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The US authorities have filed charges against 13 members of two militia groups in Michigan in connection with an alleged plot to kidnap the state governor Gretchen Whitmer. The FBI accuse six conspirators of planning to abduct Mrs. Whitemer at her holiday home. Without mentioning President Trump by name, Mrs. Whitemer said he had spent the last seven months stoking distrust, fermenting anger and giving comfort to those who spread fear and division.

One of President Trump’s closest allies, the Republican Senate Majority leader, Mitch McConnell has revealed that he has avoided the White House for two months because of a lack of coronavirus precautions. Mr. McConnell contrasted the approach adopted in the executive mansion to his own insistence on masks and social distancing in the Senate.

The World Health Organization has reported a record daily increase in global coronavirus cases. The global figure reached almost 340,000. Europe registered 97,000 new cases.

President Trump has rejected a plan to hold next Thursday’s election debate in virtual format, saying it will be a waste of time and that the moderator will be able to cut him off. Instead, he’s agreed to hold a face-to-face with Joe Biden a week later.

The US is imposing sweeping new sanctions on Iran, this time targeting its major banks. Tehran has accused Washington of trying to destroy Iran’s remaining channels to pay for food and medicine.

The government in Mali says hostage takers have released an opposition politician and a French aid worker. Officials said S and Sophie had been freed on their way to the capital Bamako. Two Italian hostages were also released.

A museum commemorating the 1984 winter Olympics has re-opened in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo. The building had been destroyed during the city siege by Bosnian Serb forces.