The US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee has issued a subpoena to compel the head of government broadcasting operations to testify next week, amid concern about editorial independence under President Donald Trump's appointee.

Democratic US Representative Eliot Engel, the committee's chairman, said Michael Pack backed out after agreeing to testify at a hearing on September 24. He announced the committee had issued a subpoena for testimony on the same day.

"His office failed to provide any reasonable alternative dates and his excuse for breaking his commitment is not acceptable," Engel said in a statement.

Pack, a conservative filmmaker, has removed the heads of four of the organisations under the Agency for Global Media (AGM) umbrella - Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, the Middle East Broadcasting Network and the Open Technology Fund - and replaced the bipartisan boards that govern and advise the services mostly with political appointees from Trump's administration.

US law requires the government-funded broadcasters to operate independently and remain free from interference by any presidential administration.

Democrats had objected to Trump's appointment of Pack, saying they feared he would see his role as forcing favorable coverage of the Republican president's administration. Pack is an ally of conservative political activists, including Steve Bannon, once a top aide to Trump. 
&nbsp;

The US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee has issued a subpoena to compel the head of government broadcasting operations to testify next week, amid concern about editorial independence under President Donald Trump's appointee.

The US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee has issued a subpoena to compel the head of government broadcasting operations to testify next week, amid concern about editorial independence under President Donald Trump's appointee. Democratic US Representative Eliot Engel, the committee's chairman, said Michael Pack backed out after agreeing to testify at a hearing on September 24. He announced the committee had issued a subpoena for testimony on the same day. "His office failed to provide any reasonable alternative dates and his excuse for breaking his commitment is not acceptable," Engel said in a statement. Pack, a conservative filmmaker, has removed the heads of four of the organisations under the Agency for Global Media (AGM) umbrella - Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, the Middle East Broadcasting Network and the Open Technology Fund - and replaced the bipartisan boards that govern and advise the services mostly with political appointees from Trump's administration. US law requires the government-funded broadcasters to operate independently and remain free from interference by any presidential administration. Democrats had objected to Trump's appointment of Pack, saying they feared he would see his role as forcing favorable coverage of the Republican president's administration. Pack is an ally of conservative political activists, including Steve Bannon, once a top aide to Trump.

Homeland security whistleblower not yet ready to testify; subpoena issued

Early voting in four US states -- Minnesota, Virginia, South Dakota and Wyoming -- got underway on Friday even as recent opinion polls gave democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden a comfortable lead over President Donald Trump in Minnesota. The poll-tracking website RealClearPolitics showed Biden up by an average of 10.2 percentage points as of Friday.

Trump trails Biden in national opinion polls ahead of the November 3 election, but is trying to make up ground in Minnesota, a state he lost by about 1.5 percentage points to Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016.

On Friday, the two rivals campaigned in the election battleground state of Minnesota. Biden criticised Trump's handling of the economy.&nbsp;

Biden toured a union carpenter training centre in Hermantown, a suburb of the Lake Superior port city of Duluth, and painted a grim picture of the economic situation in Minnesota's iron ore mining region, saying the coronavirus pandemic has driven up joblessness.

The former US vice president blamed Trump for the sustained economic downturn, saying the Republican president has done little to contain the public health crisis.

Biden repeated a pledge to invest $2 trillion on US infrastructure improvements while tackling climate change. Biden also said he would make sure all federal projects use American-made materials and union labour.

Trump keeps promising an infrastructure plan, but one never materialises, Biden said. 
"He has no plan," Biden added.

Trump spoke to thousands of people gathered outside an airport hangar in Bemidji, Minnesota, on Friday evening.

He would win Minnesota thanks to his economic record, Trump said, pointing to the strength of Minnesota's economy in 2019, before the coronavirus struck.

Trump also attacked what he said were Biden's policies on refugees. "Good luck, Minnesota," he said. "Your state will be overrun and destroyed if Biden and the radical left win."

The two candidates were in Minnesota on the first day of early voting in the state, a reminder that voting in the election already has begun as voters opt to cast ballots early or by mail during the pandemic.

In Virginia, elections officials in Fairfax and Arlington counties in the Washington suburbs reported heavy turnout, with lines out the door.

In Minneapolis, some 44 people cast ballots in the first 30 minutes that the city`s lone polling center was open. Some said they were anxious to get an early jump on the process, or to avoid potential crowds on Election Day.

The pandemic has sharply curtailed both candidates' campaign travel and is expected to bring a surge of early and mail voting as Americans seek to reduce their exposure to crowds.

Trump has been criticised for holding crowded campaign rallies, often with many people not wearing masks.

Biden's polling advantage underscores the extent to which the current electoral map appears to favor him. He leads in all three former industrial "Rust Belt" states that Trump flipped from the Democratic column on his way to victory in 2016: Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.

Minnesota was the flashpoint for a national reckoning on race relations, when George Floyd, a Black man, died after a white Minneapolis policeman kneeled on his neck for about nine minutes even after he appeared to lose consciousness.

Floyd's death sparked protests against racism and police brutality in many cities, with civil unrest lasting in some places for months, and further rattled a nation already besieged by the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed nearly 200,000 Americans and thrown millions of people out of work.

Trump has responded to the demonstrations by vowing to establish "law and order" while broadly portraying protesters as far-left radicals who would be further empowered by a Biden victory.

Biden has denounced the violence that has flared in some cities while expressing support for the protesters' objections to racism and police brutality. Biden has blamed Trump's divisive rhetoric for inflaming the situation.

Early voting in four US states -- Minnesota, Virginia, South Dakota and Wyoming -- got underway on Friday even as recent opinion polls gave democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden a comfortable lead over President Donald Trump in Minnesota.

Early voting in four US states -- Minnesota, Virginia, South Dakota and Wyoming -- got underway on Friday even as recent opinion polls gave democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden a comfortable lead over President Donald Trump in Minnesota. The poll-tracking website RealClearPolitics showed Biden up by an average of 10.2 percentage points as of Friday. Trump trails Biden in national opinion polls ahead of the November 3 election, but is trying to make up ground in Minnesota, a state he lost by about 1.5 percentage points to Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016. On Friday, the two rivals campaigned in the election battleground state of Minnesota. Biden criticised Trump's handling of the economy. Biden toured a union carpenter training centre in Hermantown, a suburb of the Lake Superior port city of Duluth, and painted a grim picture of the economic situation in Minnesota's iron ore mining region, saying the coronavirus pandemic has driven up joblessness. The former US vice president blamed Trump for the sustained economic downturn, saying the Republican president has done little to contain the public health crisis. Biden repeated a pledge to invest $2 trillion on US infrastructure improvements while tackling climate change. Biden also said he would make sure all federal projects use American-made materials and union labour. Trump keeps promising an infrastructure plan, but one never materialises, Biden said. "He has no plan," Biden added. Trump spoke to thousands of people gathered outside an airport hangar in Bemidji, Minnesota, on Friday evening. He would win Minnesota thanks to his economic record, Trump said, pointing to the strength of Minnesota's economy in 2019, before the coronavirus struck. Trump also attacked what he said were Biden's policies on refugees. "Good luck, Minnesota," he said. "Your state will be overrun and destroyed if Biden and the radical left win." The two candidates were in Minnesota on the first day of early voting in the state, a reminder that voting in the election already has begun as voters opt to cast ballots early or by mail during the pandemic. In Virginia, elections officials in Fairfax and Arlington counties in the Washington suburbs reported heavy turnout, with lines out the door. In Minneapolis, some 44 people cast ballots in the first 30 minutes that the city`s lone polling center was open. Some said they were anxious to get an early jump on the process, or to avoid potential crowds on Election Day. The pandemic has sharply curtailed both candidates' campaign travel and is expected to bring a surge of early and mail voting as Americans seek to reduce their exposure to crowds. Trump has been criticised for holding crowded campaign rallies, often with many people not wearing masks. Biden's polling advantage underscores the extent to which the current electoral map appears to favor him. He leads in all three former industrial "Rust Belt" states that Trump flipped from the Democratic column on his way to victory in 2016: Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. Minnesota was the flashpoint for a national reckoning on race relations, when George Floyd, a Black man, died after a white Minneapolis policeman kneeled on his neck for about nine minutes even after he appeared to lose consciousness. Floyd's death sparked protests against racism and police brutality in many cities, with civil unrest lasting in some places for months, and further rattled a nation already besieged by the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed nearly 200,000 Americans and thrown millions of people out of work. Trump has responded to the demonstrations by vowing to establish "law and order" while broadly portraying protesters as far-left radicals who would be further empowered by a Biden victory. Biden has denounced the violence that has flared in some cities while expressing support for the protesters' objections to racism and police brutality. Biden has blamed Trump's divisive rhetoric for inflaming the situation.

Early voting begins in four US states; Biden challenges Trump on economy

Republican President Donald Trump takes his re-election campaign to the political swing state of North Carolina on Saturday in an effort to boost his poll numbers against Democratic rival Joe Biden and shore up support among military members there.

Trump has boasted about revitalizing the U.S. armed forces with increased defense budgets but has seen his political support slip among troops.

A poll in the Military Times last month found a "slight but significant" preference among active duty military members for Biden, the former vice president, and a decline in favorability for Trump.

North Carolina has a number of military bases, and the president`s rally in Fayetteville is near Fort Bragg, a large base with tens of thousands of personnel.

An average of polls by RealClearPolitics shows a tight race between Trump and Biden in North Carolina, with Biden holding a slight lead.

The president has had a mixed relationship with military leaders. He described John McCain, a senator and Vietnam War veteran who is now deceased, in derogatory terms and has had to deny reporting in the Atlantic magazine that he referred to U.S. war dead as "losers" and "suckers."

Biden has sought to capitalize on that vulnerability. His campaign said on Friday it was releasing an ad directed at military families to be aired in swing states including Arizona, Florida, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Wisconsin.

"President Trump has been a consistent champion of America`s service members and veterans and has succeeded at rebuilding our military, reforming the Department of Veterans Affairs, and launching initiatives to help veterans adjust to civilian life," the campaign said in a statement on Friday after Vice President Mike Pence touted Trump`s record with the military in Arizona.

Trump has traveled repeatedly to North Carolina in recent weeks, making a stop there during the Republican National Convention and a later trip to declare the city of Wilmington a World War Two Heritage City.

Republican President Donald Trump takes his re-election campaign to the political swing state of North Carolina on Saturday in an effort to boost his poll numbers against Democratic rival Joe Biden and shore up support among military members there.

Republican President Donald Trump takes his re-election campaign to the political swing state of North Carolina on Saturday in an effort to boost his poll numbers against Democratic rival Joe Biden and shore up support among military members there. Trump has boasted about revitalizing the U.S. armed forces with increased defense budgets but has seen his political support slip among troops. A poll in the Military Times last month found a "slight but significant" preference among active duty military members for Biden, the former vice president, and a decline in favorability for Trump. North Carolina has a number of military bases, and the president`s rally in Fayetteville is near Fort Bragg, a large base with tens of thousands of personnel. An average of polls by RealClearPolitics shows a tight race between Trump and Biden in North Carolina, with Biden holding a slight lead. The president has had a mixed relationship with military leaders. He described John McCain, a senator and Vietnam War veteran who is now deceased, in derogatory terms and has had to deny reporting in the Atlantic magazine that he referred to U.S. war dead as "losers" and "suckers." Biden has sought to capitalize on that vulnerability. His campaign said on Friday it was releasing an ad directed at military families to be aired in swing states including Arizona, Florida, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Wisconsin. "President Trump has been a consistent champion of America`s service members and veterans and has succeeded at rebuilding our military, reforming the Department of Veterans Affairs, and launching initiatives to help veterans adjust to civilian life," the campaign said in a statement on Friday after Vice President Mike Pence touted Trump`s record with the military in Arizona. Trump has traveled repeatedly to North Carolina in recent weeks, making a stop there during the Republican National Convention and a later trip to declare the city of Wilmington a World War Two Heritage City.

Trump seeks to shore up military support in North Carolina campaign swing

US President Donald Trump’s luxury properties have charged the American government more than $1.1 million in private transactions since he took office, new documents show.&nbsp;

This expenditure includes room rentals at his Bedminster, NJ, club this spring even while it was closed for the coronavirus pandemic.

The Washington Post filed a public-records lawsuit after which the documents, including receipts and invoices from Trump’s businesses, were released by the Secret Service. They added $188,000 in previously unknown charges to The Post’s running total of payments to Trump’s properties related to the presence of Secret Service agents.

In Bedminster this spring, Trump's club rented a cottage and charged the Secret Service more than $21,800 while the club was closed and otherwise off-limits to guests. Trump didn’t visit the club while it was closed, but his eldest daughter, Ivanka Trump, and her family reportedly visited at least once.

The bills are usually paid in private, with no public disclosure. The government has not disclosed how much it has paid the Trump Organisation in total.

Ever since he assumed power, Trump has visited his properties 274 times, according to a Post tally, in addition to promoting those properties on Twitter, encouraging his vice president visit them and briefly choosing one of them to host a summit of world leaders

The Secret Service paid rent in Bedminster for more than 200 days when Trump was not there. The documents, however, do not say why the Secret Service needed rooms in Bedminster for so many nights — or why, on some nights, it needed more than usual. The documents also don’t give a reason for these rentals.

The Post has documented a similar dynamic at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club in Florida: Trump’s travel choices led agents to rent rooms for weeks in advance, in case the president decided to visit.

US President Donald Trump’s luxury properties have charged the American government more than $1.1 million in private transactions since he took office, new documents show.

US President Donald Trump’s luxury properties have charged the American government more than $1.1 million in private transactions since he took office, new documents show. This expenditure includes room rentals at his Bedminster, NJ, club this spring even while it was closed for the coronavirus pandemic. The Washington Post filed a public-records lawsuit after which the documents, including receipts and invoices from Trump’s businesses, were released by the Secret Service. They added $188,000 in previously unknown charges to The Post’s running total of payments to Trump’s properties related to the presence of Secret Service agents. In Bedminster this spring, Trump's club rented a cottage and charged the Secret Service more than $21,800 while the club was closed and otherwise off-limits to guests. Trump didn’t visit the club while it was closed, but his eldest daughter, Ivanka Trump, and her family reportedly visited at least once. The bills are usually paid in private, with no public disclosure. The government has not disclosed how much it has paid the Trump Organisation in total. Ever since he assumed power, Trump has visited his properties 274 times, according to a Post tally, in addition to promoting those properties on Twitter, encouraging his vice president visit them and briefly choosing one of them to host a summit of world leaders The Secret Service paid rent in Bedminster for more than 200 days when Trump was not there. The documents, however, do not say why the Secret Service needed rooms in Bedminster for so many nights — or why, on some nights, it needed more than usual. The documents also don’t give a reason for these rentals. The Post has documented a similar dynamic at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club in Florida: Trump’s travel choices led agents to rent rooms for weeks in advance, in case the president decided to visit.

Trump’s businesses charged Secret Service more than $1.1 million, says report

Election experts in the United States fail to see any reason to expect an increase in ballot fraud in November 3 presidential election, despite President Donald Trump’s repeated expressions of doubt on the mail-in voting system.

Voting by mail is not new to the United States -- nearly 1 in 4 voters cast 2016 presidential ballots that way. Routine methods and the decentralised nature of US elections make it very hard to interfere with mailed ballots, experts say.

Mail balloting can help minimise the long lines, faulty voting machines and COVID-19-induced staffing shortages that have plagued some elections this year -- though it has its own share of drawbacks.

SECURITY GUARANTEED

Election experts say it would be nearly impossible for foreign actors to disrupt an election by mailing out fake ballots, a scenario floated by Attorney General William Barr.

For one thing, voters won’t just be selecting a president: They might be choosing candidates for city council, school board and weighing in on ballot initiatives. That can require hundreds of different ballot designs in a single county and the United States has more than 3,000 counties.

Ballots aren’t counted if they aren’t printed on the proper type of paper and don’t include specific technical markings.

States also require voters to sign the outside of their envelope, which they match to a signature on file.

Some 29 states and the District of Columbia allow voters to track their ballots to ensure they are received, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Fourteen states and DC also allow voters to return their ballots by hand if they don’t trust the mail.

Those envelopes are typically opened by a different group of workers than those who scan the ballots. Outside observers are allowed to monitor the process to ensure voter privacy.

Hence, documented cases of mail-ballot fraud are extremely rare.

The conservative Heritage Foundation, which has warned of the risks of mail voting, found 14 cases of attempted mail fraud out of roughly 15.5 million ballots cast in Oregon since that state started conducting elections by mail in 1998.

The most prominent cases of mail fraud have involved campaigns, not voters. North Carolina invalidated the results of a 2018 congressional election after state officials found that a Republican campaign operative had orchestrated a ballot fraud scheme.

Experts say those scenarios can be minimised by nixing requirements -- currently in place in 11 states -- which instruct voters to get at least one witness to sign their return envelopes.

Moreover, a Stanford University study found that participation increased by roughly 2 percentage points in three states that rolled out universal voting by mail from 1996 to 2018. It had no effect on partisan outcome and did not appear to give an advantage to any particular racial, economic or age group.

DRAWBACKS

Like any other voting method, mail balloting has its drawbacks.

States rejected 1% of returned ballots in 2016 for arriving too late, missing signatures or other problems, according to EAC figures -- though that figure was as high as 5% in some states. It can be more difficult to fix errors on mail ballots than on those cast in person, experts say.

Mail ballots can pose additional barriers to those who don’t speak English or have disabilities, and delivery can be problematic on Native American reservations, where residents sometimes don’t have street addresses.

(with inputs from agencies)

Election experts in the United States fail to see any reason to expect an increase in ballot fraud in November 3 presidential election, despite President Donald Trump’s repeated expressions of doubt on the mail-in voting system.

Election experts in the United States fail to see any reason to expect an increase in ballot fraud in November 3 presidential election, despite President Donald Trump’s repeated expressions of doubt on the mail-in voting system. Voting by mail is not new to the United States -- nearly 1 in 4 voters cast 2016 presidential ballots that way. Routine methods and the decentralised nature of US elections make it very hard to interfere with mailed ballots, experts say. Mail balloting can help minimise the long lines, faulty voting machines and COVID-19-induced staffing shortages that have plagued some elections this year -- though it has its own share of drawbacks. SECURITY GUARANTEED Election experts say it would be nearly impossible for foreign actors to disrupt an election by mailing out fake ballots, a scenario floated by Attorney General William Barr. For one thing, voters won’t just be selecting a president: They might be choosing candidates for city council, school board and weighing in on ballot initiatives. That can require hundreds of different ballot designs in a single county and the United States has more than 3,000 counties. Ballots aren’t counted if they aren’t printed on the proper type of paper and don’t include specific technical markings. States also require voters to sign the outside of their envelope, which they match to a signature on file. Some 29 states and the District of Columbia allow voters to track their ballots to ensure they are received, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Fourteen states and DC also allow voters to return their ballots by hand if they don’t trust the mail. Those envelopes are typically opened by a different group of workers than those who scan the ballots. Outside observers are allowed to monitor the process to ensure voter privacy. Hence, documented cases of mail-ballot fraud are extremely rare. The conservative Heritage Foundation, which has warned of the risks of mail voting, found 14 cases of attempted mail fraud out of roughly 15.5 million ballots cast in Oregon since that state started conducting elections by mail in 1998. The most prominent cases of mail fraud have involved campaigns, not voters. North Carolina invalidated the results of a 2018 congressional election after state officials found that a Republican campaign operative had orchestrated a ballot fraud scheme. Experts say those scenarios can be minimised by nixing requirements -- currently in place in 11 states -- which instruct voters to get at least one witness to sign their return envelopes. Moreover, a Stanford University study found that participation increased by roughly 2 percentage points in three states that rolled out universal voting by mail from 1996 to 2018. It had no effect on partisan outcome and did not appear to give an advantage to any particular racial, economic or age group. DRAWBACKS Like any other voting method, mail balloting has its drawbacks. States rejected 1% of returned ballots in 2016 for arriving too late, missing signatures or other problems, according to EAC figures -- though that figure was as high as 5% in some states. It can be more difficult to fix errors on mail ballots than on those cast in person, experts say. Mail ballots can pose additional barriers to those who don’t speak English or have disabilities, and delivery can be problematic on Native American reservations, where residents sometimes don’t have street addresses. (with inputs from agencies)

Fraud is rare in US mail-in voting. Here's how it can be explained

President Donald Trump`s son Eric is willing to be questioned in connection with a probe by New York`s attorney general into whether his father and the Trump Organization overstated the value of assets to obtain loans and tax benefits - if it can wait until after the Nov. 3 election.

In a Thursday court filing, Eric Trump`s lawyers said his "extreme travel schedule and related unavailability" and "the importance of avoiding any appearance of politicizing the investigatory process" justified the delay.

They also said they had proposed four dates for Eric Trump to be questioned in the civil probe, beginning on Nov. 19.

"Eric Trump has been, and continues to be, willing to appear pursuant to a subpoena," the lawyers said.

A spokesman for Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement: “While we cannot comment on the particular steps we’re taking on specific litigation, we won’t allow any entity or individual to dictate how our investigation will proceed or allow anyone to evade a lawful subpoena."

James on Aug. 24 accused the Trump Organization, where Eric Trump is an executive vice president, of resisting subpoenas for her probe into "potential fraud or illegality," while there had been no determination any laws had been broken.

The attorney general said her probe began after Donald Trump`s former personal lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen told Congress the president`s financial statements had inflated some asset values to save money on loans and insurance, and deflated other asset values to reduce real estate taxes.

Four properties were being probed: the Seven Springs Estate in Westchester County, New York; 40 Wall Street in Manhattan; the Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chicago, and the Trump National Golf Club in Los Angeles.

The Trump Organization has said the probe into Donald Trump, a Republican, by James, a Democrat, was "all about politics."

In Thursday`s filing, its lawyers also said it should not be required to turn over "thousands of pages of privileged communications" from its lawyers that James also subpoenaed. 
A hearing is scheduled for Sept. 23 in a New York state court in Manhattan.

President Donald Trump`s son Eric is willing to be questioned in connection with a probe by New York`s attorney general into whether his father and the Trump Organization overstated the value of assets to obtain loans and tax benefits - if it can wait until after the Nov.

President Donald Trump`s son Eric is willing to be questioned in connection with a probe by New York`s attorney general into whether his father and the Trump Organization overstated the value of assets to obtain loans and tax benefits - if it can wait until after the Nov. 3 election. In a Thursday court filing, Eric Trump`s lawyers said his "extreme travel schedule and related unavailability" and "the importance of avoiding any appearance of politicizing the investigatory process" justified the delay. They also said they had proposed four dates for Eric Trump to be questioned in the civil probe, beginning on Nov. 19. "Eric Trump has been, and continues to be, willing to appear pursuant to a subpoena," the lawyers said. A spokesman for Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement: “While we cannot comment on the particular steps we’re taking on specific litigation, we won’t allow any entity or individual to dictate how our investigation will proceed or allow anyone to evade a lawful subpoena." James on Aug. 24 accused the Trump Organization, where Eric Trump is an executive vice president, of resisting subpoenas for her probe into "potential fraud or illegality," while there had been no determination any laws had been broken. The attorney general said her probe began after Donald Trump`s former personal lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen told Congress the president`s financial statements had inflated some asset values to save money on loans and insurance, and deflated other asset values to reduce real estate taxes. Four properties were being probed: the Seven Springs Estate in Westchester County, New York; 40 Wall Street in Manhattan; the Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chicago, and the Trump National Golf Club in Los Angeles. The Trump Organization has said the probe into Donald Trump, a Republican, by James, a Democrat, was "all about politics." In Thursday`s filing, its lawyers also said it should not be required to turn over "thousands of pages of privileged communications" from its lawyers that James also subpoenaed. A hearing is scheduled for Sept. 23 in a New York state court in Manhattan.

Trump's son agrees to sit for questioning in New York probe, after the election

US President Donald Trump has said he is planning to establish a commission to promote "patriotic education" in his country, taking issue with efforts to highlight the American history of slavery and racism.

Trump was speaking at the National Archives, which houses the US Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Declaration of Independence, on Thursday.

Trump has sought to portray himself as a "law and order" candidate in the November 3 election against rival Joe Biden and his announcement on Thursday to use an executive order to establish the commission could also be a move to appeal to his base.

In a speech rife with race-baiting and dog whistles, the President decried "left-wing mobs" and claimed their tactics were comparable to anti-American propaganda used by foreign adversaries. He also railed against people who have taken to the streets around the country this year to protest racial injustice.

Trump said "left-wing mobs" had torn down statues, desecrated memorials, and carried out a "campaign of violence and anarchy."

"Whether it is the mob on the street, or the cancel culture in the boardroom, the goal is the same: to silence dissent, to scare you out of speaking the truth, and to bully Americans into abandoning their values, their heritage, and their very way of life," he said.

"We are here today to declare that we will never submit to tyranny. &nbsp;We will reclaim our history and our country for citizens of every race, color, religion, and creed."

Trump is trailing Biden in national opinion polls. Biden has also condemned looting and violence that have been part of some anti-racism protests.

In his speech, the President also railed against racial sensitivity trainings and claimed that college students are "inundated" with teachings related to critical race theory.&nbsp;

Trump said the commission would "encourage our educators to teach our children about the miracle of American history."

"America’s founding set in motion the unstoppable chain of events that abolished slavery, secured civil rights, defeated communism and fascism, and built the most fair, equal, and prosperous nation in human history," he said.

US President Donald Trump has said he is planning to establish a commission to promote "patriotic education" in his country, taking issue with efforts to highlight the American history of slavery and racism.

US President Donald Trump has said he is planning to establish a commission to promote "patriotic education" in his country, taking issue with efforts to highlight the American history of slavery and racism. Trump was speaking at the National Archives, which houses the US Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Declaration of Independence, on Thursday. Trump has sought to portray himself as a "law and order" candidate in the November 3 election against rival Joe Biden and his announcement on Thursday to use an executive order to establish the commission could also be a move to appeal to his base. In a speech rife with race-baiting and dog whistles, the President decried "left-wing mobs" and claimed their tactics were comparable to anti-American propaganda used by foreign adversaries. He also railed against people who have taken to the streets around the country this year to protest racial injustice. Trump said "left-wing mobs" had torn down statues, desecrated memorials, and carried out a "campaign of violence and anarchy." "Whether it is the mob on the street, or the cancel culture in the boardroom, the goal is the same: to silence dissent, to scare you out of speaking the truth, and to bully Americans into abandoning their values, their heritage, and their very way of life," he said. "We are here today to declare that we will never submit to tyranny. We will reclaim our history and our country for citizens of every race, color, religion, and creed." Trump is trailing Biden in national opinion polls. Biden has also condemned looting and violence that have been part of some anti-racism protests. In his speech, the President also railed against racial sensitivity trainings and claimed that college students are "inundated" with teachings related to critical race theory. Trump said the commission would "encourage our educators to teach our children about the miracle of American history." "America’s founding set in motion the unstoppable chain of events that abolished slavery, secured civil rights, defeated communism and fascism, and built the most fair, equal, and prosperous nation in human history," he said.

Trump pushes 'patriotic education' in appeal to conservative base

The Biden administration, if elected to power in US after November presidential election, would place a high priority on strengthening US-India ties, his campaign has asserted.

It also said the administration would have no tolerance for terrorism in South Asia.

"We believe that India and the United States are natural partners, and if elected, our administration will place a high priority on continuing to strengthen the US-India relationship," it said in a written response to a series of questions asked by the Hindu American Political Action Committee.

The committee recently sent a series of questions to the campaigns of former vice-president Joe Biden and President Donald Trump as part of its decision-making process to endorse either of them before the November 3 presidential election.

"The Biden-Harris administration will have no tolerance for terrorism in South Asia -- cross-border or otherwise. Our administration will work to strengthen India's capabilities as a defence and counter-terrorism partner," the Biden campaign said.

"During the Obama-Biden administration, the US and India strengthened their cooperation to fight terrorism in each of our countries and across the region, and if we are elected, the Biden-Harris administration will continue and build on this effort," it said.

Biden also expressed concern about dangerous conditions for religious minorities in South Asia and elsewhere. He said if elected, his administration will renew America's commitment to standing as a beacon of hope for refugees around the world, including those fleeing religious persecution and seeking the freedom to worship as they choose.

He noted that the US is fundamentally a nation of immigrants, and said he is committed to immigration reform that provides a roadmap to citizenship for nearly 11 million undocumented immigrants -- including more than 500,000 from India.

"We will remove the uncertainty for Dreamers by reinstating the DACA programme and explore all legal options to protect their families from inhumane separation. All of this is in direct opposition to Trump's actions," the campaign said.

The Biden-Harris administration will work with the Congress to increase the number of visas awarded for permanent, employment-based immigration -- and promote mechanisms to temporarily reduce the number of visas during times of high US unemployment, it said.

"We will also exempt from any cap recent graduates of PhD programmes in STEM fields in the US... We believe that foreign graduates of a US doctoral programme should be given a green card with their degree and that losing these highly trained workers to foreign economies is a disservice to our own economic competitiveness," it said.

Ajay Bhutoria, national finance committee member of Biden campaign, said in a statement that the Biden-Harris administration will celebrate Hindu holidays, as was done in the Obama-Biden administration, which celebrated Diwali at the White House, the Vice President's residence at the Naval Observatory, and at the Pentagon.

This election year Biden recognised Holi and Ganesh Chaturthi.

Bhutoria said the Biden campaign made history in its outreach to the Hindu-American community. "Biden became the first major-party presidential nominee to respond to a questionnaire for the Hindu-American community," he said.

Biden's a response to real concerns in the community, addressing the unique challenges facing Hindu students to the importance of reforming the immigration system to how to help small businesses recover from COVID-19, Bhutoria said.&nbsp;

The Biden administration, if elected to power in US after November presidential election, would place a high priority on strengthening US-India ties, his campaign has asserted.

The Biden administration, if elected to power in US after November presidential election, would place a high priority on strengthening US-India ties, his campaign has asserted. It also said the administration would have no tolerance for terrorism in South Asia. "We believe that India and the United States are natural partners, and if elected, our administration will place a high priority on continuing to strengthen the US-India relationship," it said in a written response to a series of questions asked by the Hindu American Political Action Committee. The committee recently sent a series of questions to the campaigns of former vice-president Joe Biden and President Donald Trump as part of its decision-making process to endorse either of them before the November 3 presidential election. "The Biden-Harris administration will have no tolerance for terrorism in South Asia -- cross-border or otherwise. Our administration will work to strengthen India's capabilities as a defence and counter-terrorism partner," the Biden campaign said. "During the Obama-Biden administration, the US and India strengthened their cooperation to fight terrorism in each of our countries and across the region, and if we are elected, the Biden-Harris administration will continue and build on this effort," it said. Biden also expressed concern about dangerous conditions for religious minorities in South Asia and elsewhere. He said if elected, his administration will renew America's commitment to standing as a beacon of hope for refugees around the world, including those fleeing religious persecution and seeking the freedom to worship as they choose. He noted that the US is fundamentally a nation of immigrants, and said he is committed to immigration reform that provides a roadmap to citizenship for nearly 11 million undocumented immigrants -- including more than 500,000 from India. "We will remove the uncertainty for Dreamers by reinstating the DACA programme and explore all legal options to protect their families from inhumane separation. All of this is in direct opposition to Trump's actions," the campaign said. The Biden-Harris administration will work with the Congress to increase the number of visas awarded for permanent, employment-based immigration -- and promote mechanisms to temporarily reduce the number of visas during times of high US unemployment, it said. "We will also exempt from any cap recent graduates of PhD programmes in STEM fields in the US... We believe that foreign graduates of a US doctoral programme should be given a green card with their degree and that losing these highly trained workers to foreign economies is a disservice to our own economic competitiveness," it said. Ajay Bhutoria, national finance committee member of Biden campaign, said in a statement that the Biden-Harris administration will celebrate Hindu holidays, as was done in the Obama-Biden administration, which celebrated Diwali at the White House, the Vice President's residence at the Naval Observatory, and at the Pentagon. This election year Biden recognised Holi and Ganesh Chaturthi. Bhutoria said the Biden campaign made history in its outreach to the Hindu-American community. "Biden became the first major-party presidential nominee to respond to a questionnaire for the Hindu-American community," he said. Biden's a response to real concerns in the community, addressing the unique challenges facing Hindu students to the importance of reforming the immigration system to how to help small businesses recover from COVID-19, Bhutoria said.

Biden admin to place US-India ties on 'high priority', his campaign says

Kim Kardashian West on Tuesday decided to freeze her Facebook and Instagram accounts, as she and other celebrities called on the social media platforms to stop the spread of hate and misinformation. 
 
"Misinformation shared on social media has a serious impact on our elections and undermines our democracy," Kardashian West said in a tweet, as she joined the 'Stop Hate for Profit' campaign that has pressured Facebook Inc to remove hate speech. 
 
The campaign, launched earlier this year, won the support of dozens of major companies in an advertising boycott of the social media giant. 
 
Kardashian West, a businesswoman and reality TV star, has become an influential powerhouse of social change in recent months, raising the issue of climate change to her millions of followers and lobbying the White House for criminal justice reform. 
 
With 188 million Instagram followers, Kardashian West has one of the top 10 most followed accounts worldwide. 
 
She plans to freeze her accounts on Wednesday. Facebook did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 
 
The company had said it would team up with civil rights groups and experts to develop more tools to fight hate speech. 
 
Other celebrities and actors including Kerry Washington, Jennifer Lawrence and Sacha Baron Cohen also tweeted on Tuesday, calling on Facebook to do more to stop the spread of misinformation, using the hashtag #StopHateForProfit. 
 
The campaign encouraged users to post about the harms that Facebook is inflicting on society and the importance of voting. It includes a 24-hour Instagram 'Freeze' on September 16.

Kim Kardashian West on Tuesday decided to freeze her Facebook and Instagram accounts, as she and other celebrities called on the social media platforms to stop the spread of hate and misinformation.

Kim Kardashian West on Tuesday decided to freeze her Facebook and Instagram accounts, as she and other celebrities called on the social media platforms to stop the spread of hate and misinformation. "Misinformation shared on social media has a serious impact on our elections and undermines our democracy," Kardashian West said in a tweet, as she joined the 'Stop Hate for Profit' campaign that has pressured Facebook Inc to remove hate speech. The campaign, launched earlier this year, won the support of dozens of major companies in an advertising boycott of the social media giant. Kardashian West, a businesswoman and reality TV star, has become an influential powerhouse of social change in recent months, raising the issue of climate change to her millions of followers and lobbying the White House for criminal justice reform. With 188 million Instagram followers, Kardashian West has one of the top 10 most followed accounts worldwide. She plans to freeze her accounts on Wednesday. Facebook did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The company had said it would team up with civil rights groups and experts to develop more tools to fight hate speech. Other celebrities and actors including Kerry Washington, Jennifer Lawrence and Sacha Baron Cohen also tweeted on Tuesday, calling on Facebook to do more to stop the spread of misinformation, using the hashtag #StopHateForProfit. The campaign encouraged users to post about the harms that Facebook is inflicting on society and the importance of voting. It includes a 24-hour Instagram 'Freeze' on September 16.

Kim Kardashian to freeze Facebook, Instagram accounts to protest hate speech

The wildfires engulfing swaths of the US West assumed centre stage on Monday in the US election campaign, with President Donald Trump visiting California to be briefed on them.

The quick stop during a three-day reelection campaign swing was the first time Trump has visited California since the devastating blazes began.

While his Democratic challenger, Joe Biden, stressed the role of climate change in stoking the fires, Trump blamed the blazes on poor forest management.

The Republican president, seeking re-election on November 3, is due to meet with firefighters and emergency officials in Northern California. Democrats have blasted Trump for remaining mostly silent about the largest wildfires in state history, except for his efforts to blame the blazes on failures by the state government.

"I think this is more of a management situation," Trump said, when asked by a reporter if climate change was a factor behind the fires, claiming that many other countries are not facing a similar problem.&nbsp;

"They don`t have problems like this. They have very explosive trees, but they don`t have problems like this."

He said forest management changes were something that could be tackled quickly.

"When you get into climate change, well is India going to change its ways? And is China going to change its ways? And Russia? Is Russia going to change its ways. So, you have a lot of countries that are going to have change because they make up ... a big preponderance of the pollution," he said after landing in McLellan Park, California.

Trump has pulled the United States out of the Paris accord that laid out an international approach to climate change while Biden says climate change is on his list of major crises facing the United States.

Meanwhile, wildfires across Oregon, California and Washington state have destroyed thousands of homes and a half dozen small towns since August, scorching more than 4 million acres (1.6 million hectares) and killing more than two dozen people.

Trump has authorised federal disaster aid for both California and Oregon.

Trump`s administration has waged a series of legal battles with Democratic-run California, the most populous US&nbsp;state, on a variety of issues including immigration and environmental policy. The state for its part has sued his administration more than 100 times.

Trump lost badly in California in the 2016 election and is expected to fare poorly there in November.

The president and his administration have sought to pin the blame for the large wildfires on state officials, saying fuel-choked forests and scrub need to be thinned, fire breaks must be cut and flammable dead leaves cleared from forest floors.

The wildfires engulfing swaths of the US West assumed centre stage on Monday in the US election campaign, with President Donald Trump visiting California to be briefed on them.

The wildfires engulfing swaths of the US West assumed centre stage on Monday in the US election campaign, with President Donald Trump visiting California to be briefed on them. The quick stop during a three-day reelection campaign swing was the first time Trump has visited California since the devastating blazes began. While his Democratic challenger, Joe Biden, stressed the role of climate change in stoking the fires, Trump blamed the blazes on poor forest management. The Republican president, seeking re-election on November 3, is due to meet with firefighters and emergency officials in Northern California. Democrats have blasted Trump for remaining mostly silent about the largest wildfires in state history, except for his efforts to blame the blazes on failures by the state government. "I think this is more of a management situation," Trump said, when asked by a reporter if climate change was a factor behind the fires, claiming that many other countries are not facing a similar problem. "They don`t have problems like this. They have very explosive trees, but they don`t have problems like this." He said forest management changes were something that could be tackled quickly. "When you get into climate change, well is India going to change its ways? And is China going to change its ways? And Russia? Is Russia going to change its ways. So, you have a lot of countries that are going to have change because they make up ... a big preponderance of the pollution," he said after landing in McLellan Park, California. Trump has pulled the United States out of the Paris accord that laid out an international approach to climate change while Biden says climate change is on his list of major crises facing the United States. Meanwhile, wildfires across Oregon, California and Washington state have destroyed thousands of homes and a half dozen small towns since August, scorching more than 4 million acres (1.6 million hectares) and killing more than two dozen people. Trump has authorised federal disaster aid for both California and Oregon. Trump`s administration has waged a series of legal battles with Democratic-run California, the most populous US state, on a variety of issues including immigration and environmental policy. The state for its part has sued his administration more than 100 times. Trump lost badly in California in the 2016 election and is expected to fare poorly there in November. The president and his administration have sought to pin the blame for the large wildfires on state officials, saying fuel-choked forests and scrub need to be thinned, fire breaks must be cut and flammable dead leaves cleared from forest floors.

Trump dismisses climate concerns, blames 'poor' forest management for Western wildfires

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has added top lawyers to his staff and launched a "special litigation" team as his campaign braces for potential legal fights over the outcome of the Nov. 3 U.S. election against President Donald Trump.

Biden`s campaign for months has been ramping up what it calls the largest voter protection program in presidential election history, after Trump repeatedly has suggested without evidence that the election could be "rigged."

The campaign said on Monday that Bob Bauer, a New York University law school professor and former Obama administration counsel, had joined as a full-time senior campaign adviser working on voter protection efforts with campaign General Counsel Dana Remus.

Marc Elias, a top elections lawyer at the firm Perkins Coie, was running a team focused on "protecting voter access to the polls and a fair and accurate vote count" state by state, the campaign said.

Former Solicitors General Donald Verrilli and Walter Dellinger have been brought on to run a national special litigation unit, and former Attorney General Eric Holder will play a leading role in communicating with "all stakeholders in voting rights," the campaign said.

Reuters reported in July that the Biden campaign was preparing for a contested election outcome, and that Bauer and Elias were involved in the contingency planning.

Together, the teams are providing legal, communications and political strategies for administering the vote at a time when the coronavirus pandemic and an expected surge in voting by mail have raised concerns that the outcome could be delayed well beyond the Nov. 3 election.

The campaign said the teams would respond aggressively to voter suppression activities, as well as identify and counter "foreign interference and misinformation from foreign or domestic&nbsp;sources."

Biden on Monday told reporters in Wilmington, Delaware, that the American people would insist that all votes be counted come November.

"I have confidence that Trump will try to not have that happen, but I`m confident the American public is going to insist on it," Biden said after casting an early vote ahead of Tuesday`s primary election in his home state.

Trump has cast doubt on the legitimacy of mail-in ballots, which have been used in far greater numbers in primary elections amid the pandemic.

He has refused to say he would accept official election results if he lost and has suggested at times that the election be postponed, something he does not have the power to do.

The Republican Party also has a substantial legal effort underway focused on blocking some states from mailing absentee ballots to all registered voters. It argues the U.S. election system is not ready for the vote-by-mail changes hastened in many places by the coronavirus and could be overwhelmed.

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has added top lawyers to his staff and launched a "special litigation" team as his campaign braces for potential legal fights over the outcome of the Nov.

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has added top lawyers to his staff and launched a "special litigation" team as his campaign braces for potential legal fights over the outcome of the Nov. 3 U.S. election against President Donald Trump. Biden`s campaign for months has been ramping up what it calls the largest voter protection program in presidential election history, after Trump repeatedly has suggested without evidence that the election could be "rigged." The campaign said on Monday that Bob Bauer, a New York University law school professor and former Obama administration counsel, had joined as a full-time senior campaign adviser working on voter protection efforts with campaign General Counsel Dana Remus. Marc Elias, a top elections lawyer at the firm Perkins Coie, was running a team focused on "protecting voter access to the polls and a fair and accurate vote count" state by state, the campaign said. Former Solicitors General Donald Verrilli and Walter Dellinger have been brought on to run a national special litigation unit, and former Attorney General Eric Holder will play a leading role in communicating with "all stakeholders in voting rights," the campaign said. Reuters reported in July that the Biden campaign was preparing for a contested election outcome, and that Bauer and Elias were involved in the contingency planning. Together, the teams are providing legal, communications and political strategies for administering the vote at a time when the coronavirus pandemic and an expected surge in voting by mail have raised concerns that the outcome could be delayed well beyond the Nov. 3 election. The campaign said the teams would respond aggressively to voter suppression activities, as well as identify and counter "foreign interference and misinformation from foreign or domestic sources." Biden on Monday told reporters in Wilmington, Delaware, that the American people would insist that all votes be counted come November. "I have confidence that Trump will try to not have that happen, but I`m confident the American public is going to insist on it," Biden said after casting an early vote ahead of Tuesday`s primary election in his home state. Trump has cast doubt on the legitimacy of mail-in ballots, which have been used in far greater numbers in primary elections amid the pandemic. He has refused to say he would accept official election results if he lost and has suggested at times that the election be postponed, something he does not have the power to do. The Republican Party also has a substantial legal effort underway focused on blocking some states from mailing absentee ballots to all registered voters. It argues the U.S. election system is not ready for the vote-by-mail changes hastened in many places by the coronavirus and could be overwhelmed.

Biden adds top lawyers to teams preparing for election legal battles

US President Donald Trump’s former adviser and also his friend Roger Stone, has suggested that if Trump lose out to Biden in upcoming Presidential elections, then Trump should enforce his power by declaring martial law. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-commutes-longtime-adviser-roger-stones-prison-sentence-312432">Also read | Trump commutes longtime adviser Roger Stone's prison sentence</a> 
 
He also suggested to arrest Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook, Tim Cook of Apple, Bill and Hillary Clinton and “anybody else who can be proven to be involved in illegal activity”.

“I do not advocate preventive detention, but people who commit crimes and think they can continue to get away with it because we have two-tier justice are just wrong,” he said in an online interview.

Stone also advocated “forming an election day operation using the FBI, federal marshals and Republican state officials across the country to be prepared to file legal objections to results and if necessary to physically stand in the way of criminal activity”.

On July 11 this year, President Donald Trump commuted the sentence of his longtime friend and adviser Roger Stone, sparing him from prison after he was convicted of lying under oath to lawmakers investigating Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election.

(With inputs from agencies)

US President Donald Trump’s former adviser and also his friend Roger Stone, has suggested that if Trump lose out to Biden in upcoming Presidential elections, then Trump should enforce his power by declaring martial law.

US President Donald Trump’s former adviser and also his friend Roger Stone, has suggested that if Trump lose out to Biden in upcoming Presidential elections, then Trump should enforce his power by declaring martial law. Also read | Trump commutes longtime adviser Roger Stone's prison sentence He also suggested to arrest Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook, Tim Cook of Apple, Bill and Hillary Clinton and “anybody else who can be proven to be involved in illegal activity”. “I do not advocate preventive detention, but people who commit crimes and think they can continue to get away with it because we have two-tier justice are just wrong,” he said in an online interview. Stone also advocated “forming an election day operation using the FBI, federal marshals and Republican state officials across the country to be prepared to file legal objections to results and if necessary to physically stand in the way of criminal activity”. On July 11 this year, President Donald Trump commuted the sentence of his longtime friend and adviser Roger Stone, sparing him from prison after he was convicted of lying under oath to lawmakers investigating Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election. (With inputs from agencies)

US election 2020: Trump ally tells him to bring martial law if he loses election; recommends jailing Clintons, Zuckerberg

Billionaire Michael Bloomberg plans to infuse at least $100 million in Florida to help Democrat Joe Biden's effort against Republican President Donald Trump in an important swing state.

According to The Washington Post, Bloomberg advisors said the former New York City mayor made his decision last week after news reports that Trump was considering spending up to $100 million of his own cash in his adopted state. Bloomberg had spent hundreds of millions on his 2020 Democratic presidential bid before dropping out.

The Republican president, who trails Biden in national opinion polls before the November 3 election, told reporters last week that he would spend his own money if needed.

The billionaire's decision comes at a critical moment in the final 51 days of the race, with polls showing a close race in the battleground state and no financial advantage for the sitting president.

Trump’s re-election campaign and the Republican National Committee on Wednesday said they raised a combined $210 million in August, falling far short of matching Biden’s record-breaking haul of $364.5 million for the month.

Polls in Florida have tightened in recent weeks and Bloomberg thought that was a good place to focus on, his advisers told the Post.

"Mike Bloomberg is committed to helping defeat Trump, and that is going to happen in the battleground states," said Bloomberg advisor Kevin Sheekey, who added that the spending "will mean Democrats and the Biden campaign can invest even more heavily in other key states like Pennsylvania, which will be critical to a Biden victory."

"Mike believes that by investing in Florida it will allow campaign resources and other Democratic resources to be used in other states, in particular the state of Pennsylvania," the Post quoted Kevin Sheekey as saying, on Sunday.

The New York Times last week reported that Trump’s initial financial supremacy over former Vice President Biden earlier this year had evaporated, and that of the $1.1 billion his campaign and the party raised from the beginning of 2019 through July, more than $800 million already had been spent.

Even before Bloomberg's spending, both campaigns were expecting Florida to be the most expensive state in which to campaign. It will be the biggest prize among competitive states on Election Day, offering 29 of the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win.

Voting by mail in the state starts on September 24, and Biden is planning his first in-person visit to Florida of the general election season on Tuesday.

Trump won the state by 113,000 votes in his victorious 2016 election, or 1.2 percentage points. He has since adopted the state as his residence and visits regularly.

Recent polls have shown Biden with a very slim margin there, gaining ground with older voters but trailing previous Democrats' performance with Latinos. People over 65 years old make up one in five of the state's voters and Latinos make up one in four.

Democrats had worried that Bloomberg's promised help for the party might not come through after he abandoned his own presidential primary campaign. Some were angered by Bloomberg's getting a prime-time speaking slot at the Democratic convention in August.

A Bloomberg aide said the money would be used to help bring people to the polls who support Biden and communicating with Latino voters, in particular.

(with inputs from agencies)

Billionaire Michael Bloomberg plans to infuse at least $100 million in Florida to help Democrat Joe Biden's effort against Republican President Donald Trump in an important swing state.

Billionaire Michael Bloomberg plans to infuse at least $100 million in Florida to help Democrat Joe Biden's effort against Republican President Donald Trump in an important swing state. According to The Washington Post, Bloomberg advisors said the former New York City mayor made his decision last week after news reports that Trump was considering spending up to $100 million of his own cash in his adopted state. Bloomberg had spent hundreds of millions on his 2020 Democratic presidential bid before dropping out. The Republican president, who trails Biden in national opinion polls before the November 3 election, told reporters last week that he would spend his own money if needed. The billionaire's decision comes at a critical moment in the final 51 days of the race, with polls showing a close race in the battleground state and no financial advantage for the sitting president. Trump’s re-election campaign and the Republican National Committee on Wednesday said they raised a combined $210 million in August, falling far short of matching Biden’s record-breaking haul of $364.5 million for the month. Polls in Florida have tightened in recent weeks and Bloomberg thought that was a good place to focus on, his advisers told the Post. "Mike Bloomberg is committed to helping defeat Trump, and that is going to happen in the battleground states," said Bloomberg advisor Kevin Sheekey, who added that the spending "will mean Democrats and the Biden campaign can invest even more heavily in other key states like Pennsylvania, which will be critical to a Biden victory." "Mike believes that by investing in Florida it will allow campaign resources and other Democratic resources to be used in other states, in particular the state of Pennsylvania," the Post quoted Kevin Sheekey as saying, on Sunday. The New York Times last week reported that Trump’s initial financial supremacy over former Vice President Biden earlier this year had evaporated, and that of the $1.1 billion his campaign and the party raised from the beginning of 2019 through July, more than $800 million already had been spent. Even before Bloomberg's spending, both campaigns were expecting Florida to be the most expensive state in which to campaign. It will be the biggest prize among competitive states on Election Day, offering 29 of the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win. Voting by mail in the state starts on September 24, and Biden is planning his first in-person visit to Florida of the general election season on Tuesday. Trump won the state by 113,000 votes in his victorious 2016 election, or 1.2 percentage points. He has since adopted the state as his residence and visits regularly. Recent polls have shown Biden with a very slim margin there, gaining ground with older voters but trailing previous Democrats' performance with Latinos. People over 65 years old make up one in five of the state's voters and Latinos make up one in four. Democrats had worried that Bloomberg's promised help for the party might not come through after he abandoned his own presidential primary campaign. Some were angered by Bloomberg's getting a prime-time speaking slot at the Democratic convention in August. A Bloomberg aide said the money would be used to help bring people to the polls who support Biden and communicating with Latino voters, in particular. (with inputs from agencies)

Billionaire Michael Bloomberg to spend $100 million to help Joe Biden, report says

A Black study group that focussed on race drew Shyamala Gopalan, mother of Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Kamala Harris, and her husband Donald Harris together when they arrived at the University of California at Berkeley, a media report said.

A report in The New York Times said that at an off-campus space at the University of California at Berkeley in the fall of 1962, Harris, then a Jamaican Ph.D. Student, addressed a small crowd, drawing parallels between his native country and the US.

He spoke about observing British colonial power in Jamaica, the way a small number of whites had cultivated a "native Black elite" in order to mask extreme social inequality.

Gopalan, who was sitting in the audience, found Harris' ideas "so compelling" that she came up to him after the speech and introduced herself.

"She was a tiny Indian scientist wearing a sari and sandals " the only other foreign student to show up for a talk on race in America."

Donald Harris recalled in The New York Times report that Gopalan was "a standout in appearance relative to everybody else in the group of both men and women."

Gopalan, raised in India, wanted to hear more of Harris' ideas.

"This was all very interesting to me, and, I daresay, a bit charming," Donald Harris, now 82 and an emeritus professor of economics at Stanford, recalled in written answers to questions. "At a subsequent meeting, we talked again, and at the one after that. The rest is now history."

The NYT report quotes their contemporaries as saying that "As a couple, Don Harris and Shyamala Gopalan Harris stood out, with their upper-crust accents and air of intellectual confidence."

Anne Williams, 76, said she found Donald Harris "reserved and academic in his presentation," difficult to get to know. Gopalan was "warm" and "charming."

Indian-born economist Baron Meghnad Desai described Gopalan as a passionate debater, "fiery and radical but not Marxist in any sense." Her husband, he recalled, "did take a serious interest in radical political economy, but he was a calm and patient arguer."

"There was no doubt about that, they were very much together, very much in love," he said. 
The NYT report said that Gopalan, the oldest child in a high-achieving Tamil Brahmin family, wanted to be a biochemist but at Lady Irwin College, she was forced to settle for a degree in home science.

Her brother Gopalan Balachandran said that his father and he used to tease Shyamala Gopalan about her studying home science. "We would say, "What do you study in home science" Do they teach you to set up plates for dinner"' She used to get angry and laugh. She would say, "You don't know what I'm studying.'"

At Berkeley, Gopalan became part of a Black intellectual study group that met off-campus. "She was part of the real brotherhood and sisterhood, there was never an issue," said Aubrey LaBrie, who went on to teach courses on Black nationalism at San Francisco State University. "She was just accepted as part of the group."

When Harris arrived on campus in 1961, he too fell in with the study group right away, the report said. He described the study group as an oasis, his introduction "to the realities of African-American life in its truest and rawest form, its richness and complexity, wealth and poverty, hope and despair."

The NYT report added that it was in this group in 1962 that Harris met his future wife. "We talked then, continued to talk at a subsequent meeting, and at another, and another," he said. The following year they were married.

Gopalan, who had expected to return to India from Berkeley, had later told a local newspaper, "I never came to stay. It's the old story: I fell in love with a guy, we got married, pretty soon kids came."

The NYT report adds that the Harrises' marriage would fray as Harris took short-term teaching positions at two different universities in Illinois. As he won a tenure-track position at the University of Wisconsin, Gopalan settled, instead, with her children in Oakland and West Berkeley.

Gopalan, a research scientist who published influential work on the role of hormones in breast cancer, filed for divorce in 1972.

"She was quite unhappy about the separation but she had already got used to that and she didn't want to talk to Don after that," said Balachandran, her brother. "When you love somebody, then love turns into very hard bitterness, you don't even want to talk to them."

Kamala Harris, 55, has written about her parents splitting up in her 2018 memoir "The Truths We Hold'. Harris wrote, "I knew they loved each other very much, but it seemed like they had become like oil and water."

She wrote that "had they been a little older, a little more emotionally mature, maybe the marriage could have survived. But they were so young. My father was my mother's first boyfriend."

Kamala Harris is a Senator from California. She is the first ever black, African American and a person of Indian descent to be nominated as a vice presidential nominee by a major political party in the United States. 
&nbsp;

A Black study group that focussed on race drew Shyamala Gopalan, mother of Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Kamala Harris, and her husband Donald Harris together when they arrived at the University of California at Berkeley, a media report said.

A Black study group that focussed on race drew Shyamala Gopalan, mother of Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Kamala Harris, and her husband Donald Harris together when they arrived at the University of California at Berkeley, a media report said. A report in The New York Times said that at an off-campus space at the University of California at Berkeley in the fall of 1962, Harris, then a Jamaican Ph.D. Student, addressed a small crowd, drawing parallels between his native country and the US. He spoke about observing British colonial power in Jamaica, the way a small number of whites had cultivated a "native Black elite" in order to mask extreme social inequality. Gopalan, who was sitting in the audience, found Harris' ideas "so compelling" that she came up to him after the speech and introduced herself. "She was a tiny Indian scientist wearing a sari and sandals " the only other foreign student to show up for a talk on race in America." Donald Harris recalled in The New York Times report that Gopalan was "a standout in appearance relative to everybody else in the group of both men and women." Gopalan, raised in India, wanted to hear more of Harris' ideas. "This was all very interesting to me, and, I daresay, a bit charming," Donald Harris, now 82 and an emeritus professor of economics at Stanford, recalled in written answers to questions. "At a subsequent meeting, we talked again, and at the one after that. The rest is now history." The NYT report quotes their contemporaries as saying that "As a couple, Don Harris and Shyamala Gopalan Harris stood out, with their upper-crust accents and air of intellectual confidence." Anne Williams, 76, said she found Donald Harris "reserved and academic in his presentation," difficult to get to know. Gopalan was "warm" and "charming." Indian-born economist Baron Meghnad Desai described Gopalan as a passionate debater, "fiery and radical but not Marxist in any sense." Her husband, he recalled, "did take a serious interest in radical political economy, but he was a calm and patient arguer." "There was no doubt about that, they were very much together, very much in love," he said. The NYT report said that Gopalan, the oldest child in a high-achieving Tamil Brahmin family, wanted to be a biochemist but at Lady Irwin College, she was forced to settle for a degree in home science. Her brother Gopalan Balachandran said that his father and he used to tease Shyamala Gopalan about her studying home science. "We would say, "What do you study in home science" Do they teach you to set up plates for dinner"' She used to get angry and laugh. She would say, "You don't know what I'm studying.'" At Berkeley, Gopalan became part of a Black intellectual study group that met off-campus. "She was part of the real brotherhood and sisterhood, there was never an issue," said Aubrey LaBrie, who went on to teach courses on Black nationalism at San Francisco State University. "She was just accepted as part of the group." When Harris arrived on campus in 1961, he too fell in with the study group right away, the report said. He described the study group as an oasis, his introduction "to the realities of African-American life in its truest and rawest form, its richness and complexity, wealth and poverty, hope and despair." The NYT report added that it was in this group in 1962 that Harris met his future wife. "We talked then, continued to talk at a subsequent meeting, and at another, and another," he said. The following year they were married. Gopalan, who had expected to return to India from Berkeley, had later told a local newspaper, "I never came to stay. It's the old story: I fell in love with a guy, we got married, pretty soon kids came." The NYT report adds that the Harrises' marriage would fray as Harris took short-term teaching positions at two different universities in Illinois. As he won a tenure-track position at the University of Wisconsin, Gopalan settled, instead, with her children in Oakland and West Berkeley. Gopalan, a research scientist who published influential work on the role of hormones in breast cancer, filed for divorce in 1972. "She was quite unhappy about the separation but she had already got used to that and she didn't want to talk to Don after that," said Balachandran, her brother. "When you love somebody, then love turns into very hard bitterness, you don't even want to talk to them." Kamala Harris, 55, has written about her parents splitting up in her 2018 memoir "The Truths We Hold'. Harris wrote, "I knew they loved each other very much, but it seemed like they had become like oil and water." She wrote that "had they been a little older, a little more emotionally mature, maybe the marriage could have survived. But they were so young. My father was my mother's first boyfriend." Kamala Harris is a Senator from California. She is the first ever black, African American and a person of Indian descent to be nominated as a vice presidential nominee by a major political party in the United States.

Kamala Harris' parents found common ground in a Black study group after their arrival in US

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US President Donald Trump is set to embark on a heavier fundraising schedule in coming weeks as his re-election campaign faces a possible cash crunch that has forced it to pull back television advertising in some crucial states.

Trump's campaign started the year with more than 10 times as much money as Democratic rival Joe Biden. The former vice president, however, closed the gap as Democratic donors consolidated behind him and the Trump campaign burned through its cash more quickly.

Biden, who leads Trump in most national and battleground state polling ahead of the November 3 election, had about $99 million in the bank to Trump's $121 million by the end of July, according to disclosures by each side's campaign. Including money raised by the candidates' national parties, Biden outraised Trump nearly $365 million to $210 million in August.

Trump this week said his campaign had to spend millions on advertisements earlier this year to fight the impression that he mishandled the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed more than 191,000 Americans and devastated the US economy.

A couple of donors questioned whether the campaign's purchase of a multi-million dollar ad during the Super Bowl in February so far ahead of the election, as well as ads in the heavily Democratic Washington, DC market in June, were more about Trump's vanity than strategy.

Eberhart said some of the campaign's recent actions, including buying ads in few-day increments as opposed to weekly and going dark in some states for a stretch, suggested the campaign now faces a cash pinch.

Biden is poised to outspend Trump on ads in the final weeks of the race. The Democrat's campaign has booked about $181 million in television and radio ad spending between September and November, compared to $156 million by the Trump campaign, according to ad tracking firm Advertising Analytics.

The current bookings show Biden will spend more than Trump in battleground states North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Arizona and Wisconsin. Trump is slated to outspend Biden in Florida and Ohio.

In the final stretch of the race, the Trump campaign will increase its outreach to donors of all means, advisers said.

Trump's weekend agenda includes meeting with deep-pocketed donors on Saturday in Washington and on Sunday in Las Vegas, where an event is expected to raise $4 million. 
The president has resisted hosting virtual fundraisers, which Biden and Democrats have relied on as an alternative to in-person gatherings during the pandemic.

US President Donald Trump is set to embark on a heavier fundraising schedule in coming weeks as his re-election campaign faces a possible cash crunch that has forced it to pull back television advertising in some crucial states.

US President Donald Trump is set to embark on a heavier fundraising schedule in coming weeks as his re-election campaign faces a possible cash crunch that has forced it to pull back television advertising in some crucial states. Trump's campaign started the year with more than 10 times as much money as Democratic rival Joe Biden. The former vice president, however, closed the gap as Democratic donors consolidated behind him and the Trump campaign burned through its cash more quickly. Biden, who leads Trump in most national and battleground state polling ahead of the November 3 election, had about $99 million in the bank to Trump's $121 million by the end of July, according to disclosures by each side's campaign. Including money raised by the candidates' national parties, Biden outraised Trump nearly $365 million to $210 million in August. Trump this week said his campaign had to spend millions on advertisements earlier this year to fight the impression that he mishandled the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed more than 191,000 Americans and devastated the US economy. A couple of donors questioned whether the campaign's purchase of a multi-million dollar ad during the Super Bowl in February so far ahead of the election, as well as ads in the heavily Democratic Washington, DC market in June, were more about Trump's vanity than strategy. Eberhart said some of the campaign's recent actions, including buying ads in few-day increments as opposed to weekly and going dark in some states for a stretch, suggested the campaign now faces a cash pinch. Biden is poised to outspend Trump on ads in the final weeks of the race. The Democrat's campaign has booked about $181 million in television and radio ad spending between September and November, compared to $156 million by the Trump campaign, according to ad tracking firm Advertising Analytics. The current bookings show Biden will spend more than Trump in battleground states North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Arizona and Wisconsin. Trump is slated to outspend Biden in Florida and Ohio. In the final stretch of the race, the Trump campaign will increase its outreach to donors of all means, advisers said. Trump's weekend agenda includes meeting with deep-pocketed donors on Saturday in Washington and on Sunday in Las Vegas, where an event is expected to raise $4 million. The president has resisted hosting virtual fundraisers, which Biden and Democrats have relied on as an alternative to in-person gatherings during the pandemic.

Trump seeks to ramp up big, small dollar fundraising citing money crunch

The Trump administration has formally proposed a sweeping expansion of its collection of DNA and other biometric data of immigrants. It would go beyond detained migrants in order to include US citizen sponsors and others.

The plan is the latest move by President Donald Trump to remake the nation's immigration system and make good on his campaign promises as he seeks re-election in November. He has been pressing his anti-immigrant rhetoric ever since he assumed power.

The proposal also vastly expands the biological information that the Department of Homeland Security collects beyond genetic material to include eye scans, voice prints, and palm prints, the department's US Citizenship and Immigration Services said in a notice published in the Federal Register.

Trump administration last year called for the collection of DNA of migrants who are detained by US authorities, arguing it was allowed under a 2005 law and could help detect fraud and solve cold cases.

Friday's proposal, first announced September 1, would vastly expand such collections that DHS said would help prove family relationships, verify identities, and check criminal histories. It also moves to include children, among other changes.

Critics have said it raises serious privacy concerns. The American Civil Liberties Union last week blasted the move, saying it would hinder legal immigration and raised questions about data storage and government surveillance.

"Collecting a massive database of genetic blueprints won't make us safer — it will simply make it easier for the government to surveil and target our communities and to bring us closer to a dystopian nightmare," ACLU's deputy director of immigration policy, Andrea Flores, said in statement.

It is unclear when DHS will finalise the rule. Representatives for the department did not respond to a request for comment. Public comment on the measure is due October 13.

The Republican president has repeatedly called for "law and order" ahead of the November 3 presidential election pitting him against former US vice-president Joe Biden, a Democrat. 
Trump has long linked his anti-immigration policies to crime-fighting, although studies show immigrants do not commit crime at a higher rate than native-born Americans.

The Trump administration has formally proposed a sweeping expansion of its collection of DNA and other biometric data of immigrants. It would go beyond detained migrants in order to include US citizen sponsors and others.

The Trump administration has formally proposed a sweeping expansion of its collection of DNA and other biometric data of immigrants. It would go beyond detained migrants in order to include US citizen sponsors and others. The plan is the latest move by President Donald Trump to remake the nation's immigration system and make good on his campaign promises as he seeks re-election in November. He has been pressing his anti-immigrant rhetoric ever since he assumed power. The proposal also vastly expands the biological information that the Department of Homeland Security collects beyond genetic material to include eye scans, voice prints, and palm prints, the department's US Citizenship and Immigration Services said in a notice published in the Federal Register. Trump administration last year called for the collection of DNA of migrants who are detained by US authorities, arguing it was allowed under a 2005 law and could help detect fraud and solve cold cases. Friday's proposal, first announced September 1, would vastly expand such collections that DHS said would help prove family relationships, verify identities, and check criminal histories. It also moves to include children, among other changes. Critics have said it raises serious privacy concerns. The American Civil Liberties Union last week blasted the move, saying it would hinder legal immigration and raised questions about data storage and government surveillance. "Collecting a massive database of genetic blueprints won't make us safer — it will simply make it easier for the government to surveil and target our communities and to bring us closer to a dystopian nightmare," ACLU's deputy director of immigration policy, Andrea Flores, said in statement. It is unclear when DHS will finalise the rule. Representatives for the department did not respond to a request for comment. Public comment on the measure is due October 13. The Republican president has repeatedly called for "law and order" ahead of the November 3 presidential election pitting him against former US vice-president Joe Biden, a Democrat. Trump has long linked his anti-immigration policies to crime-fighting, although studies show immigrants do not commit crime at a higher rate than native-born Americans.

Trump administration seeks sweeping DNA collection of immigrants

One of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden's main election campaign advisory firms has been informed that it had been targetted by suspected Russian state-backed hackers by Microsoft Corp.

The hacking attempts targetted staff at Washington-based SKDKnickerbocker, a campaign strategy and communications firm working with Biden and other prominent Democrats, over the past two months, sources said.

A person familiar with SKDK's response to the attempts said the hackers failed to gain access to the firm's networks. "They are well-defended, so there has been no breach," the person said.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the allegations as "nonsense." Moscow has repeatedly denied using hacking to interfere in other countries' elections.

US intelligence agencies have raised alarms about possible efforts by foreign governments to interfere in the November presidential election.

Investigations by former special counsel Robert Mueller and the Senate intelligence committee both concluded that affiliates of the Russian government interfered in the 2016 presidential election to try to help Republican Donald Trump get elected. Mueller has warned that Russia was meddling in the current campaign.

One of the sources said it was not clear whether Biden’s campaign was the target or whether the hackers were attempting to gain access to information about other SKDK clients.

SKDK managing director Anita Dunn was a White House communications director during the Barack Obama presidency and serves the Biden campaign as a senior advisor.

The attempts to infiltrate SKDK were recently flagged to the campaign firm by Microsoft, which identified hackers tied to the Russian government as the likely culprits, according to the three sources briefed on the matter.

The attacks included phishing, a hacking method which seeks to trick users into disclosing passwords, as well as other efforts to infiltrate SKDK's network, the three sources said.

The company, which has extraordinary visibility on digital threats via its widely used Windows operating system and cloud services such as Office 365, has taken an increasingly active role in calling out state-backed cyberespionage. In 2018, the company launched its Defending Democracy initiative, aimed in part at safeguarding campaigns from hackers.

SKDK is closely associated with the Democratic Party, having worked on six presidential campaigns and numerous congressional races. In addition to its current work for Biden, the firm in 2018 worked on successful governors' races in Kansas and Connecticut.

One of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden's main election campaign advisory firms has been informed that it had been targetted by suspected Russian state-backed hackers by Microsoft Corp.

One of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden's main election campaign advisory firms has been informed that it had been targetted by suspected Russian state-backed hackers by Microsoft Corp. The hacking attempts targetted staff at Washington-based SKDKnickerbocker, a campaign strategy and communications firm working with Biden and other prominent Democrats, over the past two months, sources said. A person familiar with SKDK's response to the attempts said the hackers failed to gain access to the firm's networks. "They are well-defended, so there has been no breach," the person said. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the allegations as "nonsense." Moscow has repeatedly denied using hacking to interfere in other countries' elections. US intelligence agencies have raised alarms about possible efforts by foreign governments to interfere in the November presidential election. Investigations by former special counsel Robert Mueller and the Senate intelligence committee both concluded that affiliates of the Russian government interfered in the 2016 presidential election to try to help Republican Donald Trump get elected. Mueller has warned that Russia was meddling in the current campaign. One of the sources said it was not clear whether Biden’s campaign was the target or whether the hackers were attempting to gain access to information about other SKDK clients. SKDK managing director Anita Dunn was a White House communications director during the Barack Obama presidency and serves the Biden campaign as a senior advisor. The attempts to infiltrate SKDK were recently flagged to the campaign firm by Microsoft, which identified hackers tied to the Russian government as the likely culprits, according to the three sources briefed on the matter. The attacks included phishing, a hacking method which seeks to trick users into disclosing passwords, as well as other efforts to infiltrate SKDK's network, the three sources said. The company, which has extraordinary visibility on digital threats via its widely used Windows operating system and cloud services such as Office 365, has taken an increasingly active role in calling out state-backed cyberespionage. In 2018, the company launched its Defending Democracy initiative, aimed in part at safeguarding campaigns from hackers. SKDK is closely associated with the Democratic Party, having worked on six presidential campaigns and numerous congressional races. In addition to its current work for Biden, the firm in 2018 worked on successful governors' races in Kansas and Connecticut.

US election 2020: Russian state hackers suspected in targetting Biden campaign firm: Microsoft

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, Vice President Mike Pence, and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, all masked, joined New York`s somber 19th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks at the site of the destroyed World Trade Center.

Biden and Pence, both masked, bumped elbows in greeting, one of the many ways the anniversary ceremony has been changed by the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed more than 190,000 people in the United States.

About 200 people joined the New York ceremony, where the names were read out of the nearly 3,000 people killed when two hijacked jets slammed into the Twin Towers, with a third hitting the Pentagon and a fourth taken down in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, when its passengers rose up against the al Qaeda hijackers.

President Donald Trump and Biden are also due to visit Shanksville separately later in the day.

Prior to boarding a plane from his Delaware home, Biden pledged not to make any news during the solemn day.

"I`m not going to talk about anything other than 9/11. We took all our advertising down. It`s a solemn day, and that`s how we`re going to keep it, okay?," Biden said.

The sun struggled to pierce hazy clouds in New York, a contrast with the 2001 morning of the attacks, which people present that day remember for its piercing, clear skies.

Trump left the White House to attend a morning ceremony at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, a White House official said. The event, in remembrance of the 40 passengers and crew who died when the plane plunged into a field after they struggled with the hijackers, will be closed to the public because of coronavirus concerns, the National Park Service said.

Later in the day, the Bidens will visit the Shanksville site to pay their respects to the victims. The two candidates are not expected to cross paths in Pennsylvania, a battleground state that is vital to the Nov. 3 election between Trump and Biden.

Flight 93, bound for San Francisco from Newark, New Jersey, never hit its intended target — the four hijackers were believed to be planning to crash it into either the U.S. Capitol or the White House — after passengers stormed the cockpit and attempted to regain control of the aircraft.

The ceremonies marking the attacks are a regular stop for presidential candidates and officials. Trump visited Shanksville for the 9/11 anniversary in 2018, and has attended memorial ceremonies at the Pentagon.

Biden went to memorials in Shanksville during his years as vice president under Barack Obama.

During the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton both visited the Ground Zero memorial in New York.

Biden`s campaign said it was pulling its television ads off the air on Friday.

The nonprofit 9/11 Day had asked both campaigns to pull its ads. The Trump campaign did not respond to requests for comment on whether it would do so.

Biden was standing listening to the reading of the names of the victims when he spotted a woman crying in the crowd.

Amanda Barreto, 27, of Teaneck, New Jersey, lost her godmother and aunt in the 9/11 attacks. Biden came up to her and offered his condolences.

"He knows what it means to lose someone. He wanted me to stay strong," Barreto said afterward. "And he`s so sorry for my loss."

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, Vice President Mike Pence, and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, all masked, joined New York`s somber 19th anniversary of the Sept.

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, Vice President Mike Pence, and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, all masked, joined New York`s somber 19th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks at the site of the destroyed World Trade Center. Biden and Pence, both masked, bumped elbows in greeting, one of the many ways the anniversary ceremony has been changed by the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed more than 190,000 people in the United States. About 200 people joined the New York ceremony, where the names were read out of the nearly 3,000 people killed when two hijacked jets slammed into the Twin Towers, with a third hitting the Pentagon and a fourth taken down in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, when its passengers rose up against the al Qaeda hijackers. President Donald Trump and Biden are also due to visit Shanksville separately later in the day. Prior to boarding a plane from his Delaware home, Biden pledged not to make any news during the solemn day. "I`m not going to talk about anything other than 9/11. We took all our advertising down. It`s a solemn day, and that`s how we`re going to keep it, okay?," Biden said. The sun struggled to pierce hazy clouds in New York, a contrast with the 2001 morning of the attacks, which people present that day remember for its piercing, clear skies. Trump left the White House to attend a morning ceremony at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, a White House official said. The event, in remembrance of the 40 passengers and crew who died when the plane plunged into a field after they struggled with the hijackers, will be closed to the public because of coronavirus concerns, the National Park Service said. Later in the day, the Bidens will visit the Shanksville site to pay their respects to the victims. The two candidates are not expected to cross paths in Pennsylvania, a battleground state that is vital to the Nov. 3 election between Trump and Biden. Flight 93, bound for San Francisco from Newark, New Jersey, never hit its intended target — the four hijackers were believed to be planning to crash it into either the U.S. Capitol or the White House — after passengers stormed the cockpit and attempted to regain control of the aircraft. The ceremonies marking the attacks are a regular stop for presidential candidates and officials. Trump visited Shanksville for the 9/11 anniversary in 2018, and has attended memorial ceremonies at the Pentagon. Biden went to memorials in Shanksville during his years as vice president under Barack Obama. During the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton both visited the Ground Zero memorial in New York. Biden`s campaign said it was pulling its television ads off the air on Friday. The nonprofit 9/11 Day had asked both campaigns to pull its ads. The Trump campaign did not respond to requests for comment on whether it would do so. Biden was standing listening to the reading of the names of the victims when he spotted a woman crying in the crowd. Amanda Barreto, 27, of Teaneck, New Jersey, lost her godmother and aunt in the 9/11 attacks. Biden came up to her and offered his condolences. "He knows what it means to lose someone. He wanted me to stay strong," Barreto said afterward. "And he`s so sorry for my loss."

Joe Biden joins Pence, Cuomo at masked New York 9/11 memorial in crisis year

The United States is set to host a presidential elections in less than 60 days. In the run up, the headlines are speaking of various possibilities.

One of these headlines is "Threats of an armed insurgency."

And US experts are worried -- blame the record arms sales and the growing waves of street violence between armed groups.

The armed conflict location and event data project published a report last week. It found that 20 violent groups had taken part in more than 100 protests recently.

The protests were related to the killing of George Floyd. And the violent groups belonged to both sides of the political spectrum.

Gun sales in the US have hit an all-time high. At least 3.9 million guns were bought in June this year. This number is based on FBI background checks.&nbsp;

The record purchase is over and above the 400 million firearms that are already in circulation as of 2018.

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In a report published in June this year, insurgency expert David Kilcullen wrote that the US is in a state of 'incipient insurgency'. And now a book bomb has hit the election.&nbsp;

The question being asked is -- did Donald Trump underplay the risk of the coronavirus?

The answer is 'yes'.&nbsp;

"I wanted to always play it down. I still like playing it down, because I don't want to create a panic," Trump said at one of the media briefings on March 19, just days before Trump publically underplayed the risk of the virus.

The rest, of course, is history.

Future holds for another book bomb for Trump.

The book -- written by Washington Post journalist -- will be the latest in a series of publications that have been giving the US president a nightmare this election season.

Other book bombs that have surfaced in the run up to the election are --&nbsp;'The room where it happened: a White House memoir', written by former national security advisor John Bolton, where he accuses Trump of several impeachable offences.

Then there is 'Too much and never enough', a book by Trump's niece, where she accuses Trump of financial frauds.

'Fire and Fury' by journalist Michael Wolff; 'Media Madness' by journalist Howard Kurtz; the briefing by former White House press secretary Sean Spicer; and the Trump White House by Ronald Kessler, where he talks about the role of the Trump family in shaping the policies of the US.

These are just some of the many books that when put together may blow up Trump's re-election bid.&nbsp;

The White House is already feeling the tremours of Woodwords's book. 
&nbsp;

The United States is set to host a presidential elections in less than 60 days. In the run up, the headlines are speaking of various possibilities. One of these headlines is "Threats of an armed insurgency.

The United States is set to host a presidential elections in less than 60 days. In the run up, the headlines are speaking of various possibilities. One of these headlines is "Threats of an armed insurgency." And US experts are worried -- blame the record arms sales and the growing waves of street violence between armed groups. The armed conflict location and event data project published a report last week. It found that 20 violent groups had taken part in more than 100 protests recently. The protests were related to the killing of George Floyd. And the violent groups belonged to both sides of the political spectrum. Gun sales in the US have hit an all-time high. At least 3.9 million guns were bought in June this year. This number is based on FBI background checks. The record purchase is over and above the 400 million firearms that are already in circulation as of 2018. × In a report published in June this year, insurgency expert David Kilcullen wrote that the US is in a state of 'incipient insurgency'. And now a book bomb has hit the election. The question being asked is -- did Donald Trump underplay the risk of the coronavirus? The answer is 'yes'. "I wanted to always play it down. I still like playing it down, because I don't want to create a panic," Trump said at one of the media briefings on March 19, just days before Trump publically underplayed the risk of the virus. The rest, of course, is history. Future holds for another book bomb for Trump. The book -- written by Washington Post journalist -- will be the latest in a series of publications that have been giving the US president a nightmare this election season. Other book bombs that have surfaced in the run up to the election are -- 'The room where it happened: a White House memoir', written by former national security advisor John Bolton, where he accuses Trump of several impeachable offences. Then there is 'Too much and never enough', a book by Trump's niece, where she accuses Trump of financial frauds. 'Fire and Fury' by journalist Michael Wolff; 'Media Madness' by journalist Howard Kurtz; the briefing by former White House press secretary Sean Spicer; and the Trump White House by Ronald Kessler, where he talks about the role of the Trump family in shaping the policies of the US. These are just some of the many books that when put together may blow up Trump's re-election bid. The White House is already feeling the tremours of Woodwords's book.

Concerns about 'armed insurgency' in US are on the rise

The headless body of Kim Jong Un's executed uncle was once displayed to senior North Korean officials, US President Donald Trump told the author of an upcoming biographical book.

Jang Song Thaek, the North Korean leader's uncle by marriage and a hugely powerful figure within the regime, was purged for treason and corruption in 2013, in what was widely seen as Kim mercilessly asserting his authority.

Kim "tells me everything; told me everything," Trump said to the Washington Post investigative journalist Bob Woodward, according to his forthcoming book "Rage".

"Rage", scheduled to hit the book stands next week, unveils 25 letters the two exchanged, in which Kim repeatedly flatters Trump.

Negotiations between Pyongyang and Washington have remained at a standstill ever since the meeting in the Demilitarised Zone, and ties between the North and South have plummeted, but Trump insisted that he still had a good relationship with Kim.

"He likes me. I like him. We get along," he said.

"He killed his uncle and he put the body right in the steps," Trump said, in an apparent reference to a building used by senior officials.

"And the head was cut, sitting on the chest," he added in excerpts from the book.

The North has never officially stated how Jang was executed, although multiple reports say an anti-aircraft gun was used.

Trump's account -- apparently intended as a demonstration of the closeness of his relationship with Kim -- is the first from any senior official to mention decapitation.

Nuclear negotiations between Pyongyang and Washington have been at a standstill since the collapse of the Hanoi summit last year over sanctions relief and what the North would be willing to give up in return.

Pyongyang officials said they had offered to "dismantle all the nuclear production facilities in the Yongbyon area", but analysts say the North has several other nuclear sites.

According to the book, Trump demanded five sites be given up.

"Listen, one doesn't help and two doesn't help and three doesn't help and four doesn't help. Five does help," he said.

Yongbyon was the North's biggest site, Kim countered according to excerpts from the book seen by AFP. "It's also your oldest," Trump told the author he retorted.

Kim, though, would not offer further concessions, and Trump told him: "You're not ready to make a deal."

"I've got to leave," he added, to Kim's shock.

The collapse of the summit came despite high expectations on both sides beforehand, but according to the book Trump continued to insist on full denuclearisation even after the pair's surprise meeting several months later in the Demilitarised Zone that divides the peninsula.

"It was an honour to cross into your country," Trump wrote in a letter to Kim two days after the encounter, when he became the first sitting US president to set foot in the North.

He urged Kim to strike a "big deal" that "sheds you of your nuclear burden".

The DMZ meeting was supposed to restart the talks process but the US and South Korea held military exercises a few weeks later and Kim subsequently wrote to Trump: "I am clearly offended and I do not want to hide this feeling from you. I am really, very offended."

(with inputs from agencies)

The headless body of Kim Jong Un's executed uncle was once displayed to senior North Korean officials, US President Donald Trump told the author of an upcoming biographical book.

The headless body of Kim Jong Un's executed uncle was once displayed to senior North Korean officials, US President Donald Trump told the author of an upcoming biographical book. Jang Song Thaek, the North Korean leader's uncle by marriage and a hugely powerful figure within the regime, was purged for treason and corruption in 2013, in what was widely seen as Kim mercilessly asserting his authority. Kim "tells me everything; told me everything," Trump said to the Washington Post investigative journalist Bob Woodward, according to his forthcoming book "Rage". "Rage", scheduled to hit the book stands next week, unveils 25 letters the two exchanged, in which Kim repeatedly flatters Trump. Negotiations between Pyongyang and Washington have remained at a standstill ever since the meeting in the Demilitarised Zone, and ties between the North and South have plummeted, but Trump insisted that he still had a good relationship with Kim. "He likes me. I like him. We get along," he said. "He killed his uncle and he put the body right in the steps," Trump said, in an apparent reference to a building used by senior officials. "And the head was cut, sitting on the chest," he added in excerpts from the book. The North has never officially stated how Jang was executed, although multiple reports say an anti-aircraft gun was used. Trump's account -- apparently intended as a demonstration of the closeness of his relationship with Kim -- is the first from any senior official to mention decapitation. Nuclear negotiations between Pyongyang and Washington have been at a standstill since the collapse of the Hanoi summit last year over sanctions relief and what the North would be willing to give up in return. Pyongyang officials said they had offered to "dismantle all the nuclear production facilities in the Yongbyon area", but analysts say the North has several other nuclear sites. According to the book, Trump demanded five sites be given up. "Listen, one doesn't help and two doesn't help and three doesn't help and four doesn't help. Five does help," he said. Yongbyon was the North's biggest site, Kim countered according to excerpts from the book seen by AFP. "It's also your oldest," Trump told the author he retorted. Kim, though, would not offer further concessions, and Trump told him: "You're not ready to make a deal." "I've got to leave," he added, to Kim's shock. The collapse of the summit came despite high expectations on both sides beforehand, but according to the book Trump continued to insist on full denuclearisation even after the pair's surprise meeting several months later in the Demilitarised Zone that divides the peninsula. "It was an honour to cross into your country," Trump wrote in a letter to Kim two days after the encounter, when he became the first sitting US president to set foot in the North. He urged Kim to strike a "big deal" that "sheds you of your nuclear burden". The DMZ meeting was supposed to restart the talks process but the US and South Korea held military exercises a few weeks later and Kim subsequently wrote to Trump: "I am clearly offended and I do not want to hide this feeling from you. I am really, very offended." (with inputs from agencies)

Kim Jong Un once showed off executed uncle's headless body, Trump says

Russia is not seeking to interfere in the electoral processes of other countries around the world, nor has it in the past, the Kremlin said on Friday.

This clarification came close on the heels of Microsoft claiming hackers linked to Russia were among those trying to spy on US political figures.

Hackers linked to Russia, China, and Iran are trying to spy on people tied to both US President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden, Microsoft Corp said on Thursday.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia has no intention of meddling in other countries' internal affairs and that Russia does not like it when others interfere in its affairs.

Microsoft Corp said on Thursday that hackers linked to Russia, China, and Iran are trying to spy on people tied to both US President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden.

The announcement by Microsoft's vice president for customer security, Tom Burt, said the group accused of breaching Hillary Clinton's campaign emails in 2016 - a Russian military intelligence-linked unit widely known as Fancy Bear - had spent the past year trying to break into accounts belonging to political consultants serving both Republicans and Democrats as well as advocacy organizations and think tanks.

Burt also said Chinese hackers had gone after people "closely associated with US presidential campaigns and candidates" - including an unnamed Biden ally who was targeted through a personal email address and "at least one prominent individual formerly associated with the Trump Administration."

Burt said the Chinese effort to compromise the Biden ally and the Iranian spying against the Trump campaign were unsuccessful, but his blog post provided no detail on the hacking campaign attributed to Russia or the effort to compromise the well-known former Trump associate. 
&nbsp;

Russia is not seeking to interfere in the electoral processes of other countries around the world, nor has it in the past, the Kremlin said on Friday. This clarification came close on the heels of Microsoft claiming hackers linked to Russia were among those trying to spy on US political figures.

Russia is not seeking to interfere in the electoral processes of other countries around the world, nor has it in the past, the Kremlin said on Friday. This clarification came close on the heels of Microsoft claiming hackers linked to Russia were among those trying to spy on US political figures. Hackers linked to Russia, China, and Iran are trying to spy on people tied to both US President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden, Microsoft Corp said on Thursday. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia has no intention of meddling in other countries' internal affairs and that Russia does not like it when others interfere in its affairs. Microsoft Corp said on Thursday that hackers linked to Russia, China, and Iran are trying to spy on people tied to both US President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden. The announcement by Microsoft's vice president for customer security, Tom Burt, said the group accused of breaching Hillary Clinton's campaign emails in 2016 - a Russian military intelligence-linked unit widely known as Fancy Bear - had spent the past year trying to break into accounts belonging to political consultants serving both Republicans and Democrats as well as advocacy organizations and think tanks. Burt also said Chinese hackers had gone after people "closely associated with US presidential campaigns and candidates" - including an unnamed Biden ally who was targeted through a personal email address and "at least one prominent individual formerly associated with the Trump Administration." Burt said the Chinese effort to compromise the Biden ally and the Iranian spying against the Trump campaign were unsuccessful, but his blog post provided no detail on the hacking campaign attributed to Russia or the effort to compromise the well-known former Trump associate.

Russia says it's not seeking to interfere in other countries' electoral processes

U.S. officials are weighing whether to postpone or further cut refugee admissions in the coming year amid legal fights over President Donald Trump`s refugee policy and uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, a senior official said.

The possible postponement - one of several options under discussion - would mean some or all refugee admissions could be frozen until a legal challenge to a 2019 Trump order on refugees is resolved "with some greater degree of finality," the official told Reuters.

It is not clear when that lawsuit may be resolved, especially if the case goes all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, a process that could take months or even longer.

The president typically sets yearly refugee levels around the beginning of each fiscal year and the Trump administration has not yet announced its plans for fiscal 2021, which begins on Oct. 1.

The refugee cap was cut to 18,000 this year, the lowest level since the modern-day program began in 1980. So far, roughly half that many refugees have been let in as increased vetting and the coronavirus pandemic have slowed arrivals.

The senior official said that even if 2021 admissions are not delayed, next year`s cap could be cut below current levels. 
"The arc of this administration`s refugee policy is going to continue," said the official, who requested anonymity to discuss the ongoing deliberations.

Trump and his top officials have said refugees could pose threats to national security and that resettlement should take place closer to countries of origin. The administration also contends that refugee resettlement can be costly for local communities, although refugee backers reject those arguments.

The possible moves remain under discussion and no final decision has been reached, the official stressed.

Democratic challenger Joe Biden has pledged to raise refugee admissions to 125,000 per year if he defeats Trump in November. However, Biden has not said how quickly he would raise the cap and advocates say the program could take years to recover after Trump-era reductions.

If he wins, Biden could seek to raise the cap soon after taking office, just as Trump moved to halve refugee admissions in early 2017. But refugee groups say that restoring the pipeline of travel-ready refugees and rebuilding the organizations that receive them in the United States will take months or years as refugees will need to undergo renewed security and medical checks and shuttered resettlement offices will need to reopen.

Trump, who is seeking another four-year term on Nov. 3, has made his immigration crackdown a focus of the presidency and 2020 campaign.

In addition to greatly reducing refugee admissions to the United States, Trump also issued an executive order in September 2019 that required state and local elected officials to consent to receive refugees, saying it would better ensure refugees were sent to areas with adequate resources to receive them.

In January, a Maryland-based U.S. district judge blocked the order from taking effect, prompting Trump administration officials to consider a possible "deferral" of refugee admissions until the court case is resolved, the senior official said.

The administration`s refugee cap discussions involve officials from the State Department, Department of Homeland Security and the Pentagon, and have been coordinated by the White House National Security Council, according to the senior official, who declined to provide the names of those involved.

U.S. officials are weighing whether to postpone or further cut refugee admissions in the coming year amid legal fights over President Donald Trump`s refugee policy and uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, a senior official said.

U.S. officials are weighing whether to postpone or further cut refugee admissions in the coming year amid legal fights over President Donald Trump`s refugee policy and uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, a senior official said. The possible postponement - one of several options under discussion - would mean some or all refugee admissions could be frozen until a legal challenge to a 2019 Trump order on refugees is resolved "with some greater degree of finality," the official told Reuters. It is not clear when that lawsuit may be resolved, especially if the case goes all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, a process that could take months or even longer. The president typically sets yearly refugee levels around the beginning of each fiscal year and the Trump administration has not yet announced its plans for fiscal 2021, which begins on Oct. 1. The refugee cap was cut to 18,000 this year, the lowest level since the modern-day program began in 1980. So far, roughly half that many refugees have been let in as increased vetting and the coronavirus pandemic have slowed arrivals. The senior official said that even if 2021 admissions are not delayed, next year`s cap could be cut below current levels. "The arc of this administration`s refugee policy is going to continue," said the official, who requested anonymity to discuss the ongoing deliberations. Trump and his top officials have said refugees could pose threats to national security and that resettlement should take place closer to countries of origin. The administration also contends that refugee resettlement can be costly for local communities, although refugee backers reject those arguments. The possible moves remain under discussion and no final decision has been reached, the official stressed. Democratic challenger Joe Biden has pledged to raise refugee admissions to 125,000 per year if he defeats Trump in November. However, Biden has not said how quickly he would raise the cap and advocates say the program could take years to recover after Trump-era reductions. If he wins, Biden could seek to raise the cap soon after taking office, just as Trump moved to halve refugee admissions in early 2017. But refugee groups say that restoring the pipeline of travel-ready refugees and rebuilding the organizations that receive them in the United States will take months or years as refugees will need to undergo renewed security and medical checks and shuttered resettlement offices will need to reopen. Trump, who is seeking another four-year term on Nov. 3, has made his immigration crackdown a focus of the presidency and 2020 campaign. In addition to greatly reducing refugee admissions to the United States, Trump also issued an executive order in September 2019 that required state and local elected officials to consent to receive refugees, saying it would better ensure refugees were sent to areas with adequate resources to receive them. In January, a Maryland-based U.S. district judge blocked the order from taking effect, prompting Trump administration officials to consider a possible "deferral" of refugee admissions until the court case is resolved, the senior official said. The administration`s refugee cap discussions involve officials from the State Department, Department of Homeland Security and the Pentagon, and have been coordinated by the White House National Security Council, according to the senior official, who declined to provide the names of those involved.

Trump administration considers postponing refugee admissions

US President Donald Trump on Sunday again defended his support for American troops after reports that he had disparaged fallen US soldiers in Europe. Reports also claimed that he had declined to visit an American cemetery during a 2018 trip to France.

The Atlantic magazine reported on Thursday that Trump referred to Marines buried in an American cemetery near Paris as "losers" and declined to visit their graves in November 2018 because of concern the rain that day would mess up his hair, an account the president denied on Thursday and again on Sunday said was false.

Bloomberg reported on Sunday that Trump subsequently spent the free time selecting artwork to remove from the US ambassador's residence and send back to the White House.

Trump, a Republican who is seeking re-election in part on his vocal support of the US military, blasted Democrats and the news media on Sunday, tweeting: "They will say anything, like their recent lies about me and the Military, and hope that it sticks... But #MAGA gets it!" referring to his supporters who back his "Make America Great Again" slogan.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The Democrats, together with the corrupt Fake News Media, have launched a massive Disinformation Campaign the likes of which has never been seen before. They will say anything, like their recent lies about me and the Military, and hope that it sticks... But <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MAGA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MAGA</a> gets it!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1302601868313538560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 6, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Democratic former Vice President Joe Biden, who is challenging Trump in the November 3 presidential election, called Trump's comments about the fallen soldiers, "a disgrace" if true.

US Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert Wilkie on Sunday echoed remarks last week by US Defense Secretary Mark Esper telling CNN's "State of the Union" that Trump respected the troops and that he had never heard the president disparage US military members or veterans.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin also backed Trump's support of the military.

"The president has always been 100% supportive of the military," Mnuchin told reporters at the White House. 
&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump on Sunday again defended his support for American troops after reports that he had disparaged fallen US soldiers in Europe. Reports also claimed that he had declined to visit an American cemetery during a 2018 trip to France.

US President Donald Trump on Sunday again defended his support for American troops after reports that he had disparaged fallen US soldiers in Europe. Reports also claimed that he had declined to visit an American cemetery during a 2018 trip to France. The Atlantic magazine reported on Thursday that Trump referred to Marines buried in an American cemetery near Paris as "losers" and declined to visit their graves in November 2018 because of concern the rain that day would mess up his hair, an account the president denied on Thursday and again on Sunday said was false. Bloomberg reported on Sunday that Trump subsequently spent the free time selecting artwork to remove from the US ambassador's residence and send back to the White House. Trump, a Republican who is seeking re-election in part on his vocal support of the US military, blasted Democrats and the news media on Sunday, tweeting: "They will say anything, like their recent lies about me and the Military, and hope that it sticks... But #MAGA gets it!" referring to his supporters who back his "Make America Great Again" slogan. The Democrats, together with the corrupt Fake News Media, have launched a massive Disinformation Campaign the likes of which has never been seen before. They will say anything, like their recent lies about me and the Military, and hope that it sticks... But #MAGA gets it! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 6, 2020 × Democratic former Vice President Joe Biden, who is challenging Trump in the November 3 presidential election, called Trump's comments about the fallen soldiers, "a disgrace" if true. US Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert Wilkie on Sunday echoed remarks last week by US Defense Secretary Mark Esper telling CNN's "State of the Union" that Trump respected the troops and that he had never heard the president disparage US military members or veterans. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin also backed Trump's support of the military. "The president has always been 100% supportive of the military," Mnuchin told reporters at the White House.

Trump again defends himself, blasts media over report stating he disparaged US troops

Russian interference could theoretically cost Democrats the presidential elections, party's vice-presidential candidate Senator Kamala Harris said on Sunday.

"I am clear that Russia interfered in the election of president of the United States in 2016," Harris told CNN in an interview.

"I serve on the Senate Intelligence Committee. We have published detailed reports about exactly what we believe happened. And I do believe that there will be foreign interference in the 2020 election, and that Russia will be at the front of the line," she said responding to a question on the allegations of Russian interference in the presidential elections.

"Could it cost you the White House"" she was asked. "Theoretically, of course, yes," Harris said.

Responding to another question, Harris alleged that there are classic voter suppression at play in this election coming up, where, after the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act with Shelby v. Holder in 2013, dozens of states passed laws that were designed to suppress the black vote, to suppress students from voting, to suppress indigenous people from voting, so much so that, in North Carolina, a court of appeals said the law was passed with surgical precision to get in the way of black voters from voting.

"So, we have classic voter suppression. We have what happened in 2016, which is foreign interference. We have a president who is trying to convince the American people not to believe in the integrity of our election system and compromise their belief that their vote might actually count," Harris said.

"These things are all at play. I am very realistic. Joe is realistic about the fact that, until we can win and get in and put some teeth back in the Voting Rights Act, and bring back the public's confidence in the system, that there will be many obstacles that people are intentionally placing in front of Americans' ability to vote," she said.

"But we will surpass and surmount and get around those obstacles," Harris said in response to the question.&nbsp;

Russian interference could theoretically cost Democrats the presidential elections, party's vice-presidential candidate Senator Kamala Harris said on Sunday. "I am clear that Russia interfered in the election of president of the United States in 2016," Harris told CNN in an interview.

Russian interference could theoretically cost Democrats the presidential elections, party's vice-presidential candidate Senator Kamala Harris said on Sunday. "I am clear that Russia interfered in the election of president of the United States in 2016," Harris told CNN in an interview. "I serve on the Senate Intelligence Committee. We have published detailed reports about exactly what we believe happened. And I do believe that there will be foreign interference in the 2020 election, and that Russia will be at the front of the line," she said responding to a question on the allegations of Russian interference in the presidential elections. "Could it cost you the White House"" she was asked. "Theoretically, of course, yes," Harris said. Responding to another question, Harris alleged that there are classic voter suppression at play in this election coming up, where, after the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act with Shelby v. Holder in 2013, dozens of states passed laws that were designed to suppress the black vote, to suppress students from voting, to suppress indigenous people from voting, so much so that, in North Carolina, a court of appeals said the law was passed with surgical precision to get in the way of black voters from voting. "So, we have classic voter suppression. We have what happened in 2016, which is foreign interference. We have a president who is trying to convince the American people not to believe in the integrity of our election system and compromise their belief that their vote might actually count," Harris said. "These things are all at play. I am very realistic. Joe is realistic about the fact that, until we can win and get in and put some teeth back in the Voting Rights Act, and bring back the public's confidence in the system, that there will be many obstacles that people are intentionally placing in front of Americans' ability to vote," she said. "But we will surpass and surmount and get around those obstacles," Harris said in response to the question.

Russian interference could theoretically cost Democrats presidential election: Kamala Harris

The incumbent president of the United States, Donald Trump, has not been particularly fond of his predecessor Barack Obama. Not only has he often questioned his birthplace, but has also described him as "a Manchurian candidate" who obtained his Ivy League degrees only by way of affirmative action.

According to a new book by Trump's former attorney, Michael Cohen, Trump's disdain for Obama was so extreme that he hired a "Faux-Bama" to participate in a video in which Trump "ritualistically belittled the first black president and then fired him."

Cohen's book, "Disloyal: A Memoir," doesn't name the man who was allegedly hired to play Obama or provide a specific date for the incident, but it does include a photograph of Trump sitting behind a desk, facing a Black man wearing a suit with an American flag pin affixed to the lapel. On Trump's desk are two books, one displaying Obama's name in large letters.

Cohen characterises Trump bluntly as racist, and says that while he never heard him use the "N-word," he used other offensive language.

According to CNN, in the book, Cohen describes Trump as "a cheat, a liar, a fraud, a bully, a racist, a predator, a con man" and a person interested in using the presidency exclusively for his personal financial benefit.

According to federal prosecutors and Cohen's own guilty pleas, he, too, is a liar and a cheat. In 2018, he pleaded guilty to nine counts of federal crimes, including tax evasion, lying to Congress and campaign-finance violations he and prosecutors have said were done at Trump's direction to help him win the 2016 presidential election.

To this end, in a statement to the Washington Post, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said, "Michael Cohen is a disgraced felon and disbarred lawyer, who lied to Congress. He has lost all credibility, and it's unsurprising to see his latest attempt to profit off of lies."

Cohen acknowledges and apologises for his role in Trump's rise, saying he was "more than willing to lie, cheat, and bully" to help his long-time boss win the White House. And he recounts the pressure and guilt he experienced as he spoke out against Trump, writing that he considered suicide "as a way to escape the unrelenting insanity" in the weeks prior to testifying to Congress in 2019.

He writes, "I became even more convinced that Trump will never leave office peacefully."

Trump's model of a man in power, according to Cohen, is Vladimir Putin, and Trump is described as enamored of Putin's wealth and unilateral influence, and awestruck by what he sees as the Russian president's ability to control everything from the country's press to its financial institutions.

But he reiterates his belief that Trump and his campaign officials were too disorganised to have coordinated with the Russians during the 2016 election.

Ranting about Obama after he won office in 2008, Trump had once said, "Tell me one country run by a black person that isn't a sh*thole...They are all complete f*cking toilets," according to Cohen.&nbsp;

After Nelson Mandela died, Trump allegedly said of South Africa that "Mandela f*cked the whole country up. Now it's a sh*thole. F*ck Mandela. He was no leader."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/he-was-no-leader-trumps-ex-lawyer-says-us-president-disparaged-mandela-325515">Also read |&nbsp;'He was no leader': Trump's ex-lawyer says US president disparaged Mandela</a>

Cohen also divulges personal details about Trump, including his hair routine, described as a "three-step" combover designed to disguise "unsightly scars on his scalp from a failed hair-implant operation in the 1980s." 
&nbsp;

The incumbent president of the United States, Donald Trump, has not been particularly fond of his predecessor Barack Obama. Not only has he often questioned his birthplace, but has also described him as "a Manchurian candidate" who obtained his Ivy League degrees only by way of affirmative action.

The incumbent president of the United States, Donald Trump, has not been particularly fond of his predecessor Barack Obama. Not only has he often questioned his birthplace, but has also described him as "a Manchurian candidate" who obtained his Ivy League degrees only by way of affirmative action. According to a new book by Trump's former attorney, Michael Cohen, Trump's disdain for Obama was so extreme that he hired a "Faux-Bama" to participate in a video in which Trump "ritualistically belittled the first black president and then fired him." Cohen's book, "Disloyal: A Memoir," doesn't name the man who was allegedly hired to play Obama or provide a specific date for the incident, but it does include a photograph of Trump sitting behind a desk, facing a Black man wearing a suit with an American flag pin affixed to the lapel. On Trump's desk are two books, one displaying Obama's name in large letters. Cohen characterises Trump bluntly as racist, and says that while he never heard him use the "N-word," he used other offensive language. According to CNN, in the book, Cohen describes Trump as "a cheat, a liar, a fraud, a bully, a racist, a predator, a con man" and a person interested in using the presidency exclusively for his personal financial benefit. According to federal prosecutors and Cohen's own guilty pleas, he, too, is a liar and a cheat. In 2018, he pleaded guilty to nine counts of federal crimes, including tax evasion, lying to Congress and campaign-finance violations he and prosecutors have said were done at Trump's direction to help him win the 2016 presidential election. To this end, in a statement to the Washington Post, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said, "Michael Cohen is a disgraced felon and disbarred lawyer, who lied to Congress. He has lost all credibility, and it's unsurprising to see his latest attempt to profit off of lies." Cohen acknowledges and apologises for his role in Trump's rise, saying he was "more than willing to lie, cheat, and bully" to help his long-time boss win the White House. And he recounts the pressure and guilt he experienced as he spoke out against Trump, writing that he considered suicide "as a way to escape the unrelenting insanity" in the weeks prior to testifying to Congress in 2019. He writes, "I became even more convinced that Trump will never leave office peacefully." Trump's model of a man in power, according to Cohen, is Vladimir Putin, and Trump is described as enamored of Putin's wealth and unilateral influence, and awestruck by what he sees as the Russian president's ability to control everything from the country's press to its financial institutions. But he reiterates his belief that Trump and his campaign officials were too disorganised to have coordinated with the Russians during the 2016 election. Ranting about Obama after he won office in 2008, Trump had once said, "Tell me one country run by a black person that isn't a sh*thole...They are all complete f*cking toilets," according to Cohen. After Nelson Mandela died, Trump allegedly said of South Africa that "Mandela f*cked the whole country up. Now it's a sh*thole. F*ck Mandela. He was no leader." Also read | 'He was no leader': Trump's ex-lawyer says US president disparaged Mandela Cohen also divulges personal details about Trump, including his hair routine, described as a "three-step" combover designed to disguise "unsightly scars on his scalp from a failed hair-implant operation in the 1980s."

Trump hired a 'Faux-Bama' during White House run: Cohen in new book

Large venues and outdoor spaces allow for social distancing that helps prevent the spread of the coronavirus ravaging the United States ahead of the November 3 presidential election.

States are turning to stadiums, drive-thrus and movie theatres as safe options for in-person polling places amid the coronavirus pandemic and fears about mail-in ballots failing to arrive in time to count.

The US general election on November 3 is also expected to include voting at NBA arenas around the country -- part of an agreement owners made with players to combat racial injustice.

Election Day is expected to bring a surge in mail-in voting, but some people may feel more comfortable casting their ballots in person amid concerns about recent mail delays following a series of operational changes at the US Postal Service and President Donald Trump stoking unfounded claims of voter fraud.

Several states conduct their elections almost entirely by mail, and mail-in voting is well established in others. In-person voting will be back in November, but rather than only using schools, churches and public buildings like usual, clerks also are permitted to set up drive-thru or outdoor polling places.

The idea to use large spaces for in-person voting started in Kentucky, where Louisville's only option in the June primary was an exposition centre at the state fairgrounds. The primary set turnout records, largely driven by mail-in voting.

In November, all active Vermont voters will get a mail-in ballot for the November election, and lawmakers also have allowed for outdoor and drive-thru voting systems. 
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Large venues and outdoor spaces allow for social distancing that helps prevent the spread of the coronavirus ravaging the United States ahead of the November 3 presidential election.

Large venues and outdoor spaces allow for social distancing that helps prevent the spread of the coronavirus ravaging the United States ahead of the November 3 presidential election. States are turning to stadiums, drive-thrus and movie theatres as safe options for in-person polling places amid the coronavirus pandemic and fears about mail-in ballots failing to arrive in time to count. The US general election on November 3 is also expected to include voting at NBA arenas around the country -- part of an agreement owners made with players to combat racial injustice. Election Day is expected to bring a surge in mail-in voting, but some people may feel more comfortable casting their ballots in person amid concerns about recent mail delays following a series of operational changes at the US Postal Service and President Donald Trump stoking unfounded claims of voter fraud. Several states conduct their elections almost entirely by mail, and mail-in voting is well established in others. In-person voting will be back in November, but rather than only using schools, churches and public buildings like usual, clerks also are permitted to set up drive-thru or outdoor polling places. The idea to use large spaces for in-person voting started in Kentucky, where Louisville's only option in the June primary was an exposition centre at the state fairgrounds. The primary set turnout records, largely driven by mail-in voting. In November, all active Vermont voters will get a mail-in ballot for the November election, and lawmakers also have allowed for outdoor and drive-thru voting systems.

Expect drive-thrus, stadiums to be converted to in-person polling places for US election

US President Donald Trump might have broken his recent silence on Russia and the attack on Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny, but there has been no reaction on alleged Russian efforts to interfere in US politics. This despite Thursday's news that an intelligence bulletin issued by the Department of Homeland Security warned that Moscow is attempting to sow doubt about the integrity of the 2020 elections by amplifying false claims that mail-in voting resulting in widespread fraud.

Instead, Trump appeared starkly out of step with the leaders of Britain and Germany, who have expressed outrage at the attack on Navalny.

He called it "tragic" but emphasising that he has a good relationship with the Russian leader.

"I don't know exactly what happened. I think it's tragic. It's terrible; it shouldn't happen. We haven't had any proof yet, but I will take a look," Trump said on Friday in a news conference at the White House.&nbsp;

In response to further questions on the matter he attempted to deflect to his favorite opponent, claiming that what China is doing is "far worse." And as he had done the night before at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, he stressed, "I do get along with President Putin."

Also, Trump did not make any mention of other provocations in recent weeks, including a collision between a Russian military convoy and a US armoured vehicle that injured seven American troops.

These were his first comments on Navalny since Germany said he had been poisoned with a chemical nerve agent from the Novichok group -- the same substance the Kremlin used to poison ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the United Kingdom in March 2018.

In recent days, a Russian submarine suddenly surfaced off Alaska, and a US B-52 bomber was intercepted by a Russian Su-27 fighter over the Baltic Sea. The Russians followed the B-52 well into Danish airspace, committing a significant violation of the airspace of a NATO nation and US ally.

But at his Friday news conference, Trump claimed that he's "been tougher on Russia than anybody else by far."

Russia, on its part, has denied any wrongdoing in recent military encounters.

The White House has so far offered no explanation for the President's silence in the face of the repeated military provocations. But experts are unconvinced. 
&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump might have broken his recent silence on Russia and the attack on Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny, but there has been no reaction on alleged Russian efforts to interfere in US politics.

US President Donald Trump might have broken his recent silence on Russia and the attack on Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny, but there has been no reaction on alleged Russian efforts to interfere in US politics. This despite Thursday's news that an intelligence bulletin issued by the Department of Homeland Security warned that Moscow is attempting to sow doubt about the integrity of the 2020 elections by amplifying false claims that mail-in voting resulting in widespread fraud. Instead, Trump appeared starkly out of step with the leaders of Britain and Germany, who have expressed outrage at the attack on Navalny. He called it "tragic" but emphasising that he has a good relationship with the Russian leader. "I don't know exactly what happened. I think it's tragic. It's terrible; it shouldn't happen. We haven't had any proof yet, but I will take a look," Trump said on Friday in a news conference at the White House. In response to further questions on the matter he attempted to deflect to his favorite opponent, claiming that what China is doing is "far worse." And as he had done the night before at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, he stressed, "I do get along with President Putin." Also, Trump did not make any mention of other provocations in recent weeks, including a collision between a Russian military convoy and a US armoured vehicle that injured seven American troops. These were his first comments on Navalny since Germany said he had been poisoned with a chemical nerve agent from the Novichok group -- the same substance the Kremlin used to poison ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the United Kingdom in March 2018. In recent days, a Russian submarine suddenly surfaced off Alaska, and a US B-52 bomber was intercepted by a Russian Su-27 fighter over the Baltic Sea. The Russians followed the B-52 well into Danish airspace, committing a significant violation of the airspace of a NATO nation and US ally. But at his Friday news conference, Trump claimed that he's "been tougher on Russia than anybody else by far." Russia, on its part, has denied any wrongdoing in recent military encounters. The White House has so far offered no explanation for the President's silence in the face of the repeated military provocations. But experts are unconvinced.

Trump says he 'gets along' with Putin amid international criticism of Russian aggression

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is set to assail the incumbent US president's, Donald Trump, stewardship of the coronavirus-ravaged economy on Friday as both campaigns kick into high gear with less than two months to go to the November 3 US election.

The US Labour Department is also slated to release its monthly jobs report, a key indicator of economic health that will provide some insight into the state of the country’s recovery from the downturn sparked by COVID-19.

Trump has seized upon the monthly reports as evidence that the recovery has been a dramatic one. But last month’s report showed some slowdown in employment growth, as the United States added 1.8 million jobs in July after a record-smashing June when the nation posted 4.8 million. The unemployment rate fell to 10.2 per cent.

Economists have said the August report likely will show the labour market faltering further.

Biden will deliver remarks from his home base of Wilmington, Delaware, after his busiest campaign week in months. Trump has no public events planned.

While the Labor Day holiday typically marks the beginning of a more intense phase of the White House race, both Biden and Trump got a head start in the past week with a flurry of activity following their back-to-back party conventions.

Biden traveled to Pittsburgh and Kenosha, Wisconsin, both in battleground states that help decide the election, to address the ongoing and sometimes violent protests over racial injustice and police brutality.

Trump also visited Kenosha -- a flashpoint city where anti-racist demonstrators have clashed with Trump supporters after the police shooting of a Black man -- and made stops in Pennsylvania and North Carolina, another key state.

Both campaigns have launched new ad blitzes in those swing states, with Biden hammering Trump`s handling of the pandemic and Trump hewing to his “law and order” theme criticizing rioters and protesters.

The most recent Reuters/Ipsos poll showed that the race has remained relatively stable over the last several weeks, with Biden holding a seven percentage point over Trump nationally.

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is set to assail the incumbent US president's, Donald Trump, stewardship of the coronavirus-ravaged economy on Friday as both campaigns kick into high gear with less than two months to go to the November 3 US election.

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is set to assail the incumbent US president's, Donald Trump, stewardship of the coronavirus-ravaged economy on Friday as both campaigns kick into high gear with less than two months to go to the November 3 US election. The US Labour Department is also slated to release its monthly jobs report, a key indicator of economic health that will provide some insight into the state of the country’s recovery from the downturn sparked by COVID-19. Trump has seized upon the monthly reports as evidence that the recovery has been a dramatic one. But last month’s report showed some slowdown in employment growth, as the United States added 1.8 million jobs in July after a record-smashing June when the nation posted 4.8 million. The unemployment rate fell to 10.2 per cent. Economists have said the August report likely will show the labour market faltering further. Biden will deliver remarks from his home base of Wilmington, Delaware, after his busiest campaign week in months. Trump has no public events planned. While the Labor Day holiday typically marks the beginning of a more intense phase of the White House race, both Biden and Trump got a head start in the past week with a flurry of activity following their back-to-back party conventions. Biden traveled to Pittsburgh and Kenosha, Wisconsin, both in battleground states that help decide the election, to address the ongoing and sometimes violent protests over racial injustice and police brutality. Trump also visited Kenosha -- a flashpoint city where anti-racist demonstrators have clashed with Trump supporters after the police shooting of a Black man -- and made stops in Pennsylvania and North Carolina, another key state. Both campaigns have launched new ad blitzes in those swing states, with Biden hammering Trump`s handling of the pandemic and Trump hewing to his “law and order” theme criticizing rioters and protesters. The most recent Reuters/Ipsos poll showed that the race has remained relatively stable over the last several weeks, with Biden holding a seven percentage point over Trump nationally.

Joe Biden set to criticise Trump on US economy as campaign intensifies

Joe Biden, the Democratic party’s presidential candidate in the upcoming US elections will report a fundraising haul of over $300 million for the month of August, which sets a new record.

Reported by the New York Times on Tuesday, the haul is almost double of the $140 million Biden had raised in July.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="http://wionews.com/videos/joe-biden-speaks-at-dnc-2020-no-more-cosying-up-to-dictators-322064/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

DNC boost

The boost may be attributed to the Democratic National Convention which was held virtually between August 17 and August 20.

Biden is leading against the incumbent President Donald Trump in major national opinion polls for the November3 elections.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/history-records-biden-opposed-operation-against-osama-bin-laden-says-us-vice-president-mike-pence-at-republican-national-convention-323319" hreflang="en">History records Biden opposed operation against Osama Bin Laden, says US Vice President Mike Pence at Republican National Convention</a>

Ever since Kamala Harris of California was announced as Biden’s Vice President choice, the party has received a boost.

The party’s&nbsp; convention alone raised $70 million between August 17 and 20, as was announced by the official campaign. This included help from allied groups.

On the other hand, Trump’s campaign has not announced their haul for the month of August. In July, his party has bought in $165 million, $25 million over Biden’s $140 million.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/opinions-blogs/joe-biden-or-donald-trump-who-is-will-be-better-for-india-323874" hreflang="en">Joe Biden or Donald Trump: Who is/ will be better for India?</a>

The New York Times told Reuters that they do not know what the official figure for Trump might be. However, they did add that it might be highest ever raised by a US presidential candidate in a moth.

The Biden campaign claims that they will confirm the numbers for August on Tuesday, and that they were still in the process of finalising the exact money raised in August.

Joe Biden, the Democratic party’s presidential candidate in the upcoming US elections will report a fundraising haul of over $300 million for the month of August, which sets a new record.

Joe Biden, the Democratic party’s presidential candidate in the upcoming US elections will report a fundraising haul of over $300 million for the month of August, which sets a new record. Reported by the New York Times on Tuesday, the haul is almost double of the $140 million Biden had raised in July. DNC boost The boost may be attributed to the Democratic National Convention which was held virtually between August 17 and August 20. Biden is leading against the incumbent President Donald Trump in major national opinion polls for the November3 elections. Also read: History records Biden opposed operation against Osama Bin Laden, says US Vice President Mike Pence at Republican National Convention Ever since Kamala Harris of California was announced as Biden’s Vice President choice, the party has received a boost. The party’s convention alone raised $70 million between August 17 and 20, as was announced by the official campaign. This included help from allied groups. On the other hand, Trump’s campaign has not announced their haul for the month of August. In July, his party has bought in $165 million, $25 million over Biden’s $140 million. Also read: Joe Biden or Donald Trump: Who is/ will be better for India? The New York Times told Reuters that they do not know what the official figure for Trump might be. However, they did add that it might be highest ever raised by a US presidential candidate in a moth. The Biden campaign claims that they will confirm the numbers for August on Tuesday, and that they were still in the process of finalising the exact money raised in August.

Joe Biden reportedly raised $300 million in August, highest ever for a US presidential candidate

Democrats have accused US President Donald Trump of trying to inflame racial tensions to benefit his campaign as he praised supporters who clashed with protesters in Portland, Oregon.

Violence and protests have been a regular feature in Portland ever since Black Lives Matter -- in support of George Floyd, a Black man who was killed due to the brutality of police on May 25.

On Sunday, one man -- identified as a supporter of a right-wing group -- was shot and killed in Portland when a large caravan of Trump's supporters and Black Lives Matter protesters clashed in the city's streets.

Despite this, Trump praised the caravan participants as "GREAT PATRIOTS!" and blamed the city's Democratic mayor for the death.

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GREAT PATRIOTS! <a href="https://t.co/BWGxVoBTmI">https://t.co/BWGxVoBTmI</a>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1300019849540886528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2020</a></blockquote>
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He had earlier announced he will travel to Kenosha, Wisconsin, amid anger over the shooting of another Black man by police.

Trump has throughout the summer cast American cities as under siege by violence and lawlessness, despite the fact that most of the protests demonstrating against racial injustice have been largely peaceful.

To this end, Democrats accuse Trump of rooting for unrest and trying to stoke further violence for political gain instead of ratcheting down tensions.

Biden in a statement said he condemned violence on all side, while accusing Trump of "recklessly encouraging" it.

"He may think that war in our streets is good for his reelection chances, but that is not presidential leadership -- or even basic human compassion," Biden said.

"Do you seriously wonder, Mr. President, why this is the first time in decades that America has seen this level of violence," asked Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler.

"It's you who have created the hate and the division."

Trump prepared to travel this week to Kenosha, Wisconsin, where tensions are still raw after police shot Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old Black man, in the back seven times, leaving him paralysed.

The shooting has ignited new demonstrations against racial injustice and police brutality months after George Floyd's death at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer touched off a wider reckoning on race.

Trump has cast the upcoming election as clash between law and order and anarchy, and he has denounced protesters as "thugs" while sharply defending police. That theme was front-and-center at last week's Republican National Convention, which used recent protest footage to paint a foreboding and violent picture of the future if Biden denies Trump a second term.

The circumstances of Saturday night's shooting in Portland remain unclear.Video from the city shows sporadic fighting, as well as Trump supporters firing paintball pellets at opponents and using bear spray as counterprotesters threw things at the Trump caravan.

White House officials, meanwhile, continued to blame local leaders for allowing the protests to continue.

Democrats have accused US President Donald Trump of trying to inflame racial tensions to benefit his campaign as he praised supporters who clashed with protesters in Portland, Oregon.

Democrats have accused US President Donald Trump of trying to inflame racial tensions to benefit his campaign as he praised supporters who clashed with protesters in Portland, Oregon. Violence and protests have been a regular feature in Portland ever since Black Lives Matter -- in support of George Floyd, a Black man who was killed due to the brutality of police on May 25. On Sunday, one man -- identified as a supporter of a right-wing group -- was shot and killed in Portland when a large caravan of Trump's supporters and Black Lives Matter protesters clashed in the city's streets. Despite this, Trump praised the caravan participants as "GREAT PATRIOTS!" and blamed the city's Democratic mayor for the death. GREAT PATRIOTS! https://t.co/BWGxVoBTmI — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 30, 2020 × He had earlier announced he will travel to Kenosha, Wisconsin, amid anger over the shooting of another Black man by police. Trump has throughout the summer cast American cities as under siege by violence and lawlessness, despite the fact that most of the protests demonstrating against racial injustice have been largely peaceful. To this end, Democrats accuse Trump of rooting for unrest and trying to stoke further violence for political gain instead of ratcheting down tensions. Biden in a statement said he condemned violence on all side, while accusing Trump of "recklessly encouraging" it. "He may think that war in our streets is good for his reelection chances, but that is not presidential leadership -- or even basic human compassion," Biden said. "Do you seriously wonder, Mr. President, why this is the first time in decades that America has seen this level of violence," asked Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler. "It's you who have created the hate and the division." Trump prepared to travel this week to Kenosha, Wisconsin, where tensions are still raw after police shot Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old Black man, in the back seven times, leaving him paralysed. The shooting has ignited new demonstrations against racial injustice and police brutality months after George Floyd's death at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer touched off a wider reckoning on race. Trump has cast the upcoming election as clash between law and order and anarchy, and he has denounced protesters as "thugs" while sharply defending police. That theme was front-and-center at last week's Republican National Convention, which used recent protest footage to paint a foreboding and violent picture of the future if Biden denies Trump a second term. The circumstances of Saturday night's shooting in Portland remain unclear.Video from the city shows sporadic fighting, as well as Trump supporters firing paintball pellets at opponents and using bear spray as counterprotesters threw things at the Trump caravan. White House officials, meanwhile, continued to blame local leaders for allowing the protests to continue.

Trump accused of 'creating hate and division', stoking violence