USA

WASHINGTON, Oct. 3 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump, who's staying at a military hospital for COVID-19 treatment, said Saturday he is feeling "much better" while calling the comings days "real test" for his condition.

"I came here, wasn't feeling so well. I feel much better now, we're working hard to get me all the way back," Trump said in a four-minute video clip posted on Twitter. "I think I'll be back soon."

"I look forward to finishing up the campaign, the way it was started and the way we've been doing," said the president, who's seeking a second term.

NEW YORK, Oct. 3 (Xinhua) -- New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on Saturday asked residents in the state to "stay vigilant" over COVID-19, as the latest tolls showed that new coronavirus cases continued on an upward trend.

"Of the 134,267 tests reported yesterday (Oct. 2), 1,731 were positive," tweeted Cuomo. The numbers could be translated into a positive ratio of 1.29 percent, and it was 1.34 percent a day before. Such levels have not been seen in New York since May.

"Total hospitalizations are at 647. Sadly, there were 6 COVID fatalities yesterday," the governor added.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 3 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump, who is currently in hospital for COVID-19 treatment, sought to reassure the nation on Saturday, as his medical team remained "cautiously optimistic" about his condition.

In a four-minute video clip posted on Twitter this evening, Trump said he's feeling "much better" and that he thinks he will "be back soon."

LOS ANGELES (AP) — “Saturday Night Live” went political with a parody of this week’s presidential debate, Chris Rock’s jab at President Donald Trump and Megan Thee Stallion’s message supporting Black people during her performance.

The NBC late-night sketch series on Saturday night jumped into the reenactment of the recent debate between Republican President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden. The series opened its 46th season, returning to the studio this week after the coronavirus pandemic halted production.

New York, Oct 4 (AP/PTI) Vice President Mike Pence in March directed the nation's top disease control agency to use its emergency powers to effectively seal the US borders, overruling the agency's scientists who said there was no evidence the action would slow the coronavirus, according to two former health officials.

The action has so far caused nearly 150,000 children and adults to be expelled from the country.

Washington, Oct 4 (PTI) US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will travel to Tokyo to attend the second ministerial meeting of the four countries under the Quad -- India, Japan, Australia and US -- but will not go to Mongolia and South Korea as originally planned, the State Department has said.

Pompeo was scheduled to visit Japan, Mongolia and South Korea between October 4 and October 8.

BETHESDA, Md. (AP) — President Donald Trump went through a “very concerning” period Friday and faces a “critical” next two days in his fight against COVID-19 at a military hospital, his chief of staff said Saturday — in contrast to a rosier assessment moments earlier by Trump doctors, who took pains not to reveal the president had received supplemental oxygen at the White House before his hospital admission.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court opens a new term Monday with Republicans on the cusp of realizing a dream 50 years in the making, a solid conservative majority that might roll back abortion rights, expand gun rights and shrink the power of government.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s intensely competitive and expensive U.S. Senate race has been upended by personal and health disruptions that sent sharp tremors and uncertainty through the campaigns and an electorate already casting ballots.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — In their first debate in a race that has shattered fundraising records and become among the more closely watched Senate contests of this cycle, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Democratic challenger Jaime Harrison drew multiple contrasts between their campaigns but also both portrayed themselves as willing to work across the aisle to achieve legislative progress.