Three things for October 12
1. Commission on Presidential Debates cancels second presidential debate
On Friday, the Commission on Presidential Debates announced the cancellation of the second debate between President Donald Trump and Joe Biden. The cancellation comes after the president refused to attend virtually.
The debate, originally scheduled for Oct. 15, will be canceled, and future focus will be placed on the final debate on Oct. 22 in Nashville, Tennessee.
“It is now apparent there will be no debate on October 15, and the CPD will turn its attention to preparations for the final presidential debate scheduled for October 22,” the commission said in a statement.
2. US records over 50,000 new COVID-19 cases for third consecutive day
The United States has recorded its third consecutive day of more than 50,000 new coronavirus cases for the first time since mid-August.
According to data reported by Johns Hopkins University, 57,420 new cases of the virus were reported on Friday, pushing the total infection numbers to over 7.6 million as of Saturday.
On Thursday, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention released a forecast on its official website, predicting a significant rise in death by the end of October.
“This week's national ensemble forecast indicates an uncertain trend in new COVID-19 deaths reported over the next four weeks and predicts that 2,800 to 6,800 new deaths will likely be reported during the week ending October 31,” the CDC stated.
3. Disney’s ‘Soul’ to skip theaters, released exclusively on Disney Plus
Disney’s newest animated film “Soul,” starring Jamie Foxx and Tina Fey, will premiere exclusively on the Disney Plus platform this Christmas.
This announcement comes after the recent closure of nationwide Regal theaters due to the ongoing pandemic.
Instead of charging extra for the film like the company did for the live-action “Mulan,” the film will be free to subscribers upon release.
Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company, Bob Chapek, revealed the news on Thursday.
“We are thrilled to share Pixar’s spectacular and moving Soul with audiences direct to Disney+ in December,” Chapek said. “A new original Pixar film is always a special occasion, and this truly heartwarming and humorous story about human connection and finding one’s place in the world will be a treat for families to enjoy together this holiday season.”
