Tag: BBC News

With a week to go until the US presidential election, more than 60 million Americans have already taken advantage of early voting, smashing all records.

Throughout this week in a series of special reports, Clive Myrie will be looking at some of the key issues uppermost in voters’ minds as they cast their ballots.

He begins with illegal immigration and Donald Trump’s signature promise to build a wall along the border with Mexico.

Will that promise help or hinder his attempt to win four more years?

Amy Coney Barrett confirmed to US Supreme Court

Donald Trump scores pre-election win as US Senate confirms Amy Coney Barrett as Supreme Court judge.

US election campaigns can start years in advance and cost billions of dollars. Due to coronavirus, this year’s cycle looks a little different, but huge sums are still being spent ahead of the election on 3 November.

In 2016, the US elections cost an estimated $6.5bn. BBC Reality Check breaks down who paid for it and looks at how much 2020 might cost.

Motion graphics by Jacqueline Galvin

Produced by Jake Horton and Soraya Auer

California wildfires: This is how mind-bogglingly huge they are

The

best-reviewed album of her career, it is widely expected to pick up multiple Grammy nominations next month.

Having dropped tantalising hints days ago about an “

exciting new discovery about the Moon“, the US space agency has revealed conclusive evidence of water on our only natural satellite.

Chuck Schumer, the Democratic minority leader, vowed that the party would “not stop fighting” as his colleagues took to the floor of the Senate to denounce the proceedings. Mr Schumer also attempted to stop Mike Pence, the vice-president, from appearing in the chamber, tweeting that he “cannot come to the Senate” due to his recent exposure aides diagnosed with Covid-19. As vice-president, Mr Pence is the president of the Senate, a largely ceremonial role.

“This was our greatest hope for Christmas 2020, and now it looks like it won’t happen,” he told the Wall Street Journal, which first reported the story. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has since confirmed the existence of the Santa plan to the New York Times.