upi--2020-09-29--Disney to lay off 28,000 employees due to pandemic

Sept. 29 ( UPI ) -- Disney announced Tuesday it 's laying off about 28,000 employees in the United States in response to a loss of business because of the coronavirus pandemic .
The company announced the layoffs across its parks , experiences and products segments in a letter to employees .
Of those laid off , 67 % will be part-time employees , said Josh D'Amaro , head of parks .
He said it was a `` difficult decision '' to make .
`` As you can imagine , a decision of this magnitude is not easy , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was obtained by UPI .
`` For the last several months , our management team has worked tirelessly to avoid having to separate anyone from the company .
`` We 've cut expenses , suspended capital projects , furloughed our cast members while still paying benefits , and modified our operations to run as efficiently as possible , however , we simply can not responsibly stay fully staffed while operating at such limited capacity . ''
The company 's theme parks in Florida , Paris , Shanghai , Japan and Hong Kong have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though the locations in Anaheim , Calif. , remain closed .
D'Amaro said he hopes laid off cast members and employees can return to the company once it rebounds from the pandemic .
Disney 's parks accounted for about 37 % of the company 's revenue last year .

Masks, signs and temperature checks are required at Disney World's Disney Springs in July. Disney plans to lay off about 28,000 people across all its parks worldwide due to pandemic-related closures. File Photo by Paul Brinkmann/UPI
Sept. 29 (UPI) -- Disney announced Tuesday it's laying off about 28,000 employees in the United States in response to a loss of business because of the coronavirus pandemic. The company announced the layoffs across its parks, experiences and products segments in a letter to employees. Advertisement
Of those laid off, 67% will be part-time employees, said Josh D'Amaro, head of parks. He said it was a "difficult decision" to make.
"As you can imagine, a decision of this magnitude is not easy," he wrote in the letter, which was obtained by UPI. "For the last several months, our management team has worked tirelessly to avoid having to separate anyone from the company.
"We've cut expenses, suspended capital projects, furloughed our cast members while still paying benefits, and modified our operations to run as efficiently as possible, however, we simply cannot responsibly stay fully staffed while operating at such limited capacity."
The company's theme parks in Florida, Paris, Shanghai, Japan and Hong Kong have reopened after shutdowns earlier this year, though the locations in Anaheim, Calif., remain closed.
D'Amaro said he hopes laid off cast members and employees can return to the company once it rebounds from the pandemic.
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Disney's parks accounted for about 37% of the company's revenue last year.


upi--2020-09-29--Moderna COVID-19 vaccine safe, effective in older people, early trial shows

One of the big questions around any new COVID-19 vaccine is : Will it safely protect those at highest risk from the illness -- older people ?
Now , the results of an early phase 1 trial in 40 adults over the age of 55 suggests that one vaccine , under development by drugmaker Moderna , elicits an immune system response that 's equal to that seen in younger recipients .
As well , vaccine side effects `` were predominantly mild or moderate in severity '' and included fatigue , chills , headache or ache or discomfort at the injection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They published the preliminary findings Sept. 29 online in the New England Journal of Medicine .
`` As those at highest risk for severe COVID-19 infection are older adults , it is crucial to understand how well the vaccine works in this age group , '' explained Dr. Amesh Adalja , an expert unconnected to the trial .
`` This early phase 1 study appears to be promising , but it is not possible to know definitively until phase 3 data is available , '' said Adalja .
He 's a senior scholar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Security in Baltimore .
The new study focused on an experimental Moderna vaccine called mRNA-1273 .
The two-dose vaccine is in late-stage trials and Moderna has said it hopes to have the vaccine ready for widespread use by year 's end .
However , `` among different risk factors , advanced age has been recognized from the beginning as associated with poorer outcomes '' from a vaccine , noted Dr. Bruce Hirsch , an attending physician in infectious diseases at Northwell Health in Manhasset , N.Y .
So , `` doctors are worried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most may respond to the vaccine the least , '' he said .
To help answer the issue , a team led by researchers at Emory University in Atlanta looked specifically at immune response and side effect data for 40 patients , aged 56 and above , enrolled in the mRNA-1273 trial .
They observed a rapid uptick in coronavirus-specific immune system antibodies in these older people soon after they 'd gotten their first shot .
Those numbers rose even higher after the second shot was administered .
Most importantly , antibody responses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be similar to those previously reported among vaccine recipients between the ages of 18 and 55 , '' the researchers noted .
Other immune system markers , such as levels of T-cells and proteins called cytokines , also appeared `` strong '' in response to the vaccine .
Side effects could occur after vaccination , but they were similar to those sometimes seen in people who get the flu shot -- transient fatigue , chills and headache , for example .
Dr. Eric Cioe-Pena is an emergency physician at Staten Island University Hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the findings , he agreed that `` though the data is limited , this phase 1 study does demonstrate safety in older adults , which is an important target population . ''
Still , Hirsch stressed that the study 's small size means caution is still needed .
`` The vaccine 's ability to protect against actual infection in the real world is yet untested , '' Hirsch said , and `` this study leaves unanswered how durable will be the immunity .
Still , this preliminary data is reassuring as we look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic . ''
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on the new coronavirus .

Early results of a phase 1 trial suggest Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective for older adults, researchers reported.. Photo by CJ Gunther/EPA-EFE
One of the big questions around any new COVID-19 vaccine is: Will it safely protect those at highest risk from the illness -- older people? Now, the results of an early phase 1 trial in 40 adults over the age of 55 suggests that one vaccine, under development by drugmaker Moderna, elicits an immune system response that's equal to that seen in younger recipients. Advertisement
As well, vaccine side effects "were predominantly mild or moderate in severity" and included fatigue, chills, headache or ache or discomfort at the injection site, according to the researchers.
They published the preliminary findings Sept. 29 online in the New England Journal of Medicine.
"As those at highest risk for severe COVID-19 infection are older adults, it is crucial to understand how well the vaccine works in this age group," explained Dr. Amesh Adalja, an expert unconnected to the trial.
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"This early phase 1 study appears to be promising, but it is not possible to know definitively until phase 3 data is available," said Adalja. He's a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security in Baltimore.
The new study focused on an experimental Moderna vaccine called mRNA-1273. The two-dose vaccine is in late-stage trials and Moderna has said it hopes to have the vaccine ready for widespread use by year's end.
However, "among different risk factors, advanced age has been recognized from the beginning as associated with poorer outcomes" from a vaccine, noted Dr. Bruce Hirsch, an attending physician in infectious diseases at Northwell Health in Manhasset, N.Y.
So, "doctors are worried that those who need this vaccine the most may respond to the vaccine the least," he said.
To help answer the issue, a team led by researchers at Emory University in Atlanta looked specifically at immune response and side effect data for 40 patients, aged 56 and above, enrolled in the mRNA-1273 trial.
They observed a rapid uptick in coronavirus-specific immune system antibodies in these older people soon after they'd gotten their first shot. Those numbers rose even higher after the second shot was administered.
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Most importantly, antibody responses in the over-55 group "appeared to be similar to those previously reported among vaccine recipients between the ages of 18 and 55," the researchers noted.
Other immune system markers, such as levels of T-cells and proteins called cytokines, also appeared "strong" in response to the vaccine.
Side effects could occur after vaccination, but they were similar to those sometimes seen in people who get the flu shot -- transient fatigue, chills and headache, for example.
Dr. Eric Cioe-Pena is an emergency physician at Staten Island University Hospital in New York City. Reading over the findings, he agreed that "though the data is limited, this phase 1 study does demonstrate safety in older adults, which is an important target population."
Still, Hirsch stressed that the study's small size means caution is still needed.
"The vaccine's ability to protect against actual infection in the real world is yet untested," Hirsch said, and "this study leaves unanswered how durable will be the immunity. Still, this preliminary data is reassuring as we look forward to getting a handle on this pandemic."
More information
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on the new coronavirus.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-09-29--Joe Biden, Kamala Harris release 2019 tax returns

Sept. 29 ( UPI ) -- Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his running mate , Sen. Kamala Harris , released their 2019 tax returns Tuesday .
The release comes as Biden prepares to square off against President Donald Trump in the first 2020 presidential debate and two days after The New York Times published a report stating that Trump paid no federal income taxes in 10 out of 15 years since 2000 and paid $ 750 each year in 2016 and 2017 .
Biden 's documents showed that he his wife , Jill Biden , reported about $ 945,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in federal income taxes .
`` This is a historic level of transparency and it will give the American people faith once again that their leaders will look out for them and not their own bottom line , '' Kate Bedingfield , Biden 's deputy campaign manager , told reporters .
Harris , a senator from California , and her husband , Douglas Emhoff , reported that they earned about $ 3 million in taxable income and paid about $ 1.2 million in taxes , according to their tax returns .
After leaving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president and his wife reported an income of more than $ 11 million in 2017 and more than $ 4.5 million in 2018 , largely from book deals .
In their 2019 records , Jill Biden reported income from the Northern Virginia Community College where she teaches and the former vice president received income from the University of Pennsylvania , where he led a center for diplomacy .
He also received money from speeches and book tours as well as a federal pension .
The couple also made $ 14,700 in charitable donations @ @ @

Former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democratic candidate for president, and his running mate, California Sen. Kamala Harris, released their 2019 tax returns on Tuesday ahead of the first presidential debate. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 29 (UPI) -- Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris, released their 2019 tax returns Tuesday. The release comes as Biden prepares to square off against President Donald Trump in the first 2020 presidential debate and two days after The New York Times published a report stating that Trump paid no federal income taxes in 10 out of 15 years since 2000 and paid $750 each year in 2016 and 2017. Advertisement
Biden's documents showed that he his wife, Jill Biden, reported about $945,000 in taxable income and paid $300,000 in federal income taxes.
"This is a historic level of transparency and it will give the American people faith once again that their leaders will look out for them and not their own bottom line," Kate Bedingfield, Biden's deputy campaign manager, told reporters.
Harris, a senator from California, and her husband, Douglas Emhoff, reported that they earned about $3 million in taxable income and paid about $1.2 million in taxes, according to their tax returns.
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After leaving the White House, the former vice president and his wife reported an income of more than $11 million in 2017 and more than $4.5 million in 2018, largely from book deals.
In their 2019 records, Jill Biden reported income from the Northern Virginia Community College where she teaches and the former vice president received income from the University of Pennsylvania, where he led a center for diplomacy. He also received money from speeches and book tours as well as a federal pension.
The couple also made $14,700 in charitable donations in 2019.


upi--2020-09-29--Pet trade threatens thousands of species, especially reptiles

Sept. 29 ( UPI ) -- The international pet trade remains significantly under-regulated , and as a result , thousands of reptile species are being exploited .
According to a study published Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications , just 9 % of the world 's more than 11,000 reptile species are protected by international regulations .
For the study , researchers in Thailand and China expanded upon existing pet trade databases by surveying the activity of thousands of web-based reptile retailers , yielding a comprehensive depiction of the global reptile trade .
Researchers looked at the origin of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the their conservation status .
Scientists also surveyed reports of wild capture practices in the countries where commonly traded species are found .
`` Based on two international trade databases and information scraped from 24,000 web pages in five languages , we found that over 36 percent of reptile species are in trade -- totaling almost 4,000 species , '' researcher Alice Hughes , landscape ecologist with the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences , said in a news release .
Researchers found more than three-quarters of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remain unprotected by international trade regulations .
Many of the reptiles are endangered -- plagued by population declines and habitat losses .
Scientists estimate that 90 percent of species and more than half the individual reptiles involved in the pet trade are being captured from the wild .
Because species are often exploited shortly after scientific description , newly discovered endemic species are especially vulnerable .
`` Gaps in monitoring demand a reconsideration of international reptile trade regulations , '' researchers wrote in their paper .
`` We suggest reversing the status-quo , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ permitted . ''

In Britain, pet reptiles, such as the leopard gecko, outnumber dogs. Photo by NeedPix /CC
Sept. 29 (UPI) -- The international pet trade remains significantly under-regulated, and as a result, thousands of reptile species are being exploited. According to a study published Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications, just 9% of the world's more than 11,000 reptile species are protected by international regulations. Advertisement
For the study, researchers in Thailand and China expanded upon existing pet trade databases by surveying the activity of thousands of web-based reptile retailers, yielding a comprehensive depiction of the global reptile trade.
Researchers looked at the origin of the most commonly traded species, as well as the their conservation status. Scientists also surveyed reports of wild capture practices in the countries where commonly traded species are found.
"Based on two international trade databases and information scraped from 24,000 web pages in five languages, we found that over 36 percent of reptile species are in trade -- totaling almost 4,000 species," researcher Alice Hughes, landscape ecologist with the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said in a news release.
Researchers found more than three-quarters of the reptile species on the international pet market remain unprotected by international trade regulations. Many of the reptiles are endangered -- plagued by population declines and habitat losses.
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Scientists estimate that 90 percent of species and more than half the individual reptiles involved in the pet trade are being captured from the wild.
Because species are often exploited shortly after scientific description, newly discovered endemic species are especially vulnerable.
"Gaps in monitoring demand a reconsideration of international reptile trade regulations," researchers wrote in their paper. "We suggest reversing the status-quo, requiring proof of sustainability before trade is permitted."


upi--2020-09-29--North Korean envoy: COVID-19 under control, weapons are 'self-defense'

NEW YORK , Sept. 29 ( UPI ) -- North Korea 's top envoy to the United Nations said Tuesday that leader Kim Jong Un fended off the COVID-19 pandemic in his country , as controversy grows in the South over a North Korean decision to shoot and kill a South Korean citizen in North Korean territory .
Ambassador Kim Song said before the 75th U.N. General Assembly the `` far-sighted leadership '' of the North Korean leader enabled the regime to bring the virus under `` safe and stable control . ''
The North Korean diplomat did not disclose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to say there have been `` zero '' cases of the coronavirus , a frequently issued claim in the first half of the year .
Kim Song instead said Kim Jong Un 's `` extraordinary wisdom and strong determination '' enabled the country of 25 million to take `` pre-emptive measures '' to `` prevent the inflow and spread of the pandemic . ''
North Korea took a `` series of state measures to block the virus inflow into the country , '' the ambassador said .
The North Korean people `` adhered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state also does not tolerate the slightest oversight , Kim Song said .
The North Korean envoy 's claims about the pandemic in his country comes at a time when some politicians in South Korea are demanding more answers on the recent death of a South Korean officer in the North .
The man may have been shot and possibly burned because of draconian measures against COVID-19 in the country , South Korean news services reported last week .
Political friction is growing within the South .
The administration in Seoul has called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ North .
Seoul has also said there is evidence the 47-year-old South Korean victim had voluntarily defected by sea , the same day his brother , Lee Rae-jin , said his brother was a patriotic public servant and that the government was framing him .
On Tuesday Kim Song told a sparsely attended General Assembly in New York his country is under a growing nuclear threat , reversing the claims of the international community that Pyongyang continues to build weapons of mass destruction .
`` The nuclear threat [ against North Korea ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our very eyes , '' Kim Song said .
`` It is an undeniable reality of today that cutting-edge military hardware , including stealth fighters , continue to be introduced into the Korean Peninsula . ''
Kim Song also said the conclusion North Korea has drawn is that `` peace never comes by itself , by the mere wish of one 's side . ''
The ambassador also referred to Pyongyang 's nuclear arsenal as an `` effective deterrent for self-defense '' realized through sacrifices , or the `` tightening of our belts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defended , '' Kim Song said .
The North Korean ambassador also mentioned his country 's preparations for a major anniversary of the ruling Workers ' Party , and that Pyongyang 's `` socialist construction '' moves ahead despite the challenges .
`` Great projects are being completed one after another ... with brilliant labor achievement , '' Kim Song said , adding the Pyongyang General Hospital , a `` modern medical facility , '' is in its final stages before completion .
`` Although we have suffered considerable losses we are vigorously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of time , '' the ambassador said , referring to recent floods that destroyed farms and upended entire villages .
Analysts have said North Korea is expected to showcase its latest intercontinental ballistic missile and submarine-launched ballistic missile at the military parade on Oct. 10 .

North Korean Ambassador to the United Nations Kim Song speaks before the 75th U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday. Screenshot via United Nations Web TV
NEW YORK, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- North Korea's top envoy to the United Nations said Tuesday that leader Kim Jong Un fended off the COVID-19 pandemic in his country, as controversy grows in the South over a North Korean decision to shoot and kill a South Korean citizen in North Korean territory. Ambassador Kim Song said before the 75th U.N. General Assembly the "far-sighted leadership" of the North Korean leader enabled the regime to bring the virus under "safe and stable control." Advertisement
The North Korean diplomat did not disclose any health data. He also declined to say there have been "zero" cases of the coronavirus, a frequently issued claim in the first half of the year.
Kim Song instead said Kim Jong Un's "extraordinary wisdom and strong determination" enabled the country of 25 million to take "pre-emptive measures" to "prevent the inflow and spread of the pandemic."
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North Korea took a "series of state measures to block the virus inflow into the country," the ambassador said.
The North Korean people "adhered strictly" to anti-epidemic measures. The state also does not tolerate the slightest oversight, Kim Song said.
The North Korean envoy's claims about the pandemic in his country comes at a time when some politicians in South Korea are demanding more answers on the recent death of a South Korean officer in the North. The man may have been shot and possibly burned because of draconian measures against COVID-19 in the country, South Korean news services reported last week.
Political friction is growing within the South. The administration in Seoul has called for a cooperative joint investigation with the North. Seoul has also said there is evidence the 47-year-old South Korean victim had voluntarily defected by sea, the same day his brother, Lee Rae-jin, said his brother was a patriotic public servant and that the government was framing him.
On Tuesday, Kim Song told a sparsely attended General Assembly in New York his country is under a growing nuclear threat, reversing the claims of the international community that Pyongyang continues to build weapons of mass destruction.
"The nuclear threat [against North Korea] continues unabated along with hostile acts before our very eyes," Kim Song said.
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"It is an undeniable reality of today that cutting-edge military hardware, including stealth fighters, continue to be introduced into the Korean Peninsula."
Kim Song also said the conclusion North Korea has drawn is that "peace never comes by itself, by the mere wish of one's side." The ambassador also referred to Pyongyang's nuclear arsenal as an "effective deterrent for self-defense" realized through sacrifices, or the "tightening of our belts."
"Peace is now firmly defended," Kim Song said.
The North Korean ambassador also mentioned his country's preparations for a major anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party, and that Pyongyang's "socialist construction" moves ahead despite the challenges.
"Great projects are being completed one after another...with brilliant labor achievement," Kim Song said, adding the Pyongyang General Hospital, a "modern medical facility," is in its final stages before completion.
"Although we have suffered considerable losses, we are vigorously striving to stabilize in a short period of time," the ambassador said, referring to recent floods that destroyed farms and upended entire villages.
Analysts have said North Korea is expected to showcase its latest intercontinental ballistic missile and submarine-launched ballistic missile at the military parade on Oct. 10.


upi--2020-09-29--Ruth Bader Ginsburg laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery

Female members of Congress stand on the steps of the U.S. Capitol as the flag-draped casket of Justice Ruth Bader @ @ @ @ @ joint services military honor guard after Ginsburg lied in state at the U.S. Capitol on @ @ @ @ @ by Alex Brandon/UPI | President Donald Trump is meeting with his top five women candidates @ @ @ @ @ vacancy , despite Ginsburg 's wish for the next president to fill her seat .
@ @ @ @ @

U.S. congresswomen look on as the casket of the late Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is lifted following ceremonies honoring her at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Friday. She was buried at Arlington National Cemetery on Tuesday. Pool photo by Jonathan Ernst/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 29 (UPI) -- Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was laid to rest in a private burial at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on Tuesday. She was buried next to her late husband, Martin Ginsburg. Advertisement
Ruth Bader Ginsburg died Sept. 18 after a battle with metastatic pancreatic cancer.
The Tuesday burial ended more than a week of ceremonies and memorials to honor the second woman to be confirmed to the Supreme Court.
She lied in repose on the portico of the Supreme Court building for two days after a private ceremony in the Great Hall for family and members of the court Wednesday. Her casket was then moved to the Capitol where she became the first woman to lie in state there.
Arlington National Cemetery is known for being the resting places of U.S. service members and veterans, and their families. Ginsburg's husband was an officer in the Army and served at Fort Sill in Oklahoma.
He died in 2010 from cancer.
Ginsburg is survived by two children, Jane Ginsburg and James Ginsburg; four grandchildren, Paul Spera, Clara Spera, Miranda Ginsburg and Abigail Ginsburg; and one great-grandchild, Lucrezia Spera.
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Mourning Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg


upi--2020-09-29--U.S. markets snap 3-day winning streak amid renewed COVID-19 concerns

Sept. 29 ( UPI ) -- U.S. markets fell for the first time in three sessions on Tuesday amid increased concern among investors over the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic .
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 116.1 points , or 0.42 % , while the S & P 500 dropped 0.48 % and the Nasdaq Composite closed the day down 0.29 % as stocks that would benefit from lifting restrictions related to the pandemic suffered .
Airline stocks led the decline as JetBlue fell 4.44 % , American dropped 4 % , United declined 3.98 % and Southwest slid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 33,000 COVID-19 cases and about 300 deaths on Monday , according to data from Johns Hopkins University on Tuesday .
Overall the United States has reported 7.15 million cases and 205,200 deaths since the start of the pandemic .
Stocks hit their lows after New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio said the city 's daily positive rate for COVID-19 tests rose above 3 % for the first time in months as schools reopened Tuesday .
Markets also braced for potential fallout from the first presidential debate between President Donald Trump and former Vice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Everyone knows what they 're going to get with Trump , for better or worse , '' Peter Boockvar , chief investment officer at Bleakley Advisory Group , told CNBC .
`` The question then is what will Biden deliver .
If Biden does n't kick any balls in his own net then the market will take that as a win for him . ''
Markets had rallied in recent days after a tumultuous September as the Dow climbed 410 points to start the week on Monday .

Rising concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic caused U.S. markets to fall for the first time in three sessions on Tuesday. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 29 (UPI) -- U.S. markets fell for the first time in three sessions on Tuesday amid increased concern among investors over the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 116.1 points, or 0.42%, while the S&P 500 dropped 0.48% and the Nasdaq Composite closed the day down 0.29% as stocks that would benefit from lifting restrictions related to the pandemic suffered. Advertisement
Airline stocks led the decline as JetBlue fell 4.44%, American dropped 4%, United declined 3.98% and Southwest slid 1.65%.
The United States added 33,000 COVID-19 cases and about 300 deaths on Monday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University on Tuesday.
Overall the United States has reported 7.15 million cases and 205,200 deaths since the start of the pandemic.
Stocks hit their lows after New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio said the city's daily positive rate for COVID-19 tests rose above 3% for the first time in months as schools reopened Tuesday.
Markets also braced for potential fallout from the first presidential debate between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden on Tuesday.
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"Everyone knows what they're going to get with Trump, for better or worse," Peter Boockvar, chief investment officer at Bleakley Advisory Group, told CNBC. "The question then is what will Biden deliver. If Biden doesn't kick any balls in his own net then the market will take that as a win for him."
Markets had rallied in recent days after a tumultuous September as the Dow climbed 410 points to start the week on Monday.


upi--2020-09-29--Watch: Mechanics free kitten trapped inside owner's dashboard

Sept. 29 ( UPI ) -- A team of mechanics at a Utah car dealership disassembled the dashboard of a @ @ @ @ @ a kitten that climbed into the inner workings of the vehicle and got stuck .
@ @ @ @ @ adviser for Tim Dahle Nissan in Murray , said the woman called the dealership to @ @ @ @ @ rescue a kitten trapped inside the dashboard of their vehicle .
`` In my job @ @ @ @ @ can happen , '' Chambers-Thieling said in a Facebook post .
`` I took a @ @ @ @ @ lady this morning , stating their new rescue kitten had gotten stuck behind the dash @ @ @ @ @ Chambers-Thieling posted a video showing the mechanics partially disassembling the dashboard to get the kitten @ @ @ @ @ .

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Sept. 29 (UPI) -- A team of mechanics at a Utah car dealership disassembled the dashboard of a woman's car to rescue a kitten that climbed into the inner workings of the vehicle and got stuck.
John Chambers-Thieling, a service adviser for Tim Dahle Nissan in Murray, said the woman called the dealership to ask if they could help rescue a kitten trapped inside the dashboard of their vehicle.
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"In my job, you never know what can happen," Chambers-Thieling said in a Facebook post. "I took a call from a very distraught lady this morning, stating their new rescue kitten had gotten stuck behind the dash in their car."
Chambers-Thieling posted a video showing the mechanics partially disassembling the dashboard to get the kitten safely back to its owners.


upi--2020-09-29--Paddleboarder's lost phone fished out of sea by beachgoer

Sept. 29 ( UPI ) -- A man who dropped his phone into the sea while paddleboarding in Britain was reunited with the device after it was found by a beach-goer who discovered it still worked .
Matty Bray said he was paddleboarding near Bacton , England , when he dropped his Samsung Galaxy phone into the North Sea on July 18 .
Bray said he was unable to find the phone and thought he would never see it again until this week , when Emma Gilman shared photos from the phone on her Facebook page .
Gilman said she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ July 31 when she found the phone floating in its protective case .
She said no one at the beach claimed the phone , so she took it home to try to find the owner .
She said the phone still worked , but was locked so she could n't access its information .
Gilman said it was n't until this week that she considered putting the phone 's memory card into her own phone so she could access its memory .
Gilman posted photos from the memory card , including photos of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , asking locals to share the post in the hopes of identifying the owner .
She said it only took 20 minutes for members of the public to identify Bray .
Bray , who lives only a few miles from Gilman , visited the woman this week to retrieve his phone and reward her with flowers and sparkling wine .

Matty Bray dropped his Samsung Galaxy phone into the North Sea while paddleboarding near Bracton, England, and it was returned to him after being found by a beach visitor a few days later. Photo by RevsReels/Pixabay.com
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Sept. 29 (UPI) -- A man who dropped his phone into the sea while paddleboarding in Britain was reunited with the device after it was found by a beach-goer who discovered it still worked. Matty Bray said he was paddleboarding near Bacton, England, when he dropped his Samsung Galaxy phone into the North Sea on July 18. Advertisement
Bray said he was unable to find the phone and thought he would never see it again until this week, when Emma Gilman shared photos from the phone on her Facebook page.
Gilman said she was visiting the beach in Bracton on July 31 when she found the phone floating in its protective case. She said no one at the beach claimed the phone, so she took it home to try to find the owner.
She said the phone still worked, but was locked so she couldn't access its information. Gilman said it wasn't until this week that she considered putting the phone's memory card into her own phone so she could access its memory.
Gilman posted photos from the memory card, including photos of Bray and his wife, to Facebook, asking locals to share the post in the hopes of identifying the owner.
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She said it only took 20 minutes for members of the public to identify Bray.
Bray, who lives only a few miles from Gilman, visited the woman this week to retrieve his phone and reward her with flowers and sparkling wine.


upi--2020-09-29--Dolly Parton's holiday musical to debut on Netflix in November

Sept. 29 ( UPI ) -- Dolly Parton 's `` Christmas on the Square , '' musical premieres on Netflix @ @ @ @ @ streaming service said Tuesday .
Netflix announced the premiere date on Twitter .
Debbie Allen @ @ @ @ @ also stars The Good Fight 's Christine Baranski and Black-ish 's Jennifer Lewis , the @ @ @ @ @ home for the holiday with our collective mom @ DollyParton , '' the post read @ @ @ @ @ the song , `` Christmas on the Square '' from her first holiday album in @ @ @ @ @ Dolly Christmas , which will be released on Friday .
The Netflix musical plot centers @ @ @ @ @ returns to her small hometown after her father dies intent on selling land to a @ @ @ @ @ , but starts to doubt herself after reconnecting with an old flame and hearing stories @ @ @ @ @ Parton 's website .
Magnolia Hill Productions and Sandollar Productions produce the musical in association @ @ @ @ @ with Allen , executive producers include Sam Haskell and writer Maria Schlatter .

Sept. 29 (UPI) -- Dolly Parton's "Christmas on the Square," musical premieres on Netflix on Nov. 22, the streaming service said Tuesday.
Netflix announced the premiere date on Twitter. Debbie Allen directs the musical, which also stars The Good Fight's Christine Baranski and Black-ish's Jennifer Lewis, the post shows.
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"Heading home for the holiday with our collective mom @DollyParton," the post read.
Parton also released Tuesday the song, "Christmas on the Square" from her first holiday album in 30 years, A Holly Dolly Christmas, which will be released on Friday.
The Netflix musical plot centers around a rich woman who returns to her small hometown after her father dies intent on selling land to a mall developer just before Christmas, but starts to doubt herself after reconnecting with an old flame and hearing stories from townsfolk, according to Parton's website.
The musical features 14 original Parton songs.
Magnolia Hill Productions and Sandollar Productions produce the musical in association with Warner Bros. Along with Allen, executive producers include Sam Haskell and writer Maria Schlatter.


upi--2020-09-29--USS Ross runs air defense exercises with NATO F-16s

Sept. 29 ( UPI ) -- The USS Ross recently completed a series of tactical air defense exercises with NATO @ @ @ @ @ , the Navy announced Tuesday .
`` This exercise presents a unique training opportunity with @ @ @ @ @ our combined capability , '' Cmdr .
John D. John , commanding officer aboard Ross @ @ @ @ @ release .
`` Building on our collective interoperability helps to demonstrate our continued commitment to @ @ @ @ @ . ''
The Ross joined four Portuguese F-16s to simulate a variety of air defense @ @ @ @ @ the Navy announced that the Ross had completed training exercises in the Baltic Sea with @ @ @ @ @ navy .
The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer , which is forward-deployed to Rota , @ @ @ @ @ Forward Deployed Naval Forces-Europe patrol at the end of August in the Sixth Fleet Area @ @ @ @ @ is one of four Navy destroyers currently based in Spain .

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross participates in a passing exercise with European counterparts on Sept. 19. Photo by Courtesy of Latvian Navy
Sept. 29 (UPI) -- The USS Ross recently completed a series of tactical air defense exercises with NATO aircraft over the Baltic Sea, the Navy announced Tuesday. "This exercise presents a unique training opportunity with our NATO Allies to increase our combined capability," Cmdr. John D. John, commanding officer aboard Ross, said in a press release. "Building on our collective interoperability helps to demonstrate our continued commitment to maintaining stability in the Baltic." Advertisement
The Ross joined four Portuguese F-16s to simulate a variety of air defense scenarios.
On Monday, the Navy announced that the Ross had completed training exercises in the Baltic Sea with a ship of Poland's navy.
The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, which is forward-deployed to Rota, Spain, began its 10th Forward Deployed Naval Forces-Europe patrol at the end of August in the Sixth Fleet Area of Operations.
The vessel is one of four Navy destroyers currently based in Spain.


upi--2020-09-29--Amazon unveils device allowing palm purchases, entry to events

Sept. 29 ( UPI ) -- Amazon on Tuesday introduced a new device it said will allow users to make purchases or access rewards programs using just the palm of their hands .
The new technology -- called Amazon One -- is a kiosk that will scan a user 's palm print to access various bits of information such as credit cards , loyalty cards , work badges and tickets for events such as concerts and sports .
The information will be tied directly to a user 's `` unique palm signature . ''
`` The service is designed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and hardware to create a person 's unique palm signature , '' Amazon said .
The company unveiled the device at two of its Amazon Go stores in Seattle .
For users to first use Amazon One , the company said they must insert their credit card then hover their palm over the device to set up their unique palm signature .
Users do n't have to have an Amazon account .
The company said it expects to add Amazon One in additional Amazon stores and perhaps to third parties .
`` And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ applicability beyond our retail stores , so we also plan to offer the service to third parties like retailers , stadiums , and office buildings so that more people can benefit from this ease and convenience in more places .
Interested third parties can reach out through the email address provided on our Amazon One website , '' the company said in a release .
No third-party retailers have signed up to offer the technology .
Amazon said the technology is protected by `` multiple security controls '' and that no palm images @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Customers also can delete their biometric data if those choose not to use the service anymore .

Amazon said it's offering Amazon One to third-party retailers and venues for palm purchases and entry. Photo courtesy of Amazon
Sept. 29 (UPI) -- Amazon on Tuesday introduced a new device it said will allow users to make purchases or access rewards programs using just the palm of their hands. The new technology -- called Amazon One -- is a kiosk that will scan a user's palm print to access various bits of information such as credit cards, loyalty cards, work badges and tickets for events such as concerts and sports. The information will be tied directly to a user's "unique palm signature." Advertisement
"The service is designed to be highly secure and uses custom-built algorithms and hardware to create a person's unique palm signature," Amazon said.
The company unveiled the device at two of its Amazon Go stores in Seattle.
For users to first use Amazon One, the company said they must insert their credit card then hover their palm over the device to set up their unique palm signature. Users don't have to have an Amazon account.
The company said it expects to add Amazon One in additional Amazon stores and perhaps to third parties.
"And, we believe Amazon One has broad applicability beyond our retail stores, so we also plan to offer the service to third parties like retailers, stadiums, and office buildings so that more people can benefit from this ease and convenience in more places. Interested third parties can reach out through the email address provided on our Amazon One website," the company said in a release.
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No third-party retailers have signed up to offer the technology.
Amazon said the technology is protected by "multiple security controls" and that no palm images are stored directly on the device. Customers also can delete their biometric data if those choose not to use the service anymore.


upi--2020-09-29--Pine needles evolved to help trees cope with rainfall

Sept. 29 ( UPI ) -- The needles of longleaf pine trees evolved to effectively shed water , according to a study published Tuesday in the journal Physics of Fluids , ensuring rain moistens the soil instead of clogging leaf pores .
`` Our initial inspiration for this project was [ to study ] raindrop impact on pine trees , '' Andrew Dickerson , professor of engineering at University of Central Florida , told UPI in an email .
Dickerson and his research partners wanted to find whether or not rainfall has influenced the material properties of pine needles .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ needles , but quickly realized the physics was very complicated and that the simpler problem of drop impact onto fixed , non-circular fibers had not yet been tackled , '' Dickerson said .
To tackle it , researchers set up high-speed cameras to capture high-resolution , slow-motion video of drops hitting the wedge-shaped needles of longleaf pines .
According to Dickerson , dozens of studies have looked at the interactions between fluid droplets and circular fibers , but this one is the first to consider water droplet impact onto non-circular fibers .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fluid behavior as compared to circular fibers and witness behaviors not yet documented , '' he said .
`` I was surprised how different the 'lobes ' formed by impacting drops look when the fiber changes orientation . ''
In addition to more efficiently breaking apart water droplets , researchers showed wedge-shaped fibers also retained less water than circular fibers .
`` From an evolutionary standpoint this is advantageous because water on the surface of pine needles arrests photosynthesis by blocking stomata -- gas exchange pores , '' Dickerson said .
Researchers are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across different environments and different climates .
The new study suggests longleaf pines , found throughout the Southeastern United States , evolved their particular needle shape to contend with heavy rainfall .
Authors of the new study suggest their research could be used by material scientists to design fibers that are especially repellent to environmental moisture accumulation .

The shape of the longleaf pine tree's needles help the tree and its canopy cope with heavy rainfall. Photo by Lebanoff and Dickerson/UCF
Sept. 29 (UPI) -- The needles of longleaf pine trees evolved to effectively shed water, according to a study published Tuesday in the journal Physics of Fluids, ensuring rain moistens the soil instead of clogging leaf pores. "Our initial inspiration for this project was [to study] raindrop impact on pine trees," Andrew Dickerson, professor of engineering at University of Central Florida, told UPI in an email. Advertisement
Dickerson and his research partners wanted to find whether or not rainfall has influenced the material properties of pine needles.
"We began impact drops onto cantilevered needles, but quickly realized the physics was very complicated and that the simpler problem of drop impact onto fixed, non-circular fibers had not yet been tackled," Dickerson said.
To tackle it, researchers set up high-speed cameras to capture high-resolution, slow-motion video of drops hitting the wedge-shaped needles of longleaf pines.
According to Dickerson, dozens of studies have looked at the interactions between fluid droplets and circular fibers, but this one is the first to consider water droplet impact onto non-circular fibers.
"We are able to draw contrasts in fluid behavior as compared to circular fibers and witness behaviors not yet documented," he said. "I was surprised how different the 'lobes' formed by impacting drops look when the fiber changes orientation."
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In addition to more efficiently breaking apart water droplets, researchers showed wedge-shaped fibers also retained less water than circular fibers.
"From an evolutionary standpoint this is advantageous because water on the surface of pine needles arrests photosynthesis by blocking stomata -- gas exchange pores," Dickerson said.
Researchers are currently studying how pine needle shapes vary across different environments and different climates.
The new study suggests longleaf pines, found throughout the Southeastern United States, evolved their particular needle shape to contend with heavy rainfall.
Authors of the new study suggest their research could be used by material scientists to design fibers that are especially repellent to environmental moisture accumulation.


upi--2020-09-29--SpaceX improved Crew Dragon capsule for planned Oct. 31 launch

Sept. 29 ( UPI ) -- SpaceX 's Crew Dragon capsule received an improved heat shield and more powerful solar arrays for a six-month crewed mission planned to launch Oct. 31 , the company said Tuesday .
Liftoff is planned for 2:40 a.m. from Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida .
The Crew 1 mission to the International Space Station will be the first regular flight for a Dragon spacecraft , which completed a demonstration flight with two astronauts Aug. 2 .
The launch will boost the number of astronauts living on the space station to seven , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that has occurred aside from brief overlaps when a new crew arrived .
Flying aboard the capsule will be NASA astronauts Mike Hopkins , Victor Glover and Shannon Walker , along with Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi .
According to NASA , the launch will be the first time an international crew will fly aboard a NASA-certified , commercially owned and operated U.S. rocket and spacecraft from American soil .
Elon Musk 's SpaceX modified the design of the capsule after the demonstration flight , said Hans Koenigsmann , SpaceX 's vice president for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enhanced solar arrays to power the craft for 210 days and more durable heat shields around connections between the capsule and its cargo trunk .
The heat shields in those areas on the flight capsule showed slightly deeper erosion from atmospheric friction , Koenigsmann said .
The shield issue `` was always a safe situation that never got through to the infrastructure , and the heat shield was working great , '' Koenigsmann said .
`` This is something we observed and changed to make sure nothing bad would ever happen . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to plan for additional security where the capsule will land in the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico .
During the landing of the test capsule , civilians in private boats came close as it floated in the water .
This created a potential hazard to the two astronauts aboard , Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley , as well as to boaters because of the potential for an explosion of unspent rocket fuel .
`` We 've worked with the Coast Guard to have additional assets in place to make sure that does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stich , NASA 's commercial crew program manager .
A successful mission will prove the value of NASA 's transition away from owning spacecraft and toward contracting with commercial spaceflight companies , NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said in a press conference Tuesday .
`` We 've been able to go from flying space shuttles to now flying commercial vehicles , demonstrating that we can drive down costs and increase access , '' Bridenstine said .

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| License Photo NASA's SpaceX Crew-1 astronauts are pictured seated in the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft during training for launch in Florida on Oct. 31: Shannon Walker, mission specialist; Victor Glover, pilot; and Mike Hopkins, Crew Dragon commander; and Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi, mission specialist. Photo courtesy of SpaceX
Sept. 29 (UPI) -- SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule received an improved heat shield and more powerful solar arrays for a six-month crewed mission planned to launch Oct. 31, the company said Tuesday. Liftoff is planned for 2:40 a.m. from Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Advertisement
The Crew 1 mission to the International Space Station will be the first regular flight for a Dragon spacecraft, which completed a demonstration flight with two astronauts Aug. 2.
The launch will boost the number of astronauts living on the space station to seven, which is the first time in years that has occurred aside from brief overlaps when a new crew arrived.
Flying aboard the capsule will be NASA astronauts Mike Hopkins, Victor Glover and Shannon Walker, along with Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi.
According to NASA, the launch will be the first time an international crew will fly aboard a NASA-certified, commercially owned and operated U.S. rocket and spacecraft from American soil.
Elon Musk's SpaceX modified the design of the capsule after the demonstration flight, said Hans Koenigsmann, SpaceX's vice president for build and flight reliability.
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Changes include enhanced solar arrays to power the craft for 210 days and more durable heat shields around connections between the capsule and its cargo trunk.
The heat shields in those areas on the flight capsule showed slightly deeper erosion from atmospheric friction, Koenigsmann said.
The shield issue "was always a safe situation that never got through to the infrastructure, and the heat shield was working great," Koenigsmann said. "This is something we observed and changed to make sure nothing bad would ever happen."
SpaceX also worked with the Coast Guard to plan for additional security where the capsule will land in the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico. During the landing of the test capsule, civilians in private boats came close as it floated in the water.
This created a potential hazard to the two astronauts aboard, Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley, as well as to boaters because of the potential for an explosion of unspent rocket fuel.
"We've worked with the Coast Guard to have additional assets in place to make sure that doesn't happen again," said Steve Stich, NASA's commercial crew program manager.
A successful mission will prove the value of NASA's transition away from owning spacecraft and toward contracting with commercial spaceflight companies, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said in a press conference Tuesday.
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"We've been able to go from flying space shuttles to now flying commercial vehicles, demonstrating that we can drive down costs and increase access," Bridenstine said.
Astronauts make round trip to space station from U.S. soil


upi--2020-09-30--Kim Jong Un statement ‘not an apology.’ U.N. investigator says

Sept. 30 ( UPI ) -- The U.N. investigator on North Korea human rights condemned Pyongyang for the slaying of a South Korean citizen last week .
Special Rapporteur Tomás Ojea Quintana also told Voice of America 's Korean service Kim Jong Un 's alleged statement is not an apology , a claim South Korea made last week .
`` Kim Jong Un expressed regret for the incident , which is an important gesture , '' Quintana said .
`` But it was n't an apology because actually he also declared that the guards did n't infringe instructions and regulations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.N. official also said North Korea violated international human rights laws by shooting and possibly burning the 47-year-old South Korean fisheries ministry officer .
Seoul has said it is likely the man swam across the disputed maritime border in the West Sea , or Yellow Sea , suggesting he defected in violation of South Korean security law , and that the South faced limited options .
The man 's brother Lee Rae-jin has dismissed the claims , and has said his sibling was being framed .
On Tuesday , Quintana told VOA any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allegiances is irrelevant to the case .
The lawful course of action for North Korea would be to rescue and test the man for COVID-19 , regardless of his intentions .
North Korea must disclose all information to the family of the South Korean victim , and the South Korean government should demand the North exercise transparency , Quintana said .
Quintana 's statement came the same day the North Korean ambassador to the U.N. credited Kim for fending off the coronavirus pandemic .
Kim did not address the recent killing , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extraordinary wisdom and strong determination '' enabled the country of 25 million to take `` pre-emptive measures '' to `` prevent the inflow and spread of the pandemic . ''
North Korea is also launching a propaganda campaign against the South 's military .
Propaganda service Uriminzokkiri said Wednesday newly appointed Defense Minister Suh Wook and new chairman of the joint chiefs of staff Won In-choul are inviting confrontation , after Won said past North Korea-related incidents at sea were `` deliberate military provocations . ''

North Korea's Kim Jong Un reportedly expressed regret last week following the death of a South Korean national in North Korea. File Photo by KCNA/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 30 (UPI) -- The U.N. investigator on North Korea human rights condemned Pyongyang for the slaying of a South Korean citizen last week. Special Rapporteur Tomás Ojea Quintana also told Voice of America's Korean service Kim Jong Un's alleged statement is not an apology, a claim South Korea made last week. Advertisement
"Kim Jong Un expressed regret for the incident, which is an important gesture," Quintana said.
"But it wasn't an apology because actually he also declared that the guards didn't infringe instructions and regulations when shooting the individual."
The U.N. official also said North Korea violated international human rights laws by shooting and possibly burning the 47-year-old South Korean fisheries ministry officer.
Seoul has said it is likely the man swam across the disputed maritime border in the West Sea, or Yellow Sea, suggesting he defected in violation of South Korean security law, and that the South faced limited options. The man's brother Lee Rae-jin has dismissed the claims, and has said his sibling was being framed.
On Tuesday, Quintana told VOA any intention of the South Korean to switch allegiances is irrelevant to the case. The lawful course of action for North Korea would be to rescue and test the man for COVID-19, regardless of his intentions.
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North Korea must disclose all information to the family of the South Korean victim, and the South Korean government should demand the North exercise transparency, Quintana said.
Quintana's statement came the same day the North Korean ambassador to the U.N. credited Kim for fending off the coronavirus pandemic. Kim did not address the recent killing, and said the North Korean leader's "extraordinary wisdom and strong determination" enabled the country of 25 million to take "pre-emptive measures" to "prevent the inflow and spread of the pandemic."
North Korea is also launching a propaganda campaign against the South's military.
Propaganda service Uriminzokkiri said Wednesday newly appointed Defense Minister Suh Wook and new chairman of the joint chiefs of staff Won In-choul are inviting confrontation, after Won said past North Korea-related incidents at sea were "deliberate military provocations."


upi--2020-09-30--Blake Snell sparks Rays in wild card win over Blue Jays

Sept. 30 ( UPI ) -- Tampa Bay Rays ace pitcher Blake Snell spun another gem in a victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 1 of an American League wild card series in St. Petersburg , Fla. Snell allowed just one hit in 5 2/3 scoreless innings in the 3-1 win Tuesday at Tropicana Field .
The 2018 American League Cy Young award winner also had nine strikeouts in the victory .
`` I 'm getting into a groove , '' Snell told reporters .
`` It usually takes me awhile to get going .
I 'm starting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ always gets me a lot more excited . ''
Left fielder Randy Arozarena scored the Rays ' first run on a wild pitch in the bottom of the fourth inning .
Rays right fielder Manuel Margot hit a two-run homer off Blue Jays relief pitcher A.J .
Cole in the bottom of the seventh inning .
Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette drove in the final run of the game with a sacrifice fly RBI in the top of the eighth frame .
Rays relief pitchers Diego Castillo , Nick Anderson and Pete Fairbanks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run over the final 3 1/3 innings .
Fairbanks earned his first save of the postseason after he allowed one hit and struck out two batters in the ninth inning .
Margot went 2 for 3 with two RBIs and a run scored for the Rays .
Blue Jays left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. went 2 for 4 in the loss .
Blue Jays starter Matt Shoemaker allowed two hits in three scoreless innings .
`` We did a lot of things right [ Tuesday ] , '' Rays manager Kevin Cash said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
[ Margot ] came up with a big home run and our pitching was tremendous .
We are thrilled to come out of Game 1 with a win . ''
The Rays host the Blue Jays in Game 2 at 4:07 p.m. EDT Wednesday in St. Petersburg .
Rays right-handed pitcher Tyler Glasnow is expected to start Game 2 .
Left-handed pitcher Hyun Jin Ryu is expected to start for the Blue Jays .

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Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Blake Snell had nine strikeouts in a win over the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 1 of an American League wild card series Tuesday in St. Petersburg, Fla. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 30 (UPI) -- Tampa Bay Rays ace pitcher Blake Snell spun another gem in a victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 1 of an American League wild card series in St. Petersburg, Fla. Snell allowed just one hit in 5 2/3 scoreless innings in the 3-1 win Tuesday at Tropicana Field. The 2018 American League Cy Young award winner also had nine strikeouts in the victory. Advertisement
"I'm getting into a groove," Snell told reporters. "It usually takes me awhile to get going. I'm starting to feel it. The playoff energy always gets me a lot more excited."
Left fielder Randy Arozarena scored the Rays' first run on a wild pitch in the bottom of the fourth inning. Rays right fielder Manuel Margot hit a two-run homer off Blue Jays relief pitcher A.J. Cole in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette drove in the final run of the game with a sacrifice fly RBI in the top of the eighth frame.
Rays relief pitchers Diego Castillo, Nick Anderson and Pete Fairbanks combined to allow four hits and one run over the final 3 1/3 innings. Fairbanks earned his first save of the postseason after he allowed one hit and struck out two batters in the ninth inning.
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Margot went 2 for 3 with two RBIs and a run scored for the Rays. Blue Jays left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. went 2 for 4 in the loss. Blue Jays starter Matt Shoemaker allowed two hits in three scoreless innings.
"We did a lot of things right [Tuesday]," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "We played really nice defense. [Margot] came up with a big home run and our pitching was tremendous. We are thrilled to come out of Game 1 with a win."
The Rays host the Blue Jays in Game 2 at 4:07 p.m. EDT Wednesday in St. Petersburg. Rays right-handed pitcher Tyler Glasnow is expected to start Game 2. Left-handed pitcher Hyun Jin Ryu is expected to start for the Blue Jays.
This week in Major League Baseball


upi--2020-09-30--India court acquits 32 for destruction of Babri Masjid mosque in 1992

Sept. 30 ( UPI ) -- An investigative court in India on Wednesday acquitted nearly three dozen people who were accused in the destruction of a historic mosque nearly three decades ago , due to a lack of evidence .
The Central Bureau of Investigation court made the ruling to acquit all 32 defendants in the case of the 1992 demolition of the 16th-century Babri Masjid mosque .
The accused , which included senior members of Prime Minister Narendra Modi 's Bharatiya Janata Party , had been charged with conspiracy and inciting a Hindu riot that destroyed the mosque in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The mosque was built in 1528 but destroyed by those who claimed it was built on the site of an ancient Ram temple .
The decision is the latest over a disputed area that 's caused debate between India 's Hindu majority and Muslim minority .
Last year , the Indian Supreme Court gave the site of the former mosque to Hindus in a move that concluded years of legal wrangling .
The court at the time gave Muslims another plot of land in Ayodhya on which to construct a new mosque @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the BJP 's belief and commitment towards the Ram Janmabhoomi movement , '' said defendant and BJP leader L.K .
Advani .
Many were unhappy with the verdict .
Randeep Surjewala of India 's Congress Party said it was an `` egregious violation of the law '' that violated India 's `` constitutional spirit . ''
Sitaram Yehchury of the Communist Party of India called it `` a complete travesty of Justice . ''

The Babri Masjid mosque is seen in Ayodhya, India, in the mid-19th century. The mosque was destroyed by rioters in 1992 opposed to the landmark sitting on disputed land. Photo by Samuel Bourne/Wikipedia/UPI
Sept. 30 (UPI) -- An investigative court in India on Wednesday acquitted nearly three dozen people who were accused in the destruction of a historic mosque nearly three decades ago, due to a lack of evidence. The Central Bureau of Investigation court made the ruling to acquit all 32 defendants in the case of the 1992 demolition of the 16th-century Babri Masjid mosque. Advertisement
The accused, which included senior members of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party, had been charged with conspiracy and inciting a Hindu riot that destroyed the mosque in Ayodhya, about 80 miles from Lucknow.
The mosque was built in 1528 but destroyed by those who claimed it was built on the site of an ancient Ram temple.
The decision is the latest over a disputed area that's caused debate between India's Hindu majority and Muslim minority. Last year, the Indian Supreme Court gave the site of the former mosque to Hindus in a move that concluded years of legal wrangling.
The court at the time gave Muslims another plot of land in Ayodhya on which to construct a new mosque.
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"The judgment vindicates my personal and the BJP's belief and commitment towards the Ram Janmabhoomi movement," said defendant and BJP leader L.K. Advani.
Many were unhappy with the verdict.
Randeep Surjewala of India's Congress Party said it was an "egregious violation of the law" that violated India's "constitutional spirit." Sitaram Yehchury of the Communist Party of India called it "a complete travesty of Justice."


upi--2020-09-30--In photos: Scenes from California's record-breaking wildfire season

California is among several Western states experiencing a historic wildfire season , with more than 3.6 million acres burned by @ @ @ @ @ two dozen people have died with thousands of structures destroyed .
Here 's a look @ @ @ @ @

Smoke covers the deserted town of Calistoga, Calif., as the town is under mandatory evacuation with the Glass fire continuing to burn. It has grown to 58,000 acres. Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI


upi--2020-09-30--In photos: President Donald Trump, Joe Biden face off in first debate

President Donald Trump ( L ) and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden ( R ) , with Chris Wallace moderating @ @ @ @ @ first of three scheduled 90-minute presidential debates in Cleveland on Tuesday .
Photo by Kevin @

President Donald Trump (L) and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden (R), with Chris Wallace moderating, face off in the first of three scheduled 90-minute presidential debates in Cleveland on Tuesday. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI


upi--2020-09-30--White Sox's Lucas Giolito near perfect in Game 1 win over Athletics

Sept. 30 ( UPI ) -- Chicago White Sox ace Lucas Giolito almost threw a perfect game to lead his squad to a win over the Oakland Athletics in Game 1 of an American League wild card series Oakland , Calif. Giolito retired the first 18 Athletics batters in the 4-1 victory Tuesday at RingCentral Coliseum .
He did n't allow a hit or a walk until Tommy La Stella led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a single to center field .
`` For me , it was all about I 'm going to give the team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on top after nine innings , whether I throw six , seven , eight innings , '' Giolito told reporters .
`` It does n't matter .
I was just focused on executing each pitch .
`` If a perfect game happens , it happens .
That was not on my mind , whereas like the one during the season , it was very much on my mind . ''
Giolito allowed two hits and one run and had eight strikeouts in seven innings to spark the triumph .
Athletics starter Jesus Luzardo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3 1/3 innings to take the loss .
Adam Engel , Jose Abreu and Yasmani Grandal each homered for the White Sox .
Shortstop Tim Anderson went 3 for 4 in the win .
Engel gave Chicago a 1-0 lead with a 389-foot solo homer off Luzardo in the top of the second inning .
Abreu pushed the White Sox lead to 3-0 with a 412-foot , two-run shot off Luzardo in the top of the third frame .
Grandal smashed a 3-2 changeup from Athletics relief pitcher Joakim Soria to right field @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top of the eighth inning .
Right fielder Mark Canha scored the Athletics lone run on a Ramon Laureano ground out in the bottom of the eighth inning .
Giolito -- a 6-foot-6 right-handed pitcher -- threw the first no-hitter of the 2020 MLB season on Aug. 25 against the Pittsburgh Pirates .
The 2019 All-Star had a 4-3 record and a 3.48 ERA in 12 starts this season .
The Athletics host the White Sox in Game 2 at 3:10 p.m. Wednesday in Oakland .
Left-handed pitcher Dallas Keuchel is expected to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Athletics plan to hand the ball to right-handed pitcher Chris Bassitt for Game 2 .

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Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito allowed two hits and one run in seven innings to lead his team to a playoff win over the Oakland Athletics Tuesday in Oakland, Calif. File Photo by Kamil Krzaczynski/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 30 (UPI) -- Chicago White Sox ace Lucas Giolito almost threw a perfect game to lead his squad to a win over the Oakland Athletics in Game 1 of an American League wild card series Oakland, Calif. Giolito retired the first 18 Athletics batters in the 4-1 victory Tuesday at RingCentral Coliseum. He didn't allow a hit or a walk until Tommy La Stella led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a single to center field. Advertisement
"For me, it was all about I'm going to give the team the best possible chance to come out on top after nine innings, whether I throw six, seven, eight innings," Giolito told reporters. "It doesn't matter. I was just focused on executing each pitch.
"If a perfect game happens, it happens. That was not on my mind, whereas like the one during the season, it was very much on my mind."
Giolito allowed two hits and one run and had eight strikeouts in seven innings to spark the triumph. Athletics starter Jesus Luzardo allowed six hits and three runs in 3 1/3 innings to take the loss.
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Adam Engel, Jose Abreu and Yasmani Grandal each homered for the White Sox. Shortstop Tim Anderson went 3 for 4 in the win.
Engel gave Chicago a 1-0 lead with a 389-foot solo homer off Luzardo in the top of the second inning. Abreu pushed the White Sox lead to 3-0 with a 412-foot, two-run shot off Luzardo in the top of the third frame.
Grandal smashed a 3-2 changeup from Athletics relief pitcher Joakim Soria to right field for a 381-foot solo homer in the top of the eighth inning.
Right fielder Mark Canha scored the Athletics lone run on a Ramon Laureano ground out in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Giolito -- a 6-foot-6 right-handed pitcher -- threw the first no-hitter of the 2020 MLB season on Aug. 25 against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 2019 All-Star had a 4-3 record and a 3.48 ERA in 12 starts this season.
The Athletics host the White Sox in Game 2 at 3:10 p.m. Wednesday in Oakland. Left-handed pitcher Dallas Keuchel is expected to start for the White Sox. The Athletics plan to hand the ball to right-handed pitcher Chris Bassitt for Game 2.
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This week in Major League Baseball


upi--2020-09-30--Shell to cut thousands of jobs in step toward renewable energy

Sept. 30 ( UPI ) -- Oil producer Royal Dutch Shell announced Wednesday it will lay off thousands of workers by the end of 2022 as part of a step toward renewable energy .
The job cuts , which Shell said could number 9,000 , represent more than 10 % of the company 's workforce and include about 1,500 who have volunteered to be part of the reduction , the company said in a third quarter update .
The cuts are expected to reduce costs by as much as $ 2.5 billion within two years -- and are part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organizational complexity '' and restructure operations for net-zero emissions by 2050 .
`` We will have some oil and gas in the mix of energy we sell by 2050 , but it will be predominantly low-carbon electricity , low-carbon biofuels , it will be hydrogen and it will be all sorts of other solutions too , '' Shell CEO Ben van Beurden said in a statement , calling the cuts `` very painful . ''
`` [ We ] will be saying goodbye to people we know well and really like and who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But we are doing this because we have to . ''
Rival BP announced earlier this year it would cut about 10,000 jobs as it contends with lower oil prices and depressed demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
Shell said it will report sharply lower oil and gas production in its third-quarter earnings report , citing the pandemic and hurricane-related shutdowns of oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico where production was curtailed by the equivalent of up to 70 thousand barrels of oil per day .
The company also said it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , after COVID-19 lockdowns eased in many parts of the world .

The company also said it expects gasoline sales to rebound in the third quarter, after COVID-19 lockdowns eased in many parts of the world. File Photo by Gary Rothstein/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 30 (UPI) -- Oil producer Royal Dutch Shell announced Wednesday it will lay off thousands of workers by the end of 2022 as part of a step toward renewable energy. The job cuts, which Shell said could number 9,000, represent more than 10% of the company's workforce and include about 1,500 who have volunteered to be part of the reduction, the company said in a third quarter update. Advertisement
The cuts are expected to reduce costs by as much as $2.5 billion within two years -- and are part of a drive by Shell to reduce "organizational complexity" and restructure operations for net-zero emissions by 2050.
"We will have some oil and gas in the mix of energy we sell by 2050, but it will be predominantly low-carbon electricity, low-carbon biofuels, it will be hydrogen and it will be all sorts of other solutions too," Shell CEO Ben van Beurden said in a statement, calling the cuts "very painful."
"[We] will be saying goodbye to people we know well and really like and who have great loyalty to the company. But we are doing this because we have to."
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Rival BP announced earlier this year it would cut about 10,000 jobs as it contends with lower oil prices and depressed demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Shell said it will report sharply lower oil and gas production in its third-quarter earnings report, citing the pandemic and hurricane-related shutdowns of oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico where production was curtailed by the equivalent of up to 70 thousand barrels of oil per day.
The company also said it expects gasoline sales to rebound in Q3, after COVID-19 lockdowns eased in many parts of the world.


Notable deaths of 2020

National Baseball Hall of Fame member Lou Brock waves to the fans as he rides in a car around the @ @ @ @ @ Day in St. Louis on April 5 , 2019 .
The former St. Louis player @ @ @ @ @ to two World Series titles , died on September 6 at the age of 81 @ @ @ @ @

Dawn Wells
Dawn Wells poses with the original, fully restored S.S. Minnow from "Gilligan's Island" to meet and greet fans and visitors at the Vancouver International Boat Show in Vancouver on January 23, 2014. Best known for her role as Mary Ann from "Gilligan's Island," Wells died of COVID-19 on December 30 at the age of 82. Photo by Heinz Ruckemann/UPI


upi--2020-09-30--Shannen Doherty cancer battle: 'I’ve got a lot of life in me'

Sept. 30 ( UPI ) -- Shannen Doherty told Elle magazine she remains hopeful in her fight against Stage IV breast cancer .
The Beverly Hills , 90210 and Charmed actress said she intends to write letters or make videos for loved ones for after she is gone , but is n't ready yet to say her `` final '' goodbyes yet .
`` I 'm not signing off , '' she said .
`` I feel like I 'm a very , very healthy human being .
It 's hard to wrap up your affairs when you feel like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or 15 years . ''
Doherty is developing a new television show and trying to use her celebrity to raise awareness about her illness .
`` It 's like anybody with Stage IV faces this sort of thing , where others want to put you out to pasture , '' Doherty said .
`` I 'm not ready for pasture .
I 've got a lot of life in me . ''
The actress shared on Instagram Tuesday an outdoor portrait of her wearing a dress and boots and looking serious and beautiful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ magazine article came out a week after Doherty 's former 90210 co-star Jason Priestley discussed the actress ' health battle in a television interview .
`` Shannen 's a real tough girl , and Shannen 's a fighter and she 's always been a fighter , '' Priestley told Australia 's Studio 10 .
`` I know that she will continue to fight as hard as she can . ''
Doherty announced in February that her breast cancer had returned and was Stage IV , but she was undergoing treatment .
She was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chemotherapy and was cancer-free by 2017 .

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Shannen Doherty said she remains hopeful in her battle against Stage IV breast cancer. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 30 (UPI) -- Shannen Doherty told Elle magazine she remains hopeful in her fight against Stage IV breast cancer. The Beverly Hills, 90210 and Charmed actress said she intends to write letters or make videos for loved ones for after she is gone, but isn't ready yet to say her "final" goodbyes yet. Advertisement
"I'm not signing off," she said. "I feel like I'm a very, very healthy human being. It's hard to wrap up your affairs when you feel like you're going to live another 10 or 15 years."
Doherty is developing a new television show and trying to use her celebrity to raise awareness about her illness.
"It's like anybody with Stage IV faces this sort of thing, where others want to put you out to pasture," Doherty said. "I'm not ready for pasture. I've got a lot of life in me."
The actress shared on Instagram Tuesday an outdoor portrait of her wearing a dress and boots and looking serious and beautiful for the magazine photo shoot.
The magazine article came out a week after Doherty's former 90210 co-star Jason Priestley discussed the actress' health battle in a television interview.
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"Shannen's a real tough girl, and Shannen's a fighter and she's always been a fighter," Priestley told Australia's Studio 10. "I know that she will continue to fight as hard as she can."
Doherty announced in February that her breast cancer had returned and was Stage IV, but she was undergoing treatment.
She was first diagnosed in 2015, but underwent chemotherapy and was cancer-free by 2017.


upi--2020-09-30--MLB playoffs: Yankees blast Indians, Shane Bieber in Game 1

Sept. 30 ( UPI ) -- The New York Yankees touched up Cy Young award favorite Shane Bieber for seven runs to win Game 1 of their American League wild card series against the Cleveland Indians .
Yankees ace pitcher Gerrit Cole allowed two runs and had 13 strikeouts in the 12-3 victory Tuesday at Progressive Field in Cleveland .
`` It was a lot of fun and a really complete , team game , '' Cole told reporters .
`` When they scored , we responded , even when we had a sizable lead . ''
Bieber allowed nine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ runs in 4 2/3 innings .
The 2020 MLB leader in ERA , wins and strikeouts did not allow more than three runs in a game in 11 regular season starts .
`` I was n't as aggressive as I wish I would have been with my offspeed stuff in the zone and fastballs inside and just challenging these guys , '' Bieber said .
`` I fell behind quite a bit and forced myself into some bad situations and bad counts .
`` All that on top of not having my best @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This is n't the start we wanted . ''
Aaron Judge , Gleyber Torres , Brett Gardner and Giancarlo Stanton each homered for the Yankees .
Torres went 4 for 4 with three RBIs , three runs scored and a walk .
Judge got the scoring started in the second at-bat of the game after Yankees infielder D.J .
LeMahieu singled to right field .
The Yankees outfielder obliterated Bieber 's only offering of that exchange for a two-run homer to right field .
The 399-foot blast had an exit velocity of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ First baseman Luke Voit then gave the Yankees a 3-0 lead with an RBI double in the third frame .
Indians slugger Jose Ramirez smacked a ground ball RBI double to right field in the bottom of the same frame to make the score 3-1 .
Gardner pushed the Yankees lead to 4-1 with another RBI double in the top of the fourth inning .
LeMahieu gave the Yankees a 5-1 lead with an RBI single in the same inning .
Indians left fielder Josh Naylor hit a solo homer in the bottom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to the plate in the fourth at-bat of the next inning .
The Yankees shortstop smashed a 2-2 Bieber fastball over the center field fence for a two-run homer .
The 412-foot homer gave the Yankees a 7-2 lead .
Gio Urshela and Torres each hit RBI singles in the top of the seventh frame before Gardner followed with a two-run homer to give the Yankees an 11-2 edge .
Stanton brought in the Yankees final run with another solo homer to center field in the top of the ninth inning .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cam Hill had an exit velocity of 116 mph and left the field in 4.4 seconds .
Indians right fielder Tyler Naquin plated Naylor with an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth frame for the final run of the game .
Naylor went 4 for 4 with two runs scored and an RBI in the loss .
Gardner went 3 for 5 with three RBIs and two runs scored for the Yankees .
LeMahieu and Voit had two hits apiece in the win .
The Yankees face the Indians in Game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Progressive Field .

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New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge hit a solo home run in the first inning of a win over the Cleveland Indians in Game 1 of an American League wild card series Tuesday in Cleveland. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 30 (UPI) -- The New York Yankees touched up Cy Young award favorite Shane Bieber for seven runs to win Game 1 of their American League wild card series against the Cleveland Indians. Yankees ace pitcher Gerrit Cole allowed two runs and had 13 strikeouts in the 12-3 victory Tuesday at Progressive Field in Cleveland. Advertisement
"It was a lot of fun and a really complete, team game," Cole told reporters. "When they scored, we responded, even when we had a sizable lead."
Bieber allowed nine hits, two walks and two home runs in 4 2/3 innings. The 2020 MLB leader in ERA, wins and strikeouts did not allow more than three runs in a game in 11 regular season starts.
"I wasn't as aggressive as I wish I would have been with my offspeed stuff in the zone and fastballs inside and just challenging these guys," Bieber said. "I fell behind quite a bit and forced myself into some bad situations and bad counts.
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"All that on top of not having my best stuff amounted to tonight. No excuses. This isn't the start we wanted."
Aaron Judge, Gleyber Torres, Brett Gardner and Giancarlo Stanton each homered for the Yankees. Torres went 4 for 4 with three RBIs, three runs scored and a walk.
Judge got the scoring started in the second at-bat of the game after Yankees infielder D.J. LeMahieu singled to right field. The Yankees outfielder obliterated Bieber's only offering of that exchange for a two-run homer to right field. The 399-foot blast had an exit velocity of 108 mph, according to Statcast.
First baseman Luke Voit then gave the Yankees a 3-0 lead with an RBI double in the third frame. Indians slugger Jose Ramirez smacked a ground ball RBI double to right field in the bottom of the same frame to make the score 3-1.
Gardner pushed the Yankees lead to 4-1 with another RBI double in the top of the fourth inning. LeMahieu gave the Yankees a 5-1 lead with an RBI single in the same inning.
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Indians left fielder Josh Naylor hit a solo homer in the bottom of the fourth inning before Torres stepped up to the plate in the fourth at-bat of the next inning. The Yankees shortstop smashed a 2-2 Bieber fastball over the center field fence for a two-run homer. The 412-foot homer gave the Yankees a 7-2 lead.
Gio Urshela and Torres each hit RBI singles in the top of the seventh frame before Gardner followed with a two-run homer to give the Yankees an 11-2 edge.
Stanton brought in the Yankees final run with another solo homer to center field in the top of the ninth inning. The 443-foot homer off Indians relief pitcher Cam Hill had an exit velocity of 116 mph and left the field in 4.4 seconds.
Indians right fielder Tyler Naquin plated Naylor with an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth frame for the final run of the game.
Naylor went 4 for 4 with two runs scored and an RBI in the loss. Gardner went 3 for 5 with three RBIs and two runs scored for the Yankees. LeMahieu and Voit had two hits apiece in the win.
The Yankees face the Indians in Game 2 at 7:08 p.m. EDT Wednesday at Progressive Field.
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This week in Major League Baseball


upi--2020-09-30--Serena Williams withdraws from 2020 French Open due to injury

Sept. 30 ( UPI ) -- Serena Williams on Wednesday withdrew from the 2020 French Open due to an Achilles injury before she was set to play a second-round match against Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova in Paris .
The 23-time Grand Slam champion sustained the injury during her U.S. Open semifinal loss to Victoria Azarenka on Sept. 10 in Queens , N.Y. She beat fellow American Kristie Ahen in straight sets on Monday at Roland Garros before she pulled out of the Grand Slam .
`` I love playing in Paris , '' Williams told reporters Wednesday .
`` I adore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's so fun for me .
I really wanted to give an effort here .
`` My Achilles did n't have enough time to properly heal after the U.S. Open .
I was able to get it somewhat better .
Looking forward in this tournament , I do n't think I could get through enough matches .
I 'm struggling to walk so that 's a telltale sign that I should try to recover . ''
Williams -- the women 's No .
6 seed -- was on a quest to win her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 24th Grand Slam .
He last Grand Slam victory came at the 2017 Australian Open .
The 39-year-old said the injury will require two weeks of rest and four to six weeks of rehabilitation .
Pironkova moves on to face Barbora Strycova or Barbora Krejcikova in the third round of the French Open .

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Serena Williams (pictured) defeated Kristie Ahn in straight sets on Monday at the 2020 French Open before she withdrew from her second round match Wednesday in Paris. File Photo by Corey Sipkin/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 30 (UPI) -- Serena Williams on Wednesday withdrew from the 2020 French Open due to an Achilles injury before she was set to play a second-round match against Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova in Paris. The 23-time Grand Slam champion sustained the injury during her U.S. Open semifinal loss to Victoria Azarenka on Sept. 10 in Queens, N.Y. She beat fellow American Kristie Ahen in straight sets on Monday at Roland Garros before she pulled out of the Grand Slam. Advertisement
"I love playing in Paris," Williams told reporters Wednesday. "I adore the clay [courts]. It's so fun for me. I really wanted to give an effort here.
"My Achilles didn't have enough time to properly heal after the U.S. Open. I was able to get it somewhat better. Looking forward in this tournament, I don't think I could get through enough matches. I'm struggling to walk so that's a telltale sign that I should try to recover."
Williams -- the women's No. 6 seed -- was on a quest to win her fourth French Open title and a record-tying 24th Grand Slam. He last Grand Slam victory came at the 2017 Australian Open.
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The 39-year-old said the injury will require two weeks of rest and four to six weeks of rehabilitation. Pironkova moves on to face Barbora Strycova or Barbora Krejcikova in the third round of the French Open.
Serena Williams' tennis career: a look back


upi--2020-09-30--Gallup: 8 in 10 Americans favor some form of legal abortion

Sept. 30 ( UPI ) -- Eight in 10 Americans approve of legalized abortion in some form -- but the vast majority also believe there should be at least some restrictions on the procedure , a new Gallup survey shows .
According to the poll , 79 % said abortion in the United States should either be legal in all ( 29 % ) or some ( 50 % ) circumstances .
Of those who favor abortion with restrictions , 14 % said it should be legal in most circumstances , 35 % in some circumstances and 1 % did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ total of 43 % of U.S. adults believe abortion should be legal in all or most circumstances , the survey found .
The numbers also show , though , that 70 % of all respondents said abortion should either be entirely illegal ( 20 % ) or available only under certain circumstances ( 50 % ) .
The survey found that two-thirds of respondents favor upholding the landmark Supreme Court abortion case Roe vs. Wade , which legalized abortion in the United States in 1973 .
`` The combined 79 % of Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all or under certain circumstances echoes the majority public support Gallup consistently finds for upholding Roe vs. Wade , '' Gallup wrote .
The survey found that 44 % said abortion is morally acceptable and 47 % said it 's morally wrong .
Politically , 59 % of Republicans and half of independents favor at least some restrictions for abortion while 49 % of Democrats said it should be available in all conditions .
Seventy-eight percent American women say the procedure should either be fully legal ( 32 % ) or legal with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Among men , 79 % said the same .
The age range that most favored fully legalized abortion in all cases was the 18-29 group ( 39 % ) .
Gallup polled more than 1,000 U.S. adults in May for the survey , which has a margin of error of 4 points .

Abortion rights supporters demonstrate during the "Stop Abortion Bans Day of Action" rally in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on May 21, 2019. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 30 (UPI) -- Eight in 10 Americans approve of legalized abortion in some form -- but the vast majority also believe there should be at least some restrictions on the procedure, a new Gallup survey shows. According to the poll, 79% said abortion in the United States should either be legal in all (29%) or some (50%) circumstances. Advertisement
Of those who favor abortion with restrictions, 14% said it should be legal in most circumstances, 35% in some circumstances and 1% did not specify conditions.
Thus, a total of 43% of U.S. adults believe abortion should be legal in all or most circumstances, the survey found.
The numbers also show, though, that 70% of all respondents said abortion should either be entirely illegal (20%) or available only under certain circumstances (50%).
The survey found that two-thirds of respondents favor upholding the landmark Supreme Court abortion case Roe vs. Wade, which legalized abortion in the United States in 1973.
"The combined 79% of Americans who think abortion should be legal in all or under certain circumstances echoes the majority public support Gallup consistently finds for upholding Roe vs. Wade," Gallup wrote.
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The survey found that 44% said abortion is morally acceptable and 47% said it's morally wrong.
Politically, 59% of Republicans and half of independents favor at least some restrictions for abortion while 49% of Democrats said it should be available in all conditions.
Seventy-eight percent American women say the procedure should either be fully legal (32%) or legal with some restrictions (46%). Among men, 79% said the same.
The age range that most favored fully legalized abortion in all cases was the 18-29 group (39%).
Gallup polled more than 1,000 U.S. adults in May for the survey, which has a margin of error of 4 points.


upi--2020-09-30--'Borat' sequel to premiere this month on Amazon

Sept. 30 ( UPI ) -- A sequel to Sacha Baron Cohen 's 2006 mockumentary , Cultural Learnings of America @ @ @ @ @ of Kazakhstan , is set to debut on Amazon next month .
An exact date @ @ @ @ @ , but Variety said Borat : Gift of Pornographic Monkey to Vice Premiere Mikhael Pence @ @ @ @ @ Nation of Kazakhstan is expected to premiere shortly before the U.S. presidential election on Nov. @ @ @ @ @ film , Cohen posed as fictional Kazak journalist Borat Sagdiyev and asked people around the @ @ @ @ @ questions in a quest to better understand the country 's culture .
Deadline said Cohen @ @ @ @ @ the Borat sequel as soon as production restrictions were lifted and safety regulations put in @ @ @ @ @ .

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Sacha Baron Cohen's "Borat" sequel is expected to premiere next month on Amazon. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 30 (UPI) -- A sequel to Sacha Baron Cohen's 2006 mockumentary, Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, is set to debut on Amazon next month. An exact date has not been announced yet, but Variety said Borat: Gift of Pornographic Monkey to Vice Premiere Mikhael Pence to Make Benefit Recently Diminished Nation of Kazakhstan is expected to premiere shortly before the U.S. presidential election on Nov. 3. Advertisement
In the original film, Cohen posed as fictional Kazak journalist Borat Sagdiyev and asked people around the United States awkward and provocative questions in a quest to better understand the country's culture.
Deadline said Cohen and a small crew filmed the Borat sequel as soon as production restrictions were lifted and safety regulations put in place during the coronavirus pandemic.


upi--2020-09-30--Watch: John Cena was nervous joining 'F9,' compares set to WWE locker room on 'Tonight Show'

Sept. 30 ( UPI ) -- John Cena appeared on The Tonight Show and discussed his experience joining the Fast and Furious franchise with F9 .
Cena was the first guest to appear in-person on The Tonight Show since the COVID-19 pandemic began .
The actor and professional wrestler told host Jimmy Fallon Tuesday he was nervous about joining the Fast and Furious series later in its life and compared walking onto the set to walking into a WWE locker room for the first time .
`` You have guys , men and women who risk their lives for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they 're very proud of .
So when we get a newcomer to walk in , you ca n't help it but , like , man , I hope this person works out because I 'm killing myself for this , '' Cena said .
`` I felt just as much pressure as my first month on the road in WWE .
But what I love about the Fast family is that as soon as they see that you 're a fan of the franchise , that your intention is for the family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Cena continued .
F9 races into theaters on April 2 , 2021 .
Cena will also star in DC Comics epic The Suicide Squad on Aug. 6 , 2021 , from director James Gunn .
Cena 's character Peacemaker is also getting his own series on HBO Max .
`` I think the most important thing as far as The Suicide Squad is concerned is the name James Gunn .
And people know James and his passion to tell the story , and his passion to weave a narrative and develop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cena said .
Cena and Fallon also played a few rounds of Toss It Over .
The game involved the pair taking turns tossing a series of random objects over a wall to see who can catch the most items .
Cena won the game in the final round as Fallon tossed over a bag of pudding that got all over Cena 's suit .

Sept. 30 (UPI) -- John Cena appeared on The Tonight Show and discussed his experience joining the Fast and Furious franchise with F9.
Cena was the first guest to appear in-person on The Tonight Show since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
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The actor and professional wrestler told host Jimmy Fallon Tuesday he was nervous about joining the Fast and Furious series later in its life and compared walking onto the set to walking into a WWE locker room for the first time.
"You have guys, men and women who risk their lives for a living and have curated this experience that they're very proud of. So when we get a newcomer to walk in, you can't help it but, like, man, I hope this person works out because I'm killing myself for this," Cena said.
"I felt just as much pressure as my first month on the road in WWE. But what I love about the Fast family is that as soon as they see that you're a fan of the franchise, that your intention is for the family, bro, they take you in," Cena continued.
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F9 races into theaters on April 2, 2021. Cena will also star in DC Comics epic The Suicide Squad on Aug. 6, 2021, from director James Gunn. Cena's character Peacemaker is also getting his own series on HBO Max.
"I think the most important thing as far as The Suicide Squad is concerned is the name James Gunn. And people know James and his passion to tell the story, and his passion to weave a narrative and develop characters that you care about," Cena said.
Cena and Fallon also played a few rounds of Toss It Over. The game involved the pair taking turns tossing a series of random objects over a wall to see who can catch the most items.
Cena won the game in the final round as Fallon tossed over a bag of pudding that got all over Cena's suit.


upi--2020-09-30--USMC F-35 Lightning II fighter crashes near U.S.-Mexico border after midair collision

Sept. 30 ( UPI ) -- A Marine Corps fighter jet has crashed in Southern California after clipping a refueling @ @ @ @ @ officials said .
The F-35B Lightning II , the military 's newest and most expensive @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday near Salton City , Calif. , and Ocotillo Wells State Park , where it @ @ @ @ @ that were quickly extinguished .
The pilot of the fighter jet ejected safely before it @ @ @ @ @ Calif. , according to a statement from officials at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma in @ @ @ @ @ the other plane , a Lockheed Martin KC-130J refueling tanker , made an emergency landing @ @ @ @ @ in a carrot field near the Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport in Thermal , Calif. , @ @ @ @ @ is located about 120 miles east of downtown San Diego , near the U.S.-Mexico border @ @ @ @ @ accident is under investigation .

A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II similar to this one crashed in Southern California on Tuesday, authorities said. File Photo by U.S. Air Force/Staff Sgt. Corey Hook/UPI
Sept. 30 (UPI) -- A Marine Corps fighter jet has crashed in Southern California after clipping a refueling tanker in flight, military officials said. The F-35B Lightning II, the military's newest and most expensive fighter aircraft, went down Tuesday near Salton City, Calif., and Ocotillo Wells State Park, where it caused some fires upon impact that were quickly extinguished. Advertisement
The pilot of the fighter jet ejected safely before it crashed in Imperial Valley, Calif., according to a statement from officials at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma in Arizona.
The pilot received minor injuries.
The crew of the other plane, a Lockheed Martin KC-130J refueling tanker, made an emergency landing with its wheels still retracted in a carrot field near the Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport in Thermal, Calif., witnesses said.
Imperial Valley is located about 120 miles east of downtown San Diego, near the U.S.-Mexico border.
The cause of the accident is under investigation.