Hundreds of officials who worked for former Republican President George W Bush are set to endorse Democratic White House hopeful Joe Biden.

Bush was the country’s 43rd president.

According to Reuters, the officials, including Cabinet secretaries and other senior people in the Bush administration, have formed a political action committee - 43 Alumni for Biden - to support the former vice president in his November 3 race -- the latest Republican-led group coming out to oppose the re-election of Donald Trump.

It is often said Trump has alienated some in his own party, most recently with his response to the coronavirus pandemic and nationwide protests over racial injustice and police brutality against Black Americans.

The Super PAC will launch on Wednesday with a website and Facebook page. It plans to release “testimonial videos” praising Biden from high-profile Republicans and will hold get-out-the-vote efforts in the most competitive states.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-slams-trumps-cognitive-capability-over-russian-bounty-intelligence-309774">Also read |&nbsp;Biden slams Trump's 'cognitive capability' over Russian bounty intelligence</a>

Bush’s office has been informed about the group, but the former president is not involved and has not indicated if he approves of its aims.

Freddy Ford, a spokesman for Bush, said Bush had retired “and won’t be wading into this election.”

Bush, who is still admired by many moderate Republicans, won praise for saying the May 25 death in Minneapolis of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, in police custody reflected a “shocking failure”, and urged that protesters be heard.

Earlier, he released a video calling for Americans to unite in the face of the pandemic.

Despite policy differences with Biden, “hundreds” of former Bush officials believe the Democrat has the integrity to meet America’s challenges, the 43 Alumni members said.

As a Super PAC, the group’s members are forbidden by law from working with or communicating with the Biden campaign, but can raise unlimited amounts of money and run ads or hold events to support the candidate.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/white-house-press-secretary-mocked-after-saying-trump-is-most-informed-person-309771">Also read |&nbsp;White House press secretary mocked after saying Trump is 'most informed person'</a>

Dozens of Republican former national security officials are set to back Biden, claiming that Trump is a threat to US security, people involved in the effort told Reuters.

Other Republican groups opposing his re-election include the Lincoln Project, co-founded by George Conway, husband of Trump counselor Kellyanne Conway.

Trump has also drawn sharp criticism from retired military leaders over his apparent attempts to involve the armed forces in efforts to quell the anti-racism protests.

Trump has expressed contempt for Republican and conservative figures who oppose him, saying on Twitter that “Never Trumper” Republicans are “human scum.”

Hundreds of officials who worked for former Republican President George W Bush are set to endorse Democratic White House hopeful Joe Biden. Bush was the country’s 43rd president.

Hundreds of officials who worked for former Republican President George W Bush are set to endorse Democratic White House hopeful Joe Biden. Bush was the country’s 43rd president. According to Reuters, the officials, including Cabinet secretaries and other senior people in the Bush administration, have formed a political action committee - 43 Alumni for Biden - to support the former vice president in his November 3 race -- the latest Republican-led group coming out to oppose the re-election of Donald Trump. It is often said Trump has alienated some in his own party, most recently with his response to the coronavirus pandemic and nationwide protests over racial injustice and police brutality against Black Americans. The Super PAC will launch on Wednesday with a website and Facebook page. It plans to release “testimonial videos” praising Biden from high-profile Republicans and will hold get-out-the-vote efforts in the most competitive states. Also read | Biden slams Trump's 'cognitive capability' over Russian bounty intelligence Bush’s office has been informed about the group, but the former president is not involved and has not indicated if he approves of its aims. Freddy Ford, a spokesman for Bush, said Bush had retired “and won’t be wading into this election.” Bush, who is still admired by many moderate Republicans, won praise for saying the May 25 death in Minneapolis of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, in police custody reflected a “shocking failure”, and urged that protesters be heard. Earlier, he released a video calling for Americans to unite in the face of the pandemic. Despite policy differences with Biden, “hundreds” of former Bush officials believe the Democrat has the integrity to meet America’s challenges, the 43 Alumni members said. As a Super PAC, the group’s members are forbidden by law from working with or communicating with the Biden campaign, but can raise unlimited amounts of money and run ads or hold events to support the candidate. Also read | White House press secretary mocked after saying Trump is 'most informed person' Dozens of Republican former national security officials are set to back Biden, claiming that Trump is a threat to US security, people involved in the effort told Reuters. Other Republican groups opposing his re-election include the Lincoln Project, co-founded by George Conway, husband of Trump counselor Kellyanne Conway. Trump has also drawn sharp criticism from retired military leaders over his apparent attempts to involve the armed forces in efforts to quell the anti-racism protests. Trump has expressed contempt for Republican and conservative figures who oppose him, saying on Twitter that “Never Trumper” Republicans are “human scum.”

Hundreds of George W Bush administration officials to back Biden, says report

Donald Trump's bungled coronavirus response and crackdowns on protesters have thrust Joe Biden into the driver's seat of the US presidential election, but the Democratic challenger must decide when to start campaigning in earnest and battle his opponent head on.

Polls show American voters have little faith in Trump's ability to defeat the pandemic, and 130 days out from November's election Biden has surged into a commanding lead despite holding few in-person events since mid-March.

But with campaign inflection points fast approaching -- notably his pick of a running mate, expected in early August, and the Democratic National Convention later that month -- Biden must consider how to balance adhering to coronavirus safety measures and appearing as more than just a virtual candidate.

Hurling criticism at the president from his Delaware home is not a viable long-term strategy for Biden, common sense and experts dictate.

"I don't see how that's sustainable through the fall election," professor&nbsp;Barry Burden, director of the Election Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, told AFP.

"There will come a point where Biden will need to be a physical presence on the campaign trail, if only to reassure voters he is a real person, in good health and ready to serve."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-attacks-trump-health-policy-as-cruel-in-election-battleground-state-308752">Also read |&nbsp;Biden attacks Trump health policy as 'cruel' in election battleground state</a>

That coming out should occur in July, Burden said, so Biden can start honing his public messaging before sharing a stage with his new vice presidential pick.&nbsp;

Biden must be wary of appearing contradictory if he were to hold crowded rallies after warning such gatherings are dangerous.

Mocked by Team Trump for repeatedly broadcasting from his basement studio, Biden appears to be making a gradual shift toward in-person events.

On Thursday he travelled to Lancaster, Pennsylvania where he wore a mask and sat with families in a brick-lined garden to discuss health care.

In a speech minutes later, he savaged Trump for seeking to dismantle Obamacare.

"We've seen that same callousness in his handling of the coronavirus," Biden said, evoking Trump's refusal to heed the advice of his own scientists and wear a mask, calling the disease the "kung flu," and saying he would like to&nbsp; "slow" down virus testing.&nbsp;

"He's like a child who can't believe this has happened to him," Biden said.

"His job isn't to whine about it, his job is to do something about it."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-administration-asks-supreme-court-to-invalidate-affordable-care-act-308713">Also read |&nbsp;Trump administration asks Supreme Court to invalidate Affordable Care Act</a>

IMPORTANT CONTRAST

Trump is adrift in troubling waters.&nbsp;Scientists say his coronavirus strategy has largely failed, and his former national security advisor John Bolton just accused him of being unfit for office.

The president was rebuked twice last week by a conservative-leaning Supreme Court on closely watched cases regarding immigration and gay rights.

And criticism has poured in over his handling of coast-to-coast protests against racial injustice, and how his toxic rhetoric served to stoke divisions.

He has scorned Biden as a "puppet of the radical left" and said China wants Biden to win so they can manipulate a pliant Democrat.

The attacks have fallen flat, largely because Biden is not out on the stump engaging in campaign combat.

Trump is increasingly turning to the economy as a potential re-election saviour.

A mild turnaround before the election could help the president and complicate Biden's message, according to Burden.

"Even if the economy is not doing well, if it's improved, then he will be able to tell a story about bringing America back," the professor said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-lashes-out-at-new-york-mayor-black-lives-matter-leader-308850">Also read |&nbsp;Trump lashes out at New York mayor, Black Lives Matter leader</a>

Meanwhile the parties' official nominating conventions near. While Trump is demanding a massive crowd at the Republican event, Biden is opting for safety, as the Democratic Party said this week it will hold a largely virtual convention.

Biden can no longer count on a traditional overgrown spectacle, but opportunity exists, insists Amy Dacey, a Democratic strategist.

The Biden campaign is "reaching people where they are and not always asking them to come to where he is," Dacey said. "That's a really important contrast."

Another is Biden's human touch, but the pandemic may erase that advantage. He can still be a consoling presence, however, a distinction from Trump who is often seen as insensitive to people's concerns.

Trump is not widely popular, but if anything he has proven resilient.

Suffering in the sharp media glare, he is annoyed that his opponent avoids it.

Trump's campaign has taken to ridiculing Biden for remaining in the shadows, Kyle Kondik of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics wrote in a recent newsletter.

"They need to draw Biden out and hope he makes mistakes, so Trump can make himself look better by comparison."

Donald Trump's bungled coronavirus response and crackdowns on protesters have thrust Joe Biden into the driver's seat of the US presidential election, but the Democratic challenger must decide when to start campaigning in earnest and battle his opponent head on.

Donald Trump's bungled coronavirus response and crackdowns on protesters have thrust Joe Biden into the driver's seat of the US presidential election, but the Democratic challenger must decide when to start campaigning in earnest and battle his opponent head on. Polls show American voters have little faith in Trump's ability to defeat the pandemic, and 130 days out from November's election Biden has surged into a commanding lead despite holding few in-person events since mid-March. But with campaign inflection points fast approaching -- notably his pick of a running mate, expected in early August, and the Democratic National Convention later that month -- Biden must consider how to balance adhering to coronavirus safety measures and appearing as more than just a virtual candidate. Hurling criticism at the president from his Delaware home is not a viable long-term strategy for Biden, common sense and experts dictate. "I don't see how that's sustainable through the fall election," professor Barry Burden, director of the Election Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, told AFP. "There will come a point where Biden will need to be a physical presence on the campaign trail, if only to reassure voters he is a real person, in good health and ready to serve." Also read | Biden attacks Trump health policy as 'cruel' in election battleground state That coming out should occur in July, Burden said, so Biden can start honing his public messaging before sharing a stage with his new vice presidential pick. Biden must be wary of appearing contradictory if he were to hold crowded rallies after warning such gatherings are dangerous. Mocked by Team Trump for repeatedly broadcasting from his basement studio, Biden appears to be making a gradual shift toward in-person events. On Thursday he travelled to Lancaster, Pennsylvania where he wore a mask and sat with families in a brick-lined garden to discuss health care. In a speech minutes later, he savaged Trump for seeking to dismantle Obamacare. "We've seen that same callousness in his handling of the coronavirus," Biden said, evoking Trump's refusal to heed the advice of his own scientists and wear a mask, calling the disease the "kung flu," and saying he would like to "slow" down virus testing. "He's like a child who can't believe this has happened to him," Biden said. "His job isn't to whine about it, his job is to do something about it." Also read | Trump administration asks Supreme Court to invalidate Affordable Care Act IMPORTANT CONTRAST Trump is adrift in troubling waters. Scientists say his coronavirus strategy has largely failed, and his former national security advisor John Bolton just accused him of being unfit for office. The president was rebuked twice last week by a conservative-leaning Supreme Court on closely watched cases regarding immigration and gay rights. And criticism has poured in over his handling of coast-to-coast protests against racial injustice, and how his toxic rhetoric served to stoke divisions. He has scorned Biden as a "puppet of the radical left" and said China wants Biden to win so they can manipulate a pliant Democrat. The attacks have fallen flat, largely because Biden is not out on the stump engaging in campaign combat. Trump is increasingly turning to the economy as a potential re-election saviour. A mild turnaround before the election could help the president and complicate Biden's message, according to Burden. "Even if the economy is not doing well, if it's improved, then he will be able to tell a story about bringing America back," the professor said. Also read | Trump lashes out at New York mayor, Black Lives Matter leader Meanwhile the parties' official nominating conventions near. While Trump is demanding a massive crowd at the Republican event, Biden is opting for safety, as the Democratic Party said this week it will hold a largely virtual convention. Biden can no longer count on a traditional overgrown spectacle, but opportunity exists, insists Amy Dacey, a Democratic strategist. The Biden campaign is "reaching people where they are and not always asking them to come to where he is," Dacey said. "That's a really important contrast." Another is Biden's human touch, but the pandemic may erase that advantage. He can still be a consoling presence, however, a distinction from Trump who is often seen as insensitive to people's concerns. Trump is not widely popular, but if anything he has proven resilient. Suffering in the sharp media glare, he is annoyed that his opponent avoids it. Trump's campaign has taken to ridiculing Biden for remaining in the shadows, Kyle Kondik of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics wrote in a recent newsletter. "They need to draw Biden out and hope he makes mistakes, so Trump can make himself look better by comparison."

Biden's low-key strategy vexes Trump, but in-person campaigning beckons

Twitter has decided to give its US employees off on presidential election voting day in November. It has also decided to offer global workforce paid time off to vote in national elections in their respective countries.

This comes in the wake of the social media firm being at loggerheads with US President Donald Trump over his controversial tweets.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/coronapalooza-twitter-users-give-another-name-to-trumps-tulsa-rally-307206">Also read | Coronapalooza: Twitter users give another name to Trump's Tulsa rally</a>

According to a CNBC report on Wednesday citing an internal Twitter memo, Election Day takes place on a Tuesday in November, making it difficult for people to vote.

"Given the importance of voting, going forward all national election voting days that take place on a weekday will be a paid day off. Since the US presidential election falls on a work day (November 3), we will plan to close all US offices on that day," the company told employees in an internal memo.

"For all other elections, if you do not have enough time outside of working hours to vote or your country doesn't already have a process in place to address this, you should take the time you need to do so and you will be compensated for the time off," the memo added.

Teams responsible for work related to elections, including the security of Twitter's services, will however continue to work.

Twitter on Tuesday flagged a tweet from US President Donald Trump which promoted violence by saying if protesters tried to set up an "autonomous zone" in Washington, DC they would be met with "serious force".

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/twitter-hides-trumps-tweet-targeting-protestors-in-washington-dc-labels-it-as-abusive-content-308136">Also read | Twitter hides Trump's tweet targeting protestors in Washington DC; labels it as 'abusive content'</a>

It was the fourth time Twitter flagged a Trump tweet in the recent days. 
&nbsp;

Twitter has decided to give its US employees off on presidential election voting day in November. It has also decided to offer global workforce paid time off to vote in national elections in their respective countries.

Twitter has decided to give its US employees off on presidential election voting day in November. It has also decided to offer global workforce paid time off to vote in national elections in their respective countries. This comes in the wake of the social media firm being at loggerheads with US President Donald Trump over his controversial tweets. Also read | Coronapalooza: Twitter users give another name to Trump's Tulsa rally According to a CNBC report on Wednesday citing an internal Twitter memo, Election Day takes place on a Tuesday in November, making it difficult for people to vote. "Given the importance of voting, going forward all national election voting days that take place on a weekday will be a paid day off. Since the US presidential election falls on a work day (November 3), we will plan to close all US offices on that day," the company told employees in an internal memo. "For all other elections, if you do not have enough time outside of working hours to vote or your country doesn't already have a process in place to address this, you should take the time you need to do so and you will be compensated for the time off," the memo added. Teams responsible for work related to elections, including the security of Twitter's services, will however continue to work. Twitter on Tuesday flagged a tweet from US President Donald Trump which promoted violence by saying if protesters tried to set up an "autonomous zone" in Washington, DC they would be met with "serious force". Also read | Twitter hides Trump's tweet targeting protestors in Washington DC; labels it as 'abusive content' It was the fourth time Twitter flagged a Trump tweet in the recent days.

Twitter gives employees paid off on US presidential election day globally: Report

Social media companies are increasingly regulating political speech in the United States and their biggest and common target is President Donald Trump.

On Thursday, Trump tweeted a video, showing two toddlers, one black and one white, running around. Through the video, he wanted to show how the American media allegedly twists the facts on racism.&nbsp;

But this video was doctored and it carried a fake headline wrongly attributed to CNN. Twitter has flagged this tweet by President Donald Trump, with a warning that it contained ''manipulated media'' designed to mislead people. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/twitter-labels-trump-tweet-about-racist-baby-as-manipulated-307017">Also Read: Twitter labels Trump tweet about 'racist baby' as 'manipulated'</a>

Another social media giant Facebook has removed a number of posts and ads run by Donald Trump’s re-election campaign that featured a symbol used by the Nazis for violating its “policy against organised hate”.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-are-facebook-twitter-uniting-against-trump-307193/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"We removed these posts and ads for violating our policy against organized hate. Our policy prohibits using a banned hate group's symbol to identify political prisoners without the context that condemns or discusses the symbol," Andy Stone, a Facebook spokesperson said. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/facebook-takes-down-trump-ads-for-violating-its-policy-against-organised-hate-306951">Also Read:&nbsp;Facebook takes down Trump ads for violating its policy against 'organised hate'</a>

These events mark another flashpoint in the increasingly contentious debate on political disinformation.

Facebook and Twitter have massive reach and they've become engines of the narrative. Both social media companies have the potential to influence political outcomes. Censorship is a double-edged sword, and Twitter and Facebook must call out both sides for harmful content. 
 
&nbsp;

Social media companies are increasingly regulating political speech in the United States and their biggest and common target is President Donald Trump. On Thursday, Trump tweeted a video, showing two toddlers, one black and one white, running around.

Social media companies are increasingly regulating political speech in the United States and their biggest and common target is President Donald Trump. On Thursday, Trump tweeted a video, showing two toddlers, one black and one white, running around. Through the video, he wanted to show how the American media allegedly twists the facts on racism. But this video was doctored and it carried a fake headline wrongly attributed to CNN. Twitter has flagged this tweet by President Donald Trump, with a warning that it contained ''manipulated media'' designed to mislead people. Also Read: Twitter labels Trump tweet about 'racist baby' as 'manipulated' Another social media giant Facebook has removed a number of posts and ads run by Donald Trump’s re-election campaign that featured a symbol used by the Nazis for violating its “policy against organised hate”. "We removed these posts and ads for violating our policy against organized hate. Our policy prohibits using a banned hate group's symbol to identify political prisoners without the context that condemns or discusses the symbol," Andy Stone, a Facebook spokesperson said. Also Read: Facebook takes down Trump ads for violating its policy against 'organised hate' These events mark another flashpoint in the increasingly contentious debate on political disinformation. Facebook and Twitter have massive reach and they've become engines of the narrative. Both social media companies have the potential to influence political outcomes. Censorship is a double-edged sword, and Twitter and Facebook must call out both sides for harmful content.

Social media companies must ensure unbiased policing

US President Donald Trump said expanded mail-in voting could cost him the re-election in November, as states continue to press for absentee balloting amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.

"My biggest risk is that we don’t win lawsuits," Trump told Politico in an interview, conducted on Thursday.&nbsp;

Trump and his fellow Republicans have said voting by mail invites tampering, although numerous studies have found little evidence of widespread voter fraud connected to mail-in balloting, and have filed lawsuits and threatened to withhold federal funding over the issue.

"If we don’t win those lawsuits ... I think it puts the election at risk," he added.

The coronavirus outbreak has killed more than 118,000 Americans and led to fears of a second wave of infections in the autumn. Some parts of the country have seen a recent spike in cases.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-administrations-sloppy-work-has-led-to-supreme-court-losses-307131">Also read |&nbsp;Trump administration's 'sloppy' work has led to Supreme Court losses</a>

This has pushed a number states to expand mail-in voting.&nbsp;

Lawsuits over mail-in voting have been filed in several states, including California, Texas and Arizona.

Asked if he would accept the results of the election no matter the outcome, Trump told Politico that was a question "you can never answer."

He told Fox News last week he would "go on and do other things" if he did not win a second term.

US President Donald Trump said expanded mail-in voting could cost him the re-election in November, as states continue to press for absentee balloting amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.

US President Donald Trump said expanded mail-in voting could cost him the re-election in November, as states continue to press for absentee balloting amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. "My biggest risk is that we don’t win lawsuits," Trump told Politico in an interview, conducted on Thursday. Trump and his fellow Republicans have said voting by mail invites tampering, although numerous studies have found little evidence of widespread voter fraud connected to mail-in balloting, and have filed lawsuits and threatened to withhold federal funding over the issue. "If we don’t win those lawsuits ... I think it puts the election at risk," he added. The coronavirus outbreak has killed more than 118,000 Americans and led to fears of a second wave of infections in the autumn. Some parts of the country have seen a recent spike in cases. Also read | Trump administration's 'sloppy' work has led to Supreme Court losses This has pushed a number states to expand mail-in voting. Lawsuits over mail-in voting have been filed in several states, including California, Texas and Arizona. Asked if he would accept the results of the election no matter the outcome, Trump told Politico that was a question "you can never answer." He told Fox News last week he would "go on and do other things" if he did not win a second term.

Trump says mail-in voting is top threat to his re-election

With the US Presidential election only a few months away, a substantial section of US citizens must have made up their mind now about casting their vote in favour of Joe Biden or Donald Trump.

Normally, before the US Presidential election, there would be a considerable wrangle about the choice of Presidential candidate by both the principal parties. However, this time, the Democratic party chose Biden as it’s a candidate without much of debate and Republican party too decided in favour of Trump as its candidate without much of debate. The usual excitement that would be associated with the nomination of a Presidential candidate has been missing this time, causing disappointment for the curious observers.

Even before the last Presidential election, the section of print and visual media in the US&nbsp;carried out vituperative criticism against Donald Trump and the severity of such criticism has not tapered down during the Presidency of Trump. Therefore, people in the US&nbsp;are aware of the views and prejudices of the section of media against Trump and, therefore, continued criticism&nbsp;against Trump may not have a significant impact on the results of the forthcoming US Presidential election.

Two recent unhappy events namely COVID-19 crisis and the death of George Floyd by white policeman are bound to become an electoral issue in the coming election, with the opposition parties, a section of media and sworn critics holding Trump responsible for these two unhappy problems confronting the US.

However, the discerning observers amongst citizens who do not hold any particular view for or against Trump would introspect deeper before casting their votes. The votes of these unprejudiced citizens are likely to be the deciding factor in the choice of next US President.

Many impartial observers refuse to blame President Trump for COVID-19 crisis in the US&nbsp;and any criticism that Trump did not take preventive steps to avoid COVID-19 crisis cannot stand independent scrutiny. No country in the world anticipated such magnitude of the COVID-19 problem and the fact that China concealed the information to the world when it occurred in Wuhan and WHO colluded with China in concealing the information is believed by many people to be correct.

President Trump left it to the Governors to handle the COVID-19 crisis and this is what it should be. It is true that Trump underestimated the seriousness of COVID-19 crisis earlier, which is a matter of judgement and the benefit of the doubt should be given to him. Several governments in Europe and other countries reacted in the same way as the US did.

In the case of George Floyd's death, it would be extremely unfair to blame President Trump for this and he lost no time in condemning it. When the violent prone protestors took law into their own hands and destroyed public properties, President Trump had no alternative other than issuing a&nbsp;warning&nbsp;to put down such violence by force. No government can afford to remain as a spectator when the protestors indulge in violence, whatever may be the cause.

The critics and opposition party exploiting the above two unhappy events to discredit President Trump and spoil his public image may not cut ice amongst many discerning people.

&nbsp;

The basic approach of President Trump in defending the American business interests and stating clearly “America first” is certainly recognised and applauded by many people. His decision to confront China is a matter of absolute need and he has taken the bull by the horn in dealing with China, &nbsp;with no other US President having done so before.

The fact that the American economy has done reasonably well during Trump’s tenure and the steps he has taken to revive the economy after the COVID-19 crisis will not go unnoticed even by the worst critics.

Many would wonder whether the Democratic party candidate would go soft on China if he were to be the next President. &nbsp;No American would want this.

Former President Obama campaigning for Biden may not help his electoral prospects significantly. Many people would still remember that President Obama suddenly visited a mosque and asked the African Americans to defend their rights before the last Presidential election, which inevitably gave an impression that Obama was trying to please a section of people by appeasing them for the sake of votes. Considering the fact that Obama himself is not a white person, many may ask as to what he did to enhance the status of blacks in America during his Presidentship.

Obama was not tough against China and this became very clear when he received the respected Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama through the backdoors of White House so that Chinese government would not be annoyed by his entertaining the Dalai Lama. &nbsp;By this process, many think that Obama insulted the Dalai Lama.

As of now, the US Presidential election campaigning is still open and it would become more bitter as the days go on. But, the discerning observers amongst US citizens would not be guided by rhetorics and media views. 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

With the US Presidential election only a few months away, a substantial section of US citizens must have made up their mind now about casting their vote in favour of Joe Biden or Donald Trump.

With the US Presidential election only a few months away, a substantial section of US citizens must have made up their mind now about casting their vote in favour of Joe Biden or Donald Trump. Normally, before the US Presidential election, there would be a considerable wrangle about the choice of Presidential candidate by both the principal parties. However, this time, the Democratic party chose Biden as it’s a candidate without much of debate and Republican party too decided in favour of Trump as its candidate without much of debate. The usual excitement that would be associated with the nomination of a Presidential candidate has been missing this time, causing disappointment for the curious observers. Even before the last Presidential election, the section of print and visual media in the US carried out vituperative criticism against Donald Trump and the severity of such criticism has not tapered down during the Presidency of Trump. Therefore, people in the US are aware of the views and prejudices of the section of media against Trump and, therefore, continued criticism against Trump may not have a significant impact on the results of the forthcoming US Presidential election. Two recent unhappy events namely COVID-19 crisis and the death of George Floyd by white policeman are bound to become an electoral issue in the coming election, with the opposition parties, a section of media and sworn critics holding Trump responsible for these two unhappy problems confronting the US. However, the discerning observers amongst citizens who do not hold any particular view for or against Trump would introspect deeper before casting their votes. The votes of these unprejudiced citizens are likely to be the deciding factor in the choice of next US President. Many impartial observers refuse to blame President Trump for COVID-19 crisis in the US and any criticism that Trump did not take preventive steps to avoid COVID-19 crisis cannot stand independent scrutiny. No country in the world anticipated such magnitude of the COVID-19 problem and the fact that China concealed the information to the world when it occurred in Wuhan and WHO colluded with China in concealing the information is believed by many people to be correct. President Trump left it to the Governors to handle the COVID-19 crisis and this is what it should be. It is true that Trump underestimated the seriousness of COVID-19 crisis earlier, which is a matter of judgement and the benefit of the doubt should be given to him. Several governments in Europe and other countries reacted in the same way as the US did. In the case of George Floyd's death, it would be extremely unfair to blame President Trump for this and he lost no time in condemning it. When the violent prone protestors took law into their own hands and destroyed public properties, President Trump had no alternative other than issuing a warning to put down such violence by force. No government can afford to remain as a spectator when the protestors indulge in violence, whatever may be the cause. The critics and opposition party exploiting the above two unhappy events to discredit President Trump and spoil his public image may not cut ice amongst many discerning people. The basic approach of President Trump in defending the American business interests and stating clearly “America first” is certainly recognised and applauded by many people. His decision to confront China is a matter of absolute need and he has taken the bull by the horn in dealing with China, with no other US President having done so before. The fact that the American economy has done reasonably well during Trump’s tenure and the steps he has taken to revive the economy after the COVID-19 crisis will not go unnoticed even by the worst critics. Many would wonder whether the Democratic party candidate would go soft on China if he were to be the next President. No American would want this. Former President Obama campaigning for Biden may not help his electoral prospects significantly. Many people would still remember that President Obama suddenly visited a mosque and asked the African Americans to defend their rights before the last Presidential election, which inevitably gave an impression that Obama was trying to please a section of people by appeasing them for the sake of votes. Considering the fact that Obama himself is not a white person, many may ask as to what he did to enhance the status of blacks in America during his Presidentship. Obama was not tough against China and this became very clear when he received the respected Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama through the backdoors of White House so that Chinese government would not be annoyed by his entertaining the Dalai Lama. By this process, many think that Obama insulted the Dalai Lama. As of now, the US Presidential election campaigning is still open and it would become more bitter as the days go on. But, the discerning observers amongst US citizens would not be guided by rhetorics and media views. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Is change of leadership in the US necessary?

Ukrainian officials on Saturday said they were offered $5 million in bribes to end a probe into energy company Burisma's founder, adding there was no connection to former board member Hunter Biden.

Hunter's father, Joe Biden, is running for the US presidency.

The Ukrainian company was thrust into the global spotlight last year in the impeachment inquiry into whether US President Donald Trump improperly pressured Kiev into opening a case against his rival for the November election race.

Trump wants an investigation into the Democrats' 2020 candidate, former Vice President Joe Biden, and his son.

Three people had been detained, including one current and former tax official, over the bribe offer. The money was the largest cash bribe ever seized in the country.

Burisma said in a statement it had nothing to do with the matter.

The bribe related to a case of embezzling state money given to a bank, officials said. Some $5 million was offered to anti-corruption officials and a further $1 million was intended for an official acting as a middleman.

The suspects were in a hurry to pay the bribe because they wanted to end the case against Zlochevsky in time for his birthday on Sunday.

The country's former prosecutor general told Reuters in June that an audit he commissioned while in office of thousands of old case files had found no evidence of wrongdoing by Hunter Biden while he worked for Burisma.

Hunter Biden joined Burisma in 2014, one of several high-profile names to join what the private company said was an attempt to strengthen corporate governance. His role has been attacked as corrupt without evidence by Trump and congressional Republicans in Washington. The Bidens deny any wrongdoing and Democrats said Trump was trying to help his re-election prospects.

(with inputs from Reuters)

Ukrainian officials on Saturday said they were offered $5 million in bribes to end a probe into energy company Burisma's founder, adding there was no connection to former board member Hunter Biden.

Ukrainian officials on Saturday said they were offered $5 million in bribes to end a probe into energy company Burisma's founder, adding there was no connection to former board member Hunter Biden. Hunter's father, Joe Biden, is running for the US presidency. The Ukrainian company was thrust into the global spotlight last year in the impeachment inquiry into whether US President Donald Trump improperly pressured Kiev into opening a case against his rival for the November election race. Trump wants an investigation into the Democrats' 2020 candidate, former Vice President Joe Biden, and his son. Three people had been detained, including one current and former tax official, over the bribe offer. The money was the largest cash bribe ever seized in the country. Burisma said in a statement it had nothing to do with the matter. The bribe related to a case of embezzling state money given to a bank, officials said. Some $5 million was offered to anti-corruption officials and a further $1 million was intended for an official acting as a middleman. The suspects were in a hurry to pay the bribe because they wanted to end the case against Zlochevsky in time for his birthday on Sunday. The country's former prosecutor general told Reuters in June that an audit he commissioned while in office of thousands of old case files had found no evidence of wrongdoing by Hunter Biden while he worked for Burisma. Hunter Biden joined Burisma in 2014, one of several high-profile names to join what the private company said was an attempt to strengthen corporate governance. His role has been attacked as corrupt without evidence by Trump and congressional Republicans in Washington. The Bidens deny any wrongdoing and Democrats said Trump was trying to help his re-election prospects. (with inputs from Reuters)

Ukraine alleges $5 million bribe over Burisma, claims there's no Biden link

Donald Trump supporters who attend the US President's upcoming election rally must sign a waiver promising not to sue if they catch COVID-19 at the event, according to his campaign website.

Rallygoers are asked to RSVP to gain admission to the event and by registering, they must agree to a disclaimer that states they acknowledge the "inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present."

"By attending the Rally, you and any guests voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 and agree not to hold Donald J. Trump for President, Inc.; BOK Center; ASM Global; or any of their affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents, contractors, or volunteers liable for any illness or injury," the disclaimer reads.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/struggling-to-unite-country-trump-reopens-re-election-campaign-305215" hreflang="en">Struggling to unite country, Trump reopens re-election campaign</a>

The rally is being held in the Bank of Oklahoma Center and comes as the city is in phase three of reopening from the coronavirus pandemic.

The Republican billionaire announced on Wednesday, June 10, that he would resume his campaign rallies in 4 states: Oklahoma, Florida, Arizona, and North Carolina, despite the coronavirus pandemic that continues to rage in the US.

More than 113,000 people have died in the country of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, while more than two million cases have been recorded.

In Florida, Arizona, and North Carolina, the number of infections has even started to rise again.

Donald Trump supporters who attend the US President's upcoming election rally must sign a waiver promising not to sue if they catch COVID-19 at the event, according to his campaign website.

Donald Trump supporters who attend the US President's upcoming election rally must sign a waiver promising not to sue if they catch COVID-19 at the event, according to his campaign website. Rallygoers are asked to RSVP to gain admission to the event and by registering, they must agree to a disclaimer that states they acknowledge the "inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present." "By attending the Rally, you and any guests voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 and agree not to hold Donald J. Trump for President, Inc.; BOK Center; ASM Global; or any of their affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents, contractors, or volunteers liable for any illness or injury," the disclaimer reads. Also read: Struggling to unite country, Trump reopens re-election campaign The rally is being held in the Bank of Oklahoma Center and comes as the city is in phase three of reopening from the coronavirus pandemic. The Republican billionaire announced on Wednesday, June 10, that he would resume his campaign rallies in 4 states: Oklahoma, Florida, Arizona, and North Carolina, despite the coronavirus pandemic that continues to rage in the US. More than 113,000 people have died in the country of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, while more than two million cases have been recorded. In Florida, Arizona, and North Carolina, the number of infections has even started to rise again.

Trump campaign says supporters should attend his rally at 'their own risk'

In United States of America, China is emerging as a new campaign for 2020 race to the White House or 2020 Presidential election. Watch this video to know, How?

US: China emerging as a new campaign for 2020 race to the White House

Former US President Barack Obama on Tuesday endorsed Joe Biden's presidential campaign, saying his longtime vice president can unify and "heal" a nation struggling through some of its darkest moments.

Former US President Barack Obama on Tuesday endorsed Joe Biden's presidential campaign, saying his longtime vice president can unify and "heal" a nation struggling through some of its darkest moments. The formal backing by perhaps the most popular politician in America is the latest shot in the arm for Biden's surging candidacy, and a further sign that Democratic leaders are rallying around the party flagbearer ahead of November's election. "Joe has the character and the experience to guide us through one of our darkest times and heal us through a long recovery," Obama said in a 12-minute video filmed at his home in Washington and released online. "I believe Joe has all the qualities we need in a President right now," Obama said, calling his choice of Biden as running mate in 2008 "one of the best decisions I ever made." The 77-year-old former vice president and Democratic stalwart is the party's presumptive nominee to challenge Donald Trump, after his lone remaining rival Bernie Sanders dropped out of the race last week. (With inputs from AFP)

Former President Obama endorses Biden's 2020 presidential campaign

Joe Biden moved a step closer on Tuesday to a November showdown with Donald Trump, notching up big primary wins over Bernie Sanders, his sole remaining challenger for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Biden, 77, the centrist former vice president, cruised to victory in Missouri and Mississippi and scored a resounding win in Michigan, where Sanders, 78, the leftist senator from Vermont, had hoped to make a stand.

The race was too close to call in Washington, the other major prize at stake, while two more states were also still counting votes -- Idaho and North Dakota.

Addressing supporters in Philadelphia as his victory took shape, Biden struck a presidential tone as he declared on national television that he would lead "a comeback for the soul of this nation."

"We're bringing this party together," he said. "Tonight we're a step closer to restoring decency, dignity and honour to the White House."

Biden reached out to his sometimes bitter rival Sanders and his supporters, telling them "we share a common goal."

"Together we'll defeat Donald Trump," he said.

Biden's huge victory in Mississippi where he won around 80 per cent of the vote, reflected his popularity among strategically vital African-American voters. He defeated Sanders by 25 points in Missouri.

His win in Michigan, the Midwestern industrial state which could be a key battleground in November, was a major setback for Sanders, who narrowly beat Hillary Clinton there four years ago.

Barring surprises, Biden now has a clear path to becoming the Democratic standard bearer in a potentially bruising and deeply divisive matchup with the Republican incumbent Trump.

The main question remaining is whether Sanders, a self-declared democratic socialist, will fight to the bitter end as he did four years ago against Clinton or bow out early.

Many Democrats accuse the firebrand Sanders and his devoted supporters of damaging Clinton just as she was struggling -- ultimately unsuccessfully -- against the Trump insurgency.

'Tough night'

Sanders did not immediately address Tuesday's results.

But his press secretary indicated he had no intention of pulling out, touting Sunday's next debate as the chance for America to "see Biden defend his ideas or lack thereof."

Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, the charismatic New York congresswoman who is one of Sanders' most high-profile supporters, said there was no "sugarcoating" the results, however.

"Tonight's a tough night for the movement," Ocasio-Cortez said. &nbsp;

Adding to nerves in a country on edge after three tumultuous years under Trump, fears of the coronavirus epidemic prompted both campaigns to cancel election-night rallies planned in Cleveland, Ohio.

Organizers of the upcoming television debate between Sanders and Biden likewise said they would take the extraordinary step of not allowing the usual live audience.

Their caution was at odds with Trump, who has vowed to keep holding his typically raucous rallies despite the concerns about large gatherings.

Trump's campaign manager dismissed Tuesday's results, saying "it has never mattered who the Democratic nominee turns out to be."

Both are "running on a big government socialist agenda" and Trump "is on an unstoppable drive toward re-election," campaign manager Brad Parscale said.

For Biden, Tuesday's six-state contest, coming a week after his strong Super Tuesday performance, demonstrated that his once shambolic campaign is gathering strength and is now ready to face Trump.

Michigan in particular, which Trump narrowly won in 2016, was targeted by Biden as a place to put down a marker ahead of the November election.

Sanders had accused Biden of selling out to corporate interests and ignoring a passionate leftist base.

But the former vice president has insisted on steering a centrist line that he says can bring the divided country back together -- and it appears to have paid off.

'Traditional Democratic coalition'

Banking on his credibility as Obama's vice president, he has managed to get out an enthusiastic black vote.

With stories of a hard-knock childhood frequently featuring in his speeches, Biden also wants to recapture the blue-collar white voters that Trump successfully poached from the Democrats in 2016.

"Biden is putting together the traditional Democratic coalition, and that's still a very powerful one," said Julian Zelizer, a professor of political history at Princeton University.

In another boost, Andrew Yang became the latest of a string of former rivals for the Democratic nomination to endorse Biden.

As the candidate, however, Biden will face an intensely polarized landscape, as illustrated during a campaign stop early Tuesday.

Biden was speaking at an under-construction automobile plant in Detroit, when he was confronted by a worker who accused him of planning to take away Americans' firearms.

In the startling exchange, Biden struck back, telling the worker he was "full of shit" and insisting that he supports the constitutional right to bear arms.&nbsp;

"I'm not taking your gun away," he said in the encounter, which Trump backers pointed to as evidence of Biden's inability to stand pressure -- but his own supporters saw as a show of mettle.

Joe Biden moved a step closer on Tuesday to a November showdown with Donald Trump, notching up big primary wins over Bernie Sanders, his sole remaining challenger for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Joe Biden moved a step closer on Tuesday to a November showdown with Donald Trump, notching up big primary wins over Bernie Sanders, his sole remaining challenger for the Democratic presidential nomination. Biden, 77, the centrist former vice president, cruised to victory in Missouri and Mississippi and scored a resounding win in Michigan, where Sanders, 78, the leftist senator from Vermont, had hoped to make a stand. The race was too close to call in Washington, the other major prize at stake, while two more states were also still counting votes -- Idaho and North Dakota. Addressing supporters in Philadelphia as his victory took shape, Biden struck a presidential tone as he declared on national television that he would lead "a comeback for the soul of this nation." "We're bringing this party together," he said. "Tonight we're a step closer to restoring decency, dignity and honour to the White House." Biden reached out to his sometimes bitter rival Sanders and his supporters, telling them "we share a common goal." "Together we'll defeat Donald Trump," he said. Biden's huge victory in Mississippi where he won around 80 per cent of the vote, reflected his popularity among strategically vital African-American voters. He defeated Sanders by 25 points in Missouri. His win in Michigan, the Midwestern industrial state which could be a key battleground in November, was a major setback for Sanders, who narrowly beat Hillary Clinton there four years ago. Barring surprises, Biden now has a clear path to becoming the Democratic standard bearer in a potentially bruising and deeply divisive matchup with the Republican incumbent Trump. The main question remaining is whether Sanders, a self-declared democratic socialist, will fight to the bitter end as he did four years ago against Clinton or bow out early. Many Democrats accuse the firebrand Sanders and his devoted supporters of damaging Clinton just as she was struggling -- ultimately unsuccessfully -- against the Trump insurgency. 'Tough night' Sanders did not immediately address Tuesday's results. But his press secretary indicated he had no intention of pulling out, touting Sunday's next debate as the chance for America to "see Biden defend his ideas or lack thereof." Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, the charismatic New York congresswoman who is one of Sanders' most high-profile supporters, said there was no "sugarcoating" the results, however. "Tonight's a tough night for the movement," Ocasio-Cortez said. Adding to nerves in a country on edge after three tumultuous years under Trump, fears of the coronavirus epidemic prompted both campaigns to cancel election-night rallies planned in Cleveland, Ohio. Organizers of the upcoming television debate between Sanders and Biden likewise said they would take the extraordinary step of not allowing the usual live audience. Their caution was at odds with Trump, who has vowed to keep holding his typically raucous rallies despite the concerns about large gatherings. Trump's campaign manager dismissed Tuesday's results, saying "it has never mattered who the Democratic nominee turns out to be." Both are "running on a big government socialist agenda" and Trump "is on an unstoppable drive toward re-election," campaign manager Brad Parscale said. For Biden, Tuesday's six-state contest, coming a week after his strong Super Tuesday performance, demonstrated that his once shambolic campaign is gathering strength and is now ready to face Trump. Michigan in particular, which Trump narrowly won in 2016, was targeted by Biden as a place to put down a marker ahead of the November election. Sanders had accused Biden of selling out to corporate interests and ignoring a passionate leftist base. But the former vice president has insisted on steering a centrist line that he says can bring the divided country back together -- and it appears to have paid off. 'Traditional Democratic coalition' Banking on his credibility as Obama's vice president, he has managed to get out an enthusiastic black vote. With stories of a hard-knock childhood frequently featuring in his speeches, Biden also wants to recapture the blue-collar white voters that Trump successfully poached from the Democrats in 2016. "Biden is putting together the traditional Democratic coalition, and that's still a very powerful one," said Julian Zelizer, a professor of political history at Princeton University. In another boost, Andrew Yang became the latest of a string of former rivals for the Democratic nomination to endorse Biden. As the candidate, however, Biden will face an intensely polarized landscape, as illustrated during a campaign stop early Tuesday. Biden was speaking at an under-construction automobile plant in Detroit, when he was confronted by a worker who accused him of planning to take away Americans' firearms. In the startling exchange, Biden struck back, telling the worker he was "full of shit" and insisting that he supports the constitutional right to bear arms. "I'm not taking your gun away," he said in the encounter, which Trump backers pointed to as evidence of Biden's inability to stand pressure -- but his own supporters saw as a show of mettle.

'Together we'll defeat Trump': US Presidential candidate Joe Biden after big primary wins

A resurgent <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-revives-white-house-hopes-with-south-carolina-victory-283523">Joe Biden was projected to win seven large states</a> on Tuesday, and front-runner Bernie Sanders captured two states with several others too close to call on the biggest day of voting in the 2020 Democratic presidential nominating race.

Edison Research and the main television networks declared Biden the winner in Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Alabama based on exit polls on Super Tuesday, when Americans in 14 states voted for a Democratic challenger to Republican President Donald Trump in the November&nbsp;3 election.

Fox News projected Biden would also win Oklahoma. The Associated Press projected he would also win Arkansas and Minnesota.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/oysters-and-politics-on-the-menu-in-south-carolina-282932">Oysters and politics on the menu in South Carolina</a>

Sanders was projected to win in Colorado and his home state of Vermont expected outcomes for the self-described democratic socialist and independent senator who hopes to take a huge step toward winning the nomination on Tuesday.

More than one-third of the delegates who will pick the eventual nominee at a July convention is up for grabs in primary elections on Tuesday that could provide some clarity at last in a muddled race for the White House.

Early results showed Sanders holding a narrow lead over Biden in Texas, while Biden had a narrow lead in Massachusetts and Minnesota.

The rush of early results left Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire former New York mayor who spent more than half a billion dollars on advertising, largely out of the running, with his only victory coming in the US&nbsp;territory of American Samoa.

Also read<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/on-the-trail-biden-aims-for-significant-south-carolina-win-trump-urges-supporters-to-intervene-283432">: On the trail - Biden aims for 'significant' South Carolina win, Trump urges supporters to intervene</a>

NBC News reported that Bloomberg would reassess whether to stay in the race on Wednesday, but a campaign official said it was inaccurate to suggest his White House bid could end on Wednesday. The official said the campaign reassesses every day.

Biden, former President Barack Obama's vice president, has enjoyed a burst of momentum since a blowout win in South Carolina on Saturday, which led to endorsements from a flood of prominent party officials and former rivals.

Broad Biden coalition

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He entered Super Tuesday hoping to muscle aside Bloomberg and consolidate support from moderates in Tuesday's voting, turning the race into a one-on-one contest against Sanders.

Biden's showing in the Super Tuesday states was fueled by strong support among a broad coalition of voters including women and men, white and black, those with or without college degrees, and those who considered themselves liberal or moderate.

With 100% of the precincts reporting in Virginia, Biden was winning more than half of the votes in that southern swing state, well ahead of Sanders. In Alabama, he was winning 69% of the vote, and in North Carolina, he was winning 34%.

Edison Research forecast a record turnout of 1.3 million voters in Virginia, well ahead of 986,203 in 2008 and 785,041 in 2016.

Early exit polls by Edison Research showed Biden was winning large majorities of African-American voters in the South, including 72% in Alabama, 71% in Virginia, 63% in North Carolina and 62% in Tennessee.

In Virginia, Biden won the votes of more than four of 10 white college-educated women, compared to about two in 10 each for Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, the senator from Massachusetts.

Bloomberg was a wild card heading into the voting, as he joined the competition for the first time. In early results, he was winning more than 15% of the vote, enough to pick up some delegates, in North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Colorado and Arkansas.

The moderate Bloomberg skipped the first four contests and bombarded Super Tuesday and later voting states with ads, but saw his poll numbers slip after coming under fire during Democratic debates over past comments criticized as sexist and a policing policy he employed as New York's mayor seen as racially discriminatory.

Biden is trying to build a bridge between progressive Democrats' desire for big structural change and more moderate Democrats yearning for a candidate who will be able to win over enough independents and Republicans to oust Trump.

Fresh momentum

That effort gained fresh momentum on the eve of Tuesday's voting as moderate presidential rivals Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota endorsed Biden after withdrawing from the race.

The pace of the Democratic race begins to accelerate after Super Tuesday, with 11 more states voting by the end of March. By then, nearly two-thirds of the delegates will have been allotted.

Sanders headed into Tuesday with 60 delegates to Biden's 54 in the state-by-state nominating fight. Sanders managed a virtual tie with Buttigieg in Iowa and wins in New Hampshire and Nevada.

Besides leading in polls in California, Sanders also is ahead of Biden by a smaller margin in polls in Texas. Sanders' strength with Hispanics should pay dividends in that state, where Latinos comprise one-third of the Democratic electorate.

Biden, whose South Carolina win affirmed his popularity with black voters, hoped to win five states where African Americans make up at least a quarter of the Democratic electorate: Alabama, North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee and Arkansas.

Democrats living abroad began voting in a primary set to run until March 10. The last polls will close in California at 8 p.m. PST (0400 GMT on Wednesday).

The next contests, on March 10, will be in Idaho, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota and Washington state.

A resurgent Joe Biden was projected to win seven large states on Tuesday, and front-runner Bernie Sanders captured two states with several others too close to call on the biggest day of voting in the 2020 Democratic presidential nominating race.

A resurgent Joe Biden was projected to win seven large states on Tuesday, and front-runner Bernie Sanders captured two states with several others too close to call on the biggest day of voting in the 2020 Democratic presidential nominating race. Edison Research and the main television networks declared Biden the winner in Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Alabama based on exit polls on Super Tuesday, when Americans in 14 states voted for a Democratic challenger to Republican President Donald Trump in the November 3 election. Fox News projected Biden would also win Oklahoma. The Associated Press projected he would also win Arkansas and Minnesota. Also see: Oysters and politics on the menu in South Carolina Sanders was projected to win in Colorado and his home state of Vermont expected outcomes for the self-described democratic socialist and independent senator who hopes to take a huge step toward winning the nomination on Tuesday. More than one-third of the delegates who will pick the eventual nominee at a July convention is up for grabs in primary elections on Tuesday that could provide some clarity at last in a muddled race for the White House. Early results showed Sanders holding a narrow lead over Biden in Texas, while Biden had a narrow lead in Massachusetts and Minnesota. The rush of early results left Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire former New York mayor who spent more than half a billion dollars on advertising, largely out of the running, with his only victory coming in the US territory of American Samoa. Also read: On the trail - Biden aims for 'significant' South Carolina win, Trump urges supporters to intervene NBC News reported that Bloomberg would reassess whether to stay in the race on Wednesday, but a campaign official said it was inaccurate to suggest his White House bid could end on Wednesday. The official said the campaign reassesses every day. Biden, former President Barack Obama's vice president, has enjoyed a burst of momentum since a blowout win in South Carolina on Saturday, which led to endorsements from a flood of prominent party officials and former rivals. Broad Biden coalition × He entered Super Tuesday hoping to muscle aside Bloomberg and consolidate support from moderates in Tuesday's voting, turning the race into a one-on-one contest against Sanders. Biden's showing in the Super Tuesday states was fueled by strong support among a broad coalition of voters including women and men, white and black, those with or without college degrees, and those who considered themselves liberal or moderate. With 100% of the precincts reporting in Virginia, Biden was winning more than half of the votes in that southern swing state, well ahead of Sanders. In Alabama, he was winning 69% of the vote, and in North Carolina, he was winning 34%. Edison Research forecast a record turnout of 1.3 million voters in Virginia, well ahead of 986,203 in 2008 and 785,041 in 2016. Early exit polls by Edison Research showed Biden was winning large majorities of African-American voters in the South, including 72% in Alabama, 71% in Virginia, 63% in North Carolina and 62% in Tennessee. In Virginia, Biden won the votes of more than four of 10 white college-educated women, compared to about two in 10 each for Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, the senator from Massachusetts. Bloomberg was a wild card heading into the voting, as he joined the competition for the first time. In early results, he was winning more than 15% of the vote, enough to pick up some delegates, in North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Colorado and Arkansas. The moderate Bloomberg skipped the first four contests and bombarded Super Tuesday and later voting states with ads, but saw his poll numbers slip after coming under fire during Democratic debates over past comments criticized as sexist and a policing policy he employed as New York's mayor seen as racially discriminatory. Biden is trying to build a bridge between progressive Democrats' desire for big structural change and more moderate Democrats yearning for a candidate who will be able to win over enough independents and Republicans to oust Trump. Fresh momentum That effort gained fresh momentum on the eve of Tuesday's voting as moderate presidential rivals Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota endorsed Biden after withdrawing from the race. The pace of the Democratic race begins to accelerate after Super Tuesday, with 11 more states voting by the end of March. By then, nearly two-thirds of the delegates will have been allotted. Sanders headed into Tuesday with 60 delegates to Biden's 54 in the state-by-state nominating fight. Sanders managed a virtual tie with Buttigieg in Iowa and wins in New Hampshire and Nevada. Besides leading in polls in California, Sanders also is ahead of Biden by a smaller margin in polls in Texas. Sanders' strength with Hispanics should pay dividends in that state, where Latinos comprise one-third of the Democratic electorate. Biden, whose South Carolina win affirmed his popularity with black voters, hoped to win five states where African Americans make up at least a quarter of the Democratic electorate: Alabama, North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee and Arkansas. Democrats living abroad began voting in a primary set to run until March 10. The last polls will close in California at 8 p.m. PST (0400 GMT on Wednesday). The next contests, on March 10, will be in Idaho, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota and Washington state.

Joe Biden moves ahead in US presidential race; scores big wins on Super Tuesday

Twitter Incorporation is testing a new community moderation approach that would enable users to identify misleading information posted by politicians and public figures and add brightly coloured labels under those tweets.

Media reports revealed the social media platform's documents showing a mockup of the new approach were accessible on a publicly available website, although it did not identify the site.

The company said that the leaked illustrations showed one possible iteration of a new approach to combat misinformation.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/latest-world-news-twitter-says-olympics-ioc-accounts-hacked-280911">Twitter says Olympics, IOC accounts hacked</a>

"We're exploring a number of ways to address misinformation and provide more context for Tweets on Twitter," <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/latest-world-news-twitter-says-olympics-ioc-accounts-hacked-280911">Twitter </a>said in a statement.&nbsp;

"This is a design mockup for one option that would involve community feedback. Misinformation is a critical issue and we will be testing many different ways to address it."

However, according to a spokesperson, the project was in the early stages and not currently staffed.

As per media reports, the documents showed a plan to develop a "community reports" feature, which <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/latest-world-news-twitter-says-olympics-ioc-accounts-hacked-280911">Twitter</a>&nbsp;compared to Wikipedia.&nbsp;

Twitter users would earn points and badges for rating "harmfully misleading" content.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/twitter-tightens-bans-on-political-ads-and-causes-ahead-of-2020-us-election-262497">Twitter tightens bans on political ads and causes ahead of 2020 US election</a>

The tech giant and along with other social media companies are under intense pressure to stem lies and misinformation on their platforms.

They have introduced measures in recent months designed to head off interference in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/twitter-tightens-bans-on-political-ads-and-causes-ahead-of-2020-us-election-262497">US presidential election</a> in November, although critics say they are insufficient compared to the scale of the problem.

Twitter announced in the summer that it would label and de-emphasize tweets that broke its rules but came from important public figures like politicians. But it has not yet done so for any tweets.

The company also banned political ads in the fall and said earlier this month that it would apply "false" warning labels to tweets containing synthetic or deceptively edited forms of media and remove any that are likely to cause harm.

Democratic presidential contender <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bloomberg-qualifies-for-next-debate-and-rivals-are-getting-ready-281390">Mike Bloomberg</a> on Thursday had tweeted a video of Wednesday night's debate edited to make it appear as though other candidates were rendered speechless when he asked if any of them had started businesses.

The Twitter spokesman said the company would likely label Bloomberg's tweet under the new policy on synthetic and deceptively edited media, which is set to come into effect on March 5.

Twitter Incorporation is testing a new community moderation approach that would enable users to identify misleading information posted by politicians and public figures and add brightly coloured labels under those tweets.

Twitter Incorporation is testing a new community moderation approach that would enable users to identify misleading information posted by politicians and public figures and add brightly coloured labels under those tweets. Media reports revealed the social media platform's documents showing a mockup of the new approach were accessible on a publicly available website, although it did not identify the site. The company said that the leaked illustrations showed one possible iteration of a new approach to combat misinformation. Also read: Twitter says Olympics, IOC accounts hacked "We're exploring a number of ways to address misinformation and provide more context for Tweets on Twitter," Twitter said in a statement. "This is a design mockup for one option that would involve community feedback. Misinformation is a critical issue and we will be testing many different ways to address it." However, according to a spokesperson, the project was in the early stages and not currently staffed. As per media reports, the documents showed a plan to develop a "community reports" feature, which Twitter compared to Wikipedia. Twitter users would earn points and badges for rating "harmfully misleading" content. Also read: Twitter tightens bans on political ads and causes ahead of 2020 US election The tech giant and along with other social media companies are under intense pressure to stem lies and misinformation on their platforms. They have introduced measures in recent months designed to head off interference in the US presidential election in November, although critics say they are insufficient compared to the scale of the problem. Twitter announced in the summer that it would label and de-emphasize tweets that broke its rules but came from important public figures like politicians. But it has not yet done so for any tweets. The company also banned political ads in the fall and said earlier this month that it would apply "false" warning labels to tweets containing synthetic or deceptively edited forms of media and remove any that are likely to cause harm. Democratic presidential contender Mike Bloomberg on Thursday had tweeted a video of Wednesday night's debate edited to make it appear as though other candidates were rendered speechless when he asked if any of them had started businesses. The Twitter spokesman said the company would likely label Bloomberg's tweet under the new policy on synthetic and deceptively edited media, which is set to come into effect on March 5.

Twitter tests labels, community moderation for 'lies' by public figures

US President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/emboldened-donald-trump-defends-right-to-interfere-in-criminal-cases-280773">Donald Trump</a> offered to pardon <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-jr-reveals-messages-with-wikileaks-during-campaign-24143">WikiLeaks</a>&nbsp;founder <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-jr-reveals-messages-with-wikileaks-during-campaign-24143">Julian Assange</a> if he denied Russia's association with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-jr-reveals-messages-with-wikileaks-during-campaign-24143">WikiLeaks</a>' publication of Democratic Party emails in 2016, a London court heard on Wednesday.

The pardon would come on the condition if&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-jr-reveals-messages-with-wikileaks-during-campaign-24143">Assange&nbsp;</a>agreed the Russians were not involved in the email leak that damaged <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/clinton-accuses-wikileaks-of-blunting-impact-of-crude-trump-tape-22473">Hillary Clinton</a>'s presidential campaign in 2016 against <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-jr-reveals-messages-with-wikileaks-during-campaign-24143">Trump</a>, Rohrabacher's statement said.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/clinton-accuses-wikileaks-of-blunting-impact-of-crude-trump-tape-22473">Clinton says WikiLeaks worked with Russia to deflect attention from infamous Trump tape</a>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-jr-reveals-messages-with-wikileaks-during-campaign-24143">Assange's </a>lawyer Jennifer Robinson said in a document that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-jr-reveals-messages-with-wikileaks-during-campaign-24143">Trump </a>relayed the offer through former US Congressman Dana Rohrabacher.

The White House quickly denied the assertion and said that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-jr-reveals-messages-with-wikileaks-during-campaign-24143">Trump </a>had dangled a pardon in exchange for help in the Russia controversy, which has cast a shadow over his first term in office.

"The president barely knows Dana Rohrabacher other than he's an ex-congressman. He's never spoken to him on this subject or almost any subject. It is a complete fabrication and a total lie," Trump's press secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a statement.

"This is probably another never-ending hoax and a total lie" by the Democratic Party,"&nbsp;she said, a day after Trump controversially pardoned or issued other forms of clemency to 11 people including a former governor jailed for corruption, and other high-profile white-collar criminals.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/emboldened-donald-trump-defends-right-to-interfere-in-criminal-cases-280773">Emboldened, Donald Trump defends right to interfere in criminal cases</a>

The revelation came at a case management hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court before Monday's formal start of Washington's extradition request for him to face espionage charges.

Rohrabacher, likewise, said he never spoke with the president about Assange.&nbsp;

In a statement, the former lawmaker denied he had been sent on Trump's behalf and said he was acting on his own when he offered to ask Trump for a pardon if Assange would say how he got the emails.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-campaign-may-also-have-colluded-with-wikileaks-mueller-probe-180140">Trump campaign may also have colluded with WikiLeaks: Mueller probe&nbsp;</a>

He said he relayed Assange's willingness to cooperate to Trump's then-chief of staff, John Kelly, but said he heard nothing further from the White House.

US&nbsp;intelligence agencies had concluded that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/clinton-accuses-wikileaks-of-blunting-impact-of-crude-trump-tape-22473">Russia </a>interfered in the 2016 election to try to help Trump win, in part by hacking and releasing emails embarrassing to Clinton.

Russia denied meddling and Trump denied any campaign collusion with Moscow. A probe by US&nbsp;Special Counsel Robert Mueller did not establish that members of Trump’s campaign conspired with Russia during the election.

Assange, 48, who spent seven years holed up in Ecuador's London embassy before he was dragged out last April, is wanted in the United States on 18 counts including conspiring to hack government computers and violating an espionage law.

US President Donald Trump offered to pardon WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange if he denied Russia's association with WikiLeaks' publication of Democratic Party emails in 2016, a London court heard on Wednesday.

US President Donald Trump offered to pardon WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange if he denied Russia's association with WikiLeaks' publication of Democratic Party emails in 2016, a London court heard on Wednesday. The pardon would come on the condition if Assange agreed the Russians were not involved in the email leak that damaged Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign in 2016 against Trump, Rohrabacher's statement said. Also read: Clinton says WikiLeaks worked with Russia to deflect attention from infamous Trump tape Assange's lawyer Jennifer Robinson said in a document that Trump relayed the offer through former US Congressman Dana Rohrabacher. The White House quickly denied the assertion and said that Trump had dangled a pardon in exchange for help in the Russia controversy, which has cast a shadow over his first term in office. "The president barely knows Dana Rohrabacher other than he's an ex-congressman. He's never spoken to him on this subject or almost any subject. It is a complete fabrication and a total lie," Trump's press secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a statement. "This is probably another never-ending hoax and a total lie" by the Democratic Party," she said, a day after Trump controversially pardoned or issued other forms of clemency to 11 people including a former governor jailed for corruption, and other high-profile white-collar criminals. Also read: Emboldened, Donald Trump defends right to interfere in criminal cases The revelation came at a case management hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court before Monday's formal start of Washington's extradition request for him to face espionage charges. Rohrabacher, likewise, said he never spoke with the president about Assange. In a statement, the former lawmaker denied he had been sent on Trump's behalf and said he was acting on his own when he offered to ask Trump for a pardon if Assange would say how he got the emails. Also read: Trump campaign may also have colluded with WikiLeaks: Mueller probe He said he relayed Assange's willingness to cooperate to Trump's then-chief of staff, John Kelly, but said he heard nothing further from the White House. US intelligence agencies had concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to try to help Trump win, in part by hacking and releasing emails embarrassing to Clinton. Russia denied meddling and Trump denied any campaign collusion with Moscow. A probe by US Special Counsel Robert Mueller did not establish that members of Trump’s campaign conspired with Russia during the election. Assange, 48, who spent seven years holed up in Ecuador's London embassy before he was dragged out last April, is wanted in the United States on 18 counts including conspiring to hack government computers and violating an espionage law.

Trump offered to pardon Assange if he denied Russia helped leak Democrats' emails: Lawyer

The Democratic presidential contenders begin a frantic dash for votes on Thursday after a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-fiery-debate-attacks-on-bloomberg-democrats-scatter-on-campaign-trail-281817">fiery debate featuring a volley of attacks</a> on big-spending billionaire Michael Bloomberg, who was making his debut on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sanders-says-presidential-rival-bloomberg-will-not-excite-voters-280921" target="_blank">national debate stage</a>.

During the debate, the 77-year-old leader faced repeated attacks on Bloomberg for his record on race, history of sexist comments and use of his fortune to push his way up the polls.

Bloomberg has changed his political leanings multiple times over the years.

The son of a Polish-immigrant bookkeeper and a secretary, Bloomberg was born on February 4, 1942 in Massachusetts, US. After completing his engineering, Bloomberg went to prestigious Harvard for MBA and took a job in Salomon Brothers.&nbsp;

Bloomberg quickly climbed the ladder and became a partner in the firm in 15 years.&nbsp;

When Salomon was acquired by another firm, Bloomberg left the job and started Innovative Market Systems, a financial data-services company in 1982.&nbsp;

In 2002, the firm was renamed Bloomberg LP which became a global leader in financial data services. Bloomberg computer terminal, a comprehensive financial news and information source is the main source of revenue of the organisation.

Bloomberg's other entities included the Bloomberg Business News wire service, news radio station WBBR in New York City, and Bloomberg Television.

From a Democrat to a Republican to a Democrat, Bloomberg has shifted his political stance multiple times. He became the mayor of New York in 2001 as a Republican candidate.

He got a second term in 2005 but in 2007, he resigned from the Republican. His last term as a mayor ended in 2013.

Bloomberg is one of the critics of Donald Trump and in 2018 announced a $70 million program to help 20 cities tackle climate change. This program was launched a year after Trump pulled out of Paris climate change.&nbsp;

He is one of US's richest men and his political inclinations are towards Centre. He considers other Democratic presidential candidates Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren's views as "too-left". As of September 2019, it was reported that Bloomberg's net worth was $56 billion. 
&nbsp;

The Democratic presidential contenders begin a frantic dash for votes on Thursday after a fiery debate featuring a volley of attacks on big-spending billionaire Michael Bloomberg, who was making his debut on the national debate stage.

The Democratic presidential contenders begin a frantic dash for votes on Thursday after a fiery debate featuring a volley of attacks on big-spending billionaire Michael Bloomberg, who was making his debut on the national debate stage. During the debate, the 77-year-old leader faced repeated attacks on Bloomberg for his record on race, history of sexist comments and use of his fortune to push his way up the polls. Bloomberg has changed his political leanings multiple times over the years. The son of a Polish-immigrant bookkeeper and a secretary, Bloomberg was born on February 4, 1942 in Massachusetts, US. After completing his engineering, Bloomberg went to prestigious Harvard for MBA and took a job in Salomon Brothers. Bloomberg quickly climbed the ladder and became a partner in the firm in 15 years. When Salomon was acquired by another firm, Bloomberg left the job and started Innovative Market Systems, a financial data-services company in 1982. In 2002, the firm was renamed Bloomberg LP which became a global leader in financial data services. Bloomberg computer terminal, a comprehensive financial news and information source is the main source of revenue of the organisation. Bloomberg's other entities included the Bloomberg Business News wire service, news radio station WBBR in New York City, and Bloomberg Television. From a Democrat to a Republican to a Democrat, Bloomberg has shifted his political stance multiple times. He became the mayor of New York in 2001 as a Republican candidate. He got a second term in 2005 but in 2007, he resigned from the Republican. His last term as a mayor ended in 2013. Bloomberg is one of the critics of Donald Trump and in 2018 announced a $70 million program to help 20 cities tackle climate change. This program was launched a year after Trump pulled out of Paris climate change. He is one of US's richest men and his political inclinations are towards Centre. He considers other Democratic presidential candidates Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren's views as "too-left". As of September 2019, it was reported that Bloomberg's net worth was $56 billion.

Who is Billionnaire Michael Bloomberg?

The US Presidential election is in November. But the battle is already heating up. Two billionaire candidates - Donald Trump and Michael Bloomberg are battling each other out.

Gravitas: US Elections 2020: Battle between two billionaires

State of the Union: Things Trump didn't address but should have!

In the run-up to the 2020 presidential election, America's big tech companies are being challenged on many fronts from across the political spectrum, from antitrust concerns to their policies on political ads and ensuring election security.

Many of the Democratic presidential candidates have argued in favour of either breaking up or tightening regulation of firms such as Facebook Inc, Alphabet Inc’s Google and Amazon.com Inc.

Republican President Donald Trump's administration has also stepped up its scrutiny, announcing a wide-ranging investigation in July into whether major digital tech companies engaged in anti-competitive practices.

Trump's Democratic challengers also criticise online platforms for allowing politicians to make false claims in advertising ahead of the election next November.

Social media platforms are under particular scrutiny after US&nbsp;intelligence agencies said Russia used them to wage an influence operation to interfere with the 2016 election - a claim Moscow has denied.

Here are some of the candidates' positions on Big Tech.

President Trump

Trump, whose social media use and digital advertising campaign helped propel him to the White House in 2016, in September attacked the "immense power" of social media giants in his address to the United Nations.

Trump has stopped short of calling for tech giants to be broken up, as Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders have, but said "obviously there is something going on in terms of monopoly," when asked about major tech companies in a June interview with CNBC.

Trump and other Republicans have also criticized social media companies, without evidence, for alleged political bias.

The president's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr. wrote an opinion piece for The Hill political website in September entitled "Free speech suppression online builds case to break up Big Tech."

Silicon Valley firms have also been at odds with the Trump administration over policies such as its repeal of Obama-era net neutrality rules and the impact of the U.S.-China trade war on their supply chains.

Joe Biden

Biden, who was vice president in the Silicon Valley-friendly Obama administration, has taken a more moderate stance than his progressive rivals on the issue of big tech company break-ups.

In a May interview with the Associated Press, he said that splitting up companies such as Facebook was "something we should take a really hard look at" but that it was "premature" to make a final judgment.

The campaign told Reuters that, as president, Biden would aggressively use "all the tools available - including utilizing antitrust measures" to ensure corporations act responsibly.

He did not speak up during a discussion of the issue at the most recent Democratic debate in October.

Biden has criticized e-commerce giant Amazon's $0 federal tax bill in 2018.

"I have nothing against Amazon, but no company pulling in billions of dollars of profits should pay a lower tax rate than firefighters and teachers. We need to reward work, not just wealth," he said in a tweet in June.

His campaign also clashed with Facebook, Twitter and Google over their political ad policies after they refused to take down a Trump ad that the Biden team said contained false claims about his son Hunter's dealings with Ukraine.

Elizabeth Warren

Warren is leading the charge to break up big tech companies on the grounds they hold outsized influence and stifle competition.

She has called for legislation to restrict large tech platforms - which she would designate as "platform utilities" -from owning and participating in a marketplace at the same time.

Under this law, Apple would not be allowed to both run the App Store and sell its own apps on it, for example.

She also said she would nominate regulators to unwind anti-competitive mergers such as Facebook's deals for WhatsApp and Instagram, and Amazon's deal for Whole Foods.

Warren in October challenged Facebook's policy of exempting politicians' ads from fact-checking by running ads containing the false claim that CEO Mark Zuckerberg was endorsing Trump's re-election bid.

The senator from Massachusetts has also said that she would reject campaign donations over $200 from executives of big tech firms.

Bernie Sanders

Sanders, a US senator from Vermont who frequently criticizes corporate influence, has also called for the break-up of big tech companies such as Facebook and Amazon.

His administration would "absolutely" try to split apart the companies, Sanders said at a Washington Post event in July.

He has said that he will have the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) review all mergers that have taken place during the Trump administration. His broad plan to reshape corporate America would also mandate all large companies to be owned partly by their workers.

Asked how he differentiates himself from Warren on major issues, Sanders told ABC in October: "Elizabeth considers herself - if I got the quote correctly - to be a capitalist to her bones. I don't."

Sanders has been vocal in his attacks on Amazon over issues such as its tax contributions and working conditions at its warehouses. In 2018, he introduced a 'Stop BEZOS Act' in the Senate, in a reference to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, which would make large corporations either pay their workers more or pay the government for public benefits that their workers receive.

Pete Buttigieg

In general, Pete Buttigieg, who became Facebook's 287th user shortly after it was launched in 2004 at Harvard University, where he was a student, has been more reluctant to slam the tech giants than some other candidates.

The mayor from South Bend, Indiana, said that the break-up of big tech companies is a "remedy that should be on the table," but also said it was not a politician's place to designate which companies should be broken up.

He has said that the FTC should be empowered to prevent and sometimes reverse mergers, but argued that large tech companies should be scrutinized for their actions rather than their size. He says concerns over monopolies and concerns over data security or privacy should not be conflated.

He is in favour of having legislation to protect individual data rights at a national level, including the right to be forgotten - which would give citizens the power to demand that online platforms delete data about them, as is the case in Europe.

Kamala Harris

Senator Harris of California, the home of Silicon Valley, has said that Facebook has not been sufficiently regulated. She has not called outright for the break-up of big tech firms but said it should be "seriously" considered.

During the campaign, Harris touted her experience protecting consumers' online privacy while she was state attorney general.

In Congress, Harris, along with fellow candidate Senator Amy Klobuchar, introduced the bipartisan ENOUGH Act in 2017 to protect against online exploitation of private images. Harris recently called on Twitter to suspend Trump's Twitter account, saying his tweets threaten violence. In response, the company said that Trump's tweets did not violate its policies.

Amy Klobuchar

The Minnesota senator has made oversight of big technology companies one of her major issues in Congress and argued for data privacy laws and net neutrality safeguards as priorities at her campaign launch in February. Klobuchar has called for tighter regulation of tech giants and suggested that companies who profit from users' data could be taxed.

She has not endorsed Warren's plan for their break-up, saying that she would first want investigations. Her plan for her first 100 days in office includes an "aggressive retrospective review of mergers," which she said she would pay for with an extra merger fee on "megamergers."

She is also one of the authors of the bipartisan Honest Ads Act, which would require social media platforms to disclose the purchaser of a political ad, as is required for television and print ads.

Andrew Yang

Yang, the former CEO of a start-up, has benefited from a surge of grassroots supporters on social media who style themselves as the #yanggang.

Although the technology entrepreneur said "we would be well served" if big tech companies were to break themselves up, he is more focused on dealing with the impact of automation on American jobs and on regulating artificial intelligence. Yang has also emphasized the negative effects of tech on mental health and said he would create a Department of Attention Economy, ideally led by tech ethics advocate Tristan Harris, to look at how to responsibly design and use apps and devices.

He has also called for people to receive a share of the economic value generated from their data.

Cory Booker

New Jersey Senator Booker said that Warren's call to break up the tech giants was "more like a Donald Trump thing to say" and has instead argued that stronger antitrust laws need to be enforced.

When questioned at the October Democratic debate on the issue, Booker advocated reforms to stop tech companies being used "to undermine our democracy" around elections.

He talked broadly about antitrust, "from pharma to farms," but did not single out tech companies.

A Stanford University graduate who co-founded his own social media start-up WayWire, Booker has historically received donations from major Silicon Valley names such as Zuckerberg. The Facebook CEO also donated $100 million to Newark schools when Booker was mayor of the New Jersey city.

Beto O' Rourke

O'Rourke, a former US representative from Texas, wants to see Big Tech regulated rather than broken up. He has said he does not think it is the role of a president to designate which companies should be dismantled.

O'Rourke's campaign told Reuters he would stand up for small business by preventing online platform owners from promoting their own content and products over that of competitors. He also plans to create a new digital markets regulator to create and enforce rules on issues such as privacy and data mobility.

O’Rourke, who as a teenager was part of an influential hacking group, has also said he thinks social media companies should be treated as publishers.

He wants to amend Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which generally provides immunity to online platforms for content posted by users, to make social media companies more accountable for the amplification of hate speech and domestic terrorism on their platforms.

His campaign recently urged Facebook, Twitter and Google to do more to combat online disinformation, after the campaign encountered the spread of a false claim about a gunman in a mass shooting.

Julian Castro

Castro, who was secretary of housing and urban development in the Obama administration, has said it is worth considering proposals to break up the big tech companies and said during the recent Democratic debate that the US&nbsp;needs to take a stronger stance in cracking down on monopolistic trade practices.

In the October debate, the former mayor of San Antonio, Texas, also singled out Amazon by name for helping to "put small businesses out of business" and for "shortchanging a lot of its workers."

Tulsi Gabbard

Gabbard, a US representative from Hawaii, has called for the break-up of big tech companies and praised Warren's plan.

In July, she filed a $50 million lawsuit against Google accusing the company of discrimination when it temporarily suspended her ad account after the first Democratic debate. Google said the account had been automatically flagged for unusual activity, without specifying exactly what the issue was.

Gabbard said that Google's actions reflected "how the increasing dominance of big tech companies over our public discourse threatens our core American values."

Tom Steyer

California billionaire Steyer has said he is running for president to remove the influence of corporate money from politics.

In the October debate, he said that monopolies either have to be dismantled or regulated, but that to win against Trump, Democrats would have to "show the American people that we don't just know how to tax and have programs to break up companies."

Instead, he said, Democrats must harness the innovation and competition of the private sector.

Steyer's campaign has been noted for its massive ad spending which helped push him to the debate stage, including more than $6 million in Facebook ads, according to Democratic digital firm Bully Pulpit Interactive.

In the run-up to the 2020 presidential election, America's big tech companies are being challenged on many fronts from across the political spectrum, from antitrust concerns to their policies on political ads and ensuring election security.

In the run-up to the 2020 presidential election, America's big tech companies are being challenged on many fronts from across the political spectrum, from antitrust concerns to their policies on political ads and ensuring election security. Many of the Democratic presidential candidates have argued in favour of either breaking up or tightening regulation of firms such as Facebook Inc, Alphabet Inc’s Google and Amazon.com Inc. Republican President Donald Trump's administration has also stepped up its scrutiny, announcing a wide-ranging investigation in July into whether major digital tech companies engaged in anti-competitive practices. Trump's Democratic challengers also criticise online platforms for allowing politicians to make false claims in advertising ahead of the election next November. Social media platforms are under particular scrutiny after US intelligence agencies said Russia used them to wage an influence operation to interfere with the 2016 election - a claim Moscow has denied. Here are some of the candidates' positions on Big Tech. President Trump Trump, whose social media use and digital advertising campaign helped propel him to the White House in 2016, in September attacked the "immense power" of social media giants in his address to the United Nations. Trump has stopped short of calling for tech giants to be broken up, as Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders have, but said "obviously there is something going on in terms of monopoly," when asked about major tech companies in a June interview with CNBC. Trump and other Republicans have also criticized social media companies, without evidence, for alleged political bias. The president's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr. wrote an opinion piece for The Hill political website in September entitled "Free speech suppression online builds case to break up Big Tech." Silicon Valley firms have also been at odds with the Trump administration over policies such as its repeal of Obama-era net neutrality rules and the impact of the U.S.-China trade war on their supply chains. Joe Biden Biden, who was vice president in the Silicon Valley-friendly Obama administration, has taken a more moderate stance than his progressive rivals on the issue of big tech company break-ups. In a May interview with the Associated Press, he said that splitting up companies such as Facebook was "something we should take a really hard look at" but that it was "premature" to make a final judgment. The campaign told Reuters that, as president, Biden would aggressively use "all the tools available - including utilizing antitrust measures" to ensure corporations act responsibly. He did not speak up during a discussion of the issue at the most recent Democratic debate in October. Biden has criticized e-commerce giant Amazon's $0 federal tax bill in 2018. "I have nothing against Amazon, but no company pulling in billions of dollars of profits should pay a lower tax rate than firefighters and teachers. We need to reward work, not just wealth," he said in a tweet in June. His campaign also clashed with Facebook, Twitter and Google over their political ad policies after they refused to take down a Trump ad that the Biden team said contained false claims about his son Hunter's dealings with Ukraine. Elizabeth Warren Warren is leading the charge to break up big tech companies on the grounds they hold outsized influence and stifle competition. She has called for legislation to restrict large tech platforms - which she would designate as "platform utilities" -from owning and participating in a marketplace at the same time. Under this law, Apple would not be allowed to both run the App Store and sell its own apps on it, for example. She also said she would nominate regulators to unwind anti-competitive mergers such as Facebook's deals for WhatsApp and Instagram, and Amazon's deal for Whole Foods. Warren in October challenged Facebook's policy of exempting politicians' ads from fact-checking by running ads containing the false claim that CEO Mark Zuckerberg was endorsing Trump's re-election bid. The senator from Massachusetts has also said that she would reject campaign donations over $200 from executives of big tech firms. Bernie Sanders Sanders, a US senator from Vermont who frequently criticizes corporate influence, has also called for the break-up of big tech companies such as Facebook and Amazon. His administration would "absolutely" try to split apart the companies, Sanders said at a Washington Post event in July. He has said that he will have the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) review all mergers that have taken place during the Trump administration. His broad plan to reshape corporate America would also mandate all large companies to be owned partly by their workers. Asked how he differentiates himself from Warren on major issues, Sanders told ABC in October: "Elizabeth considers herself - if I got the quote correctly - to be a capitalist to her bones. I don't." Sanders has been vocal in his attacks on Amazon over issues such as its tax contributions and working conditions at its warehouses. In 2018, he introduced a 'Stop BEZOS Act' in the Senate, in a reference to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, which would make large corporations either pay their workers more or pay the government for public benefits that their workers receive. Pete Buttigieg In general, Pete Buttigieg, who became Facebook's 287th user shortly after it was launched in 2004 at Harvard University, where he was a student, has been more reluctant to slam the tech giants than some other candidates. The mayor from South Bend, Indiana, said that the break-up of big tech companies is a "remedy that should be on the table," but also said it was not a politician's place to designate which companies should be broken up. He has said that the FTC should be empowered to prevent and sometimes reverse mergers, but argued that large tech companies should be scrutinized for their actions rather than their size. He says concerns over monopolies and concerns over data security or privacy should not be conflated. He is in favour of having legislation to protect individual data rights at a national level, including the right to be forgotten - which would give citizens the power to demand that online platforms delete data about them, as is the case in Europe. Kamala Harris Senator Harris of California, the home of Silicon Valley, has said that Facebook has not been sufficiently regulated. She has not called outright for the break-up of big tech firms but said it should be "seriously" considered. During the campaign, Harris touted her experience protecting consumers' online privacy while she was state attorney general. In Congress, Harris, along with fellow candidate Senator Amy Klobuchar, introduced the bipartisan ENOUGH Act in 2017 to protect against online exploitation of private images. Harris recently called on Twitter to suspend Trump's Twitter account, saying his tweets threaten violence. In response, the company said that Trump's tweets did not violate its policies. Amy Klobuchar The Minnesota senator has made oversight of big technology companies one of her major issues in Congress and argued for data privacy laws and net neutrality safeguards as priorities at her campaign launch in February. Klobuchar has called for tighter regulation of tech giants and suggested that companies who profit from users' data could be taxed. She has not endorsed Warren's plan for their break-up, saying that she would first want investigations. Her plan for her first 100 days in office includes an "aggressive retrospective review of mergers," which she said she would pay for with an extra merger fee on "megamergers." She is also one of the authors of the bipartisan Honest Ads Act, which would require social media platforms to disclose the purchaser of a political ad, as is required for television and print ads. Andrew Yang Yang, the former CEO of a start-up, has benefited from a surge of grassroots supporters on social media who style themselves as the #yanggang. Although the technology entrepreneur said "we would be well served" if big tech companies were to break themselves up, he is more focused on dealing with the impact of automation on American jobs and on regulating artificial intelligence. Yang has also emphasized the negative effects of tech on mental health and said he would create a Department of Attention Economy, ideally led by tech ethics advocate Tristan Harris, to look at how to responsibly design and use apps and devices. He has also called for people to receive a share of the economic value generated from their data. Cory Booker New Jersey Senator Booker said that Warren's call to break up the tech giants was "more like a Donald Trump thing to say" and has instead argued that stronger antitrust laws need to be enforced. When questioned at the October Democratic debate on the issue, Booker advocated reforms to stop tech companies being used "to undermine our democracy" around elections. He talked broadly about antitrust, "from pharma to farms," but did not single out tech companies. A Stanford University graduate who co-founded his own social media start-up WayWire, Booker has historically received donations from major Silicon Valley names such as Zuckerberg. The Facebook CEO also donated $100 million to Newark schools when Booker was mayor of the New Jersey city. Beto O' Rourke O'Rourke, a former US representative from Texas, wants to see Big Tech regulated rather than broken up. He has said he does not think it is the role of a president to designate which companies should be dismantled. O'Rourke's campaign told Reuters he would stand up for small business by preventing online platform owners from promoting their own content and products over that of competitors. He also plans to create a new digital markets regulator to create and enforce rules on issues such as privacy and data mobility. O’Rourke, who as a teenager was part of an influential hacking group, has also said he thinks social media companies should be treated as publishers. He wants to amend Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which generally provides immunity to online platforms for content posted by users, to make social media companies more accountable for the amplification of hate speech and domestic terrorism on their platforms. His campaign recently urged Facebook, Twitter and Google to do more to combat online disinformation, after the campaign encountered the spread of a false claim about a gunman in a mass shooting. Julian Castro Castro, who was secretary of housing and urban development in the Obama administration, has said it is worth considering proposals to break up the big tech companies and said during the recent Democratic debate that the US needs to take a stronger stance in cracking down on monopolistic trade practices. In the October debate, the former mayor of San Antonio, Texas, also singled out Amazon by name for helping to "put small businesses out of business" and for "shortchanging a lot of its workers." Tulsi Gabbard Gabbard, a US representative from Hawaii, has called for the break-up of big tech companies and praised Warren's plan. In July, she filed a $50 million lawsuit against Google accusing the company of discrimination when it temporarily suspended her ad account after the first Democratic debate. Google said the account had been automatically flagged for unusual activity, without specifying exactly what the issue was. Gabbard said that Google's actions reflected "how the increasing dominance of big tech companies over our public discourse threatens our core American values." Tom Steyer California billionaire Steyer has said he is running for president to remove the influence of corporate money from politics. In the October debate, he said that monopolies either have to be dismantled or regulated, but that to win against Trump, Democrats would have to "show the American people that we don't just know how to tax and have programs to break up companies." Instead, he said, Democrats must harness the innovation and competition of the private sector. Steyer's campaign has been noted for its massive ad spending which helped push him to the debate stage, including more than $6 million in Facebook ads, according to Democratic digital firm Bully Pulpit Interactive.

Where US presidential candidates stand on breaking up Big Tech

The US Supreme Court agreed Friday to hear a challenge to restrictive abortion law in Louisiana, taking up a flashpoint issue that will serve as a test for two new conservative judges appointed by President Donald Trump.

The nine justices will examine the merits of an abortion law adopted in 2014 in the conservative southern state.

The court issued an injunction in February blocking the law from taking effect, but without ruling on what it actually stipulates.

A decision in the case would come before the end of the Supreme Court's term in June 2020, just months before the US presidential election.

The law states that doctors at Louisiana abortion clinics must have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles (50 kilometres) of where the procedure is being carried out.

Abortion rights advocates say this restriction is extreme and would force the closure of most of the state's clinics, leaving it with just one doctor authorised to perform abortions.

Louisiana says the stipulation in the law is needed because of the risk of a complication arising during abortions and the need to be able to transfer a patient to a nearby hospital.

Around 10,000 abortions are performed each year in the state.

'Hanging by a thread'

After years of legal wrangling, a federal appeals court upheld the law last year.

Critics of the bill filed an urgent lawsuit with the Supreme Court and just as the law was about to take effect in February, the high court voted 5-4 to block it -- but did not rule on the law's merits.

In June 2016, the court struck down a Texas abortion law similar to the one it will now consider.

The Supreme Court's deliberations will come right in the middle of the 2020 presidential campaign -- and its eventual ruling will be the first meaty decision on the hot-button issue since Trump appointed Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, shifting the court's balance to the right.

In February, the pair voted to allow the Louisiana law to take effect.

But Chief Justice John Roberts, a conservative who voted in favour of the Texas law, sided with the four progressives on the bench in suspending the Louisiana measure.

On both sides of the abortion debate, people are watching to see what Roberts does now.

"Access to abortion is hanging by a thread in this country, and this case is what could snap that thread," said Alexis McGill, acting president and CEO of Planned Parenthood.

Jennifer Dalven, director of the American Civil Liberties Union's Reproductive Freedom Project, said the high court could only strike down the Louisiana law if it follows its own precedent from the Texas case.

"If the rule of law means anything, it means that the Court cannot sit by and watch as the lower court thumbs its nose at Supreme Court precedent and at people's constitutional rights," she said.

On the other side of the debate, Katrina Jackson, a lawmaker who helped write the Louisiana law, urged the court to reverse or at least alter the precedent set with the Texas law.

"Abortion has known medical risks, and the women of this state who are often coerced into abortion deserve to have the same standard of care required for other surgical procedures," Jackson wrote in a statement published by pressure group Louisiana Right to Life.

The US Supreme Court agreed Friday to hear a challenge to restrictive abortion law in Louisiana, taking up a flashpoint issue that will serve as a test for two new conservative judges appointed by President Donald Trump.

The US Supreme Court agreed Friday to hear a challenge to restrictive abortion law in Louisiana, taking up a flashpoint issue that will serve as a test for two new conservative judges appointed by President Donald Trump. The nine justices will examine the merits of an abortion law adopted in 2014 in the conservative southern state. The court issued an injunction in February blocking the law from taking effect, but without ruling on what it actually stipulates. A decision in the case would come before the end of the Supreme Court's term in June 2020, just months before the US presidential election. The law states that doctors at Louisiana abortion clinics must have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles (50 kilometres) of where the procedure is being carried out. Abortion rights advocates say this restriction is extreme and would force the closure of most of the state's clinics, leaving it with just one doctor authorised to perform abortions. Louisiana says the stipulation in the law is needed because of the risk of a complication arising during abortions and the need to be able to transfer a patient to a nearby hospital. Around 10,000 abortions are performed each year in the state. 'Hanging by a thread' After years of legal wrangling, a federal appeals court upheld the law last year. Critics of the bill filed an urgent lawsuit with the Supreme Court and just as the law was about to take effect in February, the high court voted 5-4 to block it -- but did not rule on the law's merits. In June 2016, the court struck down a Texas abortion law similar to the one it will now consider. The Supreme Court's deliberations will come right in the middle of the 2020 presidential campaign -- and its eventual ruling will be the first meaty decision on the hot-button issue since Trump appointed Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, shifting the court's balance to the right. In February, the pair voted to allow the Louisiana law to take effect. But Chief Justice John Roberts, a conservative who voted in favour of the Texas law, sided with the four progressives on the bench in suspending the Louisiana measure. On both sides of the abortion debate, people are watching to see what Roberts does now. "Access to abortion is hanging by a thread in this country, and this case is what could snap that thread," said Alexis McGill, acting president and CEO of Planned Parenthood. Jennifer Dalven, director of the American Civil Liberties Union's Reproductive Freedom Project, said the high court could only strike down the Louisiana law if it follows its own precedent from the Texas case. "If the rule of law means anything, it means that the Court cannot sit by and watch as the lower court thumbs its nose at Supreme Court precedent and at people's constitutional rights," she said. On the other side of the debate, Katrina Jackson, a lawmaker who helped write the Louisiana law, urged the court to reverse or at least alter the precedent set with the Texas law. "Abortion has known medical risks, and the women of this state who are often coerced into abortion deserve to have the same standard of care required for other surgical procedures," Jackson wrote in a statement published by pressure group Louisiana Right to Life.

US Supreme Court agrees to hear case on restrictive abortion law

Teenage activist Greta Thunberg will take her campaign demanding that world leaders tackle climate change, which began as a lonely vigil outside the Swedish parliament but saw her rise to address the United Nations last month, to Iowa City on Friday.

The 16-year-old Swede is stopping in the Midwestern city, located in the state that will vote first in next year's US presidential nominating contests, as part of her tour of North America ahead of a U.N.-sponsored climate conference in Santiago, Chile, in December.

In recent weeks, millions of people have poured onto streets around the globe in protests inspired by Thunberg to demand governments take emergency action on climate change.

Students in Iowa City said the young Swede's visit was a testament to their efforts to demand change from local leaders.

"We are honored. We are inspired. We are emboldened. And we say, no more excuses," Student Climate Strike Iowa City, which organized the visit, said on Twitter.

Climate activists in Iowa say they have called for local institutions to employ 100 per cent renewable energy by the year 2030 and to cease operations at the University of Iowa's coal-burning plant, among other actions.

A polarizing figure in the climate change debate, Thunberg is venerated by many of her peers and ridiculed by some critics. She is a bookmakers' favorite to win the Nobel Peace Prize this month, though her aggressive style may turn off some of the Nobel committee.

Thunberg denounced world leaders for failing to tackle climate change and accused them of "stealing her dreams" in an impassioned speech at the United Nations Climate Action Summit last month.

With events such as extreme weather, thawing permafrost and sea-level rise unfolding much faster than expected, scientists say the urgency of the climate crisis has intensified since the signing of the Paris accord in 2015.

President Donald Trump intends to pull the United States out of the international deal that aims to reduce carbon emissions. Under terms of the pact, that cannot formally happen before November 4, 2020.

Scientists say existing pledges to curb emissions are nowhere near enough to avert catastrophic warming and have warned that failing to change course could ultimately put the survival of industrial societies at risk.

Teenage activist Greta Thunberg will take her campaign demanding that world leaders tackle climate change, which began as a lonely vigil outside the Swedish parliament but saw her rise to address the United Nations last month, to Iowa City on Friday.

Teenage activist Greta Thunberg will take her campaign demanding that world leaders tackle climate change, which began as a lonely vigil outside the Swedish parliament but saw her rise to address the United Nations last month, to Iowa City on Friday. The 16-year-old Swede is stopping in the Midwestern city, located in the state that will vote first in next year's US presidential nominating contests, as part of her tour of North America ahead of a U.N.-sponsored climate conference in Santiago, Chile, in December. In recent weeks, millions of people have poured onto streets around the globe in protests inspired by Thunberg to demand governments take emergency action on climate change. Students in Iowa City said the young Swede's visit was a testament to their efforts to demand change from local leaders. "We are honored. We are inspired. We are emboldened. And we say, no more excuses," Student Climate Strike Iowa City, which organized the visit, said on Twitter. Climate activists in Iowa say they have called for local institutions to employ 100 per cent renewable energy by the year 2030 and to cease operations at the University of Iowa's coal-burning plant, among other actions. A polarizing figure in the climate change debate, Thunberg is venerated by many of her peers and ridiculed by some critics. She is a bookmakers' favorite to win the Nobel Peace Prize this month, though her aggressive style may turn off some of the Nobel committee. Thunberg denounced world leaders for failing to tackle climate change and accused them of "stealing her dreams" in an impassioned speech at the United Nations Climate Action Summit last month. With events such as extreme weather, thawing permafrost and sea-level rise unfolding much faster than expected, scientists say the urgency of the climate crisis has intensified since the signing of the Paris accord in 2015. President Donald Trump intends to pull the United States out of the international deal that aims to reduce carbon emissions. Under terms of the pact, that cannot formally happen before November 4, 2020. Scientists say existing pledges to curb emissions are nowhere near enough to avert catastrophic warming and have warned that failing to change course could ultimately put the survival of industrial societies at risk.

Teenage activist Greta Thunberg bringing call for climate action to Iowa

Some 52 per cent of US voters plan to vote against President Donald Trump in next year’s national election, but he retains broad core Republican support, a new poll showed on Thursday.

“The latest Rasmussen Reports'&nbsp;national telephone and online survey finds that 42 per cent of Likely US Voters say they are more likely to vote for Trump in the 2020 presidential election,” the polling organization said in a press release. “But 52 per cent are more likely to vote against him.”

Some 6 per cent of US voters remain undecided, Rasmussen added.

“Among all voters who say they are likely to vote against the incumbent, 58 per cent say their vote is more likely to be a vote against Trump than for some other candidate. Thirty-seven per cent expect their vote to be more about the other candidate,” the release said.

Some 75 per cent of Republicans remain likely to vote for Trump again, Rasmussen said. However, 21 per cent of Republicans are are more likely to vote against him next year, the polling company added. Trump loses Democrats by an 82 per cent to 13 per cent margin, it said.

&nbsp;

Some 52 per cent of US voters plan to vote against President Donald Trump in next year’s national election, but he retains broad core Republican support, a new poll showed on Thursday.

Some 52 per cent of US voters plan to vote against President Donald Trump in next year’s national election, but he retains broad core Republican support, a new poll showed on Thursday. “The latest Rasmussen Reports' national telephone and online survey finds that 42 per cent of Likely US Voters say they are more likely to vote for Trump in the 2020 presidential election,” the polling organization said in a press release. “But 52 per cent are more likely to vote against him.” Some 6 per cent of US voters remain undecided, Rasmussen added. “Among all voters who say they are likely to vote against the incumbent, 58 per cent say their vote is more likely to be a vote against Trump than for some other candidate. Thirty-seven per cent expect their vote to be more about the other candidate,” the release said. Some 75 per cent of Republicans remain likely to vote for Trump again, Rasmussen said. However, 21 per cent of Republicans are are more likely to vote against him next year, the polling company added. Trump loses Democrats by an 82 per cent to 13 per cent margin, it said.

More than half US voters prepared to reject Trump in 2020 national election: Report

US President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-misstates-location-of-ohio-shooting-rampage-241057">Donald Trump</a> on Tuesday stepped up his accusations against&nbsp;Google, claiming without offering evidence that the technology company worked to subvert his 2016 presidential campaign and warning he was watching it "very closely" ahead of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-and-sanders-emerge-as-top-two-candidates-for-the-2020-us-presidential-electionspolls-241096">2020 election</a>.

Trump, in a series of early posts on Twitter, also slammed&nbsp;Google's Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai, and again raised questions about the search engine's work with China, despite his administration's earlier comments that any such work was limited.

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... are NOT planning to illegally subvert the 2020 Election despite all that has been said to the contrary. It all sounded good until I watched Kevin Cernekee, a Google engineer, say terrible things about what they did in 2016 and that they want to “Make sure that Trump losses...
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1158797734394191873?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 6, 2019</a></blockquote>
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"We go to great lengths to build our products and enforce our policies in ways that don't take political leanings into account," a&nbsp;Google&nbsp;spokesperson said in an email statement.

Trump, who is seeking re-election in 2020, has repeatedly slammed&nbsp;Google&nbsp;and a host of other technology companies, echoing conservative critics' claims of unfair treatment and raising the spectre of regulation.

Lawmakers have also raised the possibility of regulating the industry, in part over security and misinformation concerns following the 2016 election, and findings of Russian interference in that vote that relied heavily on leveraging technology and social media.

Trump on Tuesday accused&nbsp;Google&nbsp;of "very illegal" acts but offered no evidence, and no formal charges have been announced.

"Distorting results for political purposes would harm our business and go against our mission of providing helpful content to all of our users," the spokesperson added.

Representatives for the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on what steps the administration was taking towards the company.

Trump and&nbsp;Google's Pichai had met at the White House last month. Following the meeting, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said they both had been assured that any of&nbsp;Google's work with China was "very, very limited."

Days later, Trump warned&nbsp;Google&nbsp;with a post on Twitter.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday stepped up his accusations against Google, claiming without offering evidence that the technology company worked to subvert his 2016 presidential campaign and warning he was watching it "very closely" ahead of the 2020 election.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday stepped up his accusations against Google, claiming without offering evidence that the technology company worked to subvert his 2016 presidential campaign and warning he was watching it "very closely" ahead of the 2020 election. Trump, in a series of early posts on Twitter, also slammed Google's Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai, and again raised questions about the search engine's work with China, despite his administration's earlier comments that any such work was limited. ... are NOT planning to illegally subvert the 2020 Election despite all that has been said to the contrary. It all sounded good until I watched Kevin Cernekee, a Google engineer, say terrible things about what they did in 2016 and that they want to “Make sure that Trump losses... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 6, 2019 × "We go to great lengths to build our products and enforce our policies in ways that don't take political leanings into account," a Google spokesperson said in an email statement. Trump, who is seeking re-election in 2020, has repeatedly slammed Google and a host of other technology companies, echoing conservative critics' claims of unfair treatment and raising the spectre of regulation. Lawmakers have also raised the possibility of regulating the industry, in part over security and misinformation concerns following the 2016 election, and findings of Russian interference in that vote that relied heavily on leveraging technology and social media. Trump on Tuesday accused Google of "very illegal" acts but offered no evidence, and no formal charges have been announced. "Distorting results for political purposes would harm our business and go against our mission of providing helpful content to all of our users," the spokesperson added. Representatives for the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on what steps the administration was taking towards the company. Trump and Google's Pichai had met at the White House last month. Following the meeting, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said they both had been assured that any of Google's work with China was "very, very limited." Days later, Trump warned Google with a post on Twitter.

Ahead of 2020 US presidential election Trump accused Google of 'very illegal' acts

Democratic presidential front-runner Joe Biden and rival Kamala Harris battled fiercely over their healthcare plans in a debate on Wednesday, picking up where they left off last month when they had an <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kamala-harris-goes-after-biden-on-race-in-us-presidential-debate-231096">explosive confrontation over race</a>.

On the second of back-to-back nights of debates, the two rivals waded into a growing fight over healthcare that has split the Democratic Party and dominated the first night of debates in Detroit on Tuesday.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/democrats-clash-on-healthcare-in-feisty-first-us-presidential-debate-230721">crowded Democratic</a> field of about two dozen candidates is vying for the right to face Republican President Donald Trump in the November <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-biden-show-distinct-styles-in-potential-2020-preview-226447">2020 election</a>.

Biden, who struck a sharper and more aggressive tone than in the first debate, ridiculed Harris` contention that her recently unveiled plan would not require a middle-class tax increase or eliminate private insurance plans.

"You can`t beat President Trump with double-talk on this plan," Biden told Harris. "The plan no matter how you cut it costs $3 trillion. It will require middle-class taxes to go up, not down. Thirdly, it will eliminate employer-based insurance."

Harris rejected Biden`s description as "simply inaccurate" and ripped into Biden`s proposal to build on President Barack Obama`s healthcare plan, popularly known as Obamacare, and include a government-run option, saying it would leave millions uninsured.

"In 2019 in America for a Democrat to be running for president with a plan that does not cover everyone, I think is without excuse," Harris said.

Highlighting Diversity

The early fireworks were expected after Biden had engaged for weeks in an escalating fight with Harris and US Senator Cory Booker for the support of black voters, a vital constituency in the Democratic nominating battle.

Biden was flanked at centre stage by Harris and Booker, the most prominent black contenders in a Democratic nominating contest in which race has played a prominent role.

He cited that diversity on stage in his opening statement, contrasting it with Trump`s recent attacks on Democratic minority lawmakers that have been widely criticized as racist.

"Mr. President, this is America, and we are strong and great because of this diversity, Mr. President, not in spite of it," he said to Republican President Donald Trump.

"Let`s get something straight, we love it, we’re not leaving it, we’re here to stay and we’re certainly not leaving it here to you," said Biden, who was vice president under Obama, the first black US president.

Seven other candidates, including former US Housing Secretary Julian Castro, Washington Governor Jay Inslee and US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, joined them on stage in Detroit in search of a breakout moment that will generate new momentum for their campaigns.

"Tonight, we have to get to the heart and soul of who we are as Democrats," said New York Mayor Bill de Blasio in his opening statement. "There are good people on this stage but there are real differences."

Biden admitted he was taken by surprise last month when Harris criticized him for opposing federally mandated busing for school integration in the 1970s and for working with segregationists while serving in the U.S. Senate decades ago.

The sharp attack gave Harris a bump in the polls, and Biden`s feeble response led to a dip in his standing although he has recovered in some recent polls and still maintains a firm grip on first place.

During the candidate introductions on Wednesday, Biden told Harris to "go easy on me, kid." His comment was picked up by a microphone.

The debates come about six months before Iowa holds the first nominating contest, and the two nights in Detroit could be the last chance for many of the lower-tier contenders to make an appearance on the national debate stage.

The Democratic National Committee will double its fundraising and polling requirements to qualify for the next debates in September and October, leaving out more candidates and raising questions about their ability to continue their campaigns.

Democratic presidential front-runner Joe Biden and rival Kamala Harris battled fiercely over their healthcare plans in a debate on Wednesday, picking up where they left off last month when they had an explosive confrontation over race.

Democratic presidential front-runner Joe Biden and rival Kamala Harris battled fiercely over their healthcare plans in a debate on Wednesday, picking up where they left off last month when they had an explosive confrontation over race. On the second of back-to-back nights of debates, the two rivals waded into a growing fight over healthcare that has split the Democratic Party and dominated the first night of debates in Detroit on Tuesday. The crowded Democratic field of about two dozen candidates is vying for the right to face Republican President Donald Trump in the November 2020 election. Biden, who struck a sharper and more aggressive tone than in the first debate, ridiculed Harris` contention that her recently unveiled plan would not require a middle-class tax increase or eliminate private insurance plans. "You can`t beat President Trump with double-talk on this plan," Biden told Harris. "The plan no matter how you cut it costs $3 trillion. It will require middle-class taxes to go up, not down. Thirdly, it will eliminate employer-based insurance." Harris rejected Biden`s description as "simply inaccurate" and ripped into Biden`s proposal to build on President Barack Obama`s healthcare plan, popularly known as Obamacare, and include a government-run option, saying it would leave millions uninsured. "In 2019 in America for a Democrat to be running for president with a plan that does not cover everyone, I think is without excuse," Harris said. Highlighting Diversity The early fireworks were expected after Biden had engaged for weeks in an escalating fight with Harris and US Senator Cory Booker for the support of black voters, a vital constituency in the Democratic nominating battle. Biden was flanked at centre stage by Harris and Booker, the most prominent black contenders in a Democratic nominating contest in which race has played a prominent role. He cited that diversity on stage in his opening statement, contrasting it with Trump`s recent attacks on Democratic minority lawmakers that have been widely criticized as racist. "Mr. President, this is America, and we are strong and great because of this diversity, Mr. President, not in spite of it," he said to Republican President Donald Trump. "Let`s get something straight, we love it, we’re not leaving it, we’re here to stay and we’re certainly not leaving it here to you," said Biden, who was vice president under Obama, the first black US president. Seven other candidates, including former US Housing Secretary Julian Castro, Washington Governor Jay Inslee and US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, joined them on stage in Detroit in search of a breakout moment that will generate new momentum for their campaigns. "Tonight, we have to get to the heart and soul of who we are as Democrats," said New York Mayor Bill de Blasio in his opening statement. "There are good people on this stage but there are real differences." Biden admitted he was taken by surprise last month when Harris criticized him for opposing federally mandated busing for school integration in the 1970s and for working with segregationists while serving in the U.S. Senate decades ago. The sharp attack gave Harris a bump in the polls, and Biden`s feeble response led to a dip in his standing although he has recovered in some recent polls and still maintains a firm grip on first place. During the candidate introductions on Wednesday, Biden told Harris to "go easy on me, kid." His comment was picked up by a microphone. The debates come about six months before Iowa holds the first nominating contest, and the two nights in Detroit could be the last chance for many of the lower-tier contenders to make an appearance on the national debate stage. The Democratic National Committee will double its fundraising and polling requirements to qualify for the next debates in September and October, leaving out more candidates and raising questions about their ability to continue their campaigns.

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris go on the attack in US Democratic debate

In an effort to steady his presidential campaign, former Vice President Joe Biden engaged in some furious damage control on Friday, a day after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kamala-harris-goes-after-biden-on-race-in-us-presidential-debate-231096">rival candidate Kamala Harris</a> hurt him in the most dramatic clash so far of the 2020 election campaign.

Addressing an African-American advocacy group in Chicago, Biden defended his record, saying he had a "lifetime commitment to civil rights".&nbsp;

At the Democratic debate in Miami on Thursday, Harris, a black US senator from California, tore into Biden for opposing mandatory school busing in the 1970s and for his cooperation with segregationists while he was a young senator.

Biden`s defensive and sometimes faltering response was viewed as a blow to his status as the Democratic race`s front-runner. He has consistently held a significant lead in public opinion polls since he entered the race in April.

The contentious back-and-forth also appeared to give Harris a boost when her campaign badly needed it, resulting in a crush of media attention, a fundraising surge, and a bevy of new endorsements.

On Friday, Biden spoke to the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, the African-American advocacy group founded by the Reverend Jesse Jackson, in Chicago.

Before reading his prepared remarks, Biden told the crowd the debate format was insufficient for him to detail his decades-long work to promote racial equality, first as a US senator and then as vice president to Barack Obama, the nation`s first black president.&nbsp;

“We all know that 30 seconds to 60 seconds on a campaign debate exchange can’t do justice to a lifetime commitment to civil rights,” Biden said.&nbsp;

Biden was introduced by Jackson, the longtime civil-rights leader and former presidential candidate, who said Biden has “the stuff it takes to make America better.”

During his remarks, Biden turned to Jackson and said, “I know and you know I fought my heart out to ensure that civil rights, and voting rights, equal rights are enforced everywhere.”&nbsp;

Biden disputed Harris’ contention that he opposed busing, the controversial practice of transporting students to schools within or outside their school districts as a remedy for discrimination, in the 1970s, saying that he supported voluntary efforts for school districts to desegregate.&nbsp;

He reaffirmed his support for the federal government’s power to address civil-rights abuses, and talked up Obama`s accomplishments on criminal-justice reform, arguing that many of them have been overlooked.&nbsp;

"I’m tired of hearing about what he didn`t do," Biden told the crowd. "This man had a backbone like a ramrod."&nbsp;

Harris’ campaign on Friday rolled out new endorsements in key early voting states such as Iowa, South Carolina and California and said it had enjoyed one of its best fundraising days of her candidacy.&nbsp;

Speaking to reporters outside the US Capitol in Washington on Friday, Harris said, “I think we covered a lot of issues, and I’m looking forward to the next (debate).”&nbsp;

Asked if she thought Biden had responded adequately to her discussion of his comments on his work with segregationists, Harris said, “He said what he felt.”

One step back

But Harris, too, was doing some cleanup. Early on Friday, she backtracked from her apparent support at the debate for eliminating private health insurance in favour of a government-sponsored Medicare-for-All plan.

Harris told MSNBC she had misunderstood the question and said her plan would allow for private insurance as supplemental coverage to Medicare. 
The clarification amplified concerns by some progressives that Harris is overly opportunistic.&nbsp;

“I’m glad she called out Biden, but it doesn’t allay my concerns about her authenticity,” said a top California Democratic official, who requested anonymity in order to speak frankly.&nbsp;

"You never really know what she really believes or what she is about,” the official said.

Biden campaign officials publicly and privately downplayed the flap with Harris as an example of a trailing candidate trying to draw attention.&nbsp;

“People were going to take swings at him, trying to create a moment, trying to score their points," said Kate Bedingfield, Biden`s communications director.

They also noted that Biden has appeared to be in trouble before, specifically about the controversy over unwanted touching of women and his remarks about working with segregationist senators, and each time, the depth of his support remained intact.&nbsp;

As Biden himself has said, he does not expect to simply waltz to the nomination, and his campaign has stressed there are several more debates to come before the nominating contests.

The polling gap between Biden and Harris was immense going into the debate. According to Real Clear Politics, Biden held a 25-percentage-point lead over Harris nationally. And he has led in every early voting state.

Rodell Mollineau, a Democratic consultant and once a top aide to former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, said Biden is fortunate his debate struggles occurred early in the nominating process.

"There`s time for any candidate to course-correct," he said. However, Mollineau said, Biden`s campaign must view Harris` attack as "more than a warning shot."

"It does not get any easier from here, so he has to be prepared," he said.

In an effort to steady his presidential campaign, former Vice President Joe Biden engaged in some furious damage control on Friday, a day after rival candidate Kamala Harris hurt him in the most dramatic clash so far of the 2020 election campaign.

In an effort to steady his presidential campaign, former Vice President Joe Biden engaged in some furious damage control on Friday, a day after rival candidate Kamala Harris hurt him in the most dramatic clash so far of the 2020 election campaign. Addressing an African-American advocacy group in Chicago, Biden defended his record, saying he had a "lifetime commitment to civil rights". At the Democratic debate in Miami on Thursday, Harris, a black US senator from California, tore into Biden for opposing mandatory school busing in the 1970s and for his cooperation with segregationists while he was a young senator. Biden`s defensive and sometimes faltering response was viewed as a blow to his status as the Democratic race`s front-runner. He has consistently held a significant lead in public opinion polls since he entered the race in April. The contentious back-and-forth also appeared to give Harris a boost when her campaign badly needed it, resulting in a crush of media attention, a fundraising surge, and a bevy of new endorsements. On Friday, Biden spoke to the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, the African-American advocacy group founded by the Reverend Jesse Jackson, in Chicago. Before reading his prepared remarks, Biden told the crowd the debate format was insufficient for him to detail his decades-long work to promote racial equality, first as a US senator and then as vice president to Barack Obama, the nation`s first black president. “We all know that 30 seconds to 60 seconds on a campaign debate exchange can’t do justice to a lifetime commitment to civil rights,” Biden said. Biden was introduced by Jackson, the longtime civil-rights leader and former presidential candidate, who said Biden has “the stuff it takes to make America better.” During his remarks, Biden turned to Jackson and said, “I know and you know I fought my heart out to ensure that civil rights, and voting rights, equal rights are enforced everywhere.” Biden disputed Harris’ contention that he opposed busing, the controversial practice of transporting students to schools within or outside their school districts as a remedy for discrimination, in the 1970s, saying that he supported voluntary efforts for school districts to desegregate. He reaffirmed his support for the federal government’s power to address civil-rights abuses, and talked up Obama`s accomplishments on criminal-justice reform, arguing that many of them have been overlooked. "I’m tired of hearing about what he didn`t do," Biden told the crowd. "This man had a backbone like a ramrod." Harris’ campaign on Friday rolled out new endorsements in key early voting states such as Iowa, South Carolina and California and said it had enjoyed one of its best fundraising days of her candidacy. Speaking to reporters outside the US Capitol in Washington on Friday, Harris said, “I think we covered a lot of issues, and I’m looking forward to the next (debate).” Asked if she thought Biden had responded adequately to her discussion of his comments on his work with segregationists, Harris said, “He said what he felt.” One step back But Harris, too, was doing some cleanup. Early on Friday, she backtracked from her apparent support at the debate for eliminating private health insurance in favour of a government-sponsored Medicare-for-All plan. Harris told MSNBC she had misunderstood the question and said her plan would allow for private insurance as supplemental coverage to Medicare. The clarification amplified concerns by some progressives that Harris is overly opportunistic. “I’m glad she called out Biden, but it doesn’t allay my concerns about her authenticity,” said a top California Democratic official, who requested anonymity in order to speak frankly. "You never really know what she really believes or what she is about,” the official said. Biden campaign officials publicly and privately downplayed the flap with Harris as an example of a trailing candidate trying to draw attention. “People were going to take swings at him, trying to create a moment, trying to score their points," said Kate Bedingfield, Biden`s communications director. They also noted that Biden has appeared to be in trouble before, specifically about the controversy over unwanted touching of women and his remarks about working with segregationist senators, and each time, the depth of his support remained intact. As Biden himself has said, he does not expect to simply waltz to the nomination, and his campaign has stressed there are several more debates to come before the nominating contests. The polling gap between Biden and Harris was immense going into the debate. According to Real Clear Politics, Biden held a 25-percentage-point lead over Harris nationally. And he has led in every early voting state. Rodell Mollineau, a Democratic consultant and once a top aide to former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, said Biden is fortunate his debate struggles occurred early in the nominating process. "There`s time for any candidate to course-correct," he said. However, Mollineau said, Biden`s campaign must view Harris` attack as "more than a warning shot." "It does not get any easier from here, so he has to be prepared," he said.

Biden tries to limit the damage from debate blow

Top Democratic <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/former-us-vice-president-joe-biden-enters-2020-presidential-race-213423">US presidential contender Joe Biden expressed </a>support Friday for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-news-outlets-say-controversial-extradition-bill-may-be-suspended-227232">protesters engaged in Hong Kong</a>'s deepest political unrest in two decades, warning China that "the world is watching."

The international finance hub was rocked this week by the worst political violence since its 1997 handover to Beijing, with the semi-autonomous island's embattled leader facing mounting pressure to abandon a deeply unpopular plan to allow extraditions to China.

"The extraordinary bravery shown by hundreds of thousands in Hong Kong, marching for the civil liberties &amp;&nbsp;autonomy promised by China is inspiring," tweeted the former US vice president, who is the leading Democrat in the race to challenge President Donald Trump in 2020.

"And the world is watching," Biden added. "All of us must stand in support of democratic principles and freedom."

The veteran Democrat weighed in with his comments two days after Trump offered a cautious response to what he said were "massive" demonstrations, saying he hoped protesters could "work it out with China."

On Wednesday, as opposition to the extradition bill grew within an unusually wide cross-section of residents, tens of thousands of protesters in Hong Kong were dispersed by riot police firing tear gas and rubber bullets.

The following day, a bipartisan group of lawmakers in Washington sought to reaffirm US commitment to democracy and human rights in Hong Kong, introducing a measure that would also threaten to remove the territory's status as a US special trading partner.

Beijing on Friday denounced what it called "violent interference" by US lawmakers, who are critical of what they see as a worsening human rights environment in Hong Kong.

Top Democratic US presidential contender Joe Biden expressed support Friday for protesters engaged in Hong Kong's deepest political unrest in two decades, warning China that "the world is watching.

Top Democratic US presidential contender Joe Biden expressed support Friday for protesters engaged in Hong Kong's deepest political unrest in two decades, warning China that "the world is watching." The international finance hub was rocked this week by the worst political violence since its 1997 handover to Beijing, with the semi-autonomous island's embattled leader facing mounting pressure to abandon a deeply unpopular plan to allow extraditions to China. "The extraordinary bravery shown by hundreds of thousands in Hong Kong, marching for the civil liberties & autonomy promised by China is inspiring," tweeted the former US vice president, who is the leading Democrat in the race to challenge President Donald Trump in 2020. "And the world is watching," Biden added. "All of us must stand in support of democratic principles and freedom." The veteran Democrat weighed in with his comments two days after Trump offered a cautious response to what he said were "massive" demonstrations, saying he hoped protesters could "work it out with China." On Wednesday, as opposition to the extradition bill grew within an unusually wide cross-section of residents, tens of thousands of protesters in Hong Kong were dispersed by riot police firing tear gas and rubber bullets. The following day, a bipartisan group of lawmakers in Washington sought to reaffirm US commitment to democracy and human rights in Hong Kong, introducing a measure that would also threaten to remove the territory's status as a US special trading partner. Beijing on Friday denounced what it called "violent interference" by US lawmakers, who are critical of what they see as a worsening human rights environment in Hong Kong.

World is watching' Hong Kong protests, Joe Biden warns China

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he would see nothing wrong in accepting damaging information on a US political opponent if it were offered to his re-election campaign by a foreign government.

Asked in an interview with ABC News if he would accept the information or alert the FBI, Trump said, "I think maybe you do both. I think you might want to listen, there`s nothing wrong with listening."

"If somebody called from a country, Norway, `we have information on your opponent` - oh, I think I`d want to hear it," Trump said.

Trump`s son Donald Trump Jr. was questioned by a US Senate committee on Wednesday in a closed session about a June 2016 meeting at Trump Tower in New York in which a Russian lawyer had offered damaging information on Hillary Clinton, the elder Trump`s Democratic opponent in the 2016 presidential election.

The younger Trump, on learning the topic of the meeting, had written in an email: "I love it." But people who attended the meeting said later it focused on other matters.&nbsp;

Special Counsel Robert Mueller investigated the meeting as part of his probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election. He documented extensive contacts between Trump`s 2016 campaign and Russia, but did not establish that members of the campaign conspired with Moscow.

Speaking to ABC News on Wednesday, Trump said he disagreed with FBI Director Christopher Wray, who told Congress last month that political campaigns should contact the agency about any suspicious communications from a foreign government.

"The FBI director is wrong," Trump said.

"I`ve seen a lot of things over my life. I don`t think in my whole life I`ve ever called the FBI. In my whole life. You don’t call the FBI. You throw somebody out of your office, you do whatever you do,” Trump said. “Oh, give me a break – life doesn`t work that way.”

Trump compared damaging information on an opponent supplied by a foreign government to opposition research conducted by all political campaigns.&nbsp;

"It`s not an interference, they have information - I think I`d take it," Trump said. "If I thought there was something wrong, I`d go maybe to the FBI - if I thought there was something wrong."

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he would see nothing wrong in accepting damaging information on a US political opponent if it were offered to his re-election campaign by a foreign government.

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he would see nothing wrong in accepting damaging information on a US political opponent if it were offered to his re-election campaign by a foreign government. Asked in an interview with ABC News if he would accept the information or alert the FBI, Trump said, "I think maybe you do both. I think you might want to listen, there`s nothing wrong with listening." "If somebody called from a country, Norway, `we have information on your opponent` - oh, I think I`d want to hear it," Trump said. Trump`s son Donald Trump Jr. was questioned by a US Senate committee on Wednesday in a closed session about a June 2016 meeting at Trump Tower in New York in which a Russian lawyer had offered damaging information on Hillary Clinton, the elder Trump`s Democratic opponent in the 2016 presidential election. The younger Trump, on learning the topic of the meeting, had written in an email: "I love it." But people who attended the meeting said later it focused on other matters. Special Counsel Robert Mueller investigated the meeting as part of his probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election. He documented extensive contacts between Trump`s 2016 campaign and Russia, but did not establish that members of the campaign conspired with Moscow. Speaking to ABC News on Wednesday, Trump said he disagreed with FBI Director Christopher Wray, who told Congress last month that political campaigns should contact the agency about any suspicious communications from a foreign government. "The FBI director is wrong," Trump said. "I`ve seen a lot of things over my life. I don`t think in my whole life I`ve ever called the FBI. In my whole life. You don’t call the FBI. You throw somebody out of your office, you do whatever you do,” Trump said. “Oh, give me a break – life doesn`t work that way.” Trump compared damaging information on an opponent supplied by a foreign government to opposition research conducted by all political campaigns. "It`s not an interference, they have information - I think I`d take it," Trump said. "If I thought there was something wrong, I`d go maybe to the FBI - if I thought there was something wrong."

Nothing wrong with accepting dirt from foreign governments on opponents: Trump

The Joe Biden Express to the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination went a bit off track this week.

Since Biden joined the race in April, his campaign has worked to craft an aura of inevitability around the former vice president’s bid. Biden has engaged President Donald Trump more often than his Democratic rivals, while speaking in broad, thematic outlines rather pinpointing policy.

To a large extent, the strategy has succeeded. Biden enjoys a comfortable lead over his 23 competitors - drawing 31% of support from Democratic and independent voters compared to the 14% received by second-place US Senator Bernie Sanders in the Reuters/Ipsos poll this week - and remains the favourite to battle Trump in the November 2020 election.

But as Biden increasingly has to stake out policy positions, he finds himself under fire from progressives in the party — and has shown a willingness to bow to demands that could hurt him with more moderate voters.

Facing intense criticism from liberals and abortion-rights groups, Biden on Thursday suddenly reversed himself on the Hyde Amendment, a law that prohibits federal funds for most abortions. After 40 years of supporting the measure, Biden, a Roman Catholic, announced at an event in Atlanta that he now opposed it.

Earlier this week, Biden rolled out a climate-change plan that was more ambitious and far-reaching than many expected. It came after weeks of progressives openly fretting that his plan would seek some sort of “middle ground” in an attempt to mollify labour unions and other industry groups concerned about the economic impact of a massive shift away from fossil fuels.&nbsp;

In both cases, Biden was not necessarily speaking to his loyal base of supporters, the largely middle-aged and middle-of-the-road voters - many of them union members - who came out to see him in New Hampshire this week.

Instead, he was courting the groups he needs to consolidate his grip on the nomination: the activists, progressives and millennials who right now have the louder voices in the party.

Biden’s chief antagonist has been Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the first-term congresswoman from New York who is not running for president but who commands a fervent following on social media. She called out Biden on both his climate and abortion positions.&nbsp;

Shifts draws scrutiny

Biden also is being knocked around more by his fellow Democratic candidates, who finally were given an opening to distinguish themselves from the front-runner on an issue key to the party`s base. His past support of the Hyde Amendment was blasted by Senators Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren, among others.&nbsp;

Biden added to the confusion about where he stands on the issue during the event in Atlanta by saying he would make “no apologies for my last position” on the amendment.&nbsp;

While he cited aggressive anti-abortion laws passed in states such as Georgia for his shift, his language fuelled outrage among progressive women on Twitter who argued the law had prevented poor women from obtaining abortions for decades.&nbsp;

Campaign aides for Trump`s reelection told Reuters last month they expected Biden to be pulled leftward as the Democratic primary progressed, and they were prepared to exploit that should it occur.

On the campaign trail, Biden at times appears caught between a lifetime of centrist and often bipartisan policymaking and the pull of the progressive tide.&nbsp;

At an event on Tuesday in Concord, New Hampshire, he continued to defend the 1994 crime bill he helped craft as a senator that has been criticized by Harris and other candidates for resulting in the disproportionate jailing of African-Americans.&nbsp;

“You’ve been conditioned to say it’s a bad bill,” he told a questioner, a young woman who called herself a “civil liberties voter.”&nbsp;

Unlike several other Democratic candidates who have already called for the US House of Representatives to initiate an impeachment inquiry against Trump, Biden has held back, saying that it should only happen if Trump continues to stonewall committee probes.

“It’s a gigantic distraction from things we should be focusing on getting done,” he said.

It remains to be seen whether Biden has suffered any damage from tacking leftward on some issues.

Some voters in New Hampshire made clear they did not want Biden to cater to the party progressives.&nbsp;

“I honestly think the progressives are in many ways hijacking the Democratic Party. The 60 or 70 per cent of us who are in the middle get left out of the mix,” said Jeff Brown, 57, of Weare, New Hampshire. “And I think the vice president hears our voices, and I think he’s the one who is&nbsp;

The Joe Biden Express to the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination went a bit off track this week. Since Biden joined the race in April, his campaign has worked to craft an aura of inevitability around the former vice president’s bid.

The Joe Biden Express to the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination went a bit off track this week. Since Biden joined the race in April, his campaign has worked to craft an aura of inevitability around the former vice president’s bid. Biden has engaged President Donald Trump more often than his Democratic rivals, while speaking in broad, thematic outlines rather pinpointing policy. To a large extent, the strategy has succeeded. Biden enjoys a comfortable lead over his 23 competitors - drawing 31% of support from Democratic and independent voters compared to the 14% received by second-place US Senator Bernie Sanders in the Reuters/Ipsos poll this week - and remains the favourite to battle Trump in the November 2020 election. But as Biden increasingly has to stake out policy positions, he finds himself under fire from progressives in the party — and has shown a willingness to bow to demands that could hurt him with more moderate voters. Facing intense criticism from liberals and abortion-rights groups, Biden on Thursday suddenly reversed himself on the Hyde Amendment, a law that prohibits federal funds for most abortions. After 40 years of supporting the measure, Biden, a Roman Catholic, announced at an event in Atlanta that he now opposed it. Earlier this week, Biden rolled out a climate-change plan that was more ambitious and far-reaching than many expected. It came after weeks of progressives openly fretting that his plan would seek some sort of “middle ground” in an attempt to mollify labour unions and other industry groups concerned about the economic impact of a massive shift away from fossil fuels. In both cases, Biden was not necessarily speaking to his loyal base of supporters, the largely middle-aged and middle-of-the-road voters - many of them union members - who came out to see him in New Hampshire this week. Instead, he was courting the groups he needs to consolidate his grip on the nomination: the activists, progressives and millennials who right now have the louder voices in the party. Biden’s chief antagonist has been Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the first-term congresswoman from New York who is not running for president but who commands a fervent following on social media. She called out Biden on both his climate and abortion positions. Shifts draws scrutiny Biden also is being knocked around more by his fellow Democratic candidates, who finally were given an opening to distinguish themselves from the front-runner on an issue key to the party`s base. His past support of the Hyde Amendment was blasted by Senators Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren, among others. Biden added to the confusion about where he stands on the issue during the event in Atlanta by saying he would make “no apologies for my last position” on the amendment. While he cited aggressive anti-abortion laws passed in states such as Georgia for his shift, his language fuelled outrage among progressive women on Twitter who argued the law had prevented poor women from obtaining abortions for decades. Campaign aides for Trump`s reelection told Reuters last month they expected Biden to be pulled leftward as the Democratic primary progressed, and they were prepared to exploit that should it occur. On the campaign trail, Biden at times appears caught between a lifetime of centrist and often bipartisan policymaking and the pull of the progressive tide. At an event on Tuesday in Concord, New Hampshire, he continued to defend the 1994 crime bill he helped craft as a senator that has been criticized by Harris and other candidates for resulting in the disproportionate jailing of African-Americans. “You’ve been conditioned to say it’s a bad bill,” he told a questioner, a young woman who called herself a “civil liberties voter.” Unlike several other Democratic candidates who have already called for the US House of Representatives to initiate an impeachment inquiry against Trump, Biden has held back, saying that it should only happen if Trump continues to stonewall committee probes. “It’s a gigantic distraction from things we should be focusing on getting done,” he said. It remains to be seen whether Biden has suffered any damage from tacking leftward on some issues. Some voters in New Hampshire made clear they did not want Biden to cater to the party progressives. “I honestly think the progressives are in many ways hijacking the Democratic Party. The 60 or 70 per cent of us who are in the middle get left out of the mix,” said Jeff Brown, 57, of Weare, New Hampshire. “And I think the vice president hears our voices, and I think he’s the one who is

Under pressure, Biden drifts leftward on abortion, climate change

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-holds-mega-roadshow-in-varanasi-213438">PM Modi begins mega roadshow in Varanasi</a>

Prime Minister Narendra Modi&nbsp;started his mega roadshow in his Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi&nbsp;today as thousands attended chanting the prime minister's name. The roadshow&nbsp;is scheduled for a day before PM Modi sets out to&nbsp;file his nomination paper&nbsp;on Friday.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-needs-security-guarantees-in-exchange-for-denuclearisation-says-putin-after-meeting-kim-213419">North Korea needs 'security guarantees' in exchange for denuclearisation, says Putin after meeting Kim</a>

As Russian President Putin and North Korean leader&nbsp;Kim&nbsp;Jong-un met in Vladivostok&nbsp;with hopes of strengthing ties, the Russian president said North Korea needs security guarantees and denuclearisation could only be achieved through international law.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/leader-of-the-group-committed-suicide-at-shangri-la-hotel-police-213412">Leader of the group committed suicide at Shangri-la hotel: Police</a>

Four days after the Easter Sunday blasts, Sri Lankan authorities revealed new details&nbsp;about the suicide bombers&nbsp;who carried out attacks on churches and hotels in the country.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/former-us-vice-president-joe-biden-enters-2020-presidential-race-213423">Former US Vice President Joe Biden enters 2020 presidential race</a>

Former US Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday formally announced his entry into the race for the Democratic party's presidential nomination for the 2020 election.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-protests-as-french-warship-passes-through-taiwan-strait-213434">China protests as French warship passes through Taiwan Strait</a>

A French warship passed through the strategic&nbsp;Taiwan Strait&nbsp;this month&nbsp;as France on Thursday reaffirmed its commitment to "freedom of navigation under maritime law" following a spat with China over the passage of a French warship through the Taiwan Strait earlier this month.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

PM Modi begins mega roadshow in Varanasi Prime Minister Narendra Modi started his mega roadshow in his Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi today as thousands attended chanting the prime minister's name.

PM Modi begins mega roadshow in Varanasi Prime Minister Narendra Modi started his mega roadshow in his Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi today as thousands attended chanting the prime minister's name. The roadshow is scheduled for a day before PM Modi sets out to file his nomination paper on Friday. North Korea needs 'security guarantees' in exchange for denuclearisation, says Putin after meeting Kim As Russian President Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met in Vladivostok with hopes of strengthing ties, the Russian president said North Korea needs security guarantees and denuclearisation could only be achieved through international law. Leader of the group committed suicide at Shangri-la hotel: Police Four days after the Easter Sunday blasts, Sri Lankan authorities revealed new details about the suicide bombers who carried out attacks on churches and hotels in the country. Former US Vice President Joe Biden enters 2020 presidential race Former US Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday formally announced his entry into the race for the Democratic party's presidential nomination for the 2020 election. China protests as French warship passes through Taiwan Strait A French warship passed through the strategic Taiwan Strait this month as France on Thursday reaffirmed its commitment to "freedom of navigation under maritime law" following a spat with China over the passage of a French warship through the Taiwan Strait earlier this month.

News brief: Big stories of the day

Former US Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday formally announced his entry into the race for the Democratic party's presidential nomination for the 2020 election.

"We are in the battle for the soul of this nation," Biden said in a stark video released online, calling on voters to deny Republican US&nbsp;President Donald Trump a second term in office.&nbsp;

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/big-democratic-field-taking-shape-for-2020-us-presidential-race-213249">Big Democratic field taking shape for 2020 US presidential race</a>

Biden, 76, had been wrestling for months over whether to run. His candidacy will face numerous questions, including whether he is too old and too centrist for a Democratic Party yearning for fresh faces and increasingly propelled by its more vocal liberal wing.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
The core values of this nation… our standing in the world… our very democracy...everything that has made America -- America --is at stake. That’s why today I’m announcing my candidacy for President of the United States. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Joe2020?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Joe2020</a> <a href="https://t.co/jzaQbyTEz3">https://t.co/jzaQbyTEz3</a>
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeBiden/status/1121353260231688192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Still, he starts as the leader of the pack in opinion polls of a Democratic field that now will total 20 contenders seeking the chance to challenge President Donald Trump, the likely Republican nominee, in November 2020.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Former US Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday formally announced his entry into the race for the Democratic party's presidential nomination for the 2020 election.

Former US Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday formally announced his entry into the race for the Democratic party's presidential nomination for the 2020 election. "We are in the battle for the soul of this nation," Biden said in a stark video released online, calling on voters to deny Republican US President Donald Trump a second term in office. Also read: Big Democratic field taking shape for 2020 US presidential race Biden, 76, had been wrestling for months over whether to run. His candidacy will face numerous questions, including whether he is too old and too centrist for a Democratic Party yearning for fresh faces and increasingly propelled by its more vocal liberal wing. The core values of this nation… our standing in the world… our very democracy...everything that has made America -- America --is at stake. That’s why today I’m announcing my candidacy for President of the United States. #Joe2020 https://t.co/jzaQbyTEz3 — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) April 25, 2019 × Still, he starts as the leader of the pack in opinion polls of a Democratic field that now will total 20 contenders seeking the chance to challenge President Donald Trump, the likely Republican nominee, in November 2020.

Former US Vice President Joe Biden enters 2020 presidential race

Big Democratic field taking shape for 2020 US presidential race

US Democratic presidential contender Amy Klobuchar presented a trillion-dollar plan on Thursday to fix the country`s roads, bridges and other public works that she said would be her top budget priority if elected.

The US senator`s plan would include the repair and replacement of roads and bridges, modernisation of flood protection and airports, expansion of public transportation and the increase of rural access to broadband internet, among other policies.

Klobuchar often refers to one of the worst bridge collapses in US history, in her home state of Minnesota, repeating her admonition at the time that "A bridge in America just shouldn`t fall down." An interstate highway bridge spanning the Mississippi River collapsed in 2007, killing 13 people and injuring more than 100 others.

Republicans and Democrats in Congress have long called for fixes to the United States` infrastructure, including aging schools and water systems, but plans have foundered over disputes over how to fund the projects.

To pay for the investments, Klobuchar said she would commit more than $650 billion in federal funding for infrastructure, partly by changing parts of the tax overhaul legislation passed in 2017 to adjust the corporate tax rate to 25 per cent.

She would establish an Infrastructure Financing Authority to help states better leverage private funds for projects and steer money to rural areas, as well as bring back a bond program to give a 35 per cent subsidy to state and local governments for public projects.

In President Donald Trump`s annual State of the Union address to Congress in February, he once again called on lawmakers to pass legislation to aid the country`s infrastructure.&nbsp;

An infrastructure plan Trump asked lawmakers to support in February 2018 was roundly criticised and never received a vote in Congress, which was then controlled by his Republican Party.

Klobuchar, who is in her third term in the US Senate, is one of more than a dozen Democrats running for their party`s 2020 presidential nomination.&nbsp;

US Democratic presidential contender Amy Klobuchar presented a trillion-dollar plan on Thursday to fix the country`s roads, bridges and other public works that she said would be her top budget priority if elected.

US Democratic presidential contender Amy Klobuchar presented a trillion-dollar plan on Thursday to fix the country`s roads, bridges and other public works that she said would be her top budget priority if elected. The US senator`s plan would include the repair and replacement of roads and bridges, modernisation of flood protection and airports, expansion of public transportation and the increase of rural access to broadband internet, among other policies. Klobuchar often refers to one of the worst bridge collapses in US history, in her home state of Minnesota, repeating her admonition at the time that "A bridge in America just shouldn`t fall down." An interstate highway bridge spanning the Mississippi River collapsed in 2007, killing 13 people and injuring more than 100 others. Republicans and Democrats in Congress have long called for fixes to the United States` infrastructure, including aging schools and water systems, but plans have foundered over disputes over how to fund the projects. To pay for the investments, Klobuchar said she would commit more than $650 billion in federal funding for infrastructure, partly by changing parts of the tax overhaul legislation passed in 2017 to adjust the corporate tax rate to 25 per cent. She would establish an Infrastructure Financing Authority to help states better leverage private funds for projects and steer money to rural areas, as well as bring back a bond program to give a 35 per cent subsidy to state and local governments for public projects. In President Donald Trump`s annual State of the Union address to Congress in February, he once again called on lawmakers to pass legislation to aid the country`s infrastructure. An infrastructure plan Trump asked lawmakers to support in February 2018 was roundly criticised and never received a vote in Congress, which was then controlled by his Republican Party. Klobuchar, who is in her third term in the US Senate, is one of more than a dozen Democrats running for their party`s 2020 presidential nomination.

US presidential candidate Klobuchar calls for trillion-dollar infrastructure plan