," she urged white Americans to imagine "the millions of folks who look like me, and fought and died and toiled as slaves and soldiers and laborers to help build this country." "As a black woman, like the majority of those in the country, having "done everything in my power to live a life of dignity and service and honesty, the knowledge that any of my fellow Americans is more afraid of me than the chaos that we are living through right now, well that hurts," she said. "It is a heaviness that sits on our hearts." Obama criticised Trump's "failure" to tackle the coronavirus, his belittling US military personnel as "losers" and his devotion to "enriching himself" and wealthy cronies. Biden, she said, offers contrasting values aimed at helping working class families, healing divisions and protecting the environment. "Search your hearts and your conscience, and then vote for Joe Biden like your lives depend on it," she said.

Michelle Obama slams Trump in closing arguments for Biden

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/michelle-obama-slams-trump-in-closing-argument-for-biden-332963">Michelle Obama slams Trump in closing argument for Biden</a>

Former first lady of the United States Michelle Obama has accused President Donald Trump of "willful mismanagement" of the coronavirus crisis and of racism in a scathing new video ahead of the November 3 presidential election.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-vaccine-may-be-ready-by-year-end-whos-tedros-332953">COVID-19 vaccine may be ready by year-end: WHO's Tedros</a>

A vaccine against COVID-19 may be ready by year-end, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday, without elaborating.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trio-awarded-nobel-physics-prize-for-research-into-black-holes-332913">Trio awarded Nobel Physics Prize for research into black holes</a>

Roger Penrose of Britain, Reinhard Genzel of Germany and Andrea Ghez of the US won the Nobel Physics Prize on Tuesday for their research into black holes.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-teacher-struck-off-for-holding-pro-independence-classes-332917">Hong Kong teacher struck off for holding 'pro-independence' classes</a>

A Hong Kong teacher has been struck off for allegedly promoting the city's independence in classes.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/isro-plans-to-launch-new-rocket-before-december-2020-332899">ISRO plans to launch new rocket before December 2020</a>

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is working towards launching its new rocket 'Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV)' before December 2020, a senior official said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-is-the-only-patient-to-have-received-the-covid-19-treatment-he-did-332889">Trump is the only patient to have received the Covid-19 treatment he did</a>

If you contract the coronavirus in the United States, you may get a similar behavioural treatment the president -- Donald Trump -- received. But not the same kind of medical treatment.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-warner-bros-movies-calendar-batman-shifts-to-2022-matrix-4-to-2021-332823">Warner Bros. movies calendar: 'Batman' shifts to 2022, 'Matrix 4' to 2021</a>

Warner Bros., has released their movies release calendar with some major jigs between dates of ‘The Batman’, ‘Dune’ and other films.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/floods-in-italy-france-cause-dead-bodies-unearth-from-cemeteries-332931">Floods in Italy, France cause dead bodies unearth from cemeteries</a>

Massive floods in France and Italy have not just killed people along with causing other destruction, but their sheer intensity has also swept out corpses from cemeteries.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/scandalous-dutch-fertility-doctor-fathered-17-children-332938">Scandalous Dutch fertility doctor fathered 17 children</a>

A deceased gynaecologist has fathered at least 17 children with women, who thought they were receiving sperm from anonymous donors.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/maldives-former-vice-president-gets-20-years-for-graft-332893">Maldives former vice president gets 20 years for graft</a>

Maldives former vice president Ahmed Adeeb has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to graft, money laundering and abuse of power.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/car-bomb-in-north-syria-kills-14-332924">Car bomb in north Syria kills 14</a>

A car bomb on Tuesday killed 14 people in the Turkish-controlled town of Al-Bab in northern Syria.

Michelle Obama slams Trump in closing argument for Biden Former first lady of the United States Michelle Obama has accused President Donald Trump of "willful mismanagement" of the coronavirus crisis and of racism in a scathing new video ahead of the November 3 presidential election.

Michelle Obama slams Trump in closing argument for Biden Former first lady of the United States Michelle Obama has accused President Donald Trump of "willful mismanagement" of the coronavirus crisis and of racism in a scathing new video ahead of the November 3 presidential election. COVID-19 vaccine may be ready by year-end: WHO's Tedros A vaccine against COVID-19 may be ready by year-end, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday, without elaborating. Trio awarded Nobel Physics Prize for research into black holes Roger Penrose of Britain, Reinhard Genzel of Germany and Andrea Ghez of the US won the Nobel Physics Prize on Tuesday for their research into black holes. Hong Kong teacher struck off for holding 'pro-independence' classes A Hong Kong teacher has been struck off for allegedly promoting the city's independence in classes. ISRO plans to launch new rocket before December 2020 The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is working towards launching its new rocket 'Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV)' before December 2020, a senior official said. Trump is the only patient to have received the Covid-19 treatment he did If you contract the coronavirus in the United States, you may get a similar behavioural treatment the president -- Donald Trump -- received. But not the same kind of medical treatment. Warner Bros. movies calendar: 'Batman' shifts to 2022, 'Matrix 4' to 2021 Warner Bros., has released their movies release calendar with some major jigs between dates of ‘The Batman’, ‘Dune’ and other films. Floods in Italy, France cause dead bodies unearth from cemeteries Massive floods in France and Italy have not just killed people along with causing other destruction, but their sheer intensity has also swept out corpses from cemeteries. Scandalous Dutch fertility doctor fathered 17 children A deceased gynaecologist has fathered at least 17 children with women, who thought they were receiving sperm from anonymous donors. Maldives former vice president gets 20 years for graft Maldives former vice president Ahmed Adeeb has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to graft, money laundering and abuse of power. Car bomb in north Syria kills 14 A car bomb on Tuesday killed 14 people in the Turkish-controlled town of Al-Bab in northern Syria.

Top ten world news: Updates on US election 2020, Covid vaccine and more

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-still-infectious-returns-to-white-house-removes-mask-despite-having-covid-332785">Trump, still infectious, returns to White House; removes mask despite having Covid</a> 
 
<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/10/06/163279-trump-removes-mask.JPG?itok=aSQQqa8q" />US President Trump on Tuesday returned to the White House after being discharged from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-may-increase-child-mortality-in-developing-countries-by-45-per-cent-world-bank-332786">Coronavirus may increase child mortality in developing countries by 45 per cent: World Bank</a> 
 
<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/08/30/157267-untitled-design-56.jpg?itok=QPfr8iHA" />The novel coronavirus pandemic will likely drive up child mortality rates in developing countries by slightly less than half of the current rate, World Bank president David Malpass said on Monday.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/computer-anti-virus-creator-john-mcafee-arrested-in-spain-on-us-tax-evasion-charges-332789">Computer anti-virus creator John McAfee arrested in Spain on US tax evasion charges</a> 
 
<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/10/06/163280-untitled-design-3.jpg?itok=DBC12GbJ" />

John David McAfee, creator of the eponymous anti-virus software has been indicted on charges of tax evasion by the US Department of Justice (DOJ). He has been arrested in Spain and is awaiting extradition.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/former-intelligence-chief-of-saudi-slams-palestinian-leaderships-criticism-of-uae-israel-deal-332787">Former intelligence chief of Saudi slams Palestinian leadership's criticism of UAE-Israel deal</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/08/07/153442-saudi-afp.jpg?itok=MQRpjWgN" /> 
Former intelligence chief of Saudi Arabia Prince Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz has slammed the Palestinian leadership for criticising the decision of some Gulf states to normalise ties with Israel. 
&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/who-three-countries-account-for-half-of-covid-19-cases-332797/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-schools-to-reopen-from-october-15-government-issues-sops-332799/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Trump, still infectious, returns to White House; removes mask despite having Covid US President Trump on Tuesday returned to the White House after being discharged from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland.

Trump, still infectious, returns to White House; removes mask despite having Covid US President Trump on Tuesday returned to the White House after being discharged from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland. Coronavirus may increase child mortality in developing countries by 45 per cent: World Bank The novel coronavirus pandemic will likely drive up child mortality rates in developing countries by slightly less than half of the current rate, World Bank president David Malpass said on Monday. Computer anti-virus creator John McAfee arrested in Spain on US tax evasion charges John David McAfee, creator of the eponymous anti-virus software has been indicted on charges of tax evasion by the US Department of Justice (DOJ). He has been arrested in Spain and is awaiting extradition. Former intelligence chief of Saudi slams Palestinian leadership's criticism of UAE-Israel deal Former intelligence chief of Saudi Arabia Prince Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz has slammed the Palestinian leadership for criticising the decision of some Gulf states to normalise ties with Israel.

Morning news brief: Trump returns to White House, child mortality and more

US President Trump on Tuesday returned to the White House after being discharged from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/white-house-press-secretary-tests-positive-for-coronavirus-332748">Also read | White House press secretary tests positive for coronavirus</a> 
 
Trump, who checked out of hospital after four days of emergency treatment for coronavirus infection, pulled off his mask the moment he reached the White House and vowed to quickly get back on the campaign trail.

“Feeling really good! Don’t be afraid of Covid. Don’t let it dominate your life,” Trump tweeted downplaying the serious threat of the virus, which has killed 209,000 people in the United States.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://t.co/OxmRcZ5nUZ">pic.twitter.com/OxmRcZ5nUZ</a>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1313267615083761665?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

According to the US media, Trump’s doctor said it was unclear when the president would no longer be able to infect others.

After reaching White House, he walked up the steps onto the South Portico's stately balcony and demonstratively removed his mask, saluting the departing Marine One.

With less than a month until November 3 election day, polls show Trump behind Democrat Joe Biden and left scrambling even harder by his hospitalization to catch up.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://t.co/Sn4yTTg8eB">pic.twitter.com/Sn4yTTg8eB</a>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1313267143232942081?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The return to the White House was minutely stage managed to show he is physically fit, while a series of striking tweets demonstrated Trump's coming angle of political attack — that he personally beat Covid and will now lead the country to its own comeback.

"Will be back on the Campaign Trail soon!!!" he said in one tweet.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Will be back on the Campaign Trail soon!!! The Fake News only shows the Fake Polls.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1313243541959737349?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

"Don't be afraid of Covid," he said in another, claiming to be feeling rejuvenated after his illness.

But the 74-year-old Republican's display of bravado came the same day as his own chief spokeswoman tested positive for the virus -- the latest in an outbreak raging within the White House.

And despite his claims to be in good health again, a combination of White House secrecy, conflicting information from officials and the viral spread among his own circle, damaged his credibility.

In a briefing from the hospital, presidential physician Sean Conley said Trump is "back" but also said he would not be "entirely out of the woods" for another week.

It wasn't clear how free Trump will be to move about in the White House's crowded corridors and small office spaces. The facility, however, has a medical team of its own which will monitor the president in case of relapse.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

US President Trump on Tuesday returned to the White House after being discharged from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland. Also read | White House press secretary tests positive for coronavirus Trump, who checked out of hospital after four days of emergency treatment for coronavirus infection, pulled off his mask the moment he reached the White House and vowed to quickly get back on the campaign trail.

US President Trump on Tuesday returned to the White House after being discharged from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland. Also read | White House press secretary tests positive for coronavirus Trump, who checked out of hospital after four days of emergency treatment for coronavirus infection, pulled off his mask the moment he reached the White House and vowed to quickly get back on the campaign trail. “Feeling really good! Don’t be afraid of Covid. Don’t let it dominate your life,” Trump tweeted downplaying the serious threat of the virus, which has killed 209,000 people in the United States. pic.twitter.com/OxmRcZ5nUZ — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 5, 2020 × According to the US media, Trump’s doctor said it was unclear when the president would no longer be able to infect others. After reaching White House, he walked up the steps onto the South Portico's stately balcony and demonstratively removed his mask, saluting the departing Marine One. With less than a month until November 3 election day, polls show Trump behind Democrat Joe Biden and left scrambling even harder by his hospitalization to catch up. pic.twitter.com/Sn4yTTg8eB — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 5, 2020 × The return to the White House was minutely stage managed to show he is physically fit, while a series of striking tweets demonstrated Trump's coming angle of political attack — that he personally beat Covid and will now lead the country to its own comeback. "Will be back on the Campaign Trail soon!!!" he said in one tweet. Will be back on the Campaign Trail soon!!! The Fake News only shows the Fake Polls. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 5, 2020 × "Don't be afraid of Covid," he said in another, claiming to be feeling rejuvenated after his illness. But the 74-year-old Republican's display of bravado came the same day as his own chief spokeswoman tested positive for the virus -- the latest in an outbreak raging within the White House. And despite his claims to be in good health again, a combination of White House secrecy, conflicting information from officials and the viral spread among his own circle, damaged his credibility. In a briefing from the hospital, presidential physician Sean Conley said Trump is "back" but also said he would not be "entirely out of the woods" for another week. It wasn't clear how free Trump will be to move about in the White House's crowded corridors and small office spaces. The facility, however, has a medical team of its own which will monitor the president in case of relapse. (With inputs from agencies)

Trump, still infectious, returns to White House; removes mask despite having Covid

Democratic Presidential Candidate Joe Biden appears to lead President Donald Trump in certain swing states, in opinion poll conducted by Reuters and IPSOS, just less than a month ahead of voting.

US Election 2020: 'Joe Biden appears to lead President Donald Trump in certain swing states'

Nearly four million people have voted in the US so far from the postal ballot system, a number that indicates that record voting can take place in the country.&nbsp;

Amid the pandemic that has worst hit the US, Americans are heavily relying on mail-in voting for the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/us-election">presidential election</a> to avoid the risk of contracting the virus by going to the polling station.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-still-have-to-make-america-great-again-trump-promises-to-return-soon-to-start-us-election-campaign-332338">'We still have to make America great again': Trump promises to return soon to start US election campaign</a>

The US Elections Project, which makes data of early voting said that over 3.8 million people have cast their ballot so far, which greatly surpasses the nearly 75,000-mark that was touched during this time in 2016.

Michael McDonald of the University of Florida, who administers this project, believes that this massive rise in mail-in voting is because it's a safe process in view of coronavirus outbreak and since several people have decided <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump's</a> fate.&nbsp;

"We've never seen this many people voting so far ahead of an election," he said, as quoted by news agency Reuters.&nbsp;

"People cast their ballots when they make up their minds, and we know that many people made up their minds long ago and already have a judgment about Trump."

McDonald predicted that this spike in early voting could lead to an overall turnout of nearly 150 million, a record number since 1908.

He said these figures have arrived from the 31 US states out of the 50 that have started mail-in voting and added that the early voting will rise further after more states will start allowing it in the upcoming weeks.&nbsp;

Nearly four million people have voted in the US so far from the postal ballot system, a number that indicates that record voting can take place in the country. Amid the pandemic that has worst hit the US, Americans are heavily relying on mail-in voting for the presidential election to avoid the risk of contracting the virus by going to the polling station.

Nearly four million people have voted in the US so far from the postal ballot system, a number that indicates that record voting can take place in the country. Amid the pandemic that has worst hit the US, Americans are heavily relying on mail-in voting for the presidential election to avoid the risk of contracting the virus by going to the polling station. Also read | 'We still have to make America great again': Trump promises to return soon to start US election campaign The US Elections Project, which makes data of early voting said that over 3.8 million people have cast their ballot so far, which greatly surpasses the nearly 75,000-mark that was touched during this time in 2016. Michael McDonald of the University of Florida, who administers this project, believes that this massive rise in mail-in voting is because it's a safe process in view of coronavirus outbreak and since several people have decided Donald Trump's fate. "We've never seen this many people voting so far ahead of an election," he said, as quoted by news agency Reuters. "People cast their ballots when they make up their minds, and we know that many people made up their minds long ago and already have a judgment about Trump." McDonald predicted that this spike in early voting could lead to an overall turnout of nearly 150 million, a record number since 1908. He said these figures have arrived from the 31 US states out of the 50 that have started mail-in voting and added that the early voting will rise further after more states will start allowing it in the upcoming weeks.

US Election 2020: About 4 million people already voted; record turnout likely

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden appeared to lead President Donald Trump in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania less than a month before the Nov. 3 election, according to Reuters/Ipsos opinion polls released on Monday.

The polls showed the former vice president ahead by 5 percentage points in Pennsylvania, matching the poll’s credibility interval. Biden led Trump by 6 points in Wisconsin. In both states, Biden improved his position relative to mid-September.

Reuters/Ipsos is polling likely voters in six states - Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Michigan, North Carolina, Florida and Arizona - that will play critical roles in deciding whether Trump wins a second term in office or if Biden ousts him in the November election.

Below is a state-by-state look at Reuters/Ipsos findings, based on the online responses of likely voters, which include responses from some who cast ballots ahead of the formal November 3 Election Day, which is increasingly common due to the coronavirus pandemic:

WISCONSIN (Sept. 29-Oct. 5):

* Voting for Biden: 50%

* Voting for Trump: 44%

* 50% said Biden would be better at handling the coronavirus pandemic. 41% said Trump would be better.

* 51% said Trump would be better at managing the economy. 44% said Biden would be better.

* 13% said they already had voted.

PENNSYLVANIA (Sept. 29-Oct. 5):

* Voting for Biden: 50%

* Voting for Trump: 45%

* 51% said Biden would be better at handling the coronavirus pandemic. 41% said Trump would be better.

* 51% said Trump would be better at managing the economy. 46% said Biden would be better.

* 2% said they already had voted.

FLORIDA (Sept. 11-16):

* Voting for Biden: 47%

* Voting for Trump: 47%

* 46% said Biden would be better at handling the coronavirus pandemic. 46% said Trump would be better.

* 51% said Trump would be better at managing the economy. 41% said Biden would be better.

* 3% said they already had voted.

ARIZONA (Sept. 11-17):

* Voting for Biden: 47%

* Voting for Trump: 46%

* 47% said Biden would be better at handling the coronavirus pandemic. 44% said Trump would be better.

* 49% said Trump would be better at managing the economy. 44% said Biden would be better.

* 3% said they already had voted.

MICHIGAN (Sept. 11-16):

* Voting for Biden: 49%

* Voting for Trump: 44%

* 50% said Biden would be better at handling the coronavirus pandemic. 44% said Trump would be better.

* 48% said Trump would be better at managing the economy. 45% said Biden would be better.

* 2% said they already had voted.

NORTH CAROLINA (Sept. 11-16):

* Voting for Biden: 47%

* Voting for Trump: 47%

* 47% said Biden would be better at handling the coronavirus pandemic. 45% said Trump would be better.

* 51% said Trump would be better at managing the economy. 44% said Biden would be better.

* 4% said they already had voted.

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden appeared to lead President Donald Trump in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania less than a month before the Nov. 3 election, according to Reuters/Ipsos opinion polls released on Monday.

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden appeared to lead President Donald Trump in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania less than a month before the Nov. 3 election, according to Reuters/Ipsos opinion polls released on Monday. The polls showed the former vice president ahead by 5 percentage points in Pennsylvania, matching the poll’s credibility interval. Biden led Trump by 6 points in Wisconsin. In both states, Biden improved his position relative to mid-September. Reuters/Ipsos is polling likely voters in six states - Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Michigan, North Carolina, Florida and Arizona - that will play critical roles in deciding whether Trump wins a second term in office or if Biden ousts him in the November election. Below is a state-by-state look at Reuters/Ipsos findings, based on the online responses of likely voters, which include responses from some who cast ballots ahead of the formal November 3 Election Day, which is increasingly common due to the coronavirus pandemic: WISCONSIN (Sept. 29-Oct. 5): * Voting for Biden: 50% * Voting for Trump: 44% * 50% said Biden would be better at handling the coronavirus pandemic. 41% said Trump would be better. * 51% said Trump would be better at managing the economy. 44% said Biden would be better. * 13% said they already had voted. PENNSYLVANIA (Sept. 29-Oct. 5): * Voting for Biden: 50% * Voting for Trump: 45% * 51% said Biden would be better at handling the coronavirus pandemic. 41% said Trump would be better. * 51% said Trump would be better at managing the economy. 46% said Biden would be better. * 2% said they already had voted. FLORIDA (Sept. 11-16): * Voting for Biden: 47% * Voting for Trump: 47% * 46% said Biden would be better at handling the coronavirus pandemic. 46% said Trump would be better. * 51% said Trump would be better at managing the economy. 41% said Biden would be better. * 3% said they already had voted. ARIZONA (Sept. 11-17): * Voting for Biden: 47% * Voting for Trump: 46% * 47% said Biden would be better at handling the coronavirus pandemic. 44% said Trump would be better. * 49% said Trump would be better at managing the economy. 44% said Biden would be better. * 3% said they already had voted. MICHIGAN (Sept. 11-16): * Voting for Biden: 49% * Voting for Trump: 44% * 50% said Biden would be better at handling the coronavirus pandemic. 44% said Trump would be better. * 48% said Trump would be better at managing the economy. 45% said Biden would be better. * 2% said they already had voted. NORTH CAROLINA (Sept. 11-16): * Voting for Biden: 47% * Voting for Trump: 47% * 47% said Biden would be better at handling the coronavirus pandemic. 45% said Trump would be better. * 51% said Trump would be better at managing the economy. 44% said Biden would be better. * 4% said they already had voted.

Biden leading in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin: Reuters/Ipsos poll

WASHINGTON — For months, Joe Biden has gone to great lengths to model responsible behavior in the coronavirus era. He wears masks in public. He does not hold crowded rallies. When he gives speeches, reporters sit at a distance from one another, with white circles on the ground to mark their turf. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/irresponsibility-is-astounding-covid-positive-trump-faces-criticism-for-joyride-332525">Also read | ‘Irresponsibility is astounding’: Covid-positive Trump faces criticism for 'joyride'</a> 
 
These actions have so far helped keep Biden healthy and able to continue campaigning while President Donald Trump, who mocked masks and held large events, is now hospitalized with COVID-19. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-once-mocked-by-trump-now-has-the-proverbial-last-laugh-332139">Also read | Biden, once mocked by Trump, now has the proverbial last laugh</a>

But beyond the public examples of safety precautions, Biden’s health protocols have remained largely under wraps, with his campaign saying little about what steps it is taking to protect the 77-year-old Democratic nominee.

His aides will not answer questions about whether Biden is tested daily; they say simply that he is tested “regularly.” Until this weekend, they had promised to inform the public only if he had a confirmed positive case. Then, Saturday night, after two days of refusing to provide details about Biden’s testing procedures, the campaign committed to releasing the results of all his tests. He tested negative Sunday, his campaign said.

Transparency has taken on new significance in the presidential race given the conflicting information about Trump’s health and the fact that his Democratic rival, who is also in an age group that is particularly susceptible to COVID-19, was exposed to the president during their 90-minute debate Tuesday. Biden, who is ahead in national polls and many battleground state surveys, still faces the possibility of a positive test; he is continuing to campaign rather than follow public health guidelines to quarantine, and his campaign has been cagey about his health protocols.

The questions about Biden’s health come as he is confronting an unprecedented political reality: He would be the oldest president ever elected if he wins in November, and he faces the daily personal risks of a pandemic that has killed more than 209,000 people in the United States. Trump’s diagnosis, and the apparent health threat he posed during a debate where he was often talking or shouting over Biden, are forcing the Biden campaign to grapple with its own next steps and disclosures regarding the health of the Democratic nominee.

WASHINGTON — For months, Joe Biden has gone to great lengths to model responsible behavior in the coronavirus era. He wears masks in public. He does not hold crowded rallies.

WASHINGTON — For months, Joe Biden has gone to great lengths to model responsible behavior in the coronavirus era. He wears masks in public. He does not hold crowded rallies. When he gives speeches, reporters sit at a distance from one another, with white circles on the ground to mark their turf. Also read | ‘Irresponsibility is astounding’: Covid-positive Trump faces criticism for 'joyride' These actions have so far helped keep Biden healthy and able to continue campaigning while President Donald Trump, who mocked masks and held large events, is now hospitalized with COVID-19. Also read | Biden, once mocked by Trump, now has the proverbial last laugh But beyond the public examples of safety precautions, Biden’s health protocols have remained largely under wraps, with his campaign saying little about what steps it is taking to protect the 77-year-old Democratic nominee. His aides will not answer questions about whether Biden is tested daily; they say simply that he is tested “regularly.” Until this weekend, they had promised to inform the public only if he had a confirmed positive case. Then, Saturday night, after two days of refusing to provide details about Biden’s testing procedures, the campaign committed to releasing the results of all his tests. He tested negative Sunday, his campaign said. Transparency has taken on new significance in the presidential race given the conflicting information about Trump’s health and the fact that his Democratic rival, who is also in an age group that is particularly susceptible to COVID-19, was exposed to the president during their 90-minute debate Tuesday. Biden, who is ahead in national polls and many battleground state surveys, still faces the possibility of a positive test; he is continuing to campaign rather than follow public health guidelines to quarantine, and his campaign has been cagey about his health protocols. The questions about Biden’s health come as he is confronting an unprecedented political reality: He would be the oldest president ever elected if he wins in November, and he faces the daily personal risks of a pandemic that has killed more than 209,000 people in the United States. Trump’s diagnosis, and the apparent health threat he posed during a debate where he was often talking or shouting over Biden, are forcing the Biden campaign to grapple with its own next steps and disclosures regarding the health of the Democratic nominee.

After Biden’s exposure to Trump, his team is cagey on health questions

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-learned-a-lot-about-covid-19-by-going-to-real-school-faces-criticism-for-joyride-332525">Trump ‘learned a lot’ about Covid-19 by going to ‘real school’; faces criticism for ‘joyride’</a> 
 
<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/10/03/162984-cnn.jpg?itok=ixK1y--G" />

The trip drew criticism from US intelligence officers and medical proffessionals, who said it put others in the car at risk, exposing them to a coronavirus patient in an enclosed space.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nagorno-karabakh-azerbaijans-leader-demands-armenian-withdrawal-and-apology-332551">Nagorno-Karabakh: Azerbaijan's leader demands Armenian withdrawal and apology</a> 
 
<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/10/05/163124-untitled-design-54.jpg?itok=9jj7d7Hd" />

Azerbaijan has demanded Armenia's withdrawal and apology for intensifying the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and bombing its second city of Ganja.Each side accused the other of targeting civilian areas, as the conflict widened a week after heavy fighting broke out in the decades-old dispute over the ethnic-Armenian region.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/25-crore-indians-to-get-coronavirus-vaccine-by-july-2021-government-332535">25 crore Indians to get coronavirus vaccine by July, 2021: Government</a> 
 
<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/08/29/157236-covid-vaccine.jpg?itok=fcLlLGRd" />

The Government of India hopes to receive up to 50 crore doses of coronavirus vaccine by July 2021 to inoculate about 25 crore people, Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said on Sunday, as infections in the world’s second-worst affected country continue to surge. 
&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/new-caledonia-rejects-referendum-from-france-for-the-second-time-332518/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe> 
&nbsp;
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-plus-the-business-of-body-positivity-332504/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>

Trump ‘learned a lot’ about Covid-19 by going to ‘real school’; faces criticism for ‘joyride’ The trip drew criticism from US intelligence officers and medical proffessionals, who said it put others in the car at risk, exposing them to a coronavirus patient in an enclosed space.

Trump ‘learned a lot’ about Covid-19 by going to ‘real school’; faces criticism for ‘joyride’ The trip drew criticism from US intelligence officers and medical proffessionals, who said it put others in the car at risk, exposing them to a coronavirus patient in an enclosed space. Nagorno-Karabakh: Azerbaijan's leader demands Armenian withdrawal and apology Azerbaijan has demanded Armenia's withdrawal and apology for intensifying the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and bombing its second city of Ganja.Each side accused the other of targeting civilian areas, as the conflict widened a week after heavy fighting broke out in the decades-old dispute over the ethnic-Armenian region. 25 crore Indians to get coronavirus vaccine by July, 2021: Government The Government of India hopes to receive up to 50 crore doses of coronavirus vaccine by July 2021 to inoculate about 25 crore people, Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said on Sunday, as infections in the world’s second-worst affected country continue to surge.

Morning news brief: Covid-19 vaccine, Trump's health progress and more

Doctors will decide on Monday if United States President Donald Trump can be discharged from hospital following emergency treatment for the coronavirus.

The chief of Staff Mark Meadows told Fox News that the "determination has not been made yet" but "doctors will make a decision on whether to discharge him later today."

The president has, meanwhile, signalled his determination to return to the election campaign with an early morning tweetstorm.

Conflicting official updates since Trump's hospitalisation on Friday have created confusion over his health, but his chief of staff said the 74-year-old's condition had improved overnight, raising hopes he could be discharged during the day.

Trump's Covid-19 diagnosis has upended the White House race less than a month from polling day -- and cast a harsh spotlight on the president's much criticised management of the pandemic which has claimed voer 200,000 American lives.

Eager to portray himself as in charge despite his sickness, Trump sent 15 block-capital tweets in 30 minutes, appealing to voters by claiming a record of successes in his first term including tax cuts and stock market highs, and protecting gun rights and religious liberties.

The tweetstorm came after the president sparked an angry backlash with a protocol-breaking visit to supporters outside the hospital where he is being treated.

He was masked as he waved from inside his bulletproof vehicle during the short trip outside Walter Reed military medical center near Washington on Sunday evening.

Trump, who has been repeatedly rebuked for flouting public health advice and spreading misinformation on the pandemic, said in a video on Twitter just before his outing that he had "learned a lot about Covid" by undergoing treatment.

But experts complained he had broken his own government's guidelines requiring patients to isolate while they are in treatment and still shedding virus -- and had also endangered his Secret Service protection.

The president was flown to Walter Reed with a high fever on Friday after a "rapid progression" of his illness, with his oxygen levels dropping worryingly low, White House doctor Sean Conley said in a Sunday briefing.

Conley admitted that he had kept from the public the fact that the president had been given extra oxygen, in a bid to reflect an "upbeat attitude."

He had given a rosy account of Trump's progress Saturday, only for chief of staff Meadows to tell reporters immediately after that Trump's condition had been "very concerning" and that he was "still not on a clear path to a full recovery."

Facing an uphill campaign ahead of the November 3 vote against Democratic rival Joe Biden, Trump's diagnosis and hospitalization have left him sidelined from what he loves -- campaigning in person.

Biden, who announced Sunday his latest negative test for the virus, will start the week with a trip Monday to key swing state Florida.

Recent polls give Biden a significant lead among registered voters.

Controversy has been mounting over the possibility that Trump might have exposed numerous others to Covid-19.&nbsp;

A timeline provided by his advisors and doctors suggested he met more than 30 donors on Thursday in Bedminster, New Jersey, even after learning that aide Hope Hicks had the virus -- and just hours before he announced his own positive test.

As well as Trump and Hicks, numerous White House insiders and at least three Republican senators have contracted Covid-19, along with First Lady Melania Trump, who has not experienced severe symptoms.

Public health experts have expressed alarm at the "White House cluster" that has been linked to the September 26 Rose Garden celebration of conservative judge Amy Coney Barrett's nomination to the Supreme Court.

(with inputs from AFP)

Doctors will decide on Monday if United States President Donald Trump can be discharged from hospital following emergency treatment for the coronavirus. The chief of Staff Mark Meadows told Fox News that the "determination has not been made yet" but "doctors will make a decision on whether to discharge him later today.

Doctors will decide on Monday if United States President Donald Trump can be discharged from hospital following emergency treatment for the coronavirus. The chief of Staff Mark Meadows told Fox News that the "determination has not been made yet" but "doctors will make a decision on whether to discharge him later today." The president has, meanwhile, signalled his determination to return to the election campaign with an early morning tweetstorm. Conflicting official updates since Trump's hospitalisation on Friday have created confusion over his health, but his chief of staff said the 74-year-old's condition had improved overnight, raising hopes he could be discharged during the day. Trump's Covid-19 diagnosis has upended the White House race less than a month from polling day -- and cast a harsh spotlight on the president's much criticised management of the pandemic which has claimed voer 200,000 American lives. Eager to portray himself as in charge despite his sickness, Trump sent 15 block-capital tweets in 30 minutes, appealing to voters by claiming a record of successes in his first term including tax cuts and stock market highs, and protecting gun rights and religious liberties. The tweetstorm came after the president sparked an angry backlash with a protocol-breaking visit to supporters outside the hospital where he is being treated. He was masked as he waved from inside his bulletproof vehicle during the short trip outside Walter Reed military medical center near Washington on Sunday evening. Trump, who has been repeatedly rebuked for flouting public health advice and spreading misinformation on the pandemic, said in a video on Twitter just before his outing that he had "learned a lot about Covid" by undergoing treatment. But experts complained he had broken his own government's guidelines requiring patients to isolate while they are in treatment and still shedding virus -- and had also endangered his Secret Service protection. The president was flown to Walter Reed with a high fever on Friday after a "rapid progression" of his illness, with his oxygen levels dropping worryingly low, White House doctor Sean Conley said in a Sunday briefing. Conley admitted that he had kept from the public the fact that the president had been given extra oxygen, in a bid to reflect an "upbeat attitude." He had given a rosy account of Trump's progress Saturday, only for chief of staff Meadows to tell reporters immediately after that Trump's condition had been "very concerning" and that he was "still not on a clear path to a full recovery." Facing an uphill campaign ahead of the November 3 vote against Democratic rival Joe Biden, Trump's diagnosis and hospitalization have left him sidelined from what he loves -- campaigning in person. Biden, who announced Sunday his latest negative test for the virus, will start the week with a trip Monday to key swing state Florida. Recent polls give Biden a significant lead among registered voters. Controversy has been mounting over the possibility that Trump might have exposed numerous others to Covid-19. A timeline provided by his advisors and doctors suggested he met more than 30 donors on Thursday in Bedminster, New Jersey, even after learning that aide Hope Hicks had the virus -- and just hours before he announced his own positive test. As well as Trump and Hicks, numerous White House insiders and at least three Republican senators have contracted Covid-19, along with First Lady Melania Trump, who has not experienced severe symptoms. Public health experts have expressed alarm at the "White House cluster" that has been linked to the September 26 Rose Garden celebration of conservative judge Amy Coney Barrett's nomination to the Supreme Court. (with inputs from AFP)

Doctors to decide on Trump hospital discharge 'later' on Monday: White House

The Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris, is preparing in Utah for the October 7 debate with Vice President Mike Pence at the University of Utah. Watch report

Mike Pence and Kamala Harris preparing for a face-off in salt lake city

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/suspicious-backpack-reported-near-trumps-hospital-332343">Suspicious backpack reported near Trump's hospital</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/10/03/162954-donald-trump.jpg?itok=CPxTDHRQ" />

The police department reported that the incident was reported around 7:55 pm on Saturday night and the officials cleared the area by 9:30 pm.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/world-living-in-shadow-of-nuclear-catastrophe-says-un-chief-calls-for-disarmament-332341">World living in 'shadow of nuclear catastrophe', says UN chief; calls for disarmament</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2019/10/02/111996-untitled-design-10.jpg?itok=7EBVopWu" />

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres cautioned on October 2 that the world is living “in the shadow of nuclear catastrophe" with tensions among nuclear powers.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-not-yet-out-of-woods-completes-second-dose-of-remdesivir-doctor-332342">Trump 'not yet out of woods'; completes second dose of Remdesivir: Doctor</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/10/03/163000-trump-coronavirus-final.jpg?itok=40CgsyAB" />

Conley has assured that Trump has been fever-free and is not on any oxygen supplement as his saturation levels stayed between 96 and 98 per cent all day.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-continues-protesting-against-netanyahus-coronavirus-restrictions-332340">Israel continues protesting against Netanyahu's coronavirus restrictions</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/10/04/163013-israel-protests.jpg?itok=6FOLjKtA" />

Israelis are continuing anti-lockdown protests and are opposing the way the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has handled the pandemic.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/the-west-asia-post-two-years-on-khashoggi-murder-unresolved-332335">The West Asia Post: Two years on, Khashoggi murder unresolved</a>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/the-west-asia-post-two-years-on-khashoggi-murder-unresolved-332335/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

Suspicious backpack reported near Trump's hospital The police department reported that the incident was reported around 7:55 pm on Saturday night and the officials cleared the area by 9:30 pm.

Suspicious backpack reported near Trump's hospital The police department reported that the incident was reported around 7:55 pm on Saturday night and the officials cleared the area by 9:30 pm. World living in 'shadow of nuclear catastrophe', says UN chief; calls for disarmament UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres cautioned on October 2 that the world is living “in the shadow of nuclear catastrophe" with tensions among nuclear powers. Trump 'not yet out of woods'; completes second dose of Remdesivir: Doctor Conley has assured that Trump has been fever-free and is not on any oxygen supplement as his saturation levels stayed between 96 and 98 per cent all day. Israel continues protesting against Netanyahu's coronavirus restrictions Israelis are continuing anti-lockdown protests and are opposing the way the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has handled the pandemic. The West Asia Post: Two years on, Khashoggi murder unresolved ×

Morning news brief: UN calls for disarmament, Trump's health progress and more

The US President&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;has published another video message for his supporters on twitter on Saturday evening assuring everyone that he is feeling "much better now".

He starts the video message by thanking "all of the incredible medical professionals — doctors, nurses, everybody — at the Walter Reed Medical Centre."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trumps-symptoms-very-concerning-as-virus-infects-more-gop-allies-332328">Also read|&nbsp;Trump’s symptoms ‘very concerning’ as virus infects more GOP allies</a>

He admitted to not feeling well when he was shifted to the hospital on Friday. "I came here, wasn't feeling so well," he said. However, he assured that he is "feeling much better now".

"We are working hard to get me all the way back. I have to be back because we still have to make America great again. We have done an awfully good job of that, but we still have steps to go and we have to finish that job," he said.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://t.co/gvIPuYtTZG">pic.twitter.com/gvIPuYtTZG</a>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1312525833505058816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 3, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

"I will be back, and I think I will be back soon and I look forward to finishing the campaign the way it started and the way we have been doing, the kind of numbers we had been doing and I am proud of it. But this was something that happened, and it happened to billions of people all over the world and I am fighting for them, not just in the US, I am fighting for people all over the world." he continued.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-not-in-any-support-system-experiencing-no-breathing-problem-doctor-332321">Also read|&nbsp;Trump not in any support system, experiencing no breathing problem: Doctor</a>

He also added that the next few days will be the real test, "You don't know over the next period of a few days, I guess that's the real test, so we'll be seeing what happens over those next couple of days."

The President also explained why did he shift to the Walter Reed Medical Centre, instead of staying in the White House claiming that he chose to not stay at the White House as he didn't want to stay locked up in a room.&nbsp;"I had to be out front... I can't be locked up in a room upstairs and totally safe," he said. "As a leader you have to confront problems. There's never been a great leader that would have done that."

He ends the video message by thanking the world leaders for their wishes, and assures people that the First Lady, too, is doing well as "she is slightly younger than me — just a tiny bit," he laughed.

The US President Donald Trump has published another video message for his supporters on twitter on Saturday evening assuring everyone that he is feeling "much better now".

The US President Donald Trump has published another video message for his supporters on twitter on Saturday evening assuring everyone that he is feeling "much better now". He starts the video message by thanking "all of the incredible medical professionals — doctors, nurses, everybody — at the Walter Reed Medical Centre." Also read| Trump’s symptoms ‘very concerning’ as virus infects more GOP allies He admitted to not feeling well when he was shifted to the hospital on Friday. "I came here, wasn't feeling so well," he said. However, he assured that he is "feeling much better now". "We are working hard to get me all the way back. I have to be back because we still have to make America great again. We have done an awfully good job of that, but we still have steps to go and we have to finish that job," he said. pic.twitter.com/gvIPuYtTZG — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 3, 2020 × "I will be back, and I think I will be back soon and I look forward to finishing the campaign the way it started and the way we have been doing, the kind of numbers we had been doing and I am proud of it. But this was something that happened, and it happened to billions of people all over the world and I am fighting for them, not just in the US, I am fighting for people all over the world." he continued. Also read| Trump not in any support system, experiencing no breathing problem: Doctor He also added that the next few days will be the real test, "You don't know over the next period of a few days, I guess that's the real test, so we'll be seeing what happens over those next couple of days." The President also explained why did he shift to the Walter Reed Medical Centre, instead of staying in the White House claiming that he chose to not stay at the White House as he didn't want to stay locked up in a room. "I had to be out front... I can't be locked up in a room upstairs and totally safe," he said. "As a leader you have to confront problems. There's never been a great leader that would have done that." He ends the video message by thanking the world leaders for their wishes, and assures people that the First Lady, too, is doing well as "she is slightly younger than me — just a tiny bit," he laughed.

'We still have to make America great again': Trump promises to return soon to start US election campaign

Former US president Barack Obama self-admittedly plans to vote by mail in the upcoming November 3 election, calling it "safe" and "secure."

"I will vote by mail just because when I vote in person, I've got to admit, there's a fuss. I've been voting by mail since I was elected president. It's safe, it's secure as long as you follow the instructions and do it in a timely way," Obama said on Friday.

His comments come at a time when the incumbent president, Donald Trump, has repeatedly accused mail-in voting of being easily manipulated by fraud. The claim has, however, been rejected by many owing to lack of any evidence backing it up.

Also, Trump had tweeted in May: "There is NO WAY (ZERO!) that Mail-In Ballots will be anything less than substantially fraudulent. Mail boxes will be robbed, ballots will be forged &amp; even illegally printed out &amp; fraudulently signed. The Governor of California is sending Ballots to millions of people, anyone living in the state, no matter who they are or how they got there, will get one."

The tweet received a notice from Twitter that said: "Get the facts about mail-in ballots."

The message linked to a page with statements asserting that there's no evidence linking mail-in ballots to voter fraud.

The Trump campaign has even filed lawsuit again mail-in ballots in Montana, New Jersey, Nevada, North Carolina, Iowa and Pennsylvania.

The US Postal Service' (USPS) recent delivery slowdown following the May 2020 selection of Louis DeJoy, a major GOP donor with no previous USPS experience, as Postmaster General has also contributed to rising doubts against mail-in voting.&nbsp;

Former US president Barack Obama self-admittedly plans to vote by mail in the upcoming November 3 election, calling it "safe" and "secure." "I will vote by mail just because when I vote in person, I've got to admit, there's a fuss.

Former US president Barack Obama self-admittedly plans to vote by mail in the upcoming November 3 election, calling it "safe" and "secure." "I will vote by mail just because when I vote in person, I've got to admit, there's a fuss. I've been voting by mail since I was elected president. It's safe, it's secure as long as you follow the instructions and do it in a timely way," Obama said on Friday. His comments come at a time when the incumbent president, Donald Trump, has repeatedly accused mail-in voting of being easily manipulated by fraud. The claim has, however, been rejected by many owing to lack of any evidence backing it up. Also, Trump had tweeted in May: "There is NO WAY (ZERO!) that Mail-In Ballots will be anything less than substantially fraudulent. Mail boxes will be robbed, ballots will be forged & even illegally printed out & fraudulently signed. The Governor of California is sending Ballots to millions of people, anyone living in the state, no matter who they are or how they got there, will get one." The tweet received a notice from Twitter that said: "Get the facts about mail-in ballots." The message linked to a page with statements asserting that there's no evidence linking mail-in ballots to voter fraud. The Trump campaign has even filed lawsuit again mail-in ballots in Montana, New Jersey, Nevada, North Carolina, Iowa and Pennsylvania. The US Postal Service' (USPS) recent delivery slowdown following the May 2020 selection of Louis DeJoy, a major GOP donor with no previous USPS experience, as Postmaster General has also contributed to rising doubts against mail-in voting.

Barack Obama says plans to vote by mail in 2020 presidential election

us-election-2020

Us Election 2020, News on Us Election 2020, stories on Us Election 2020, articles on Us Election 2020, Us Election 2020 stories at Wion, Us Election 2020 news, Us Election 2020 latest news

us election-2020

Trump is albatross around Pence's neck: Kamala Harris' uncle comments after VP debate

Facebook to ban political ads after US election poll ends to curb fake news

US election 2020: White House official expresses concern over hacking on day of voting

Six takeaways from the vice-presidential debate

A 15-year-old Whistleblower?

US Election 2020: Joe Biden woos a key Trump bloc in Florida

US President Donald Trump halts COVID-19 relief talks

US Election 2020: Harris & Pence prepare for a historic clash

Tim Kaine on what it's like to debate Mike Pence

Morning news brief: Covid in White House, 40 nations slam China over Xinjiang and more

US Election 2020: Reuters, Ipsos poll shows Biden leading in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin

US Election 2020: A remarkable comeback with mask removal

Michelle Obama slams Donald Trump over willful mismanagement of Covid-19 crisis

Michelle Obama slams Donald Trump over willful mismanagement of Covid-19 crisis

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

US Election 2020: Joe Biden backed by major publications

A president in the hospital and a nation in the dark

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

Michelle Obama slams Trump in closing arguments for Biden

Top ten world news: Updates on US election 2020, Covid vaccine and more

Morning news brief: Trump returns to White House, child mortality and more

Trump, still infectious, returns to White House; removes mask despite having Covid

US Election 2020: 'Joe Biden appears to lead President Donald Trump in certain swing states'

US Election 2020: About 4 million people already voted; record turnout likely