upi--2020-10-31--CDC unveils guidance to allow cruise ships to return to sea

Oct. 31 ( UPI ) -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has lifted its `` no sail '' order for passenger cruise ships and unveiled new guidelines for the gradual resumption of voyages .
The CDC on Friday issued what it called a `` conditional sailing order '' that requires the cruise line industry to implement certain safety procedures to limit the spread of COVID-19 among passengers and local communities before it ships can return to operation .
`` This framework provides a pathway to resume safe and responsible sailing .
It will mitigate the risk of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and crew from seeding outbreaks at ports and in the communities where they live , '' CDC Director Robert R. Redfield said .
`` CDC and the cruise industry have a shared goal to protect crew , passengers , and communities and will continue to work together to ensure that all necessary public health procedures are in place before cruise ships begin sailing with passengers . ''
Under the new guidelines , cruise ship operators must build laboratories on board each vessel with enough capacity to test crew and passengers , as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such testing .
Each ship also will be required to update and use a color-coded system to indicate the ship 's status and update procedures for surveillance of COVID-19 on board .
`` Our member lines are 100 percent committed to helping to protect the health of our guests , our crew and the communities we serve , and are prepared to implement multiple layers of protocols informed by the latest scientific and medical knowledge , '' said Kelly Craighead , president and CEO of Cruise Lines International Association .
`` We look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are optimistic that it is an important step toward returning our ships to service from U.S .
ports . ''
The CDC issued a no-sail order for all cruise lines in the United States in March as the novel coronavirus began spreading among passengers of cruise ships worldwide .
Carnival Cruise Line had at least nine outbreaks , resulting in more than 1,500 cases and 39 deaths , and other cruise lines were forced to remain at sea as countries refused to allow passengers to disembark .

The cruise ship Grand Princess eases into a berth in the Port of Oakland, Calif., on March 9. The CDC said cruise lines must build laboratories on board each vessel equipped to test crew and passengers for coronavirus. File Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 31 (UPI) -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has chosen not to renew its "no sail" order for passenger cruise ships and unveiled new guidelines for the gradual resumption of voyages. The CDC on Friday issued what it called a "conditional sailing order" that requires the cruise line industry to implement certain safety procedures to limit the spread of COVID-19 among passengers and local communities before it ships can return to operation. Advertisement
"This framework provides a pathway to resume safe and responsible sailing. It will mitigate the risk of COVID-19 outbreaks on ships and prevent passengers and crew from seeding outbreaks at ports and in the communities where they live," CDC Director Robert R. Redfield said. "CDC and the cruise industry have a shared goal to protect crew, passengers, and communities and will continue to work together to ensure that all necessary public health procedures are in place before cruise ships begin sailing with passengers."
Under the new guidelines, cruise ship operators must build laboratories on board each vessel with enough capacity to test crew and passengers, as well as hire a team necessary to conduct such testing.
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Each ship also will be required to update and use a color-coded system to indicate the ship's status and update procedures for surveillance of COVID-19 on board.
"Our member lines are 100 percent committed to helping to protect the health of our guests, our crew and the communities we serve, and are prepared to implement multiple layers of protocols informed by the latest scientific and medical knowledge," said Kelly Craighead, president and CEO of Cruise Lines International Association. "We look forward to reviewing the new Order and are optimistic that it is an important step toward returning our ships to service from U.S. ports."
The CDC issued a "no-sail" order for all cruise lines in the United States in March as the novel coronavirus began spreading among passengers of cruise ships worldwide. The agency renewed the order multiple times and is allowing its current order to expire Saturday.
According to The Miami Herald, cruise ships worldwide have been linked to 3,908 COVID-19 cases and 111 deaths as of early October. Carnival Corporation was the hardest hit by the novel coronavirus, with more than 2,400 cases among crew and passengers, and 80 deaths linked to cruise ships.
Some cruise lines were forced to remain at sea as countries refused to allow passengers to disembark.


upi--2020-10-31--James Bond icon Sean Connery dead at 90

James Bond icon Sean Connery dead at 90

Oct. 31 ( UPI ) -- Scottish screen icon Sean Connery died overnight in the Bahamas , his family said .
He was 90 .
The BBC reported his death Saturday and Sky News confirmed it .
No cause was given .
Deadline said he died peacefully in the Bahamas after a long illness .
The Edinburgh native served in the Royal Navy from the time he was 16 until he was discharged on medical grounds .
Connery began his acting career on stage , but he went on to become one of the most famous film actors in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '80s .
He was known for his distinctive voice and was the first actor to play James Bond on the big screen , starting with 1962 's Dr. No .
He also portrayed the British secret agent in six other movies .
`` We are devastated by the news of the passing of Sir Sean Connery , '' Bond franchise producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli said in a statement Saturday .
`` He was and shall always be remembered as the original James Bond whose indelible entrance into cinema history began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The name 's Bond ... James Bond -- he revolutionized the world with his gritty and witty portrayal of the sexy and charismatic secret agent .
He is undoubtedly largely responsible for the success of the film series and we shall be forever grateful to him . ''
Connery 's other credits include The Wind and the Lion , Murder on the Orient Express , The Man Who Would Be King , The Name of the Rose , Highlander , Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade , The Hunt For the Red October @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Thieves .
He won an Oscar for his work in the 1987 film The Untouchables and his final on-screen role in a movie was in 2003 's The League of Extraordinary Gentleman .

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Sean Connery has died at aged 90. File Photo by Monika Graff/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 31 (UPI) -- Scottish screen icon Sean Connery died overnight in the Bahamas, his family said. He was 90. The BBC reported his death Saturday and Sky News confirmed it. Advertisement
No cause was given.
Deadline said he died peacefully in the Bahamas after a long illness.
The Edinburgh native served in the Royal Navy from the time he was 16 until he was discharged on medical grounds.
Connery began his acting career on stage, but he went on to become one of the most famous film actors in the world in the 1960s, '70s and '80s.
He was known for his distinctive voice and was the first actor to play James Bond on the big screen, starting with 1962's Dr. No. He also portrayed the British secret agent in five other movies.
Sir Sean Connery has died at the age of 90. He was the first actor to play James Bond on the big screen in Dr. No in 1962, From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice and Diamonds Are Forever followed. pic.twitter.com/VaFPHCM5Ou— James Bond (@007) October 31, 2020 Advertisement
"We are devastated by the news of the passing of Sir Sean Connery," Bond franchise producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli said in a statement Saturday.
"He was and shall always be remembered as the original James Bond whose indelible entrance into cinema history began when he announced those unforgettable words -- The name's Bond ... James Bond -- he revolutionized the world with his gritty and witty portrayal of the sexy and charismatic secret agent. He is undoubtedly largely responsible for the success of the film series and we shall be forever grateful to him."
Connery's other credits include The Wind and the Lion, Murder on the Orient Express, The Man Who Would Be King, The Name of the Rose, Highlander, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, The Hunt For the Red October, The Rock and Robin Hood Prince of Thieves.
He won an Oscar for his work in the 1987 film The Untouchables and his final on-screen role in a movie was in 2003's The League of Extraordinary Gentleman.
Notable deaths of 2020


upi--2020-10-31--Taylor Swift's 'Folklore' tops the U.S. album chart

Oct. 31 ( UPI ) -- Pop star Taylor Swift 's Folklore is the No .
1 album in the @ @ @ @ @ Coming in at No .
2 on the Billboard 200 chart dated Saturday is Pop @ @ @ @ @ Stars Aim For the Moon , followed by 21 Savage & Metro Boomin 's Savage @ @ @ @ @ 3 , Juice WRLD 's Legends Never Die at No .
4 and Tom Petty @ @ @ @ @ 5 .
Rounding out the top tier are NCT 's Resonance , Pt .
1 @ @ @ @ @ Lil Baby 's My Turn at No .
7 , the the soundtrack to Hamilton @ @ @ @ @ No .
8 , Machine Gun Kelly 's Tickets to My Downfall at No .
@ @ @ @ @ Album at No .
10 .

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Taylor Swift's "Folklore" is the No. 1 album in the United States. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 31 (UPI) -- Pop star Taylor Swift's Folklore is the No. 1 album in the United States this week. Coming in at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart dated Saturday is Pop Smoke's Shoot For the Stars Aim For the Moon, followed by 21 Savage & Metro Boomin's Savage Mode II at No. 3, Juice WRLD's Legends Never Die at No. 4 and Tom Petty's Wildflowers at No. 5. Advertisement
Rounding out the top tier are NCT's Resonance, Pt. 1 at No. 6, Lil Baby's My Turn at No. 7, the the soundtrack to Hamilton: An American Musical at No. 8, Machine Gun Kelly's Tickets to My Downfall at No. 9 and BLACKPINK's The Album at No. 10.


upi--2020-10-31--Study: 1 in 4 dentists has faced physically aggressive patients at work

Health care workers commonly experience aggression and violence at work , second only to law enforcement .
That fact may bring to mind emergency room scenes in television dramas , but a new study of 98 New York City metro area dentists found that they , too , experience high numbers of both physical and verbal aggression .
The study , published in the October issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association , found that nearly 1 in 4 dentists have experienced physical aggression and more than half have endured verbal assaults .
Attacks on their reputations , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were also common .
Led by researchers from NYU College of Dentistry , the study is the first in the United States to document aggression toward dentists .
`` Workplace violence toward health care professionals is both widespread and widely overlooked , '' said study author Kimberly Rhoades .
`` The purpose of this study was to provide an initial estimate of rates of patient aggression in dental practices in the United States , '' said Rhoades , a research scientist in the Family Translational Research Group at NYU College of Dentistry .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ any of 21 specific types of aggressive behaviors , ranging from kicking and pushing to being insulted or sworn at in their offices .
About 22 percent reported they had experienced physical aggression in the past year , while 45 percent said they had experienced it at work during their careers .
The average dentist in the survey had worked for about 17 years .
About 55 percent reported having experienced verbal aggression in the past year , and 74 percent had experience it during their careers .
About 44 percent of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past year , and 68 percent had experienced it during their careers .
Rates of aggression were consistent , regardless of differences in the dentists ' sex , race , ethnicity , specialty , age , years practicing , or average number of patients treated per day .
Their responses reflected rates that were similar to physical and reputational aggression experienced by dental students in a parallel study by NYU researchers published earlier this year .
Student dentists in that study experienced far more verbal aggression , about 86 percent .
`` Dentistry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strong negative emotions , such as fear , pain , distrust , and anger .
Many patients also experience high levels of anxiety and vulnerability , which may increase negative responses or aggression , '' Rhoades said in an NYU news release .
`` Establishing that aggression toward dentists is a problem , and how often it occurs can help us develop interventions to prevent aggression in dental practices , '' Rhoades said .
Researchers noted that a larger , national study would help determine how much aggression dentists experience .
The United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dentists .
They also suggested that dental practices should consider implementing training on preventing and de-escalating patient aggression .
Visit the American Dental Association for more on the dental profession .

Health care workers commonly experience aggression and violence at work, second only to law enforcement.
That fact may bring to mind emergency room scenes in television dramas, but a new study of 98 New York City metro area dentists found that they, too, experience high numbers of both physical and verbal aggression.
Advertisement
The study, published in the October issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association, found that nearly 1 in 4 dentists have experienced physical aggression and more than half have endured verbal assaults. Attacks on their reputations, including through lawsuits and social media, were also common.
Led by researchers from NYU College of Dentistry, the study is the first in the United States to document aggression toward dentists.
"Workplace violence toward health care professionals is both widespread and widely overlooked," said study author Kimberly Rhoades.
"The purpose of this study was to provide an initial estimate of rates of patient aggression in dental practices in the United States," said Rhoades, a research scientist in the Family Translational Research Group at NYU College of Dentistry.
Researchers asked dentists whether they had experienced any of 21 specific types of aggressive behaviors, ranging from kicking and pushing to being insulted or sworn at in their offices.
Advertisement
About 22 percent reported they had experienced physical aggression in the past year, while 45 percent said they had experienced it at work during their careers. The average dentist in the survey had worked for about 17 years.
About 55 percent reported having experienced verbal aggression in the past year, and 74 percent had experience it during their careers.
About 44 percent of the dentists had experienced reputational aggression in the past year, and 68 percent had experienced it during their careers.
Rates of aggression were consistent, regardless of differences in the dentists' sex, race, ethnicity, specialty, age, years practicing, or average number of patients treated per day.
Their responses reflected rates that were similar to physical and reputational aggression experienced by dental students in a parallel study by NYU researchers published earlier this year. Student dentists in that study experienced far more verbal aggression, about 86 percent.
"Dentistry is rife with situations that can elicit strong negative emotions, such as fear, pain, distrust, and anger. Many patients also experience high levels of anxiety and vulnerability, which may increase negative responses or aggression," Rhoades said in an NYU news release.
"Establishing that aggression toward dentists is a problem, and how often it occurs can help us develop interventions to prevent aggression in dental practices," Rhoades said.
Advertisement
Researchers noted that a larger, national study would help determine how much aggression dentists experience. The United States has a workforce of about 200,000 dentists.
They also suggested that dental practices should consider implementing training on preventing and de-escalating patient aggression.
Visit the American Dental Association for more on the dental profession.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-10-31--Famous birthdays for Oct. 31: Michael Collins, Jane Pauley

Oct. 31 ( UPI ) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Scorpio .
-- Gen. @ @ @ @ @ leader of Nationalist China , in 1887 -- Former TV news anchorman Dan Rather in @ @ @ @ @

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Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins listens as President Donald Trump delivers remarks as he and fellow Apollo 11 astronaut, Buzz Aldrin, and family members of the late Neil Armstrong, are welcomed to the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., on July 19, 2019. Collins turns 90 on October 31. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 31 (UPI) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Scorpio. They include: Advertisement
-- Dutch painter Jan Vermeer in 1632
-- Pope Clement XIV in 1705
-- English poet John Keats in 1795
-- Girl Scouts founder Juliette Gordon Low in 1860
-- Gen. Chiang Kai-shek, the first leader of Nationalist China, in 1887
-- Actor/singer Ethel Waters in 1896
-- Actor Lee Grant in 1925 (age 95)
-- Astronaut Michael Collins in 1930 (age 90)
File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI
-- Former TV news anchorman Dan Rather in 1931 (age 89)
-- Actor/director Michael Landon in 1936
-- Folk singer/songwriter Tom Paxton in 1937 (age 83)
-- Actor David Ogden Stiers in 1942
-- Actor Brian Doyle-Murray in 1945 (age 75)
-- Actor Stephen Rea in 1946 (age 74)
-- Actor Deidre Hall in 1947 (age 73)
-- Actor John Candy in 1950
-- Olympic gold medal marathon runner Frank Shorter in 1947 (age 73)
-- Broadcaster Jane Pauley in 1950 (age 70)
File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
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-- Architect Zaha Hadid in 1950
-- Actor Brian Stokes Mitchell in 1957 (age 63)
-- New Zealand director/producer Peter Jackson in 1961 (age 59)
-- Actor Rob Schneider in 1963 (age 57)
-- Rapper Ad-Rock, born Adam Horovitz, in 1966 (age 54)
-- Rapper Vanilla Ice, born Robert Matthew Van Winkle, in 1967 (age 53)
-- Actor Piper Perabo in 1976 (age 44)
-- Actor Eddie Kaye Thomas in 1980 (age 40)
-- Actor Vanessa Marano in 1992 (age 28)
-- Actor Letitia Wright in 1993 (age 27)
-- Actor Sydney Park in 1997 (age 23)
-- Singer Willow Smith in 2000 (age 0)


upi--2020-10-31--On This Day, Oct. 31: Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo crashes, killing one

Oct. 31 ( UPI ) -- On this date in history : In 1517 , Martin Luther began the Protestant Reformation by nailing a proclamation -- the 95 theses -- to the door of a church in Wittenberg , Germany .
In 1864 , Nevada was admitted to the United States as the 36th state .
In 1926 , Harry Houdini , renowned magician , illusionist and escape artist , died of peritonitis in a Detroit hospital following a blow to the abdomen .
In 1931 , with the Great Depression in full swing , the U.S. Treasury Department announced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previous two months .
In 1941 , more than a month before the United States entered World War II , a German submarine torpedoed and sunk a U.S. destroyer , the USS Reuben James .
In 1941 , the Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota -- consisting of the sculpted heads of U.S. Presidents George Washington , Thomas Jefferson , Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt -- was completed .
In 1968 , U.S. President Lyndon Johnson announced a halt to the bombing of North Vietnam .
In 1984 , Indian Prime Minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a volley of gunfire by Sikh members of her own security force .
Her son , Rajiv , succeeded her .
In 1985 , salvage divers located the remains of the booty-laden pirate ship Whydah , which sank Feb. 17 , 1717 , off Cape Cod , Mass .
In 1993 , actor River Phoenix died of a drug overdose outside of a West Hollywood , Calif. , nightclub , The Viper Room .
He starred in Stand By Me and My Own Private Idaho .
In 2004 , Iranian lawmakers chanted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after a unanimous vote to allow their government to resume uranium enrichment activities .
In 2008 , U.S. Army Gen. David Petraeus took over as head of the Central Command , in charge of military operations in Iraq , Afghanistan , Pakistan , Syria , Iran and other countries .
In 2010 , Brazilians elected Dilma Rousseff as their first female president .
The former energy minister and choice of outgoing President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva defeated Jose Serra in a runoff with 56 percent of the vote .
Rousseff won a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In 2014 , SpaceShipTwo , Virgin Galactic 's effort in spaceflight for tourists , crashed during a test flight in the Mojave Desert , killing one of the pilots and seriously injuring the other .
In 2015 , Russian airliner Metrojet Flight 9268 crashed after taking off from Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport in Egypt , killing all 224 on board .
Investigators suspected a bomb on the plane caused the crash .
In 2019 , the Islamic State named Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi as its new leader after the death of Abu Bakr @ @

1/6
The National Transportation Safety Board investigates the crash site of the Virgin Galactic prototype space tourism rocket in Mojave, Calif., on November 2, 2014, two days after the aircraft crashed. File Photo courtesy of the NTSB | License Photo
Oct. 31 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1517, Martin Luther began the Protestant Reformation by nailing a proclamation -- the 95 theses -- to the door of a church in Wittenberg, Germany. Advertisement
In 1864, Nevada was admitted to the United States as the 36th state.
In 1926, Harry Houdini, renowned magician, illusionist and escape artist, died of peritonitis in a Detroit hospital following a blow to the abdomen.
In 1931, with the Great Depression in full swing, the U.S. Treasury Department announced that 827 banks had failed during the previous two months.
In 1941, more than a month before the United States entered World War II, a German submarine torpedoed and sunk a U.S. destroyer, the USS Reuben James.
In 1941, the Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota -- consisting of the sculpted heads of U.S. Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt -- was completed.
In 1968, U.S. President Lyndon Johnson announced a halt to the bombing of North Vietnam.
UPI File Photo
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In 1984, Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated outside her home in a volley of gunfire by Sikh members of her own security force. Her son, Rajiv, succeeded her.
In 1985, salvage divers located the remains of the booty-laden pirate ship Whydah, which sank Feb. 17, 1717, off Cape Cod, Mass.
In 1993, actor River Phoenix died of a drug overdose outside of a West Hollywood, Calif., nightclub, The Viper Room. He starred in Stand By Me and My Own Private Idaho.
In 2004, Iranian lawmakers chanted, "Death to America!" after a unanimous vote to allow their government to resume uranium enrichment activities.
In 2008, U.S. Army Gen. David Petraeus took over as head of the Central Command, in charge of military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria, Iran and other countries.
In 2010, Brazilians elected Dilma Rousseff as their first female president. The former energy minister and choice of outgoing President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva defeated Jose Serra in a runoff with 56 percent of the vote. Rousseff won a second term Oct. 26, 2014.
File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI.
Advertisement
In 2014, SpaceShipTwo, Virgin Galactic's effort in spaceflight for tourists, crashed during a test flight in the Mojave Desert, killing one of the pilots and seriously injuring the other.
In 2015, Russian airliner Metrojet Flight 9268 crashed after taking off from Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport in Egypt, killing all 224 on board. Investigators suspected a bomb on the plane caused the crash.
In 2019, the Islamic State named Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi as its new leader after the death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.


upi--2020-10-31--Epilepsy meds while pregnant may increase autism risk in child, study says

Women who take the epilepsy medication valproic acid during pregnancy have more than twice the risk of having a child with autism , new research suggests .
The study also found that taking the drug during pregnancy almost doubled the odds that a child would have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder , compared to children who were n't exposed to the drug during pregnancy .
`` These women are in a bind .
Valproic acid is a first-line drug for epilepsy , and having uncontrolled epilepsy is also a risk to mom and baby , '' said study author Kelsey Wiggs .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finger at valproic acid , but we did see these associations , '' said Wiggs , a doctoral candidate in the department of psychological and brain sciences at Indiana University in Bloomington .
Wiggs noted that the study was n't designed to prove cause-and-effect relationships , only associations .
She added that the study is important because of the associations it did n't find , as well .
`` We did n't find an association with the antiseizure medications lamotrigine and carbamazepine , '' Wiggs said .
Between three and seven women out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- a seizure disorder .
The main treatment for epilepsy is antiseizure medications , according to background information in the study .
But valproic acid has been linked to a higher risk of birth defects and lower cognitive test scores -- IQ and other tests -- according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration .
The drug has also been associated with a higher risk of ADHD and autism in smaller studies , the researchers noted .
The latest study included nearly 15,000 children who were born to women with epilepsy between 1996 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the mothers took antiseizure medication during their first trimester of pregnancy .
About 10 % of the women took carbamazepine and 7 % took the medication lamotrigine .
Five percent of the women took valproic acid , which equates to 699 children .
Of those who were exposed to valproic acid in pregnancy , 36 developed autism by the age of 10 .
There were just over 11,000 kids who were n't exposed to any antiseizure medication .
Just 154 of them were diagnosed with autism .
Fifty-four of the kids exposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In those with no exposure to the drugs , 251 out of 11,000 were diagnosed with ADHD , the study authors said .
Wiggs said it 's not clear how valproic acid exposure might trigger autism or ADHD .
She said that the medication is associated with the increased metabolism of the nutrient folate .
Folate is important in the development of nervous system cells , so it 's possible that may play a role .
Dr. Steven Pacia , vice chair of neurology at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one factor , but he suspects there are likely multiple reasons why this medication is associated with higher rates of autism and ADHD .
Pacia said this study is the largest to link valproic acid to autism and ADHD , but that the drug was already known to be associated with birth defects and learning disabilities .
`` Most neurologists already try to avoid valproic acid in women who want to get pregnant .
But sometimes you ca n't control seizures with any other drug .
Then , you try to reduce the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible .
And , the majority of women taking valproic acid will have a normal child , '' he said .
The key , Pacia said , is planning .
Work with your epilepsy doctor to change medications when possible , or get on the lowest safe dose of valproic acid , especially in the first trimester .
He said most obstetricians will get women on a prenatal vitamin with plenty of folate .
Pacia also recommended getting more sleep and trying to reduce your stress levels .
Like Wiggs , Pacia also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ study was that the other antiseizure drugs were n't linked to autism or ADHD .
The findings were published online this week in the journal Neurology .
To read more about pregnancy in women who have epilepsy , visit the Epilepsy Foundation .

Women who take the epilepsy medication valproic acid during pregnancy have more than twice the risk of having a child with autism, new research suggests.
The study also found that taking the drug during pregnancy almost doubled the odds that a child would have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, compared to children who weren't exposed to the drug during pregnancy.
Advertisement
"These women are in a bind. Valproic acid is a first-line drug for epilepsy, and having uncontrolled epilepsy is also a risk to mom and baby," said study author Kelsey Wiggs.
"We're not trying to point a finger at valproic acid, but we did see these associations," said Wiggs, a doctoral candidate in the department of psychological and brain sciences at Indiana University in Bloomington.
Wiggs noted that the study wasn't designed to prove cause-and-effect relationships, only associations.
She added that the study is important because of the associations it didn't find, as well.
Advertisement
"We didn't find an association with the antiseizure medications lamotrigine and carbamazepine," Wiggs said.
Between three and seven women out of every 1,000 pregnant women have epilepsy -- a seizure disorder.
The main treatment for epilepsy is antiseizure medications, according to background information in the study. But valproic acid has been linked to a higher risk of birth defects and lower cognitive test scores -- IQ and other tests -- according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The drug has also been associated with a higher risk of ADHD and autism in smaller studies, the researchers noted.
The latest study included nearly 15,000 children who were born to women with epilepsy between 1996 and 2011. Nearly one in four of the mothers took antiseizure medication during their first trimester of pregnancy.
About 10% of the women took carbamazepine and 7% took the medication lamotrigine. Five percent of the women took valproic acid, which equates to 699 children.
Of those who were exposed to valproic acid in pregnancy, 36 developed autism by the age of 10. There were just over 11,000 kids who weren't exposed to any antiseizure medication. Just 154 of them were diagnosed with autism.
Fifty-four of the kids exposed to valproic acid developed ADHD by 10. In those with no exposure to the drugs, 251 out of 11,000 were diagnosed with ADHD, the study authors said.
Advertisement
Wiggs said it's not clear how valproic acid exposure might trigger autism or ADHD. She said that the medication is associated with the increased metabolism of the nutrient folate. Folate is important in the development of nervous system cells, so it's possible that may play a role.
Dr. Steven Pacia, vice chair of neurology at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, N.Y., said that folate might be one factor, but he suspects there are likely multiple reasons why this medication is associated with higher rates of autism and ADHD.
Pacia said this study is the largest to link valproic acid to autism and ADHD, but that the drug was already known to be associated with birth defects and learning disabilities.
"Most neurologists already try to avoid valproic acid in women who want to get pregnant. But sometimes you can't control seizures with any other drug. Then, you try to reduce the dose of the drug as much as possible. And, the majority of women taking valproic acid will have a normal child," he said.
The key, Pacia said, is planning. Work with your epilepsy doctor to change medications when possible, or get on the lowest safe dose of valproic acid, especially in the first trimester. He said most obstetricians will get women on a prenatal vitamin with plenty of folate. Pacia also recommended getting more sleep and trying to reduce your stress levels.
Advertisement
Like Wiggs, Pacia also pointed out the positive news from the study was that the other antiseizure drugs weren't linked to autism or ADHD.
The findings were published online this week in the journal Neurology.
To read more about pregnancy in women who have epilepsy, visit the Epilepsy Foundation.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-10-31--Biden, Obama criticize Trump's handling of COVID-19 at Michigan rallies

Oct. 31 ( UPI ) -- Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and former President Barack Obama criticized President Donald Trump 's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and urged Michigan voters to turn out for Tuesday 's election during rallies in the state .
Musician and Michigan native Stevie Wonder , along with Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer , Democratic U.S. Sens .
Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters appeared before a crowd of hundreds at a drive-in rally in Detroit .
`` We 've got to leave no doubt about who we are and what this country stands for , '' Obama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pair spoke at Flint 's Northwestern High School .
During the Flint appearance , Obama mocked a recent claim by President Donald Trump that doctors were inflating COVID-19 numbers for money -- a claim Biden criticized sharply when he spoke .
`` It 's perverted .
He may believe it because he does n't do anything other than for money , '' Biden said .
`` People of this nation have suffered and have sacrificed for nine months , none more so than the doctors and front-line health care workers , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their integrity , their commitment to their fellow Americans ?
It 's more than offensive .
It 's a disgrace , '' The Michigan rallies were Biden 's first joint appearance with the former president .
Vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris was in Florida Saturday holding events in Miami , Fort Lauderdale and Lake Worth , while President Trump held multiple rallies in Pennsylvania Saturday .
Biden leads Trump in Michigan , which Trump won in 2016 by 11,000 votes , by 8.7 points , according to a polling average calculated by RealClearPolitics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Biden and Harris supporters set up before Kamala Harris candidate for Vice President of the United States talks to supporters during a campaign stop for Biden for President at a drive-in rally at Florida International University in Miami Saturday. Photo by Gary I Rothstein/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 31 (UPI) -- Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and former President Barack Obama criticized President Donald Trump's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and urged Michigan voters to turn out for Tuesday's election during rallies in the state. Musician and Michigan native Stevie Wonder, along with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Democratic U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters appeared before a crowd of hundreds at a drive-in rally in Detroit. Advertisement
"We've got to leave no doubt about who we are and what this country stands for," Obama said.
Earlier in the day, the pair spoke at Flint's Northwestern High School.
During the Flint appearance, Obama mocked a recent claim by President Donald Trump that doctors were inflating COVID-19 numbers for money -- a claim Biden criticized sharply when he spoke.
"It's perverted. He may believe it because he doesn't do anything other than for money," Biden said.
"People of this nation have suffered and have sacrificed for nine months, none more so than the doctors and front-line health care workers, and this president is questioning their character, their integrity, their commitment to their fellow Americans? It's more than offensive. It's a disgrace,"
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The Michigan rallies were Biden's first joint appearance with the former president.
Vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris was in Florida Saturday holding events in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Lake Worth, while President Trump held multiple rallies in Pennsylvania Saturday.
Biden leads Trump in Michigan, which Trump won in 2016 by 11,000 votes, by 8.7 points, according to a polling average calculated by RealClearPolitics. The state has 16 electoral votes.


upi--2020-10-31--100,000 demonstrate for abortion rights in Poland

Oct. 31 ( UPI ) -- Tens of thousands of women converged on Warsaw Friday to protest a court decision that would ban nearly all abortions in Poland .
Crowds of women flooded the streets , wearing the red lightning bolt that has become the icon of the movement and playing music that included Darth Vader 's theme from Star Wars .
Friday 's demonstrations were the culmination of more than a week of protests believed to be the largest since the Solidarity movement in the 1980s that led to the collapse of communism .
Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski estimated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while protest organizers said the number of demonstrators was closer to 150,000 .
Demonstrators also marched in Gdańsk , Białystok , Poznan , Kraków , Wroclaw , Torun , Sczescin , Myślenice , Gorlice and Jasło Friday .
Thousands of men marched alongside women in the demonstrations , as well as coalition groups worried that hard-won freedoms from the post-communist era are slipping away under the rule of the Law and Justice Party .
Police flanked demonstrators amid concerns that violence could break out with right-wing activists .
So far the protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bekier , head of the right-wing Falanga , gave an interview this week in which he said thousand of nationalists would be going to the protests and that they were `` trained in combat tactics . ''
Police detained about 37 people Friday , saying most were right-wing `` soccer hooligans '' who threw flares at demonstrators .
On Oct. 22 a court ruled that abortions due to fetal defects would be unconstitutional , making abortion almost completely illegal in the country , though it is still permissible if the mother 's life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases where the pregnancy was caused by rape or incest .

People take part in the 'March on Warsaw' protest against the tightening of the abortion law in Warsaw, Poland, Friday. Photo by Radek Pietruszka/EPA-EFE
Oct. 31 (UPI) -- Tens of thousands of women converged on Warsaw Friday to protest a court decision that would ban nearly all abortions in Poland. Crowds of women flooded the streets, wearing the red lightning bolt that has become the icon of the movement and playing music that included Darth Vader's theme from Star Wars. Advertisement
Friday's demonstrations were the culmination of more than a week of protests believed to be the largest since the Solidarity movement in the 1980s that led to the collapse of communism.
Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski estimated that more than 100,000 people rallied Friday, while protest organizers said the number of demonstrators was closer to 150,000.
Demonstrators also marched in Gdańsk, Białystok, Poznan, Kraków, Wroclaw, Torun, Sczescin, Myślenice, Gorlice and Jasło Friday.
Thousands of men marched alongside women in the demonstrations, as well as coalition groups worried that hard-won freedoms from the post-communist era are slipping away under the rule of the Law and Justice Party.
Police flanked demonstrators amid concerns that violence could break out with right-wing activists.
So far the protests have largely been peaceful, but Bartosz Bekier, head of the right-wing Falanga, gave an interview this week in which he said thousand of nationalists would be going to the protests and that they were "trained in combat tactics."
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Police detained about 37 people Friday, saying most were right-wing "soccer hooligans" who threw flares at demonstrators.
On Oct. 22 a court ruled that abortions due to fetal defects would be unconstitutional, making abortion almost completely illegal in the country, though it is still permissible if the mother's life and health is at risk or in cases where the pregnancy was caused by rape or incest.


upi--2020-10-31--Federal judge rules USPS must expedite mail-in ballots in Detroit and Wisconsin

Oct. 31 ( UPI ) -- A federal judge ruled that the U.S .
Postal Service must take `` extraordinary measures '' if necessary to deliver mail-in ballots on time in Detroit and Wisconsin .
Judge Stanley A. Bastian of the U.S. District Court in Eastern Washington ruled Friday that election mail must be cleared every day , between Nov. 1 and Nov. 10 in those two regions , and should be re-classified as Priority Mail Express , if necessary .
The USPS is required to report to the court the previous day 's `` all clear '' status for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Lakeland , Wis. districts , or explain why the branch has not cleared the day 's mail , the judge 's order said .
The postal service must take `` every effort '' to deliver mail-in ballots by Election Day , including `` extraordinary measures , '' if necessary , the judge ruled .
The Detroit district has the `` worst on-time delivery of first class mail in the country , '' Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said Saturday in a statement .
Even with the judge 's ruling , Nessel said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` At this point , you should not use the mail to deliver your absentee ballot because , even with this order , we simply can not be assured it will get through the mail on time to be counted , '' Nessel said .
A U.S. House investigation found that the Detroit District mail delivery scored between 57-85 % compared to a national score of 93 % or higher elsewhere in the country .
That rate had risen to 70.9 % in early October , according to a report from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Affairs .
Thirteen state attorneys general sued the USPS in August over operational changes to mail delivery directed by U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy in July that slowed down U.S. mail , which included removing sorting machines , cutting task time and eliminating employee overtime .
Mail delivery in the Lakeland District , which covers most of Wisconsin and some areas in northern Illinois has been having delivery issues even before DeJoy 's streamlining orders .

A federal judge ruled that U.S. Postal Service facilities in Detroit and Wisconsin must take extra measures guarantee that mail-in ballots are returned by Election Day. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 31 (UPI) -- A federal judge ruled that the U.S. Postal Service must take "extraordinary measures" if necessary to deliver mail-in ballots on time in Detroit and Wisconsin. Judge Stanley A. Bastian of the U.S. District Court in Eastern Washington ruled Friday that election mail must be cleared every day, between Nov. 1 and Nov. 10 in those two regions, and should be re-classified as Priority Mail Express, if necessary. Advertisement
The USPS is required to report to the court the previous day's "all clear" status for facilities and processing centers in the Detroit and Lakeland, Wis. districts, or explain why the branch has not cleared the day's mail, the judge's order said.
The postal service must take "every effort" to deliver mail-in ballots by Election Day, including "extraordinary measures," if necessary, the judge ruled.
The Detroit district has the "worst on-time delivery of first class mail in the country," Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said Saturday in a statement. Even with the judge's ruling, Nessel said voters should probably hand-deliver any mail-in ballots.
"At this point, you should not use the mail to deliver your absentee ballot because, even with this order, we simply cannot be assured it will get through the mail on time to be counted," Nessel said.
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A U.S. House investigation found that the Detroit District mail delivery scored between 57-85% compared to a national score of 93% or higher elsewhere in the country. That rate had risen to 70.9% in early October, according to a report from the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Thirteen state attorneys general sued the USPS in August over operational changes to mail delivery directed by U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy in July that slowed down U.S. mail, which included removing sorting machines, cutting task time and eliminating employee overtime.
Mail delivery in the Lakeland District, which covers most of Wisconsin and some areas in northern Illinois has been having delivery issues even before DeJoy's streamlining orders.


upi--2020-10-31--Halloween weekend's Blue Moon to last through Sunday

Somalia 's capital city , Mogadishu is seen as the International Space Station passed over the Horn of Africa on February 19 .
This historic port on the coast of the Indian Ocean is home to more than 2 million people .
The red and orange colors in the dune fields are due to natural chemical and weathering processes that left behind traces of iron in the sandy minerals .
These dunes stand in contrast to the lightly-colored , calcium carbonate-rich sands near the shore .
Photo courtesy of NASA | NASA 's Juno mission captured this look at Jupiter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's close approach to the planet on February 17. Notable features in this view are the long , thin bands that run through the center of the image from top to bottom , observed since Juno 's first close pass by Jupiter in 2016 .
The streaks are layers of haze particles that float above the underlying cloud features .
Scientists do n't yet know precisely what these hazes are made of or how they form .
NASA/UPI | This image is one of the most photogenic examples of the many turbulent stellar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ observed during its 30-year lifetime .
The portrait features the giant nebula NGC 2014 and its neighbor NGC 2020 , which together form part of a vast star-forming region in the Large Magellanic Cloud , a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way , about 163,000 light-years away .
The image is nicknamed the `` Cosmic Reef '' because it resembles an undersea world .
Photo courtesy of NASA/ESA | This Hubble image shows a globular cluster known as NGC 104 , or , more commonly , 47 Tucanae , since it is part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Toucan ) in the southern sky .
Scientists using Hubble observed the white dwarfs in the cluster .
These dying stars migrate from the crowded center of the cluster to its outskirts .
While astronomers knew about this process , they had never seen it in action until the detailed study of 47 Tucanae .
Photo courtesy of NASA/ESA | MyCn18 , a young planetary nebula located about 8,000 light-years away , was imaged with the Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2 aboard Hubble .
This image reveals the true shape of MyCn18 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pattern of `` etchings '' in its walls .
This picture has been composed from three separate images taken in the light of ionized nitrogen ( represented by red ) , hydrogen ( green ) , and doubly ionized oxygen ( blue ) .
Photo courtesy of NASA/ESA | The Eagle Nebula 's Pillars of Creation , one of Hubble 's most iconic images , shows the pillars as seen in visible light , capturing the multi-colored glow of gas clouds , wispy tendrils of dark cosmic dust , and the rust-colored elephants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pillars .
With these new images comes better contrast and a clearer view for astronomers to study how the structure of the pillars is changing over time .
Photo courtesy of NASA/ESA | The Wide Field Camera 3 ( WFC3 ) aboard Hubble snapped this image of the planetary nebula , cataloged as NGC 6302 , but more popularly called the Bug Nebula or the Butterfly Nebula , on July 27 , 2009 .
NGC 6302 lies within our Milky Way galaxy , roughly 3800 light-years away .
The `` butterfly '' stretches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is nearly half the distance from the Sun to the nearest star , Proxima Centauri .
Photo courtesy of NASA/ESA | The NGC 4651 galaxy may look serene and peaceful as it swirls in the vast , silent emptiness of space .
It is believed that this galaxy consumed another smaller galaxy to become the beautiful spiral .
Although only a telescope like the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope , which captured this image , could give a picture this clear , NGC 4651 can also be observed with an amateur telescope .
Photo @ @ @ @

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A Blue Moon rises behind One World Trade Center and the Manhattan skyline shorty after sunset on Halloween Night on Saturday, in Green Brook Township, N.J. A blue moon only happens on Halloween approximately every 19 years. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 31 (UPI) -- October had its second full moon -- a rare Blue Moon -- beginning Saturday and lasting through Sunday. The moon appears at its fullest, opposite the sun in earth-based longitude, at 10:49 a.m. EDT on Saturday, according to NASA. It should appear full through Sunday night. Advertisement
The first full moon after the Harvest Moon -- which appeared Oct. 1 this year -- is also called the Hunter's Moon, according to the Farmer's Almanac, a moniker that appears in the Oxford English Dictionary dating back to 1710.
This full moon will appear smaller Saturday night because it occurs nearest to the time when the moon is farthest in its orbit from the Earth, at its apogee, so NASA calls it a "Micro Moon" as opposed to a Supermoon.
In astronomical terms, Blue Moons occur with a regular pattern about once every two and a half years. After October 2020, the next Blue Moon will take place in August 2023. A full moon will occur on Halloween once every 19 years in the 21st century.
The Native American name for the second full moon of autumn is the Beaver Moon, also called the Frost or Frosty Moon, or the Snow Moon, NASA says.
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In North America, the deer rut mating season is in full swing and snow geese arrive at the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland and southern Delaware. The Old Farmer's Almanac says it's best to plant garlic and dig up sweet potatoes during the Hunter's Moon.
In the Indian subcontinent, this full moon coincides with the end of monsoon rains, and is called the Sharad Purnima, coinciding with Hindu festivals marking the end of the rainy season.
Bhuddist names for the full moon mark the end of Vassa, or the three-month retreat also called the Bhuddist Lent.
The full moon falls near the end of the Buddhist Hpaung Daw U festival in Myanmar and Indochina which lasts between Oct. 17 and Nov. 3. In Thailand, this full moon coincides with the Loi Krathong festival, in which decorated baskets are floated in rivers.
Out-of-this-world images from space
The International Space Station is pictured from the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour during a flyaround of the orbiting lab that took place following its undocking from the Harmony module’s space-facing port on November 8. Photo courtesy of NASA


upi--2020-10-31--Retailers board up windows, hire extra security in advance of Election Day

Oct. 31 ( UPI ) -- Business owners in multiple American cities say they 're bracing for potential social unrest in the coming week .
This week the National Retail Federation hosted a video conference that included training for store employees on how to de-escalate tensions among customers , including those related to the election .
About 120 representatives from 60 retail brands attended the conference , and the trade group has also hired security consultants who have prepped retailers about which locations around the country are likely to experience unrest after the polls close .
Some retailers are pre-emptively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guards in some locations , as well as making plans to close early on election day .
Tiffany & Company has said `` windows of select stores in key cities will be boarded in anticipation of potential election-related activity , '' and Saks Fifth Avenue said it is `` implementing additional security measures at certain locations in the event of civil unrest due to the current election . ''
NRF has cautioned members that boarding up businesses risks alienating customers , especially if projected vandalism or unrest fails to materialize .
`` You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that , '' Stephanie Martz , general counsel of the National Retail Federation , said .
`` You do n't want to necessarily engage in this kind of grim forecasting . ''
A spokesman for Chicago 's Magnificent Mile Association said several businesses along the Michigan Avenue shopping district have boarded up their windows and have also partnered with the city to participate in an auxiliary command center on Election Day .
And in Beverly Hills , police have said they would take a `` proactive approach '' and close luxury businesses on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Walmart had originally announced it would remove guns and ammunition from the shelves in more than 2,000 stores in advance of Election Day , but the retailer changed direction Friday and began to replace the products on shelves , Bloomberg reported .
During this year 's presidential campaign , President Donald Trump demurred when asked closed-ended questions about whether he would commit to peaceful transition of power should he lose the election , saying , `` Well , we 're going to have to see what happens . ''

Workers board up businesses near the White House, Saturday, October 31, 2020, Washington, DC. Precautions are being made in case of violence on or after Election Day, Tuesday, November 3. Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 31 (UPI) -- Business owners in multiple American cities say they're bracing for potential social unrest in the coming week. This week the National Retail Federation hosted a video conference that included training for store employees on how to de-escalate tensions among customers, including those related to the election. Advertisement
About 120 representatives from 60 retail brands attended the conference, and the trade group has also hired security consultants who have prepped retailers about which locations around the country are likely to experience unrest after the polls close.
Some retailers are pre-emptively boarding up stores and hiring overnight security guards in some locations, as well as making plans to close early on election day.
Tiffany & Company has said "windows of select stores in key cities will be boarded in anticipation of potential election-related activity," and Saks Fifth Avenue said it is "implementing additional security measures at certain locations in the event of civil unrest due to the current election."
NRF has cautioned members that boarding up businesses risks alienating customers, especially if projected vandalism or unrest fails to materialize.
"You are sending a message when you do that," Stephanie Martz, general counsel of the National Retail Federation, said. "You don't want to necessarily engage in this kind of grim forecasting."
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Local business associations have also told reporters they're taking precautionary measures.
A spokesman for Chicago's Magnificent Mile Association said several businesses along the Michigan Avenue shopping district have boarded up their windows and have also partnered with the city to participate in an auxiliary command center on Election Day.
And in Beverly Hills, police have said they would take a "proactive approach" and close luxury businesses on Rodeo Drive, on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Walmart had originally announced it would remove guns and ammunition from the shelves in more than 2,000 stores in advance of Election Day, but the retailer changed direction Friday and began to replace the products on shelves, Bloomberg reported.
During this year's presidential campaign, President Donald Trump demurred when asked closed-ended questions about whether he would commit to peaceful transition of power should he lose the election, saying, "Well, we're going to have to see what happens."


upi--2020-10-31--Death toll rises to 39 in Turkey earthquake

Oct. 31 ( UPI ) -- Turkish officials said Saturday that the death toll of a magnitude-7.0 earthquake has risen to at least 39 people with more than 800 injured in the coastal city of Izmir The U.S. Geological Survey earthquake said the quake struck offshore of the Greek city of Neon Karlovasion , north of the Island of Simos in the eastern Aegean Sea , around 1:50 p.m. Friday .
Around 20 buildings collapsed in Izmir , a city on the western edge of Anatolia with a population of 3 million people .
Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in intensive care .
Those included a mother and three children , who were found after 23 hours inside a collapsed building .
One of the children died .
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday he would visit the region to see the damage .
The leaders of both Greece and Turkey , longtime adversaries , said they made contact with each other Friday .
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said he called Erdogan `` to offer my condolences for the tragic loss of life from the earthquake that struck both our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show solidarity in difficult times is more valuable than many things in life , '' Ergodan tweeted .
The Aegean Sea is the site of historic seismic activity due to a network of underwater tectonic plates and faults .
The USGS called the earthquake an `` intraplate event , '' where the Africa plate grinds against the the Eurasia tectonic plate .
`` While commonly plotted as points on maps , earthquakes of this size are more appropriately described as slip over a larger fault area , '' the USGS said .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area was a 1956 quake followed by aftershocks and a tsunami that killed 53 people and injured more than 100 in Greece .
On July 20 , 2017 , a temblor measuring 6.6-magnitude in Bodrum , Turkey , killed two people .

At least 35 people are dead and more than 800 injured in the Turkish city of Izmir after a 7-magnitude earthquake struck Friday off the coast in the Aegean Sea. Photo by Erdem Sahin/EPA-EFE
Oct. 31 (UPI) -- Turkish officials said Saturday that the death toll of a magnitude-7.0 earthquake has risen to at least 39 people with more than 800 injured in the coastal city of Izmir The U.S. Geological Survey earthquake said the quake struck offshore of the Greek city of Neon Karlovasion, north of the Island of Simos in the eastern Aegean Sea, around 1:50 p.m. Friday. Advertisement
Around 20 buildings collapsed in Izmir, a city on the western edge of Anatolia with a population of 3 million people.
Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said 243 people were hospitalized, with eight in intensive care. Those included a mother and three children, who were found after 23 hours inside a collapsed building. One of the children died.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday he would visit the region to see the damage.
The leaders of both Greece and Turkey, longtime adversaries, said they made contact with each other Friday.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said he called Erdogan "to offer my condolences for the tragic loss of life from the earthquake that struck both our countries."
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Ergodan also offered condolences to Greece.
"That two neighbors show solidarity in difficult times is more valuable than many things in life," Ergodan tweeted.
The Aegean Sea is the site of historic seismic activity due to a network of underwater tectonic plates and faults. The USGS called the earthquake an "intraplate event," where the Africa plate grinds against the the Eurasia tectonic plate.
"While commonly plotted as points on maps, earthquakes of this size are more appropriately described as slip over a larger fault area," the USGS said.
The largest earthquake in recent memory in this area was a 1956 quake followed by aftershocks and a tsunami that killed 53 people and injured more than 100 in Greece. On July 20, 2017, a temblor measuring 6.6-magnitude in Bodrum, Turkey, killed two people.


upi--2020-10-31--Vancouver, Wash., braces for unrest after fatal police shooting of Kevin Peterson

Oct. 31 ( UPI ) -- Vancouver , Wash. , residents prepared for more unrest along with Halloween mischief Saturday following a night of protests over the fatal shooting of Kevin Peterson Jr. , 21 , on Thursday by Clark County deputies .
Patriot Prayer leader Joey Gibson , an organizer of local right-wing events , announced a `` flag wave '' at a park in Vancouver Saturday night , claiming that Portland `` antifa '' would be coming back to Vancouver for another night of demonstrations .
The Pacific Northwest Youth Liberation Front , a left-wing group which has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has announced a Saturday-afternoon Halloween party in neighboring Portland followed by a demonstration , but did not mention plans to go to Vancouver .
Late Friday night , about 500 protesters clashed with rightwing counterprotesters in downtown Vancouver , following a march from an earlier vigil at the site of the shooting in Hazel Dell .
Shots were fired and protestors chanted `` Black Lives Matter , '' while some threw rocks through windows of public buildings , spray painted walls and burned flags Friday night .
Federal agents in riot gear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deputies and Vancouver police finally dispersed the crowds around midnight .
About 1,000 people attended a candlelight vigil earlier Friday night in the U.S. Bank parking lot where Peterson was killed , including members of his family .
Right-wing counterprotesters , some openly carrying weapons , arrived on the scene and buzzed the area with trucks , according to live coverage by Oregon Public Broadcasting .
Two trucks crashed into each other and someone fired shots , but there were no injuries , OPB reported .
One person was arrested Friday .
Peterson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and played on a local high school football team , his family said .
`` He did everything for our daughter .
He stepped up at such a young age and was truly amazing , '' Peterson 's girlfriend , Olivia Selto , told the Columbian Friday .
`` I was on the phone before the shots and stayed on the phone for nine minutes until the police finally came over and hung up the phone , '' Selto said .
`` I heard his last words and everything , '' she added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we will get justice for his wrongful death . ''
Clark County Sheriff Chuck Atkins held a news conference Friday afternoon in which he said that a drug task force had identified Peterson as suspected of selling drugs in a hotel parking lot .
Atkins said Peterson `` reportedly fired a weapon '' at sheriff 's deputies .
Atkins called for calm on Friday ahead of the vigil , saying , `` It 's important to relate that the loss of a young man 's life likely means there is a grieving father @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is right and correct that the community would grieve along with this family . ''
The incident is being investigated by the Southwest Washington Independent Investigation Team led by the Camas Police Department .
Unrest and protests and clashes between left and right-wing groups have been taking place in nearby Portland , Ore. , since the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May .

Vancouver, Wash., protesters clashed with armed counter protesters Friday after a march following a vigil for a Black man who was fatally shot by Clark County sheriff's deputies. File Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 31 (UPI) -- Vancouver, Wash., residents prepared for more unrest along with Halloween mischief Saturday following a night of protests over the fatal shooting of Kevin Peterson Jr., 21, on Thursday by Clark County deputies. Patriot Prayer leader Joey Gibson, an organizer of local right-wing events, announced a "flag wave" at a park in Vancouver Saturday night, claiming that Portland "antifa" would be coming back to Vancouver for another night of demonstrations. Advertisement
The Pacific Northwest Youth Liberation Front, a left-wing group which has organized protests in the area since May, has announced a Saturday-afternoon Halloween party in neighboring Portland followed by a demonstration, but did not mention plans to go to Vancouver.
Late Friday night, about 500 protesters clashed with rightwing counterprotesters in downtown Vancouver, following a march from an earlier vigil at the site of the shooting in Hazel Dell. Shots were fired and protestors chanted "Black Lives Matter," while some threw rocks through windows of public buildings, spray painted walls and burned flags Friday night. Federal agents in riot gear, along with Clark County sheriff's deputies and Vancouver police finally dispersed the crowds around midnight.
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About 1,000 people attended a candlelight vigil earlier Friday night in the U.S. Bank parking lot where Peterson was killed, including members of his family.
Right-wing counterprotesters, some openly carrying weapons, arrived on the scene and buzzed the area with trucks, according to live coverage by Oregon Public Broadcasting. Two trucks crashed into each other and someone fired shots, but there were no injuries, OPB reported. One person was arrested Friday.
Peterson was the father of a young daughter and played on a local high school football team, his family said.
"He did everything for our daughter. He stepped up at such a young age and was truly amazing," Peterson's girlfriend, Olivia Selto, told the Columbian Friday.
"I was on the phone before the shots and stayed on the phone for nine minutes until the police finally came over and hung up the phone," Selto said. "I heard his last words and everything," she added. "I'm devastated, and we will get justice for his wrongful death."
Clark County Sheriff Chuck Atkins held a news conference Friday afternoon in which he said that a drug task force had identified Peterson as suspected of selling drugs in a hotel parking lot. Atkins said Peterson "reportedly fired a weapon" at sheriff's deputies.
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Atkins called for calm on Friday ahead of the vigil, saying, "It's important to relate that the loss of a young man's life likely means there is a grieving father, mother and other family. It is right and correct that the community would grieve along with this family."
The incident is being investigated by the Southwest Washington Independent Investigation Team led by the Camas Police Department.
Unrest and protests and clashes between left and right-wing groups have been taking place in nearby Portland, Ore., since the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May.


upi--2020-10-31--Russia agrees to aid Armenia if Azeri clashes spread to its territory

Oct. 31 ( UPI ) -- Russia agreed Saturday to aid Armenia if Azerbaijan conflict expands beyond Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenian territory .
In a statement , Russian Foreign Ministry said it will offer `` all the necessary assistance '' if the Azeri clashes spill into it territory under the Treaty of Friendship , Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between the countries , which dates back to August 29 , 1997 .
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had sent a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin requesting `` urgent consultations '' on the type of security assistance it could provide under the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia-mediated ceasefire took effect to bring a temporary stop to fighting over control of the Nagorno-Karabakh territory , but hours later Armenia and Azerbaijan accused each other of violating the agreement .
The territory is administered by ethnic Armenians , but located within Azerbaijan 's borders .
Armenia and Azerbaijan have disagreed over its control since the Soviet Union dissolved in the early 1990s .
Armenians settled in the Nagonro-Karabakh region after the Soviet Union dissolved , but it is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan .
Less than 24 hours after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Armenia shelled its second-largest city of Ganja , killing at lease nine civilians and injuring 34 people .
In mid-October , Azerbaijan and Armenia agreed to a new temporary humanitarian ceasefire agreement .
The conflict between the two countries has become more intense since Sept. 27 , when Pashinyan declared martial law amid both sides accusing each other of attacks on civilians .
Turkey has stood with Azerbaijan in the military conflict .
In September , Russia criticized the Turkish government for sending 1,000 Syrian jihadist recruits , trained by a-Sham and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region .

Azerbaijan rescuers carry a body of a local resident allegedly killed by shelling in Ganja, Azerbaijan earlier this month. File Photo by Aziz Karimov/EPA-EFE
Oct. 31 (UPI) -- Russia agreed Saturday to aid Armenia if Azerbaijan conflict expands beyond Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenian territory. In a statement, Russian Foreign Ministry said it will offer "all the necessary assistance" if the Azeri clashes spill into it territory under the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between the countries, which dates back to August 29, 1997. Advertisement
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had sent a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin requesting "urgent consultations" on the type of security assistance it could provide under the treaty.
Earlier this month, a Russia-mediated ceasefire took effect to bring a temporary stop to fighting over control of the Nagorno-Karabakh territory, but hours later Armenia and Azerbaijan accused each other of violating the agreement.
The territory is administered by ethnic Armenians, but located within Azerbaijan's borders. Armenia and Azerbaijan have disagreed over its control since the Soviet Union dissolved in the early 1990s.
Armenians settled in the Nagonro-Karabakh region after the Soviet Union dissolved, but it is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan.
Less than 24 hours after the ceasefire agreement went into effect, Azerbaijan said Armenia shelled its second-largest city of Ganja, killing at lease nine civilians and injuring 34 people.
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In mid-October, Azerbaijan and Armenia agreed to a new temporary humanitarian ceasefire agreement. The conflict between the two countries has become more intense since Sept. 27, when Pashinyan declared martial law amid both sides accusing each other of attacks on civilians.
Turkey has stood with Azerbaijan in the military conflict.
In September, Russia criticized the Turkish government for sending 1,000 Syrian jihadist recruits, trained by a-Sham and working for a private Turkish security firm, to the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.


upi--2020-10-31--French authorities arrest two in connection with Nice knife attack

Oct. 31 ( UPI ) -- French officials say they have arrested two men suspected of being in contact with the man who killed three people at a church in Nice Thursday .
French security forces have not said what connection the men , aged 47 and 35 , may have had to the attack at a Catholic basilica in the southern part of the country .
Authorities have described the stabbing as a terrorist attack and placed the country on its highest terrorism threat level immediately following the incident .
Gérald Darmanin , the interior minister , said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support for freedom of expression and secularism .
Darmanin told a radio station Friday that the main suspect , 21-year-old Brahim Aouissaui , had arrived in Italy from Tunisia in September and then traveled to France .
Aouissaui was shot by police during the attack and remains in the hospital .
The attack came two weeks after middle-school history teacher Samuel Paty was beheaded after showing students controversial caricatures depicting the Prophet Muhammad to his students during a discussion of the 2015 attack on the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo .
On Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understood Muslims ' shock over the cartoons , but that violence was not justified .
`` I understand the sentiments being expressed and I respect them .
But you must understand my role right now , it 's to do two things : to promote calm and also to protect these rights , '' Macron said .
`` I will always defend in my country the freedom to speak , to write , to think , to draw . ''
Also on Saturday , French police arrested a suspect in connection with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the city of Lyon .
The priest survived the shooting but authorities said he was seriously injured .
Police say they have not ruled out the possibility of terrorism but also said the shooting may have happened after a personal dispute .

Palestinians carry flags as they protest against the publications of a cartoon of Prophet Mohammad in France during a demonstration in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip Friday. Photo by Ismael Mohamad/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 31 (UPI) -- French officials say they have arrested two men suspected of being in contact with the man who killed three people at a church in Nice Thursday. French security forces have not said what connection the men, aged 47 and 35, may have had to the attack at a Catholic basilica in the southern part of the country. Advertisement
Authorities have described the stabbing as a terrorist attack and placed the country on its highest terrorism threat level immediately following the incident.
Gérald Darmanin, the interior minister, said the country was being targeted because of its support for freedom of expression and secularism.
Darmanin told a radio station Friday that the main suspect, 21-year-old Brahim Aouissaui, had arrived in Italy from Tunisia in September and then traveled to France. Aouissaui was shot by police during the attack and remains in the hospital.
The attack came two weeks after middle-school history teacher Samuel Paty was beheaded after showing students controversial caricatures depicting the Prophet Muhammad to his students during a discussion of the 2015 attack on the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.
On Saturday French president Emmanuel Macron told Al-Jazeera he understood Muslims' shock over the cartoons, but that violence was not justified.
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"I understand the sentiments being expressed and I respect them. But you must understand my role right now, it's to do two things: to promote calm and also to protect these rights," Macron said. "I will always defend in my country the freedom to speak, to write, to think, to draw."
Also on Saturday, French police arrested a suspect in connection with a shooting that injured a Greek Orthodox priest in the city of Lyon.
The priest survived the shooting but authorities said he was seriously injured. Police say they have not ruled out the possibility of terrorism but also said the shooting may have happened after a personal dispute.


upi--2020-10-31--British PM Boris Johnson announces new COVID-19 lockdown

Oct. 31 ( UPI ) -- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Saturday announced a new COVID-19 lockdown to take effect Thursday if passed by Parliament .
Johnson said the lockdown would close down pubs , bars and restaurants except for takeout and delivery service through Dec. 2 .
Shops for food and other essential items and schools will remain open throughout the lockdown .
The prime minister said this means everyone should stay at home except for essential activities , such as medical reasons , providing care for vulnerable people , work , exercise , recreation , picking up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school .
Johnson also said that `` exclusive support bubbles , '' including interactions with one other household outside the main household , could continue .
`` I 'm under no illusions how difficult this will be for businesses , and I 'm truly sorry for that , '' Johnson said .
Johnson previously resisted lockdown measures , but said it 's `` absolutely vital to act now to save lives . ''
Prior to his announcement , Johnson 's COVID-19 scientific advisors reviewed models showing hospitalizations and deaths could get worse than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spring without action .
Britain reported 24,405 new coronavirus cases and 274 deaths for Friday .
The country has had more than 1 million cases and 46,000 deaths since the start of the pandemic , according to The New York Times ' global coronavirus tracker .
Meanwhile , Brazilian Health Minister Eduardo Pazuello has been hospitalized for dehydration after testing positive for COVID-19 last week .
Pazuello was admitted to the hospital in the capital of Brasilia on Friday for medical exams and doctors said the minister was dehydrated , CNN Brazil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a COVID-19 complication caused the hospitalization .
Pazuello is the third health minister President Jair Bolsonaro has appointed after the first two clashed with Bolsonaro over how to handle the pandemic .
Pazuello has supported the president .
Bolsonaro and dozens of Cabinet members and elected officials have tested positive for COVID-19 since the pandemic began .
Brazil has reported over 5.5 million cases of COVID-19 and over 159,000 deaths , which is the second-highest death toll worldwide , according to the Johns Hopkins University 's global tracker .
The United States is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with over 9 million cases and over 229,000 deaths , according to Johns Hopkins data .
Germany on Saturday announced a new daily record of 19,059 COVID-19 cases amid a second wave of the virus across Europe .
The country 's previous record for new daily cases was 18,681 , according to the Robert Koch Institute , Germany 's public health office .
German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned Friday of a long , hard winter as she spoke about new restrictions to curb the spread .
The new restrictions will come into effect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , gyms and theaters , Merkel said .
Germany has reported 527,916 cases and 10,469 deaths since the pandemic began , Johns Hopkins data shows .
Ukraine also reported a daily record of 8,752 new cases for Friday , the national security council said , up from 8,312 new cases reported for Thursday .
`` In my opinion , based on various factors in our country , including economic ones , a complete lockdown we should avoid it as much as possible '' Maksym Stepanov said in a Kyiv briefing on Friday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the government has imposed certain restrictions on business , according to UNIAN .
Ukraine has reported 399,330 cases and 7,399 deaths to date , according to the Johns Hopkins data .
Other countries across Europe are tightening restrictions as COVID-19 cases surge across the continent .
Austria announced Saturday it would impose a night-time curfew and close all but take-away service at cafes , bars and restaurants as COVID-19 levels approach an unsustainable level in hospitals , according to the government .
The country similarly had a lockdown during the first wave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not take this decision lightly but it is necessary , '' Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz told reporters at a news conference announcing the new COVID-19 restrictions .
The new restrictions will take effect from Tuesday through the end of November and will include a curfew from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m .
Secondary schools and universities will move to remote learning , and hotels will close to all but business travelers , Kurz added , but restrictions will fall short of a total lockdown as shops , industry , kindergarten and primary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over 104,000 COVID-19 cases and 1,109 deaths from the coronavirus .
In France , the government restored a lockdown Friday , which ordered people to stay at home except for essential work or medical reasons .
The lockdown was needed because the country risked being `` overwhelmed by a second wave that no doubt will be harder than the first , '' President Emmanuel Macron said .
Over the past 24 hours , France has reported 49,215 new COVID-19 cases , compared with 47,637 new cases on Thursday and 36,437 new cases on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million cases and 36,605 deaths since the pandemic began , according to the global tracker .
The lockdown came after scientists and officials heading up efforts to control COVID-19 said that the government 's already tight restrictions were failing as deaths doubled every six days .
`` Our country is in a health emergency , '' said Alexander De Croo , Belgium 's prime minister .
`` The pressure on hospitals is immense , our care providers are making inhuman efforts .
In the past week , 100,000 of our fellow countrymen were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change ... We are moving to a stricter lockdown . ''
From Monday , the government in Belgium has ordered all non-essential businesses closed for six weeks , including hairdressers .
Supermarkets will be the only businesses allowed to sell essential items .
Belgium has reported 412,314 cases and 11,452 deaths to date , according to Johns Hopkins data .
Earlier this week , the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention said Belgium had the highest number of COVID-19 infections per 100,000 people in Europe .
German Health Minister Jens Spahn said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neighboring countries for as long at it could with intensive care units under strain in many countries , including in Belgium .
Belgium transferred some of its first patients to Germany on Thursday .
Italy reported a record 26,831 COVID-19 new daily infections Thursday , the highest daily total since the beginning of the pandemic .
Still , protesters have taken to the streets in the past week in various cities across Italy to protest new lockdown measures , including the closing of theatres , gyms and swimming pools and the closing or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minister Giuseppe Conte said he wants to give the new measures a couple weeks to take effect before deciding whether to order a full shutdown similar to France .
Authorities arrested about 20 people in Florence , Italy , amid protests against lockdown measures .
The restrictions sparked protests in Rome , Milan , Naples and Turin earlier this week , including violence and vandalism , and riot police firing teargas at groups of young people hurling bottles and rocks .
Italy has reported 647,674 COVID-19 cases and 38,321 COVID-19 deaths since the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data shows .
Other countries across Europe , including Scotland , Slovakia , and Greece , have also imposed new coronavirus restrictions as cases surge .
Worldwide , COVID-19 has infected over 45 million people and killed over 1 million people .

1/3
A woman passes a sanitizing station for cleaning of hands in Oxford Street in London, Britain. File Photo by Neil Hall/EPA-EFE
Oct. 31 (UPI) -- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Saturday announced a new COVID-19 lockdown to take effect Thursday if passed by Parliament. Johnson said the lockdown would close down pubs, bars and restaurants except for takeout and delivery service through Dec. 2. Advertisement
Shops for food and other essential items and schools will remain open throughout the lockdown.
The prime minister said this means everyone should stay at home except for essential activities, such as medical reasons, providing care for vulnerable people, work, exercise, recreation, picking up essential items, escaping from harm and school.
Johnson also said that "exclusive support bubbles," including interactions with one other household outside the main household, could continue.
"I'm under no illusions how difficult this will be for businesses, and I'm truly sorry for that," Johnson said.
Johnson previously resisted lockdown measures, but said it's "absolutely vital to act now to save lives."
Advertisement
Prior to his announcement, Johnson's COVID-19 scientific advisors reviewed models showing hospitalizations and deaths could get worse than the peak in the first wave in the spring without action.
Britain reported 24,405 new coronavirus cases and 274 deaths for Friday. The country has had more than 1 million cases and 46,000 deaths since the start of the pandemic, according to The New York Times' global coronavirus tracker.
Meanwhile, Brazilian Health Minister Eduardo Pazuello has been hospitalized for dehydration after testing positive for COVID-19 last week.
Pazuello was admitted to the hospital in the capital of Brasilia on Friday for medical exams and doctors said the minister was dehydrated, CNN Brazil reported.
The Health Ministry denied that a COVID-19 complication caused the hospitalization.
Pazuello is the third health minister President Jair Bolsonaro has appointed after the first two clashed with Bolsonaro over how to handle the pandemic. Pazuello has supported the president.
Bolsonaro and dozens of Cabinet members and elected officials have tested positive for COVID-19 since the pandemic began.
Brazil has reported over 5.5 million cases of COVID-19 and over 159,000 deaths, which is the second-highest death toll worldwide, according to the Johns Hopkins University's global tracker.
Advertisement
The United States is the current epicenter of he pandemic, with over 9 million cases and over 229,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins data.
Germany on Saturday announced a new daily record of 19,059 COVID-19 cases amid a second wave of the virus across Europe.
The country's previous record for new daily cases was 18,681, according to the Robert Koch Institute, Germany's public health office.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned Friday of a long, hard winter as she spoke about new restrictions to curb the spread.
The new restrictions will come into effect Monday, including closing restaurants, bars, gyms and theaters, Merkel said.
Germany has reported 527,916 cases and 10,469 deaths since the pandemic began, Johns Hopkins data shows.
Ukraine also reported a daily record of 8,752 new cases for Friday, the national security council said, up from 8,312 new cases reported for Thursday.
"In my opinion, based on various factors in our country, including economic ones, a complete lockdown we should avoid it as much as possible" Maksym Stepanov said in a Kyiv briefing on Friday, UNIAN reported.
Instead of a shutdown, the government has imposed certain restrictions on business, according to UNIAN.
Advertisement
Ukraine has reported 399,330 cases and 7,399 deaths to date, according to the Johns Hopkins data.
Other countries across Europe are tightening restrictions as COVID-19 cases surge across the continent.
Austria announced Saturday it would impose a night-time curfew and close all but take-away service at cafes, bars and restaurants as COVID-19 levels approach an unsustainable level in hospitals, according to the government.
The country similarly had a lockdown during the first wave of infection in March.
"We did not take this decision lightly but it is necessary," Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz told reporters at a news conference announcing the new COVID-19 restrictions.
The new restrictions will take effect from Tuesday through the end of November and will include a curfew from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Secondary schools and universities will move to remote learning, and hotels will close to all but business travelers, Kurz added, but restrictions will fall short of a total lockdown as shops, industry, kindergarten and primary schools remain open.
Austria has reported over 104,000 COVID-19 cases and 1,109 deaths from the coronavirus.
In France, the government restored a lockdown Friday, which ordered people to stay at home except for essential work or medical reasons.
Advertisement
The lockdown was needed because the country risked being "overwhelmed by a second wave that no doubt will be harder than the first," President Emmanuel Macron said.
Over the past 24 hours, France has reported 49,215 new COVID-19 cases, compared with 47,637 new cases on Thursday and 36,437 new cases on Wednesday.
France has reported over 1.3 million cases and 36,605 deaths since the pandemic began, according to the global tracker.
Belgium also restored a lockdown on Friday.
The lockdown came after scientists and officials heading up efforts to control COVID-19 said that the government's already tight restrictions were failing as deaths doubled every six days.
"Our country is in a health emergency," said Alexander De Croo, Belgium's prime minister. "The pressure on hospitals is immense, our care providers are making inhuman efforts. In the past week, 100,000 of our fellow countrymen were infected, we do not see any change ... We are moving to a stricter lockdown."
From Monday, the government in Belgium has ordered all non-essential businesses closed for six weeks, including hairdressers. Supermarkets will be the only businesses allowed to sell essential items.
Belgium has reported 412,314 cases and 11,452 deaths to date, according to Johns Hopkins data.
Advertisement
Earlier this week, the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention said Belgium had the highest number of COVID-19 infections per 100,000 people in Europe.
German Health Minister Jens Spahn said the country would open its hospitals to neighboring countries for as long at it could with intensive care units under strain in many countries, including in Belgium.
Belgium transferred some of its first patients to Germany on Thursday.
Italy reported a record 26,831 COVID-19 new daily infections Thursday, the highest daily total since the beginning of the pandemic.
Still, protesters have taken to the streets in the past week in various cities across Italy to protest new lockdown measures, including the closing of theatres, gyms and swimming pools and the closing or restaurants and bars at 6 p.m.
Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said he wants to give the new measures a couple weeks to take effect before deciding whether to order a full shutdown similar to France.
Authorities arrested about 20 people in Florence, Italy, amid protests against lockdown measures. The restrictions sparked protests in Rome, Milan, Naples and Turin earlier this week, including violence and vandalism, and riot police firing teargas at groups of young people hurling bottles and rocks.
Advertisement
Italy has reported 647,674 COVID-19 cases and 38,321 COVID-19 deaths since the start of the pandemic, Johns Hopkins data shows.
Other countries across Europe, including Scotland, Slovakia, and Greece, have also imposed new coronavirus restrictions as cases surge.
Worldwide, COVID-19 has infected over 45 million people and killed over 1 million people.
World moves to reopen amid COVID-19 pandemic


upi--2020-10-31--Clocks to 'fall back' as daylight saving time ends Sunday morning

Oct. 31 ( UPI ) -- Much of the United States will `` fall back '' early Sunday morning as daylight saving time ends , adding an hour of sleep for many in the pre-dawn hours .
The time change will mean the sun sets before 5 p.m. across the United States , as it now does in Hawaii and Arizona , which do not observe daylight saving time .
The Navajo Nation , which mostly falls within Arizona 's borders , does observe the time change .
Daylight saving time returns on the first Sunday in March 2021 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ well-liked and has been contested in many states and the European Union over the years .
The time shift in the spring is correlated with drowsy driving and more fatal accidents .
Daylight saving time was most recently panned by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine , the largest scientific organization that studies sleep , which proposed replacing daylight saving time with a move to a year-round fixed time .
`` Daylight saving time is less aligned with human circadian biology -- which , due to the impacts of the delayed natural light/dark @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in circadian misalignment , which has been associated in some studies with increased cardiovascular disease risk , metabolic syndrome and other health risks , '' the academy said this week .
The U.S. Department of Transportation oversees daylight saving time .
The agency says moving the clocks forward and back reduces energy use from morning heating and evening air conditioning and cuts down on crime .

Daylight saving time will end across most of the United States as residents "fall back" gaining an extra hour between 1 and 2 a.m. Sunday morning. Photo by obpia30/Pixabay
Oct. 31 (UPI) -- Much of the United States "fell back" early Sunday morning as daylight saving time ends, adding an hour of sleep for many in the pre-dawn hours. The time change means the sun sets before 5 p.m. across the United States, as it now does in Hawaii and Arizona, which do not observe daylight saving time. The Navajo Nation, which mostly falls within Arizona's borders, does observe the time change. Advertisement
Daylight saving time returns on the first Sunday in March 2021.
The bi-annual clock switching is not universally well-liked and has been contested in many states and the European Union over the years. Though some states have approved the end to time change, it must be passed by the U.S. Congress.
The time shift in the spring is correlated with drowsy driving and more fatal accidents.
Daylight saving time was most recently panned by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the largest scientific organization that studies sleep, which proposed replacing daylight saving time with a move to a year-round fixed time.
"Daylight saving time is less aligned with human circadian biology -- which, due to the impacts of the delayed natural light/dark cycle on human activity, could result in circadian misalignment, which has been associated in some studies with increased cardiovascular disease risk, metabolic syndrome and other health risks," the academy said this week.
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The U.S. Department of Transportation oversees daylight saving time. The agency says moving the clocks forward and back reduces energy use from morning heating and evening air conditioning and cuts down on crime.


upi--2020-10-31--Trump pans decision to allow late ballots in Pennsylvania rally

Oct. 31 ( UPI ) -- President Donald Trump criticized a Supreme Court decision allowing election officials in Pennsylvania and North Carolina to accept late mail-in ballots before a crowd in Bucks County , Pa. , on Saturday .
`` This decision yesterday , I will tell you , is not a good decision , '' Trump said , apparently referring to a pair of rulings from Wednesday that would permit officials in two key swing states to accept mail-in ballots for several days after Election Day as long as they 're postmarked by Tuesday .
In Pennsylvania , officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for three days after Nov. 3 and in North Carolina , officials will be able to extend the deadline nine days after Election Day .
Trump also appeared to discourage the Pennsylvania audience from voting early .
After painting a picture of what the United States would look like if governed by Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden -- including fracking and a nationwide lockdown -- Trump said the only way to stop it is to `` show up on Nov .
3 . ''
`` Do n't worry about the first or second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Trump added .
The Bucks County rally is the first of four Trump planned to hold in the state Saturday .
Later in the day he planned to speak in Reading , Montoursville and Butler .
First lady Melania Trump was scheduled to appear at an event in Luzerne County in northeastern Pennsylvania on Saturday .
RealClear Politics ' average of polls shows Biden leading Trump by 3.7 % as of Saturday and the state , which has 20 electoral votes , has historically skewed Democratic .
But in 2016 , Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pennsylvania , which ultimately went to Trump by a margin of 44,292 votes .
Biden planned to speak in Philadelphia on Sunday , and on Monday he and running mate Sen. Kamala Harris , D-Calif. , planned to visit `` all four corners of the state '' on the last full day of campaigning before Election Day .

U.S. President Donald J. Trump speaks to the media as he departs the White House in Washington, DC on Friday. Photo by Chris Kleponis/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 31 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump criticized a Supreme Court decision allowing election officials in Pennsylvania and North Carolina to accept late mail-in ballots before a crowd in Bucks County, Pa., on Saturday. "This decision yesterday, I will tell you, is not a good decision," Trump said, apparently referring to a pair of rulings from Wednesday that would permit officials in two key swing states to accept mail-in ballots for several days after Election Day as long as they're postmarked by Tuesday. Advertisement
In Pennsylvania, officials will be able to accept mail-in ballots for three days after Nov. 3 and in North Carolina, officials will be able to extend the deadline nine days after Election Day.
Trump also appeared to discourage the Pennsylvania audience from voting early.
After painting a picture of what the United States would look like if governed by Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden -- including fracking and a nationwide lockdown -- Trump said the only way to stop it is to "show up on Nov. 3."
"Don't worry about the first or second because I know you too well," Trump added.
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The Bucks County rally is the first of four Trump planned to hold in the state Saturday.
Later in the day he planned to speak in Reading, Montoursville and Butler.
First lady Melania Trump was scheduled to appear at an event in Luzerne County in northeastern Pennsylvania on Saturday.
RealClear Politics' average of polls shows Biden leading Trump by 3.7% as of Saturday and the state, which has 20 electoral votes, has historically skewed Democratic.
But in 2016, Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton was favored to win Pennsylvania, which ultimately went to Trump by a margin of 44,292 votes.
Biden planned to speak in Philadelphia on Sunday, and on Monday he and running mate Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., planned to visit "all four corners of the state" on the last full day of campaigning before Election Day.
2020 election: scenes from final stretch of presidential campaign


upi--2020-10-31--Philippines orders evacuations as Typhoon Goni takes aim

Oct. 31 ( UPI ) -- The Philippine government issued evacuation orders for parts of Luzon Island on Saturday as @ @ @ @ @ the country .
The Category 5 storm -- known in the Philippines as Rolly -- @ @ @ @ @ of 10 p.m .
The eye was located about 115 miles east of Virac , @ @ @ @ @ west-southwest at 15 mph , according to the Philippine Atmospheric , Geophysical and Astronomical Services @ @ @ @ @ expected to make landfall in Catanduanes or Camarines Sur early Sunday .
Goni is expected @ @ @ @ @ by Monday morning .
Authorities issued storm surge warnings in the northern coastal areas of @ @ @ @ @ areas of Manila , Cavite , Bulacan , Pampanga , Bataan , Aurora , Zambales @ @ @ @ @ Bicol region .
Forecasters also expect heavy rains could cause landslides throughout the region .

Filipino villagers rest inside a school in Naga city, Camarines Sur, Philippines, on Saturday, as Typhoon Goni prepares to make landfall in southern Luzon island. Photo by Francis R. Malasig/EPA-EFE
Oct. 31 (UPI) -- The Philippine government issued evacuation orders for parts of Luzon Island on Saturday as Typhoon Goni took aim at the country. The Category 5 storm -- known in the Philippines as Rolly -- had 133 mph winds as of 10 p.m. The eye was located about 115 miles east of Virac, Catanduanes, and was moving west-southwest at 15 mph, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. Advertisement
The storm is expected to make landfall in Catanduanes or Camarines Sur early Sunday.
Goni is expected to be clear of Luzon by Monday morning.
Authorities issued storm surge warnings in the northern coastal areas of Quezon, and the coastal areas of Manila, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, Aurora, Zambales, Occidental Mindoro and the Bicol region.
Forecasters also expect heavy rains could cause landslides throughout the region.