upi--2020-10-10--U.S. COVID-19 cases top 50,000 for 3rd straight day

Oct. 10 ( UPI ) -- For the third-straight day , the number of positive cases of COVID-19 in the United States topped 50,000 , a level not seen since August , U.S. officials said Saturday .
Data the Johns Hopkins University global tracker showed there were 57,420 new cases and 990 deaths Friday in the United States .
Since the beginning of the pandemic , the country has had 7.7 million confirmed cases and at least 214,000 deaths .
An updated model released Friday by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington School of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States by Feb. 1 .
The model predicts that U.S. daily deaths will peak at 2,300 in mid-January with 116,000 hospital beds needed by Jan. 22 .
Daily U.S. deaths are around 1,000 this month .
Expanding the use of masks from the United States ' current rate of 69 % to about 95 % -- the rate in Singapore -- would save 79,000 lives between now and Feb. 1 , the study predicted .
The virus is increasing in 24 states listed in the `` red zone , '' according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday and obtained by the Center for Public Integrity .
North Dakota , South Dakota , Wisconsin , Montana and Utah top the list of outbreaks .
In North Dakota , the state health department reported 4,169 active positive cases Saturday with a 14-day rolling positivity rate of 7.24 % .
The state health department reported that 11.3 % of staffed hospital beds were available for future patients .
In South Dakota , where Gov .
Kristi Noem has resisted ordering statewide lockdowns and mask mandates , the state health department reported there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state 's positivity rate at 12.1 % and an average of five deaths per day .
The number of average daily positive cases in South Dakota has increased by almost 50 % over the past week , The New York Times reported Saturday .
In Wisconsin , the state said 2,354 positive tests were reported Friday , with a positive testing rate of 17.6 % .
Eighteen deaths were recorded Friday from COVID-19 .
Gov .
Tony Evers issued an emergency order Tuesday mandating that public indoor gatherings not exceed occupancy rates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now a COVID-19 hotspot , '' Evers said in a statement .
`` Wisconsin must use all its tools , including keeping people physically apart and wearing face coverings , to slow this dangerous spike .
The consequences of failing to act could be devastating and deadly . ''

A volunteer assists a man as he casts his votes on the first day of early voting in Medina, Ohio, on Tuesday. On Friday, the United States recorded more than 50,000 new COVID-19 cases for the third-straight day. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 10 (UPI) -- For the third-straight day, the number of positive cases of COVID-19 in the United States topped 50,000, a level not seen since August, U.S. officials said Saturday. Data the Johns Hopkins University global tracker showed there were 57,420 new cases and 990 deaths Friday in the United States. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the country has had 7.7 million confirmed cases and at least 214,000 deaths. Advertisement
An updated model released Friday by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington School of Medicine, projects 394,693 deaths in the United States by Feb. 1. The model predicts that U.S. daily deaths will peak at 2,300 in mid-January with 116,000 hospital beds needed by Jan. 22. Daily U.S. deaths are around 1,000 this month.
Expanding the use of masks from the United States' current rate of 69% to about 95% -- the rate in Singapore -- would save 79,000 lives between now and Feb. 1, the study predicted.
The virus is increasing in 24 states listed in the "red zone," according to White House Coronavirus Task Force documents published Sunday and obtained by the Center for Public Integrity. North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Montana and Utah top the list of outbreaks.
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In North Dakota, the state health department reported 4,169 active positive cases Saturday with a 14-day rolling positivity rate of 7.24%. The state health department reported that 11.3 % of staffed hospital beds were available for future patients.
In South Dakota, where Gov. Kristi Noem has resisted ordering statewide lockdowns and mask mandates, the state health department reported there were 732 new cases Friday, with the state's positivity rate at 12.1% and an average of five deaths per day. The number of average daily positive cases in South Dakota has increased by almost 50% over the past week, The New York Times reported Saturday.
In Wisconsin, the state said 2,354 positive tests were reported Friday, with a positive testing rate of 17.6%. Eighteen deaths were recorded Friday from COVID-19.
Gov. Tony Evers issued an emergency order Tuesday mandating that public indoor gatherings not exceed occupancy rates of 25%.
"Wisconsin is now a COVID-19 hotspot," Evers said in a statement. "Wisconsin must use all its tools, including keeping people physically apart and wearing face coverings, to slow this dangerous spike. The consequences of failing to act could be devastating and deadly."
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Scenes from the White House as coronavirus hot spot


upi--2020-10-10--Wauwatosa: Curfew continues after police fire tear gas, arrest 28 amid of protest police shooting

Oct. 10 ( UPI ) -- A curfew continued Saturday in Wauwatosa , Wisc.
, after three days of unrest over an attorney 's announcement of no charges against an officer in the Feb. 2 fatal shooting of 17-year-old Alvin Cole .
On Saturday , the Wauwatosa Police Department said in a Facebook post that bottles were thrown at officers during protests Friday night in which dozens were arrested .
Police released pictures of the contents of a backpack found during an arrest on Friday , which included bottles with flammable fluids , toilet paper and lighter fluid .
Also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ publisher of the conservative news outlet the Daily Caller , Neil Patel , criticized the Wauwatosa Police Department , saying that two of his reporters , Shelby Talcott and Richie McGinnis , were beaten and detained by police Thursday while filming Tracy Cole , the mother of Alvin Cole , being arrested .
`` They were brutally beaten with clubs for no reason , '' Patel said in a statement .
`` Our reporters have covered more protests and riots than anyone else in America .
With the exception of Louisville , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we have a job to do and let us do it . ''
Wauwatosa police fired tear gas Friday and arrested 28 people in a crowd of approximately 100 people , including small children , and 20 vehicles , another Facebook post shows .
Two of the arrests were felony arrests , one was a misdemeanor , and 25 were municipal arrests , according to the post .
Paramedics evaluated two of the people arrested for minor injuries .
`` Law enforcement personnel recovered a handgun , materials to start fires , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Police authorized the use of tear gas and munitions such as pepper balls and paint balls in self-defense at 8:06 p.m. Friday , after the department said members of a group threw rocks and bottles at law enforcement .
`` We can appreciate the anger and frustration that exists among those closely affected by recent events , '' the police department post said , adding that all citizens should comply with the curfew .
`` Our goal is voluntary compliance , '' with the curfew , Police Chief Barry Weber said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ began Wednesday after Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm announced that Wauwatosa Police Officer Joseph Mensah would face no charges in the incident on February 2 where Cole was fatally shot after police responded to a disturbance call at the Wauwatosa mall , CNN reported .
`` In this case , there is sufficient evidence that Officer Mensah had an actual subjective belief that deadly force was necessary and that belief was objectively reasonable , '' Chisholm wrote in a letter Wednesday to the police chief , which includes a link to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ City of Wauwatosa issued a curfew between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. shortly after Chisholm 's announcement in preparations for protests and other restrictions , such as banning overnight parking of vehicles .
Tracy Cole was arrested during a crackdown after a tense Wednesday night protest where police said protesters broke windows and threw rocks before officers fired tear gas on the crowd .
Police said that first responders took Tracy Cole to the hospital after her arrest with injuries to her forehead and arm , according to her attorney Motley .
Tracy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cole were also taken into custody Thursday night , the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported .
By Thursday , the National Guard had joined police in monitoring the protests .
`` We 've always maintained that Officer Joseph Mensah should be held accountable for his actions , and unfortunately today , we disagree with Chisholm 's assessment of what he saw , '' Kim Motley , an attorney for Cole 's family , told CNN .
Motely said she represents Cole 's family and the families of two other people killed by Mensah .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ He 's suspended with pay , and he needs to be removed as an officer immediately , '' she said Wednesday .
Earlier on Wednesday , a former U.S. attorney that the Wauwatosa Police and Fire Commission hired as an independent investigator found that Mensah was not fit for duty and recommended his termination in a report that Motley shared with CNN .
`` The risk and ensuing consequences to the Wauwatosa Police Department and the City of Wauwatosa of a fourth shooting by this officer are too great for this commission to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the report .

Oct. 10 (UPI) -- A curfew continued Saturday in Wauwatosa, Wisc., after three days of unrest over an attorney's announcement of no charges against an officer in the Feb. 2 fatal shooting of 17-year-old Alvin Cole.
On Saturday, the Wauwatosa Police Department said in a Facebook post that bottles were thrown at officers during protests Friday night in which dozens were arrested. Police released pictures of the contents of a backpack found during an arrest on Friday, which included bottles with flammable fluids, toilet paper and lighter fluid.
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Also, on Saturday, a co-founder and publisher of the conservative news outlet the Daily Caller, Neil Patel, criticized the Wauwatosa Police Department, saying that two of his reporters, Shelby Talcott and Richie McGinnis, were beaten and detained by police Thursday while filming Tracy Cole, the mother of Alvin Cole, being arrested.
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"They were brutally beaten with clubs for no reason," Patel said in a statement. "Our reporters have covered more protests and riots than anyone else in America. With the exception of Louisville, and now Wauwatosa, the police have understood that we have a job to do and let us do it."
Wauwatosa police fired tear gas Friday and arrested 28 people in a crowd of approximately 100 people, including small children, and 20 vehicles, another Facebook post shows.
Two of the arrests were felony arrests, one was a misdemeanor, and 25 were municipal arrests, according to the post. Paramedics evaluated two of the people arrested for minor injuries.
"Law enforcement personnel recovered a handgun, materials to start fires, and a stolen vehicle," police said.
Police authorized the use of tear gas and munitions such as pepper balls and paint balls in self-defense at 8:06 p.m. Friday, after the department said members of a group threw rocks and bottles at law enforcement.
"We can appreciate the anger and frustration that exists among those closely affected by recent events," the police department post said, adding that all citizens should comply with the curfew.
"Our goal is voluntary compliance," with the curfew, Police Chief Barry Weber said in a video message.
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The unrest began Wednesday after Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm announced that Wauwatosa Police Officer Joseph Mensah would face no charges in the incident on February 2 where Cole was fatally shot after police responded to a disturbance call at the Wauwatosa mall, CNN reported.
"In this case, there is sufficient evidence that Officer Mensah had an actual subjective belief that deadly force was necessary and that belief was objectively reasonable," Chisholm wrote in a letter Wednesday to the police chief, which includes a link to a YouTube video on the incident.
The City of Wauwatosa issued a curfew between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. shortly after Chisholm's announcement in preparations for protests and other restrictions, such as banning overnight parking of vehicles.
Tracy Cole was arrested during a crackdown after a tense Wednesday night protest where police said protesters broke windows and threw rocks before officers fired tear gas on the crowd.
Police said that first responders took Tracy Cole to the hospital after her arrest with injuries to her forehead and arm, according to her attorney Motley. Tracy Cole's daughters, Teleavia and Tristiana Cole were also taken into custody Thursday night, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.
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By Thursday, the National Guard had joined police in monitoring the protests.
"We've always maintained that Officer Joseph Mensah should be held accountable for his actions, and unfortunately today, we disagree with Chisholm's assessment of what he saw," Kim Motley, an attorney for Cole's family, told CNN.
Motely said she represents Cole's family and the families of two other people killed by Mensah.
"He is still getting paid. He's suspended with pay, and he needs to be removed as an officer immediately," she said Wednesday.
Earlier on Wednesday, a former U.S. attorney that the Wauwatosa Police and Fire Commission hired as an independent investigator found that Mensah was not fit for duty and recommended his termination in a report that Motley shared with CNN.
"The risk and ensuing consequences to the Wauwatosa Police Department and the City of Wauwatosa of a fourth shooting by this officer are too great for this commission to find otherwise," Steven Biksupic wrote in the report.


upi--2020-10-10--Georgia cold-case homicide identified as victim of serial killer Samuel Little

Oct. 10 ( UPI ) -- A cold-case Georgia homicide of a 30-year-old woman was solved after the confession of prolific serial killer Samuel Little and a DNA match from family members , Georgia investigators announced .
Patricia Parker , whose body was found in Dade County in 1981 , was identified this week as the victim of Little , 70 , who the FBI says has confessed to strangling 90 people to death between 1970 and 2005 .
In 2018 , Little gave the Texas Rangers information about a young , Black woman in Chattanooga , Tenn. , whom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early 1980s , the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said in a release .
Investigators in Hamilton County , Tenn. , contacted Georgia law enforcement in the northwest part of the state that borders the area .
Later that year , from prison in Decatur , Texas , Little provided investigators from Georgia and Tennessee with more details that led them to believe the remains found in Dade County were those of a woman Little had taken in Chattanooga and killed in Georgia , the agency said .
In March , 2019 , investigators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found in Dade County , and Parker 's son came forward , investigators said .
DNA from family members matched Parker 's remains .
The FBI said Little chose for his victims women who were easy targets because they were homeless , drug addicts or prostitutes .
`` All of the unanswered questions now there are answers , '' Mike Mathis , of the Hamilton County Cold Case Unit , told Chatanooga 's WDEF TV station .
`` We know she did n't abandon her family , her family knows she did n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a serial killer .
Did her lifestyle contribute to that ?
Probably .
It still does n't make it right .
She 's still a victim and she still has loved ones , '' Mathis added .

Pamela Parker, age 30, was identified as a Chattanooga, Tenn., woman killed by serial killer Samuel Little in Georgia in 1981. Photo courtesy of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation
Oct. 10 (UPI) -- A cold-case Georgia homicide of a 30-year-old woman was solved after the confession of prolific serial killer Samuel Little and a DNA match from family members, Georgia investigators announced. Patricia Parker, whose body was found in Dade County in 1981, was identified this week as the victim of Little, 70, who the FBI says has confessed to strangling 90 people to death between 1970 and 2005. Advertisement
In 2018, Little gave the Texas Rangers information about a young, Black woman in Chattanooga, Tenn., whom he claimed to have murdered in the early 1980s, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said in a release.
Investigators in Hamilton County, Tenn., contacted Georgia law enforcement in the northwest part of the state that borders the area. Later that year, from prison in Decatur, Texas, Little provided investigators from Georgia and Tennessee with more details that led them to believe the remains found in Dade County were those of a woman Little had taken in Chattanooga and killed in Georgia, the agency said.
In March, 2019, investigators released a forensic reconstruction of the skull found in Dade County, and Parker's son came forward, investigators said. DNA from family members matched Parker's remains.
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The FBI said Little chose for his victims women who were easy targets because they were homeless, drug addicts or prostitutes.
"All of the unanswered questions now there are answers," Mike Mathis, of the Hamilton County Cold Case Unit, told Chatanooga's WDEF TV station. "We know she didn't abandon her family, her family knows she didn't abandon them. She became the victim of a serial killer. Did her lifestyle contribute to that? Probably. It still doesn't make it right. She's still a victim and she still has loved ones," Mathis added.


upi--2020-10-10--Delta: Power outages, flash floods plague Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi

Oct. 10 ( UPI ) -- Tropical Depression Delta drenched southwestern Louisiana with nearly a foot and a half of rainfall causing flash floods and heavy winds that cut power to hundreds of thousands Saturday .
At 4 p.m. the National Hurricane Center had downgraded the Category 2 hurricane to a tropical storm with 30 mph .
winds moving about 12 miles per hour about 80 miles west-southwest of Tupelo , Miss .
River flooding is expected to continue through much of next week across the Calcasieu and Vermilion river basins in Louisiana , the weather agency said .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parts of Alabama , the Florida Panhandle , and western Georgia through early tonight , the agency said .
Heavy rains seeped into homes and stranded cars in the Lake Charles metropolitan area , including the towns of Iowa and Sulphur in Calcasieu Parish , and as far north as Alexandria , resulting in numerous reports of flash flooding in the region , NOLA reported .
More than 17 inches of rain fell in Iowa , and by 9:30 p.m. Friday , Lake Charles also saw more than 16 inches of rainfall .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Category 4 Hurricane Laura , which made landfall six weeks ago , less than 12 miles west of where Delta came ashore .
Delta , which made landfall Friday with 100 mph winds , began to lose strength as it moved inland .
During the evening , gusts of wind knocked out power across the western half of the state 's coastline as power poles and trees fell .
Statewide , 595,963 customers reported outages , including over 75,000 outages in Calcasieu Parish alone , according to poweroutage.us .
As the storm moved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also cut in Texas and Mississippi .
In Texas , there were 104,389 power outages , and in Mississippi there were 80,319 power outages .

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Tropical Depression Delta could cause flooding and tornadoes the National Hurricane Center said Saturday. Photo courtesy of the National Hurricane Center
Oct. 10 (UPI) -- Tropical Depression Delta drenched southwestern Louisiana with nearly a foot and a half of rainfall causing flash floods and heavy winds that cut power to hundreds of thousands Saturday. At 4 p.m. the National Hurricane Center had downgraded the Category 2 hurricane to a tropical storm with 30 mph. winds moving about 12 miles per hour about 80 miles west-southwest of Tupelo, Miss. Advertisement
River flooding is expected to continue through much of next week across the Calcasieu and Vermilion river basins in Louisiana, the weather agency said.
The storm may also lead to tornadoes across parts of Alabama, the Florida Panhandle, and western Georgia through early tonight, the agency said.
Heavy rains seeped into homes and stranded cars in the Lake Charles metropolitan area, including the towns of Iowa and Sulphur in Calcasieu Parish, and as far north as Alexandria, resulting in numerous reports of flash flooding in the region, NOLA reported.
More than 17 inches of rain fell in Iowa, and by 9:30 p.m. Friday, Lake Charles also saw more than 16 inches of rainfall.
The area was still recovering from the Category 4 Hurricane Laura, which made landfall six weeks ago, less than 12 miles west of where Delta came ashore.
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Delta, which made landfall Friday with 100 mph winds, began to lose strength as it moved inland.
During the evening, gusts of wind knocked out power across the western half of the state's coastline as power poles and trees fell.
Statewide, 595,963 customers reported outages, including over 75,000 outages in Calcasieu Parish alone, according to poweroutage.us.
As the storm moved further inland Saturday morning, power was also cut in Texas and Mississippi. In Texas, there were 104,389 power outages, and in Mississippi there were 80,319 power outages.


upi--2020-10-10--New Kyrgyzstan prime minister appointed after disputed election, unrest

Oct. 10 ( UPI ) -- Kyrgyz lawmakers on Saturday approved former parliament member Sadyr Japarov , 51 , as prime minister after his supporters sprung him from prison following unrest and a state of emergency caused by a disputed Oct. 4 parliamentary election .
Members who had been elected to the Central Asian country 's 120-member parliament in 2015 voted Saturday as a quorum of 62 at the presidential resident of President Sooronbai Jeenbekov outside of Bishkek .
Jeenbekov said Saturday he would resign once the new parliament is seated .
Jeenbekov declared a state of emergency after newly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forced to resign on Oct. 6 amid demonstrations and violence that injured dozens of people and sent the new president into hiding .
Street violence and widespread resignations began last week after credible accusations of election irregularities and vote buying .
The election was annulled .
Kyrgyzstan 's Central Elections Commission has said that elections for a new parliament must be conducted by Nov.9 .
Clashes broke out on the streets of the capital Bishkek last week between supporters of Japarov and former President and Prime Minister Almazbek Atambaev , who was also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disputed election .
Protesters allegedly shot at Atambaev 's vehicle .
On Friday , Kyrgyz security forces re-arrested Atambaev .
`` [ Japarov 's ] supporters turned out to be the strongest , '' Arkady Dubnov , a Central Asia expert in Moscow , told the New York Times .
Before being sprung by supporters , Japarov was serving an 11.5-year sentence after being convicted in 2013 of kidnapping of a regional governor .
Japarov , elected to parliament in 2005 and 2010 , was a supporter of former President Kurmanbek Bakiev , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2010 .
Japarov and others were accused in 2012 of trying to overthrow the new government and were sentenced to 18 months in prison .
In 2013 , Japarov was convicted of holding hostage a provincial governor at a protest in the town Karakol .
He fled the country to Kazakhstan , but was arrested in 2017 and sentenced to 11 years in prison .
Japarov said Saturday that he supports streamlining Kyrgyzstan 's 16-party parliamentary elections and would retain all government ministers who 've been serving in an acting capacity , @ @ @ @ @ @

Kyrgyzstan ministers elected former parliament member Sadyr Japarov, 51, as prime minister Saturday after a week of protests following a disputed election. File Photo by Igor Kovalenko/EPA-EFE
Oct. 10 (UPI) -- Kyrgyz lawmakers on Saturday approved former parliament member Sadyr Japarov, 51, as prime minister after his supporters sprung him from prison following unrest and a state of emergency caused by a disputed Oct. 4 parliamentary election. Members who had been elected to the Central Asian country's 120-member parliament in 2015 voted Saturday as a quorum of 62 at the presidential resident of President Sooronbai Jeenbekov outside of Bishkek. Jeenbekov said Saturday he would resign once the new parliament is seated. Advertisement
Jeenbekov declared a state of emergency after newly elected prime minister, Kubatbek Boronov was forced to resign on Oct. 6 amid demonstrations and violence that injured dozens of people and sent the new president into hiding.
Street violence and widespread resignations began last week after credible accusations of election irregularities and vote buying. The election was annulled. Kyrgyzstan's Central Elections Commission has said that elections for a new parliament must be conducted by Nov.9.
Clashes broke out on the streets of the capital Bishkek last week between supporters of Japarov and former President and Prime Minister Almazbek Atambaev, who was also freed from prison by supporters after the disputed election. Protesters allegedly shot at Atambaev's vehicle. On Friday, Kyrgyz security forces re-arrested Atambaev.
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"[Japarov's] supporters turned out to be the strongest," Arkady Dubnov, a Central Asia expert in Moscow, told the New York Times.
Before being sprung by supporters, Japarov was serving an 11.5-year sentence after being convicted in 2013 of kidnapping of a regional governor.
Japarov, elected to parliament in 2005 and 2010, was a supporter of former President Kurmanbek Bakiev, who fled the country after mass protests in 2010. Japarov and others were accused in 2012 of trying to overthrow the new government and were sentenced to 18 months in prison.
In 2013, Japarov was convicted of holding hostage a provincial governor at a protest in the town Karakol. He fled the country to Kazakhstan, but was arrested in 2017 and sentenced to 11 years in prison.
Japarov said Saturday that he supports streamlining Kyrgyzstan's 16-party parliamentary elections and would retain all government ministers who've been serving in an acting capacity, Radio Free Europe reported Saturday.


upi--2020-10-10--Trump's post-hospital White House appearance takes on campaign rally themes

Oct. 10 ( UPI ) -- President Donald Trump turned his first post-COVID public appearance into a campaign rally on the White House South Lawn Saturday , nine days after was hospitalized for the coronavirus infection .
Thanking supporters for prayers and well wishes for himself and the first lady , within minutes Trump had referred to his Democratic presidential opponent as `` Sleepy Joe Biden , '' had boasted about the border wall and delivered other material typical of a campaign speech .
`` We got ta vote these people into oblivion .
Into oblivion .
Got ta get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our country , '' the president said .
About 400 people attended the invitation-only event .
Trump called the event a peaceful protest for law and order and blamed the `` radical Socialist Left '' for civil unrest in U.S. cities this summer .
`` Where there is evidence of wrongdoing by police , the criminal justice system must investigate and any perpetrators must be held accountable , '' Trump said .
`` But we must never allow mob rule . ''
Event organizers of Candace Owens 's BLEXIT Foundation paid for travel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they wear matching shirts , ABC reported Saturday .
Attendees were asked to wear masks , but were packed tightly together , not following social distancing guidelines .
Attendees were also scheduled to attend a pro-law enforcement rally in Washington , D.C .
The speech lasted about 18 minutes , much shorter than Trump 's usual campaign rally remarks , which can last more than an hour .
Trump , with flesh-colored bandages visible on his hands , downplayed his time at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and said he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I feel great , '' he said .
`` We are starting very , very big with our rallies and with our everything , '' Trump promised .
The president has rallies planned in Florida , Pennsylvania and Iowa next week .
The speech ended with supporters chanting `` four more years ! ''
and Trump urging them to `` get out and vote -- and I love you . ''
The president has not been seen in public other than in White House-released videos since his release from the hospital five days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say Saturday whether Trump was still potentially contagious from COVID-19 .
The last public event at the White House was the Sept. 26 Rose Garden ceremony to announce Supreme Court Justice candidate Amy Coney Barret 's nomination .
Public health officials determined the gathering of more than 200 people was a `` super-spreader '' event which has been linked to dozens of COVID-19 infections , including those in Trump 's inner circle .
On Saturday , Trump campaign advisor and former New Jersey Gov .
Chris Christie announced he had been released from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Joe Biden 's campaign said Saturday that he had again tested negative for the virus .
Biden 's campaign has been releasing regular updates since Biden appeared on the same Cleveland stage as Trump in a debate on Sept. 29 .

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President Donald Trump, with flesh-colored bandages on his hands, speaks to supporters at the White House Saturday. Trump, making his first public appearance since returning from a three-day hospitalization for Covid-19, is setting the stage for a return to the campaign trail even as questions remain about whether he's still contagious. Photo by Erin Scott/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 10 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump turned his first post-COVID public appearance into a campaign rally on the White House South Lawn on Saturday, nine days after was hospitalized for the coronavirus infection. Hours later the presidents physician, Sean Conley, cleared the president to return to an "active schedule", with as rally planned for Monday in Sanford, Fla., north of Orlando. Advertisement
Thanking supporters for prayers and well wishes for himself and the first lady, within minutes Trump had referred to his Democratic presidential opponent as "Sleepy Joe Biden," had boasted about the border wall and delivered other material typical of a campaign speech.
"We gotta vote these people into oblivion. Into oblivion. Gotta get rid of 'em. So bad for our country," the president said.
About 400 people attended the invitation-only event. Trump called the event a peaceful protest for law and order and blamed the "radical Socialist Left" for civil unrest in U.S. cities this summer.
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"Where there is evidence of wrongdoing by police, the criminal justice system must investigate and any perpetrators must be held accountable," Trump said. "But we must never allow mob rule."
Event organizers of Candace Owens's BLEXIT Foundation paid for travel and lodging of some attendees and demanded that they wear matching shirts, ABC reported Saturday. Attendees were asked to wear masks, but were packed tightly together, not following social distancing guidelines.
Attendees were also scheduled to attend a pro-law enforcement rally in Washington, D.C.
The speech lasted about 18 minutes, much shorter than Trump's usual campaign rally remarks, which can last more than an hour.
On Saturday night, Conley gave an update with the "permission" of Trump.
"This evening I am happy to report that in addition to the President meeting CDC criteria for the safe discontinuation of isolation, this morning's COVID PCR sample demonstrates, by currently recognized standards, he is no longer considered a transmission risk to others. Now at day 10 from symptom onset, fever-free for well over 24 hours and all symptoms improved, the assortment of advanced diagnostic tests obtained reveal there is no longer evidence of actively replicating virus."
"In addition, sequential testing throughout his illness has demonstrated decreasing viral loads that correlate with increasing cycle threshold times, as well as decreasing and now undetectable subgenomic mRNA.
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"Moving forward, I will continue to monitor him clinically as he returns to an active schedule."
The letter did not specifically say Trump has received a negative coronavirus test since first testing positive for the virus on Oct. 1. His last negative test for that date also has not been disclosed.
Trump, with flesh-colored bandages visible on his hands, downplayed his time at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and said he was returning to the campaign trail.
"I feel great," he said. "We are starting very, very big with our rallies and with our everything," Trump promised. The president has rallies planned in Florida, Pennsylvania and Iowa next week.
The speech ended with supporters chanting "four more years!" and Trump urging them to "get out and vote -- and I love you."
The president has not been seen in public other than in White House-released videos since his release from the hospital five days ago. The White House declined to say Saturday whether Trump was still potentially contagious from COVID-19 .
The last public event at the White House was the Sept. 26 Rose Garden ceremony to announce Supreme Court Justice candidate Amy Coney Barret's nomination. Public health officials determined the gathering of more than 200 people was a "super-spreader" event which has been linked to dozens of COVID-19 infections, including those in Trump's inner circle.
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On Saturday, Trump campaign advisor and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie announced he had been released from the hospital following treatment for the coronavirus.
Joe Biden's campaign said Saturday that he had again tested negative for the virus. Biden's campaign has been releasing regular updates since Biden appeared on the same Cleveland stage as Trump in a debate on Sept. 29.


upi--2020-10-10--Judge dismisses Trump suit against Pennsylvania ballot drop boxes

Oct. 10 ( UPI ) -- A federal judge on Saturday dismissed a Trump campaign lawsuit against mail-in voting drop boxes in Pennsylvania .
President Donald Trump 's re-election campaign said the drop boxes for mail-in ballots were unconstitutional and risked voter fraud due to lack of guidance or mandates that they have security guards to man them .
But U.S. District Court Judge Nicholas Ranjan disagreed in a 138-page opinion .
He said the plaintiffs lacked standing to sue because the harm is `` speculative . ''
`` The court finds that the election regulations put in place by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do not significantly burden any right to vote , '' Ranjan wrote .
`` The are rational .
They further important state interests .
They align with the Commonwealth 's elaborate election-security measures .
They do not run afoul of the United States Constitution .
They will not otherwise be second-guessed by this court . ''
In addition to the Trump campaign , the Republican National Committee and several other Republican congressional candidates were named as plaintiffs in the suit , which targeted Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth Kathy Boockvar .
Plaintiffs challenged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reject a mail-in ballot solely on signature analysis and Pennsylvania 's rule that poll watchers be residents of the same county .
`` The court looked and saw the obvious -- there was no fraud and no constitutional case , '' Greenberg said .
`` Time after time the courts are ruling on behalf of voters -- and million of Pennsylvanians are already voting .
Now is the time to end the silly litigation and let voters have their say . ''
`` We disagree with the Western district 's decision on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's team will immediately file an appeal to the Third Circuit to continue our fight to protect every Pennsylvania voter , '' Morgan said .

The Trump campaign challenged the state's decision not to allow poll watchers who live outside the county. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 10 (UPI) -- A federal judge on Saturday dismissed a Trump campaign lawsuit against mail-in voting drop boxes in Pennsylvania. President Donald Trump's re-election campaign said the drop boxes for mail-in ballots were unconstitutional and risked voter fraud due to lack of guidance or mandates that they have security guards to man them. Advertisement
But U.S. District Court Judge Nicholas Ranjan disagreed in a 138-page opinion.
He said the plaintiffs lacked standing to sue because the harm is "speculative."
"The court finds that the election regulations put in place by the General Assembly and implemented by defendants do not significantly burden any right to vote," Ranjan wrote. "The are rational. They further important state interests. They align with the Commonwealth's elaborate election-security measures. They do not run afoul of the United States Constitution. They will not otherwise be second-guessed by this court."
In addition to the Trump campaign, the Republican National Committee and several other Republican congressional candidates were named as plaintiffs in the suit, which targeted Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth Kathy Boockvar.
Plaintiffs challenged Boockvar's guidance to elections boards not to reject a mail-in ballot solely on signature analysis and Pennsylvania's rule that poll watchers be residents of the same county.
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The defendants' lawyer, Kevin Greenberg, lauded the decision.
"The court looked and saw the obvious -- there was no fraud and no constitutional case," Greenberg said. "Time after time the courts are ruling on behalf of voters -- and million of Pennsylvanians are already voting. Now is the time to end the silly litigation and let voters have their say."
Trump 2020 general counsel Matthew Morgan vowed to appeal.
"We disagree with the Western district's decision on unsecure drop boxes, and President Trump's team will immediately file an appeal to the Third Circuit to continue our fight to protect every Pennsylvania voter," Morgan said.


upi--2020-10-10--Armenia, Azerbaijan accuse each other of violations in new cease-fire

Oct. 10 ( UPI ) -- Hours after a cease-fire went into effect , Armenia and Azerbaijan on Saturday accused each other of violating the tenuous agreement to halt fighting .
The Russian-mediated cease-fire was implemented to bring a temporary stop to fighting over control of the Nagorno-Karabakh territory .
The region is administered by ethnic Armenians but is located within Azerbaijan 's borders .
The two countries have disagreed over its control since the Soviet Union dissolved in the early 1990s .
Representatives engaged in talks in Moscow on Friday , agreed to a cease-fire that went into effect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foreign Ministry said the halt of fighting was for humanitarian purposes to allow the two sides to exchange prisoners and bodies of the dead .
Hikmet Hajiyev , the assistant the the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev , said Armenia violated the agreement .
`` Azerbaijan has no claims to the territory of any other state .
The goal is to ensure our territorial integrity .
If Armenia continues its provocations to violate the cease-fire , Azerbaijan must respond , '' he said .
Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan said the talks were `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Azerbaijan of using the cease-fire talks as a cover to get ready for new attack .
The two countries have been involved in intense fighting since Sept. 27 .
Armenia is calling for the Nagorno-Karabakh territory to be recognized internationally as an independent state .
But Azerbaijan says it wants to seize more land .
More than 300 people have died in the fighting and thousands displaced .

A temporary cease-fire went into effect at 4 a.m. Saturday. Photo courtesy of the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry/EPA-EFE
Oct. 10 (UPI) -- Hours after a cease-fire went into effect, Armenia and Azerbaijan on Saturday accused each other of violating the tenuous agreement to halt fighting. The Russian-mediated cease-fire was implemented to bring a temporary stop to fighting over control of the Nagorno-Karabakh territory. The region is administered by ethnic Armenians but is located within Azerbaijan's borders. The two countries have disagreed over its control since the Soviet Union dissolved in the early 1990s. Advertisement
Representatives engaged in talks in Moscow on Friday, agreed to a cease-fire that went into effect at 4 a.m. Saturday. The Russian Foreign Ministry said the halt of fighting was for humanitarian purposes to allow the two sides to exchange prisoners and bodies of the dead.
Hikmet Hajiyev, the assistant the the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, said Armenia violated the agreement.
"Azerbaijan has no claims to the territory of any other state. The goal is to ensure our territorial integrity. If Armenia continues its provocations to violate the cease-fire, Azerbaijan must respond," he said.
Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan said the talks were "rather difficult." Karabakh officials accused Azerbaijan of using the cease-fire talks as a cover to get ready for new attack.
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The two countries have been involved in intense fighting since Sept. 27. Armenia is calling for the Nagorno-Karabakh territory to be recognized internationally as an independent state. But Azerbaijan says it wants to seize more land.
More than 300 people have died in the fighting and thousands displaced.


upi--2020-10-10--Jury indicts 'Tiger King' star 'Doc' Antle for animal cruelty

Oct. 10 ( UPI ) -- A grand jury has charged Tiger King star Bhagavan `` Doc '' Antle with animal cruelty and wildlife trafficking in Virginia .
Antle , who is also an owner of Myrtle Beach Safari and founder and director of The Institute for Greatly Endangered and Rare Species , is accused of trafficking lion clubs between Virginia and South Carolina .
A grand jury in Frederick County charged Antle with one felony count of wildlife trafficking , one felony count of conspiracy to wildlife traffic , four misdemeanor counts of conspiracy to violate the Endangered Species @ @ @ @ @ @ @ animal cruelty , Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring announced Friday .
Herring investigated for months the relationship between Antle and Keith Wilson , the owner of Wilson 's Wild Animal Park , a `` roadside zoo , '' in Frederick County , and found that both men trafficked lion cubs between Virginia and South Carolina .
Wilson has been charged with one felony count of wildlife trafficking , one felony count of conspiracy to wildlife traffic , four misdemeanor counts of violating the Endangered Species Act , four misdemeanor counts of conspiracy to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nine misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty .
Two of Antle 's daughters have also been charged .
Tawny Antle has been charged with one misdemeanor count of cruelty to animals and one misdemeanor count of violating the Endangered Species Act .
Tilakum Watterson , has been charged with two misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals and two misdemeanor counts of violating the Endangered Species Act .
In November , Herring announced that the grand jury in Frederick County indicted both Wilson and his nephew Christian Dall'Acqua on 46 counts of animal cruelty .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ nephew 's case has been set for June 21-25 .
In August 2019 , Herring 's Animal Law Unit secured custody of 119 exotic animals after a judge issued an order that found that `` roadside zoo '' owner Wilson `` cruelly treated , neglected , or deprived the animal [ s ] of adequate care . ''
Antle has violations dating back to 1989 when the U.S. Department of Agriculture fined him for abandoning deer and peacocks at his zoo in Virginia .
He has racked up more than 35 USDA violations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Post and Courier reported .
He rebuffed fallout from being on the Netflix ' series Tiger King : Murder , Mayhem and Madness , along with central character , Joseph Allen Maldonado-Passage , better known as Joe Exotic , a zoo operator and convicted felon , and accusations that he mistreated animals , according to the daily newspaper .
`` That 's not a documentary , '' Antle told The Post and Courier in March .

Doc Antle is shown with a tiger at Myrtle Beach Safari. File Photo by ZooFriend/Wikimedia Commons
Oct. 10 (UPI) -- A grand jury has charged Tiger King star Bhagavan "Doc" Antle with animal cruelty and wildlife trafficking in Virginia. Antle, who is also an owner of Myrtle Beach Safari and founder and director of The Institute for Greatly Endangered and Rare Species, is accused of trafficking lion clubs between Virginia and South Carolina. Advertisement
A grand jury in Frederick County charged Antle with one felony count of wildlife trafficking, one felony count of conspiracy to wildlife traffic, four misdemeanor counts of conspiracy to violate the Endangered Species Act, and nine misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty, Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring announced Friday.
Herring investigated for months the relationship between Antle and Keith Wilson, the owner of Wilson's Wild Animal Park, a "roadside zoo," in Frederick County, and found that both men trafficked lion cubs between Virginia and South Carolina.
Wilson has been charged with one felony count of wildlife trafficking, one felony count of conspiracy to wildlife traffic, four misdemeanor counts of violating the Endangered Species Act, four misdemeanor counts of conspiracy to violate the Endangered Species Act, and nine misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty.
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Two of Antle's daughters have also been charged. Tawny Antle has been charged with one misdemeanor count of cruelty to animals and one misdemeanor count of violating the Endangered Species Act. Tilakum Watterson, has been charged with two misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals and two misdemeanor counts of violating the Endangered Species Act.
In November, Herring announced that the grand jury in Frederick County indicted both Wilson and his nephew Christian Dall'Acqua on 46 counts of animal cruelty.
The trial date for Wilson and his nephew's case has been set for June 21-25.
In August 2019, Herring's Animal Law Unit secured custody of 119 exotic animals after a judge issued an order that found that "roadside zoo" owner Wilson "cruelly treated, neglected, or deprived the animal[s] of adequate care."
Antle has violations dating back to 1989 when the U.S. Department of Agriculture fined him for abandoning deer and peacocks at his zoo in Virginia. He has racked up more than 35 USDA violations over the years for mistreating animals, The Post and Courier reported.
He rebuffed fallout from being on the Netflix' series Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness, along with central character, Joseph Allen Maldonado-Passage, better known as Joe Exotic, a zoo operator and convicted felon, and accusations that he mistreated animals, according to the daily newspaper.
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"That's not a documentary," Antle told The Post and Courier in March.


upi--2020-10-10--Federal judge allows Dylann Roof gun purchase case to proceed

Oct. 10 ( UPI ) -- A federal judge has given the green light to a pair of lawsuits saying shooter Dylann Roof was illegally allowed to purchase the gun he used in the shooting at Charleston , S.C. 's Emanuel AME Church in 2015 .
Judge Margaret Seymour ruled Friday that a federal agent failed to follow the agency 's background check rules under the Brady Act , which denies gun purchases by someone with a felony .
Roof was arrested for a felony drug offense a few months before he purchased the gun he used to kill nine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 17 , 2015 .
Roof entered a Bible study class at the church and opened fire , killing the Rev .
Clementa Pinckney , 41 ; Myra Thompson , 59 ; Sharonda Coleman-Singleton , 45 ; the Rev .
Depayne Middleton-Doctor , 49 ; Cynthia Hurd , 54 ; the Rev .
Daniel Simmons , 74 ; Ethel Lance , 70 ; Susan Jackson , 87 ; and Tywanza Sanders , 26 .
The U.S. government asked the judge to dismiss the case , arguing that it did not have a `` duty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' However , plaintiffs cited exceptions to this rule in instances when `` the defendant negligently or intentionally creates the risk . ''
`` Thus , according to plaintiff 's , defendant 's failure to exercise due care increased the risk that Roof would obtain a weapon he was not legally entitled to own and use the weapon to perpetrate the murders at Emanuel AME Church , '' the judge said in the ruling .
`` The court finds that plaintiffs have stated a plausible claim for relief so as to survive defendant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issue . ''
Daniel Simmons , Jr. , son of the late Rev .
Simmons ; and Felicia Sanders , a survivor of the shooting , who lost her son , Tywanza , and her aunt , Susan Jackson , brought the complaint .
Roof , now age 26 , was indicted in July 2015 on 33 federal charges , including hate crime charges , for the racially motivated shooting .
In January 2017 , jurors sentenced Roof , who publicly admitted to killing nine people , to death .
He is currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Terre Haute , Ind .
His legal team is appealing his conviction and sentence .

Felicia Sanders and Polly Sheppard, who survived the 2015 Charleston church shooting are shown. On Friday, a federal judge said plaintiffs' case against a failed background check on the shooter could proceed. File Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 10 (UPI) -- A federal judge has given the green light to a pair of lawsuits saying shooter Dylann Roof was illegally allowed to purchase the gun he used in the shooting at Charleston, S.C.'s Emanuel AME Church in 2015. Judge Margaret Seymour ruled Friday that a federal agent failed to follow the agency's background check rules under the Brady Act, which denies gun purchases by someone with a felony. Roof was arrested for a felony drug offense a few months before he purchased the gun he used to kill nine people at the Black church on June 17, 2015. Advertisement
Roof entered a Bible study class at the church and opened fire, killing the Rev. Clementa Pinckney, 41; Myra Thompson, 59; Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, 45; the Rev. Depayne Middleton-Doctor, 49; Cynthia Hurd, 54; the Rev. Daniel Simmons, 74; Ethel Lance, 70; Susan Jackson, 87; and Tywanza Sanders, 26.
The U.S. government asked the judge to dismiss the case, arguing that it did not have a "duty to control the conduct of another." However, plaintiffs cited exceptions to this rule in instances when "the defendant negligently or intentionally creates the risk."
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"Thus, according to plaintiff's, defendant's failure to exercise due care increased the risk that Roof would obtain a weapon he was not legally entitled to own and use the weapon to perpetrate the murders at Emanuel AME Church," the judge said in the ruling. "The court finds that plaintiffs have stated a plausible claim for relief so as to survive defendant's motion to dismiss as to this issue."
Daniel Simmons, Jr., son of the late Rev. Simmons; and Felicia Sanders, a survivor of the shooting, who lost her son, Tywanza, and her aunt, Susan Jackson, brought the complaint.
Roof, now age 26, was indicted in July 2015 on 33 federal charges, including hate crime charges, for the racially motivated shooting. In January 2017, jurors sentenced Roof, who publicly admitted to killing nine people, to death. He is currently on death row at the U.S. Penitentiary at Terre Haute, Ind. His legal team is appealing his conviction and sentence.


upi--2020-10-10--Iga Swiatek beats American Sofia Kenin in French Open final

Oct. 10 ( UPI ) -- Poland 's Iga Swiatek denied American Sofia Kenin of her second Grand Slam victory of 2020 with a straight-sets triumph in the French Open final Saturday in Paris .
Swiatek , 19 , won the 84-minute match 6-4 , 6-1 for her country 's first major tennis title .
She had three aces , 25 winners and 17 unforced errors in the victory .
Kenin , 21 , had three aces , 10 winners and 23 errors .
`` I 'm so happy that my family was here , finally .
It 's crazy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Swiatek said after her win .
Swiatek sprinted out to a 3-0 lead in the first set before Kenin won the fourth game of the match .
Kenin went on to tie the set at 3-3 before Swiatek won the seventh and eighth games .
Kenin broke Swiatek to win the ninth game .
Swiatek broke Kenin for the final point of the first set .
Kenin broke Swiatek to win the first game of the second set .
Swiatek responded by winning the next six games to win the match .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Swiatek -- ranked No .
54 -- is the lowest-ranked women 's player to win the French Open since rankings began in 1975 .
She claimed a $ 1.9 million prize for her victory .
She lost just 28 games in seven matches and never lost a set during her run at Roland Garros .
Swiatek beat Marketa Vondrousova on Sep. 28 in the first round of the Grand Slam .
She then beat Hsieh Su-wei and Eugenie Bouchard before she knocked off No .
1 seed Simona Halep in the fourth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the quarterfinals and defeated Nadia Podoroska in the semifinals .
Kenin -- the No .
4 seed -- began the tournament with a win over Ludmilla Samsonova .
She then beat Ana Bogdan and Irina Bara before her win over France 's Fiona Ferro in the fourth round .
Kenin beat fellow American Danielle Collins in the quarterfinals before she beat No .
7 Petra Kvitova in the semifinals to advance to the final match with her unranked foe .
No .
1 Novak Djokovic battles No .
2 Rafael Nadal in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 9 a.m. EDT on Sunday at Roland Garros .
Nadal , 34 , will attempt to win a record-extending 13th title on the clay courts .
Djokovic , 33 , will attempt to win his second French Open crown .
`` It 's crazy for me because I was watching every year how Rafa lifts the trophy , '' Swiatek said .
`` It 's crazy that I 'm in the same place , but I want to thank all the fans and the people who are watching in Poland .
I know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ''

Iga Swiatek became Poland's first Grand Slam winner with her victory at the 2020 French Open on Saturday in Paris. Photo by Ian Langsdon/EPA-EFE
Oct. 10 (UPI) -- Poland's Iga Swiatek denied American Sofia Kenin of her second Grand Slam victory of 2020 with a straight-sets triumph in the French Open final Saturday in Paris. Swiatek, 19, won the 84-minute match 6-4, 6-1 for her country's first major tennis title. She had three aces, 25 winners and 17 unforced errors in the victory. Kenin, 21, had three aces, 10 winners and 23 errors. Advertisement
"I'm so happy that my family was here, finally. It's crazy. I'm just overwhelmed," Swiatek said after her win.
Swiatek sprinted out to a 3-0 lead in the first set before Kenin won the fourth game of the match. Kenin went on to tie the set at 3-3 before Swiatek won the seventh and eighth games. Kenin broke Swiatek to win the ninth game. Swiatek broke Kenin for the final point of the first set.
Kenin broke Swiatek to win the first game of the second set. Swiatek responded by winning the next six games to win the match. She won three break points down the stretch.
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Swiatek -- ranked No. 54 -- is the lowest-ranked women's player to win the French Open since rankings began in 1975. She claimed a $1.9 million prize for her victory.
She lost just 28 games in seven matches and never lost a set during her run at Roland Garros.
Swiatek beat Marketa Vondrousova on Sep. 28 in the first round of the Grand Slam. She then beat Hsieh Su-wei and Eugenie Bouchard before she knocked off No. 1 seed Simona Halep in the fourth round. Swiatek beat Martina Trevisan in the quarterfinals and defeated Nadia Podoroska in the semifinals.
Kenin -- the No. 4 seed -- began the tournament with a win over Ludmilla Samsonova. She then beat Ana Bogdan and Irina Bara before her win over France's Fiona Ferro in the fourth round.
Kenin beat fellow American Danielle Collins in the quarterfinals before she beat No. 7 Petra Kvitova in the semifinals to advance to the final match with her unranked foe.
No. 1 Novak Djokovic battles No. 2 Rafael Nadal in the French Open men's singles final at 9 a.m. EDT on Sunday at Roland Garros.
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Nadal, 34, will attempt to win a record-extending 13th title on the clay courts. Djokovic, 33, will attempt to win his second French Open crown.
"It's crazy for me because I was watching every year how Rafa lifts the trophy," Swiatek said. "It's crazy that I'm in the same place, but I want to thank all the fans and the people who are watching in Poland. I know it's pretty crazy back home."


upi--2020-10-10--Chris Christie released from hospital after COVID-19 treatment

Oct. 10 ( UPI ) -- Former New Jersey Gov .
Chris Christie announced Saturday that doctors discharged him after a weeklong hospitalization for COVID-19 treatment .
Christie did n't offer any details about his health in his tweet announcing his release .
`` I am happy to let you know that this morning I was released from Morristown Medical Center , '' he said .
`` I want to thank the extraordinary doctors & nurses who cared for me for the last week .
Thanks to my family & friends for their prayers .
I will have more to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Christie announced his hospitalization Oct. 3 , the same day he learned about his coronavirus diagnosis .
It 's unknown where , exactly , he picked up the virus , but he 's one of several officials sickened in an outbreak linked to the White House .
He , along with former counselor Kellyanne Conway , and campaign manager Bill Stepien , helped President Donald Trump prepare for his first debate with Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden , which was held Sept. 29 .
All four tested positive for the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also was hospitalized for three days at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center last weekend .
He and his doctor said he 's feeling better and he expects to resume public events later Saturday , with a speech to supporters at the White House .

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie listens as President Donald Trump holds a news briefing at the White House on September 27 in Washington, D.C. He tested positive for coronavirus less than one week later. Pool photo by Chris Kleponis/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 10 (UPI) -- Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie announced Saturday that doctors discharged him after a weeklong hospitalization for COVID-19 treatment. Christie didn't offer any details about his health in his tweet announcing his release. Advertisement
"I am happy to let you know that this morning I was released from Morristown Medical Center," he said. "I want to thank the extraordinary doctors & nurses who cared for me for the last week. Thanks to my family & friends for their prayers. I will have more to say about all of this next week."
Christie announced his hospitalization Oct. 3, the same day he learned about his coronavirus diagnosis.
It's unknown where, exactly, he picked up the virus, but he's one of several officials sickened in an outbreak linked to the White House.
He, along with former counselor Kellyanne Conway, and campaign manager Bill Stepien, helped President Donald Trump prepare for his first debate with Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, which was held Sept. 29. All four tested positive for the virus less than one week later.
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Trump also was hospitalized for three days at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center last weekend. He and his doctor said he's feeling better and he expects to resume public events later Saturday, with a speech to supporters at the White House.
Scenes from the White House as coronavirus hot spot


upi--2020-10-10--Delta weakens to tropical depression, moves into Mississippi

Oct. 9 ( UPI ) -- Delta weakened to a tropical depression as it pushed into Mississippi on Saturday , forecasters said .
In its 10 a.m. CDT update , the National Hurricane Center said the hurricane had 35 mph maximum sustained winds .
The eye was located 65 miles north-northwest of Jackson , Miss.
, and was moving northeast at 16 mph .
The eye of the storm was close to Mississippi 's border with Louisiana and Arkansas .
`` On the forecast track , the center of Delta should move across western and northern Mississippi today and into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' the NHC said in its advisory .
It 's expected to remain a depression through Monday morning , when it 'll be situated over Ohio .
Delta had previously been projected to make landfall somewhere between far eastern Texas and western Mississippi , a region that has been threatened twice this year by hurricanes -- Laura and Sally , both in September .
The track narrowed late Thursday and early Friday as Delta neared the U.S. Gulf Coast .
The storm made landfall in Creole , La.
, around 6 p.m. Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hurricane on Monday before gradually weakening .
On Tuesday , its intensification was the most extreme in 15 years for an October hurricane .
Delta also set a speed record for strengthening from a depression to a Category 4 hurricane , just over 36 hours , surpassing Keith from 2000 -- and strengthened into the second-most intense hurricane of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season on Tuesday .
The only storm to become stronger this season was Hurricane Laura , which packed peak winds of 150 mph .

Delta was expected to remain a tropical depression through Monday morning. Photo courtesy of NOAA
Oct. 9 (UPI) -- Delta weakened to a tropical depression as it pushed into Mississippi on Saturday, forecasters said. In its 10 a.m. CDT update, the National Hurricane Center said the hurricane had 35 mph maximum sustained winds. The eye was located 65 miles north-northwest of Jackson, Miss., and was moving northeast at 16 mph. Advertisement
The eye of the storm was close to Mississippi's border with Louisiana and Arkansas.
"On the forecast track, the center of Delta should move across western and northern Mississippi today and into the Tennessee Valley tonight and Sunday," the NHC said in its advisory.
It's expected to remain a depression through Monday morning, when it'll be situated over Ohio.
Delta had previously been projected to make landfall somewhere between far eastern Texas and western Mississippi, a region that has been threatened twice this year by hurricanes -- Laura and Sally, both in September.
The track narrowed late Thursday and early Friday as Delta neared the U.S. Gulf Coast. The storm made landfall in Creole, La., around 6 p.m. Friday.
Delta exploded into a Category 4 hurricane on Monday before gradually weakening. On Tuesday, its intensification was the most extreme in 15 years for an October hurricane.
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Delta also set a speed record for strengthening from a depression to a Category 4 hurricane, just over 36 hours, surpassing Keith from 2000 -- and strengthened into the second-most intense hurricane of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season on Tuesday. The only storm to become stronger this season was Hurricane Laura, which packed peak winds of 150 mph.


upi--2020-10-10--Watch: Survivors reorganize in new trailer for 'The Stand'

Oct. 10 ( UPI ) -- CBS All Access released a 2-minute trailer for its upcoming miniseries remake of Stephen King 's The Stand .
The program is to debut on CBS All Access on Dec. 17 .
It stars Whoopi Goldberg , Alexander Skarsgård , James Marsden , Amber Heard and Odessa Young .
`` The world is now a blank page .
Make your stand , '' Goldberg 's leader Mother Abagail can be heard saying in Friday 's preview , which offers a glimpse at a post-apocalyptic world where most of humanity has been wiped out by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Three Little Birds '' -- with its reassuring lyrics , `` Do n't worry about a thing cause every little thing 's gon na be alright '' -- plays in the background of the clip .
Marsden 's Stu is seen addressing a group of survivors about Mother Abagail 's intentions .
`` She brought us altogether to keep us safe in these uncertain times , '' he tells his audience .
`` Mother Abagail told us that there are two sides to the world .
There is the good and then there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Young 's Frannie said .
King 's novel was previously adapted as a 1994 miniseries starring Gary SInise , Ruby Dee , Rob Lowe and Molly Ringwald .

1/3
A new trailer for Whoopi Goldberg's "The Stand" has been released. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 10 (UPI) -- CBS All Access released a 2-minute trailer for its upcoming miniseries remake of Stephen King's The Stand. The program is to debut on CBS All Access on Dec. 17. It stars Whoopi Goldberg, Alexander Skarsgård, James Marsden, Amber Heard and Odessa Young. Advertisement
"The world is now a blank page. Make your stand," Goldberg's leader Mother Abagail can be heard saying in Friday's preview, which offers a glimpse at a post-apocalyptic world where most of humanity has been wiped out by a virus.
Bob Marley's "Three Little Birds" -- with its reassuring lyrics, "Don't worry about a thing cause every little thing's gonna be alright" -- plays in the background of the clip.
Marsden's Stu is seen addressing a group of survivors about Mother Abagail's intentions.
"She brought us altogether to keep us safe in these uncertain times," he tells his audience.
"Mother Abagail told us that there are two sides to the world. There is the good and then there is a deep well of darkness," Young's Frannie said.
King's novel was previously adapted as a 1994 miniseries starring Gary SInise, Ruby Dee, Rob Lowe and Molly Ringwald.


upi--2020-10-10--FDA issues warning to companies selling fake herbal COVID-19 remedies

Oct. 10 ( UPI ) -- The Food and Drug Administration has issued warning letters to two companies selling fraudulent @ @ @ @ @ FDA identified one of the companies making fraudulent products in a statement Friday as California-based @ @ @ @ @ sells herbal tincture products in the United States with misleading claims that the product can @ @ @ @ @ , diagnose or cure people with COVID-19 .
Colorado-based Prairie Dawn Herbs , sells herbal @ @ @ @ @ , the FDA said .
Currently , there are no FDA-approved products to prevent or @ @ @ @ @ urged consumers with concerns about COVID-19 to consult their healthcare provider .
It warned the @ @ @ @ @ cease sale of their fraudulent products could result in legal action .

A pedestrian wears a face mask and helmet when crossing the street with a view of One World Trade Center in New York City on Monday. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 10 (UPI) -- The Food and Drug Administration has issued warning letters to two companies selling fraudulent herbal COVID-19 remedies. The FDA identified one of the companies making fraudulent products in a statement Friday as California-based Griffo Botanicals. The company sells herbal tincture products in the United States with misleading claims that the product can mitigate, prevent, treat, diagnose or cure people with COVID-19. Advertisement
Colorado-based Prairie Dawn Herbs, sells herbal products with similar misleading claims, the FDA said.
Currently, there are no FDA-approved products to prevent or treat COVID-19.
The FDA urged consumers with concerns about COVID-19 to consult their healthcare provider. It warned the two companies that failure to cease sale of their fraudulent products could result in legal action.


upi--2020-10-10--Russia sees highest growth rate in COVID-19 since pandemic began

Oct. 10 ( UPI ) -- Russia 's anti-coronavirus crisis center on Saturday reported the country 's highest daily case growth rate since the COVID-19 pandemic began .
The number of cases grew by 12,846 in the past 24 hours , according to the agency , marking the highest growth rate in the country since the start of the pandemic , Russia 's state-run news agency , Tass , reported .
Saturday also marked the second-consecutive day that Russia set a new high in daily numbers .
On Friday , Russia reported 12,126 new cases of COVID-19 .
With over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ growth rate is at 1 % , the crisis center reported .
Russia reported 197 new deaths from the coronavirus Saturday , raising the total deaths to 22,454 with a mortality rate of 1.75 % , according to the latest data .
The country is n't alone in the trend of increasing cases in recent weeks .
The world set a record for the number of new daily COVID-19 cases , with more than 350,000 , the World Health Organization said Friday .
Europe is reporting more daily infections than the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three countries with the highest total number of cases worldwide for months .
According to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control , the Czech Republic is the worst-hit country per capita in Europe .
The Czech Republic reported a rise of 8,618 new cases Friday , according to the ministry of health , which was 3,224 more than the daily cases reported for Thursday .
Throughout the past week , a total of 31,321 new cases were reported .
The country has 109,374 cases and 905 deaths since the pandemic began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tracker of COVID-19 .
Germany reported a rise in COVID-19 cases Saturday with 4,721 new cases , bringing the country 's total number of cases to 320,899 , and more than 15 new deaths , bringing total deaths to 9,609 , according to the global tracker .
France reported its highest daily total since the pandemic began at 20,339 new cases Friday .
The rise in cases in Northern France in particular is prompting health officials to urge hospitals in the city of Lille to cancel surgeries unrelated to COVID-19 .
The incidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 100,000 inhabitants , data shows .
The rate among people over 65 years of age , who are more at risk for severe complications , is 273 for every 100,000 people .
Officials in Lille closed bars from Saturday for at least two weeks .
France has reported 732,434 cases and 32,601 deaths since the pandemic began , according to the global tracker of COVID-19 cases and deaths .
In Britain , Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that he will announce new COVID-19 restrictions Monday to curb a rise in cases .
Though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday was lower than the previous daily count , there has been a sharp rise in cases in recent weeks .
Pubs and restaurants will be closed in parts of Britain under the new restrictions .
The country has reported over 578,300 cases and 42,769 deaths since the pandemic began , according to the global tracker .
In Spain , the government has declared a state of emergency in the Madrid region , which limits freedom to travel outside Madrid and eight other nearby cities showing a rise in infection .
It bars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limits gatherings , including outdoor , to six people .
Spain has reported 861,112 cases and 32,929 deaths from COVID-19 , according to the global tracker .
The United States has the most COVID-19 cases at over 7.6 million and the highest number of COVID-19 deaths at over 213,800 , the same global tracker shows .
India has the second-highest number of cases at over 6.9 million and the third-highest number of deaths at over 107,400 .
Brazil has the third-highest number of cases at over 5 million and the second-highest number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infected 36.9 million people worldwide and killed over 1 million people .

A medical specialist escorts a patient with COVID-19 Friday to a hospital complex in Russia. Photo by Maxim Shipenkov/EPA-EFE
Oct. 10 (UPI) -- Russia's anti-coronavirus crisis center on Saturday reported the country's highest daily case growth rate since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The number of cases grew by 12,846 in the past 24 hours, according to the agency, marking the highest growth rate in the country since the start of the pandemic, Russia's state-run news agency, Tass, reported. Advertisement
Saturday also marked the second-consecutive day that Russia set a new high in daily numbers. On Friday, Russia reported 12,126 new cases of COVID-19.
With over 1.28 million total COVID-19 infections, the growth rate is at 1%, the crisis center reported.
Russia reported 197 new deaths from the coronavirus Saturday, raising the total deaths to 22,454 with a mortality rate of 1.75%, according to the latest data.
The country isn't alone in the trend of increasing cases in recent weeks.
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The world set a record for the number of new daily COVID-19 cases, with more than 350,000, the World Health Organization said Friday.
Europe is reporting more daily infections than the United States, Brazil, and India, the three countries with the highest total number of cases worldwide for months.
According to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, the Czech Republic is the worst-hit country per capita in Europe.
The Czech Republic reported a rise of 8,618 new cases Friday, according to the ministry of health, which was 3,224 more than the daily cases reported for Thursday. Throughout the past week, a total of 31,321 new cases were reported.
The country has 109,374 cases and 905 deaths since the pandemic began, according to Johns Hopkins University global tracker of COVID-19.
Germany reported a rise in COVID-19 cases Saturday with 4,721 new cases, bringing the country's total number of cases to 320,899, and more than 15 new deaths, bringing total deaths to 9,609, according to the global tracker.
France reported its highest daily total since the pandemic began at 20,339 new cases Friday.
The rise in cases in Northern France in particular is prompting health officials to urge hospitals in the city of Lille to cancel surgeries unrelated to COVID-19.
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The incidence rate in Lille is 308 for every 100,000 inhabitants, data shows. The rate among people over 65 years of age, who are more at risk for severe complications, is 273 for every 100,000 people.
Officials in Lille closed bars from Saturday for at least two weeks.
France has reported 732,434 cases and 32,601 deaths since the pandemic began, according to the global tracker of COVID-19 cases and deaths.
In Britain, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that he will announce new COVID-19 restrictions Monday to curb a rise in cases. Though the 13,864 new cases that Britain reported Friday was lower than the previous daily count, there has been a sharp rise in cases in recent weeks.
Pubs and restaurants will be closed in parts of Britain under the new restrictions.
The country has reported over 578,300 cases and 42,769 deaths since the pandemic began, according to the global tracker.
In Spain, the government has declared a state of emergency in the Madrid region, which limits freedom to travel outside Madrid and eight other nearby cities showing a rise in infection. It bars people from leaving these nine cities and limits gatherings, including outdoor, to six people.
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Spain has reported 861,112 cases and 32,929 deaths from COVID-19, according to the global tracker.
The United States has the most COVID-19 cases at over 7.6 million and the highest number of COVID-19 deaths at over 213,800, the same global tracker shows. India has the second-highest number of cases at over 6.9 million and the third-highest number of deaths at over 107,400. Brazil has the third-highest number of cases at over 5 million and the second-highest number of deaths at over 149,600.
COVID-19 has infected 36.9 million people worldwide and killed over 1 million people.
World moves to reopen amid COVID-19 pandemic


upi--2020-10-10--HBO Max will be U.S. streaming home to Billie Piper's 'I Hate Suzie'

Oct. 10 ( UPI ) -- HBO Max said it will be the exclusive U.S. streaming home of Billie Piper @ @ @ @ @ Hate Suzie .
Piper , who co-created the show , is known for her performances @ @ @ @ @ Diary of a Call Girl , Penny Dreadful and Collateral .
`` I Hate Suzie @ @ @ @ @ , original dramedy about the moment in life when the mask slips , asking if @ @ @ @ @ being well and truly 'known , ' '' a news release said Friday .
`` @ @ @ @ @ , has her life upended when she is hacked and pictures of her emerge in @ @ @ @ @ '' The show aired during the summer on Sky in Britain .
The cast also @ @ @ @ @ Ings and Nathaniel Martello-White .

Billie Piper's "I Hate Suzie" will stream in the United States on HBO Max. File Photo by Paul Treadway/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 10 (UPI) -- HBO Max said it will be the exclusive U.S. streaming home of Billie Piper's eight-part British dramedy I Hate Suzie. Piper, who co-created the show, is known for her performances in Doctor Who, Secret Diary of a Call Girl, Penny Dreadful and Collateral. Advertisement
"I Hate Suzie is a bold, bracing, original dramedy about the moment in life when the mask slips, asking if any of us can survive being well and truly 'known,'" a news release said Friday. "Suzie Pickles (Piper), has her life upended when she is hacked and pictures of her emerge in an extremely compromising position."
The show aired during the summer on Sky in Britain. The cast also includes Leila Farzad, Daniel Ings and Nathaniel Martello-White.
.@HBOMax to be the exclusive streaming home for British dramedy #IHateSuzie. The Max Original stars BAFTA Nominee and Co-Creator @billiepiper and is co-created & written by @lucyprebblish: https://t.co/l7Bbns0YBf pic.twitter.com/KYBGys2Uxf— HBO Max PR (@HBOMaxPR) October 9, 2020


upi--2020-10-10--North Korea unveils large new missile at parade

SEOUL , Oct. 10 ( UPI ) -- North Korea showed off its latest military hardware , including a large new intercontinental ballistic missile , in a flood-lit parade to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the ruling Workers ' Party held in the early hours of Saturday morning .
Several analysts speculated that the new ICBM appeared to be an extended version of North Korea 's Hwasong-15 missile , which was first tested in November 2017 and is believed to be capable of reaching the entire continental United States .
What appeared to be four of the missiles were transported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been looking out for a provocative display of military strength from North Korea , including the unveiling of the `` new strategic weapon '' that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un promised at the end of last year .
`` This would appear to be the 'new strategic weapon , ' '' wrote Ankit Panda , a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace , on Twitter .
Panda said the ICBM appeared to be the largest , road-mobile liquid-fuel missile in the world .
The parade was aired on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in a delayed broadcast that was highly produced and edited with drone footage and quick cuts among multiple cameras .
Seoul-based news and analysis site NK News provided a simultaneous YouTube stream of the event .
In addition to the ICBM , a new version of a submarine-launched ballistic missile was also unveiled , along with a slew of new hardware including tanks , armored personnel carriers , air defense systems and anti-tank missiles .
Battalions of soldiers , sailors and airmen marched in lockstep showing off their latest gear and rifles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lighting on their wings flew in formation in the night sky , while other planes sent off colorful trails of sparks and formed images including the number `` 75 '' and the logo of the Workers ' Party .
Earlier in the evening , a show of goose-stepping soldiers and military bands filled a brightly lit Kim Il Sung Square as fireworks exploded overhead and formations of performers spelled out dates such as `` 1945 '' and `` 2020 '' to mark the anniversary occasion .
The broadcast showed North Korean leader Kim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ midnight , accepting flowers from waiting children and smiling and chatting with senior military officials .
He wore a Western-style grey suit and gave an emotional speech to the assembled soldiers and audience in which he appeared to shed tears as he recounted the difficult year North Korea has faced .
`` Every day and every step was truly arduous and trying from the outset of this year , in particular as unexpected grave challenges and obstacles cropped up , '' Kim said .
North Korea has been straining under ongoing sanctions and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closed its borders in January to prevent the spread of the virus , shutting off much of its vital trade with neighboring China .
The country was also battered by a series of late-summer typhoons that caused flooding and major damage to buildings , roads and crops .
Kim thanked and apologized to the soldiers who have been doing much of the recovery work in recent weeks , many of whom were still deployed in damaged areas .
`` I feel deep regret for them , and I feel pain in my heart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this glorious night with us , '' he said .
Kim also thanked the citizens of North Korea for their efforts in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic , and repeated the claim that the country has not had a single positive case .
No one appeared to be wearing face masks at the tightly crowded event on Saturday .
`` I thank them for their good health without any one of them having fallen victim to the malignant virus , '' he said .
The North Korean leader offered conciliatory remarks toward South Korea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the coronavirus pandemic and hoping that `` the day would come when the North and South take each other 's hand again . ''
Relations have been strained on the Korean peninsula over the past several months , with North Korea cutting off all communications with the South and blowing up an inter-Korean liaison office in June .
Last month , North Korean soldiers shot and killed a South Korean fisheries official who had floated across the maritime boundary , prompting a rare apology from Kim .
He did not mention the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declared that the North 's military buildup was intended as a means of deterrence and vowed not to use the weapons `` as a means for a preemptive strike . ''
However , Kim warned that if any countries threatened military force against North Korea , the country `` will enlist all our most powerful offensive strength in advance to punish them ''

1/5
North Korea unveiled a new ICBM at a military parade held in the early hours of Saturday. Photo by Yonhap
SEOUL, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- North Korea showed off its latest military hardware, including a large new intercontinental ballistic missile, in a flood-lit parade to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party held in the early hours of Saturday morning. Several analysts speculated that the new ICBM appeared to be an extended version of North Korea's Hwasong-15 missile, which was first tested in November 2017 and is believed to be capable of reaching the entire continental United States. What appeared to be four of the missiles were transported on new 11-axle transporter-erector-launcher vehicles. Advertisement
Observers had been looking out for a provocative display of military strength from North Korea, including the unveiling of the "new strategic weapon" that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un promised at the end of last year.
Advertisement
"This would appear to be the 'new strategic weapon,'" wrote Ankit Panda, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, on Twitter.
Panda said the ICBM appeared to be the largest, road-mobile liquid-fuel missile in the world.
The parade was aired on state-run Korean Central Televsion on Saturday evening, in a delayed broadcast that was highly produced and edited with drone footage and quick cuts among multiple cameras. Seoul-based news and analysis site NK News provided a simultaneous YouTube stream of the event.
In addition to the ICBM, a new version of a submarine-launched ballistic missile was also unveiled, along with a slew of new hardware including tanks, armored personnel carriers, air defense systems and anti-tank missiles.
Battalions of soldiers, sailors and airmen marched in lockstep showing off their latest gear and rifles. North Korean MiG-29 jets with neon lighting on their wings flew in formation in the night sky, while other planes sent off colorful trails of sparks and formed images including the number "75" and the logo of the Workers' Party.
Earlier in the evening, a show of goose-stepping soldiers and military bands filled a brightly lit Kim Il Sung Square as fireworks exploded overhead and formations of performers spelled out dates such as "1945"and "2020" to mark the anniversary occasion.
Advertisement
The broadcast showed North Korean leader Kim Jong Un appearing as a clock struck midnight, accepting flowers from waiting children and smiling and chatting with senior military officials. He wore a Western-style grey suit and gave an emotional speech to the assembled soldiers and audience in which he appeared to shed tears as he recounted the difficult year North Korea has faced.
"Every day and every step was truly arduous and trying from the outset of this year, in particular as unexpected grave challenges and obstacles cropped up," Kim said.
North Korea has been straining under ongoing sanctions and the economic impact of COVID-19. It closed its borders in January to prevent the spread of the virus, shutting off much of its vital trade with neighboring China.
The country was also battered by a series of late-summer typhoons that caused flooding and major damage to buildings, roads and crops.
Kim thanked and apologized to the soldiers who have been doing much of the recovery work in recent weeks, many of whom were still deployed in damaged areas.
"I feel deep regret for them, and I feel pain in my heart as they are not all here at this glorious night with us," he said.
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Kim also thanked the citizens of North Korea for their efforts in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, and repeated the claim that the country has not had a single positive case. No one appeared to be wearing face masks at the tightly crowded event on Saturday.
"I thank them for their good health without any one of them having fallen victim to the malignant virus," he said.
The North Korean leader offered conciliatory remarks toward South Korea, wishing the country a fast recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and hoping that "the day would come when the North and South take each other's hand again."
Relations have been strained on the Korean peninsula over the past several months, with North Korea cutting off all communications with the South and blowing up an inter-Korean liaison office in June.
Last month, North Korean soldiers shot and killed a South Korean fisheries official who had floated across the maritime boundary, prompting a rare apology from Kim.
He did not mention the United States by name, but Kim declared that the North's military buildup was intended as a means of deterrence and vowed not to use the weapons "as a means for a preemptive strike."
However, Kim warned that if any countries threatened military force against North Korea, the country "will enlist all our most powerful offensive strength in advance to punish them"


upi--2020-10-10--Great-granddaughter of Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz dead at 31

Oct. 10 ( UPI ) -- Photographer Desiree S. Anzalone , the great-granddaughter of TV legends Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz , has died in Connecticut after a six-year battle with breast cancer .
She was 31 .
`` Watching her slip away was just , I would n't wish it on my worst enemy .
No mother should have to watch that , '' Julia Arnaz told People.com about her only child Friday .
`` She was so special .
All our children are special , but this little girl was something else . ''
E !
News reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Smilow Cancer Center in Connecticut .
A memorial service was held for her Oct. 3 .
`` Desiree was an old soul who loved 60 's & 70 's music .
Her talent was prolific including her art , song writing , poetry & playing piano , '' her obituary said .
`` She was a talented photographer & enjoyed playing guitar with her father , singing & modeling photography .
Desiree was a lover of animals & people but most of all she loved life .
She will be missed deeply by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hearts . ''
Anzalone was the granddaughter of Desi Arnaz Jr. , one of Ball and Arnaz 's two children .
Ball and Arnaz , who were married 1940-60 , were the stars of the TV comedy classics I Love Lucy and The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour .
Ball died in 1989 at age 77 .
Arnaz died in 1986 at age 69 .

Oct. 10 (UPI) -- Photographer Desiree S. Anzalone, the great-granddaughter of TV legends Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, has died in Connecticut after a six-year battle with breast cancer. She was 31.
"Watching her slip away was just, I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. No mother should have to watch that," Julia Arnaz told People.com about her only child Friday. "She was so special. All our children are special, but this little girl was something else."
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E! News reported Friday that Anzalone died Sept. 27 at Smilow Cancer Center in Connecticut.
A memorial service was held for her Oct. 3.
"Desiree was an old soul who loved 60's & 70's music. Her talent was prolific including her art, song writing, poetry & playing piano," her obituary said. "She was a talented photographer & enjoyed playing guitar with her father, singing & modeling photography. Desiree was a lover of animals & people but most of all she loved life. She will be missed deeply by all but will live forever in our hearts."
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Anzalone was the granddaughter of Desi Arnaz Jr., one of Ball and Arnaz's two children.
Ball and Arnaz, who were married 1940-60, were the stars of the TV comedy classics I Love Lucy and The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour.
Ball died in 1989 at age 77. Arnaz died in 1986 at age 69.
Notable deaths of 2020