upi--2020-10-27--Viktor Orbán shows how religion can be used to erode democracy

Oct. 27 ( UPI ) -- Somewhere in his journey to power in Hungary , Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had a radical religious conversion .
An atheist when he started in politics in the late 1980s , Orbán now calls himself a defender of Christianity .
In an August speech commemorating the 1920 Treaty of Trianon -- a traumatic event in which Hungary lost much of its territory -- Orbán argued that Western Europe had given up on `` a Christian Europe '' and was choosing instead to experiment with `` a godless cosmos , rainbow families , migration and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ European politics and the religious right , we argue that Orbán 's embrace of religion has served to consolidate his power , `` other '' his opponents and shield Hungary from European Union criticism of its attacks on the rule of law .
It is also , we believe , a dangerous model for how religion can be used to fuel democratic backsliding .
In 2014 , during an address to the nation , Orbán spoke of building `` an illiberal state , a non-liberal state , '' in Hungary .
While an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Orbán praised it as better able to protect Hungary 's national interests and preserve its cohesion .
Four years later , his tone had shifted : Hungary was now a `` Christian democracy . ''
Such a shift is emblematic of Orbán 's career , with its many ideological twists and turns .
He has changed his tune on many major issues , from being a firm supporter of European integration to becoming a strong defender of national sovereignty .
He has befriended Russian President Vladimir Putin since his return to power in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And he renounced his past atheism during the 1990s -- a decision that went hand in hand with his courting of religious and conservative voters .
According to European politics scholar Charles Gati , `` no European leader since Napoleon may have changed his spots more . ''
Far from consistently adhering to clear principles , Orbán , according to The Economist , over the years has instead been `` dedicated to the accumulation and maintenance of power . ''
That ruthlessness grew after Orbán was voted out as prime minister in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of events , he vowed not to lose power again if he ever returned to office .
During the 2010 election campaign , Orbán declared that `` we need to win only once , but need to win big '' -- an apparent warning that he would use any large electoral victory to strengthen his position , so not to have to relinquish power .
Cynically claiming the mantle of Christian Democracy , according to Princeton scholar Jan-Werner Mueller , became a key tool of his strategy in the following decade to consolidate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much of Europe , Hungary is somewhat secular .
In the 2011 census , 45 % of the population did not list any religious affiliation .
Hungary 's communist regime had certainly scorned and discouraged religion for many decades .
After the 1989 fall of the Iron Curtain dividing Europe between the communist Eastern bloc and free market West , people did not flock to churches .
Nonetheless , when Orbán returned to power in 2010 , he began to rely on religion to mobilize voters .
For instance , he framed his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Christianity .
As the Syrian civil war reached a crescendo in 2015 , hundreds of thousands of migrants fled the violence .
Although most migrants to Europe were trying only to transit through Hungary , Orbán declared that Syrian migrants were trying to invade the country and change its culture and religion .
Officials of Orbán 's party , Fidesz , have echoed these claims over the years , suggesting Muslim refugees are trying to impose their culture and establish a caliphate on the continent .
For a country with a history of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cities by Mongols through the Nazi invasion in 1944 and Soviet occupation , the terminology raised fear and unease .
Orbán has also resurrected older anti-Semitic conspiracy theories about Jews and leftists to consolidate his Christian credentials , such as sponsoring exhibits implicitly associating communists with Jews .
It has also helped to cement an `` us or them '' narrative in which opponents of Orbán are `` othered . ''
To do this , Orbán chose billionaire philanthropist George Soros as his major foil .
Soros , who is Jewish , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hiding during the Holocaust and fled the country once communists took control .
After the Iron Curtain fell in 1989 , Soros donated millions of dollars to Hungary 's fledgling civil society .
Yet he was easy to demonize for some Hungarians , not only because he was Jewish , but because he had spent most of his adult life outside the country .
In the 2019 European Parliament elections , a government tax-funded campaign attacked Soros and then-European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker , accusing them of using migration plans to undermine Hungary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the 2018 Hungarian elections , Orbán used even more explicit anti-Semitic undertones to attack Soros : `` We are fighting an enemy that is different from us .
Not open , but hiding ; not straightforward , but crafty ; not honest , but base ; not national , but international ; does not believe in working , but speculates with money . ''
Orbán 's use of Christianity also serves wider foreign policy goals .
The continued erosion of the rule of law in Hungary , including attacks against the free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is a longstanding concern for the European Union .
But Orbán has , up to now , skillfully taken advantage of the European Union 's divisions and weaknesses to avoid any major consequences for his country 's democratic backsliding .
He has conveniently used Christianity as a shield to deflect and delegitimize the criticism from Brussels .
Orbán also invokes Christianity to court allies , close and far .
This has been the case with solidifying the alliance with Hungary 's conservative neighbor Poland .
Orbán , after all , understands the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Union .
Not only can they help to counter policies he objects to , but major rule of law sanctions in the European Union require unanimity .
Poland and Hungary can thus provide cover for each other .
Finally , Orbán has also made use of Christianity , highlighting Hungary 's policies to help persecuted Christians , to build ties with key players beyond Europe .
It is noteworthy that Orbán was the only EU leader to attend the inauguration of the right-wing Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil in 2019 .
And the Hungarian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to court religious conservativesand conservative nationalists in the United States .
In many respects , Orbán 's use of religion is no different from Ronald Reagan 's embrace of Christian evangelicals in the late 1970s .
Both leaders relied on religious imagery to build bigger voting coalitions .
Every Republican candidate for president since has tried to appeal to evangelicals and invoked Christian values .
And even ham-handed attempts such as those by President Donald Trump have done little to undermine such unions .
Such an embrace of religious groups is not in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of religion to attack domestic and foreign opponents , or to weaken democratic checks and balances , is , we believe , a major concern .
Orbán 's Hungary provides a clear warning of how easily Christianity can be distorted and used to erode democracy .
Garret Martin is a senior professorial lecturer and co-director of the Transatlantic Policy Center at American University School of International Service .
Carolyn Gallaher is associate dean for faculty affairs at the school .
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license .
@ @ @ @ @

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s embrace of religion has served to consolidate his power, "other" his opponents and shield Hungary from European Union criticism of its attacks on the rule of law. File Photo by Chris Kleponis/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 27 (UPI) -- Somewhere in his journey to power in Hungary, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had a radical religious conversion. An atheist when he started in politics in the late 1980s, Orbán now calls himself a defender of Christianity. In an August speech commemorating the 1920 Treaty of Trianon -- a traumatic event in which Hungary lost much of its territory -- Orbán argued that Western Europe had given up on "a Christian Europe" and was choosing instead to experiment with "a godless cosmos, rainbow families, migration and open societies." Advertisement
As experts in European politics and the religious right, we argue that Orbán's embrace of religion has served to consolidate his power, "other" his opponents and shield Hungary from European Union criticism of its attacks on the rule of law.
It is also, we believe, a dangerous model for how religion can be used to fuel democratic backsliding.
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Consolidating power
In 2014, during an address to the nation, Orbán spoke of building "an illiberal state, a non-liberal state," in Hungary. While an illiberal state is an ambiguous concept, Orbán praised it as better able to protect Hungary's national interests and preserve its cohesion. Four years later, his tone had shifted: Hungary was now a "Christian democracy."
Such a shift is emblematic of Orbán's career, with its many ideological twists and turns. He has changed his tune on many major issues, from being a firm supporter of European integration to becoming a strong defender of national sovereignty. He has befriended Russian President Vladimir Putin since his return to power in 2010, despite his past anti-Russian stance.
And he renounced his past atheism during the 1990s -- a decision that went hand in hand with his courting of religious and conservative voters. According to European politics scholar Charles Gati, "no European leader since Napoleon may have changed his spots more."
Far from consistently adhering to clear principles, Orbán, according to The Economist, over the years has instead been "dedicated to the accumulation and maintenance of power."
That ruthlessness grew after Orbán was voted out as prime minister in 2002. Deeply shocked by this turn of events, he vowed not to lose power again if he ever returned to office.
Advertisement
During the 2010 election campaign, Orbán declared that "we need to win only once, but need to win big" -- an apparent warning that he would use any large electoral victory to strengthen his position, so not to have to relinquish power. Cynically claiming the mantle of Christian Democracy, according to Princeton scholar Jan-Werner Mueller, became a key tool of his strategy in the following decade to consolidate his grip on Hungarian politics.
Wedge issues at home
Like much of Europe, Hungary is somewhat secular. In the 2011 census, 45% of the population did not list any religious affiliation. Hungary's communist regime had certainly scorned and discouraged religion for many decades. After the 1989 fall of the Iron Curtain dividing Europe between the communist Eastern bloc and free market West, people did not flock to churches.
Nonetheless, when Orbán returned to power in 2010, he began to rely on religion to mobilize voters. For instance, he framed his harsh anti-immigration policies as a defense of Christianity.
As the Syrian civil war reached a crescendo in 2015, hundreds of thousands of migrants fled the violence. Although most migrants to Europe were trying only to transit through Hungary, Orbán declared that Syrian migrants were trying to invade the country and change its culture and religion. Officials of Orbán's party, Fidesz, have echoed these claims over the years, suggesting Muslim refugees are trying to impose their culture and establish a caliphate on the continent.
Advertisement
For a country with a history of invasion that stretches from the sacking of cities by Mongols through the Nazi invasion in 1944 and Soviet occupation, the terminology raised fear and unease.
Orbán has also resurrected older anti-Semitic conspiracy theories about Jews and leftists to consolidate his Christian credentials, such as sponsoring exhibits implicitly associating communists with Jews. It has also helped to cement an "us or them" narrative in which opponents of Orbán are "othered." To do this, Orbán chose billionaire philanthropist George Soros as his major foil.
Soros, who is Jewish, was born in Hungary. He went into hiding during the Holocaust and fled the country once communists took control. After the Iron Curtain fell in 1989, Soros donated millions of dollars to Hungary's fledgling civil society.
Yet he was easy to demonize for some Hungarians, not only because he was Jewish, but because he had spent most of his adult life outside the country. In the 2019 European Parliament elections, a government tax-funded campaign attacked Soros and then-European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, accusing them of using migration plans to undermine Hungary's security.
Advertisement
The year before, during the 2018 Hungarian elections, Orbán used even more explicit anti-Semitic undertones to attack Soros: "We are fighting an enemy that is different from us. Not open, but hiding; not straightforward, but crafty; not honest, but base; not national, but international; does not believe in working, but speculates with money."
Deflecting criticism
Orbán's use of Christianity also serves wider foreign policy goals.
The continued erosion of the rule of law in Hungary, including attacks against the free media and the independence of the judiciary, is a longstanding concern for the European Union.
But Orbán has, up to now, skillfully taken advantage of the European Union's divisions and weaknesses to avoid any major consequences for his country's democratic backsliding. He has conveniently used Christianity as a shield to deflect and delegitimize the criticism from Brussels.
Orbán also invokes Christianity to court allies, close and far. This has been the case with solidifying the alliance with Hungary's conservative neighbor Poland. Orbán, after all, understands the importance of close friends in the European Union. Not only can they help to counter policies he objects to, but major rule of law sanctions in the European Union require unanimity. Poland and Hungary can thus provide cover for each other.
Advertisement
Finally, Orbán has also made use of Christianity, highlighting Hungary's policies to help persecuted Christians, to build ties with key players beyond Europe. It is noteworthy that Orbán was the only EU leader to attend the inauguration of the right-wing Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil in 2019. And the Hungarian government has gone out of its way to court religious conservativesand conservative nationalists in the United States.
Religious embrace
In many respects, Orbán's use of religion is no different from Ronald Reagan's embrace of Christian evangelicals in the late 1970s. Both leaders relied on religious imagery to build bigger voting coalitions.
Every Republican candidate for president since has tried to appeal to evangelicals and invoked Christian values. And even ham-handed attempts such as those by President Donald Trump have done little to undermine such unions.
Such an embrace of religious groups is not in itself a problem. But calculated uses of religion to attack domestic and foreign opponents, or to weaken democratic checks and balances, is, we believe, a major concern. Orbán's Hungary provides a clear warning of how easily Christianity can be distorted and used to erode democracy.
Advertisement
Garret Martin is a senior professorial lecturer and co-director of the Transatlantic Policy Center at American University School of International Service. Carolyn Gallaher is associate dean for faculty affairs at the school.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.


upi--2020-10-27--Watch: George Clooney is on perilous mission in 'The Midnight Sky'

Oct. 27 ( UPI ) -- Netflix is giving a glimpse of the new movie The Midnight Sky .
The streaming service shared a trailer for the sci-fi film Tuesday featuring George Clooney as Augustine Lofthouse , a lonely scientist in the Arctic .
In the preview , Augustine ( Clooney ) races to stop Sully ( Felicity Jones ) and her team of astronauts in space from returning home to a mysterious global catastrophe .
Augustine makes a perilous journey to a communications antenna while accompanied by a young girl , Iris ( Caoilinn Springall ) .
The Midnight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ novel Good Morning , Midnight .
Mark L. Smith adapted the book for the screen .
Clooney directed and executive produced the film .
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly , Clooney said the story was a balancing act .
`` It 's a trick , this one , because you have to first establish how alone he is , '' the actor said .
`` Then you have to make that loneliness become more and more dangerous along the way . ''
The Midnight Sky co-stars Kyle Chandler , David Oyelowo , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ film premieres in select theaters and on Netflix Dec. 23 .

Oct. 27 (UPI) -- Netflix is giving a glimpse of the new movie The Midnight Sky.
The streaming service shared a trailer for the sci-fi film Tuesday featuring George Clooney as Augustine Lofthouse, a lonely scientist in the Arctic.
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In the preview, Augustine (Clooney) races to stop Sully (Felicity Jones) and her team of astronauts in space from returning home to a mysterious global catastrophe. Augustine makes a perilous journey to a communications antenna while accompanied by a young girl, Iris (Caoilinn Springall).
The Midnight Sky is based on the Lily Brooks-Dalton novel Good Morning, Midnight. Mark L. Smith adapted the book for the screen. Clooney directed and executive produced the film.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Clooney said the story was a balancing act.
"It's a trick, this one, because you have to first establish how alone he is," the actor said. "Then you have to make that loneliness become more and more dangerous along the way."
Netflix shared a teaser trailer for the movie Monday.
The Midnight Sky co-stars Kyle Chandler, David Oyelowo, Tiffany Boone and Demián Bichir. The film premieres in select theaters and on Netflix Dec. 23.


upi--2020-10-27--Text messages replacing letters in North Korea, state media says

Oct. 27 ( UPI ) -- North Korean volunteer workers are receiving letters expressing moral support through text messages on their mobile devices , state media says , as the regime continues to stress the `` 80-day campaign '' for flood recovery .
Korean Workers ' Party newspaper Rodong Sinmun reported Tuesday volunteers with the Second Capital Party Division , referring to a division in Pyongyang , have been receiving morale-boosting letters as they work on flood relief in the Hamgyong provinces .
The texts were from Pyongyang , the headline of the article read .
Kim Jong Un has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On Tuesday , state media highlighted the speed in which the messages could be checked , in contrast to conventional mail .
`` The fighters hurried to open the letters , and read the texts on their mobile phones in a rush of joy , '' the Rodong said .
`` One of the most heartwarming aspects of being away from home are the letters and mobile phone text messages from friendly people '' far away , the North Korean newspaper said .
According to state media , the texts are important as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ areas .
Volunteers `` gain great strength from the enthusiastic messages , '' the Rodong said in the article that suggests smartphone use is becoming increasingly common in North Korea .
North Korea 's 80-day campaign has been a priority for the country ahead of the Eighth Party Congress in January .
On Tuesday , the Rodong called on the country to make the campaign `` like a fight against the Japanese , '' a reference to Korean guerrilla resistance against the colonial occupation .
Similar anti-Japanese slogans have been in use in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to South Korean news service News 1 .
North Korea has claimed there have been zero cases of the coronavirus , but a recent report from South Korean news service Daily NK suggests China and North Korea could resume cross-border train operations .
Seoul 's unification ministry said Tuesday the North did not appear to be making changes at the border , which was closed in January , Newsis reported .

North Korean volunteers are receiving texts as they work on disaster relief projects, the Rodong Sinmun said Tuesday. Photo by Rodong Sinmun
Oct. 27 (UPI) -- North Korean volunteer workers are receiving letters expressing moral support through text messages on their mobile devices, state media says, as the regime continues to stress the "80-day campaign" for flood recovery. Korean Workers' Party newspaper Rodong Sinmun reported Tuesday volunteers with the Second Capital Party Division, referring to a division in Pyongyang, have been receiving morale-boosting letters as they work on flood relief in the Hamgyong provinces. The texts were from Pyongyang, the headline of the article read. Advertisement
Kim Jong Un has emphasized the importance of technological innovation. On Tuesday, state media highlighted the speed in which the messages could be checked, in contrast to conventional mail.
"The fighters hurried to open the letters, and read the texts on their mobile phones in a rush of joy," the Rodong said. "One of the most heartwarming aspects of being away from home are the letters and mobile phone text messages from friendly people" far away, the North Korean newspaper said.
According to state media, the texts are important as workers carry out difficult projects in rural areas. Volunteers "gain great strength from the enthusiastic messages," the Rodong said in the article that suggests smartphone use is becoming increasingly common in North Korea.
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North Korea's 80-day campaign has been a priority for the country ahead of the Eighth Party Congress in January.
On Tuesday, the Rodong called on the country to make the campaign "like a fight against the Japanese," a reference to Korean guerrilla resistance against the colonial occupation. Similar anti-Japanese slogans have been in use in North Korea since the '70s, according to South Korean news service News 1.
North Korea has claimed there have been zero cases of the coronavirus, but a recent report from South Korean news service Daily NK suggests China and North Korea could resume cross-border train operations.
Seoul's unification ministry said Tuesday the North did not appear to be making changes at the border, which was closed in January, Newsis reported.


upi--2020-10-27--Emily Ratajkowski expecting first child with Sebastian Bear-McClard

Oct. 27 ( UPI ) -- Emily Ratajkowski is going to be a mom .
The 29-year-old model and actress is expecting her first child with her husband , Sebastian Bear-McClard .
Ratajkowski shared the news in an essay for Vogue published Monday .
In the essay , Ratajkowski reflected on gender while explaining why she does n't want to announce the sex of her unborn child .
`` I like the idea of forcing as few gender stereotypes on my child as possible .
But no matter how progressive I may hope to be , I understand the desire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; it feels like the first real opportunity to glimpse who they might be , '' she wrote .
Ratajkowski said her younger self envisioned having a daughter .
She explored how having a `` mini me '' can affect the child , the way her own mother influenced her with her `` tales of being homecoming queen . ''
Ratajkowski said she learned early that `` beauty could equate to power . ''
`` I think of the other physically beautiful mothers I 've known -- the stage moms with their own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even as young girls , seem to know their own beauty , as if they have already lived entire lives in a grown woman 's body , '' the model wrote .
`` I think about how women compare one another constantly ; doing acrobatic calculations in their heads . ''
`` ' I 'll never let that be an issue , ' I tell my husband , but I ca n't help worrying .
I still fight subconscious and internalized misogyny on a regular basis , catching myself as I measure the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's .
Who is to say I 'd be able to protect my daughter from it ? ''
she said .
Ratajkowski also shared her worries about raising a son .
She said she fears `` inadvertently cultivating the carelessness and the lack of awareness that are so convenient '' for white men .
`` It feels much more daunting to create an understanding of privilege in a child than to teach simple black-and-white morality , '' the star said .
`` How do I raise a child who learns to like themself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of power in the world ? ''
In the end , Ratajkowski said she 's `` too humbled to have any false notions of control '' when it comes to the gender of her child .
`` I 'm completely and undeniably helpless when it comes to almost everything surrounding my pregnancy : how my body will change , who my child will be .
But I 'm surprisingly unbothered , '' she wrote .
`` Instead of feeling afraid , I feel a new sense of peace .
I 'm already learning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I 'm full of wonder . ''
Ratajkowski shows her baby bump in her accompanying digital Vogue cover .
She confirmed her pregnancy Monday on Instagram .
`` Grateful & growing .
Thank you @ voguemagazine for this very special cover , '' the model wrote .
Ratajkowski is known for starring in Robin Thicke 's `` Blurred Lines '' music video .
She has since appeared as an actress in the films Gone Girl , We Are Your Friends and I Feel Pretty .

Emily Ratajkowsi announced her pregnancy in a Vogue essay about gender. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 27 (UPI) -- Emily Ratajkowski is going to be a mom. The 29-year-old model and actress is expecting her first child with her husband, Sebastian Bear-McClard. Advertisement
Ratajkowski shared the news in an essay for Vogue published Monday. In the essay, Ratajkowski reflected on gender while explaining why she doesn't want to announce the sex of her unborn child.
"I like the idea of forcing as few gender stereotypes on my child as possible. But no matter how progressive I may hope to be, I understand the desire to know the gender of our fetus; it feels like the first real opportunity to glimpse who they might be," she wrote.
Ratajkowski said her younger self envisioned having a daughter. She explored how having a "mini me" can affect the child, the way her own mother influenced her with her "tales of being homecoming queen." Ratajkowski said she learned early that "beauty could equate to power."
Advertisement
"I think of the other physically beautiful mothers I've known -- the stage moms with their own mini-mes. The way their daughters, even as young girls, seem to know their own beauty, as if they have already lived entire lives in a grown woman's body," the model wrote. "I think about how women compare one another constantly; doing acrobatic calculations in their heads."
"'I'll never let that be an issue,' I tell my husband, but I can't help worrying. I still fight subconscious and internalized misogyny on a regular basis, catching myself as I measure the width of my hips against another woman's. Who is to say I'd be able to protect my daughter from it?" she said.
Ratajkowski also shared her worries about raising a son. She said she fears "inadvertently cultivating the carelessness and the lack of awareness that are so convenient" for white men.
"It feels much more daunting to create an understanding of privilege in a child than to teach simple black-and-white morality," the star said. "How do I raise a child who learns to like themself while also teaching them about their position of power in the world?"
In the end, Ratajkowski said she's "too humbled to have any false notions of control" when it comes to the gender of her child.
Advertisement
"I'm completely and undeniably helpless when it comes to almost everything surrounding my pregnancy: how my body will change, who my child will be. But I'm surprisingly unbothered," she wrote. "Instead of feeling afraid, I feel a new sense of peace. I'm already learning from this person inside my body. I'm full of wonder."
Ratajkowski shows her baby bump in her accompanying digital Vogue cover. She confirmed her pregnancy Monday on Instagram.
"Grateful & growing. Thank you @voguemagazine for this very special cover," the model wrote.
Ratajkowski is known for starring in Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" music video. She has since appeared as an actress in the films Gone Girl, We Are Your Friends and I Feel Pretty.


upi--2020-10-27--Watch: Sacha Baron Cohen says he wore a bulletproof vest for 'Borat 2' on 'The Late Show'

Oct. 27 ( UPI ) -- Sacha Baron Cohen appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to discuss his new Borat film and how he had to wear a bulletproof vest for the sequel .
Cohen , in the film , pretends to be a country singer in character as Borat who sings a song about the COVID-19 virus titled `` The Wuhan Flu '' at a gun rally .
The crowd , who was singing along , grew angry once they found out his identity .
`` Word got out that it was me and then the organizers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crowd , got very angry .
They tried to storm the stage .
Luckily for me I had hired the security so it took them a while to actually storm the stage , '' Cohen told Colbert about the experience on Monday .
Colbert played footage of the incident which involved Cohen rushing off stage and getting away in a vehicle .
Cohen had to hold the vehicle 's door closed as an angry mob went after him .
`` It 's fairly rare .
It happens occasionally .
This was the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bulletproof vest .
One of the guys who stormed the stage went for his pistol , '' Cohen said .
Cohen also discussed what happened when he previously interviewed President Donald Trump as his character Ali G and his response to Trump calling him a creep and a phoney .
`` Well I 'm sure when he was hanging out with his good friend Jeffrey Epstein , they probably spent a lot of their time talking about how creepy I am and yes , I am a professional phoney like him , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't aware that he was Ali G during their interview .
`` Publicly he will say , ' I was the only guy ever who saw through it . '
He did n't see through the interview .
He answered all the questions completely normally , '' Cohen said .

Oct. 27 (UPI) -- Sacha Baron Cohen appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to discuss his new Borat film and how he had to wear a bulletproof vest for the sequel.
Cohen, in the film, pretends to be a country singer in character as Borat who sings a song about the COVID-19 virus titled "The Wuhan Flu" at a gun rally. The crowd, who was singing along, grew angry once they found out his identity.
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"Word got out that it was me and then the organizers and a lot of people in the crowd, got very angry. They tried to storm the stage. Luckily for me I had hired the security so it took them a while to actually storm the stage," Cohen told Colbert about the experience on Monday.
Colbert played footage of the incident which involved Cohen rushing off stage and getting away in a vehicle. Cohen had to hold the vehicle's door closed as an angry mob went after him.
"It's fairly rare. It happens occasionally. This was the first movie where I had to wear a bulletproof vest. One of the guys who stormed the stage went for his pistol," Cohen said.
Advertisement
Cohen also discussed what happened when he previously interviewed President Donald Trump as his character Ali G and his response to Trump calling him a creep and a phoney.
"Well I'm sure when he was hanging out with his good friend Jeffrey Epstein, they probably spent a lot of their time talking about how creepy I am and yes, I am a professional phoney like him," Cohen said before stating how Trump wasn't aware that he was Ali G during their interview.
"Publicly he will say, 'I was the only guy ever who saw through it.' He didn't see through the interview. He answered all the questions completely normally," Cohen said.


upi--2020-10-27--Pfizer near full enrollment in late-stage COVID-19 vaccine trial

Oct. 27 ( UPI ) -- A late-stage human clinical trial for Pfizer 's COVID-19 vaccine candidate is close to full enrollment , the drugmaker announced Tuesday .
Pfizer said it has so far enrolled more than 42,000 participants , about 36,000 of whom have already received a second dose of the BNT162 `` messenger RNA '' -based vaccine .
Pfizer is partnered with German drugmaker BioNTech to develop the candidate , one of several in development worldwide to reach final , third-stage trials .
Last month , Pfizer and BioNTech expanded target enrollment to 44,000 , up from 30,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , `` allows the companies to further increase trial population diversity , '' including those with chronic diseases including human immunodeficiency virus ( HIV ) and Hepatitis B or C. Moderna announced last week that it has reached full enrollment of 30,000 in its late-stage trial for a vaccine .
The companies received permission this month from the Food and Drug Administration to enroll adolescents as young as 12 in the trial .
A week ago , they said a vaccine wo n't be available until the middle of November , at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talks with the European Union last month for a proposed supply of 200 million doses of BNT162 to member states , with an option for an additional 100 million doses .
If the vaccine is ultimately approved , deliveries could begin by the end of the year .
Pfizer said last month scientists should know sometime in October whether the vaccine candidate works .
The companies also have distribution agreements with Canada and Japan .
Pfizer 's BNT162 candidate is one of a number of possible vaccines in development worldwide .
Click here @ @ @ @ @ @

Pfizer has been working for months with German drugmaker BioNTech to develop a coronavirus vaccine. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 27 (UPI) -- A late-stage human clinical trial for Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine candidate is close to full enrollment, the drugmaker announced Tuesday. Pfizer said it has so far enrolled more than 42,000 participants, about 36,000 of whom have already received a second dose of the BNT162 "messenger RNA"-based vaccine. Advertisement
Pfizer is partnered with German drugmaker BioNTech to develop the candidate, one of several in development worldwide to reach final, third-stage trials.
Last month, Pfizer and BioNTech expanded target enrollment to 44,000, up from 30,000 participants. The move, Pfizer said, "allows the companies to further increase trial population diversity," including those with chronic diseases including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Hepatitis B or C.
Moderna announced last week that it has reached full enrollment of 30,000 in its late-stage trial for a vaccine.
The companies received permission this month from the Food and Drug Administration to enroll adolescents as young as 12 in the trial. A week ago, they said a vaccine won't be available until the middle of November, at the soonest.
Pfizer and BioNTech held exploratory talks with the European Union last month for a proposed supply of 200 million doses of BNT162 to member states, with an option for an additional 100 million doses. If the vaccine is ultimately approved, deliveries could begin by the end of the year.
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Pfizer said last month scientists should know sometime in October whether the vaccine candidate works.
The companies also have distribution agreements with Canada and Japan.
Pfizer's BNT162 candidate is one of a number of possible vaccines in development worldwide. Click here for our COVID-19 vaccine tracker.


upi--2020-10-27--Vampire bats socially distance when they fall ill

Oct. 27 ( UPI ) -- New research suggests vampire bats are better at following CDC guidelines than some humans .
When a vampire bat gets sick , they spend less time around other members of the colony , helping to slow the spread of disease , according to a new study published Tuesday in the journal Behavioral Ecology .
Scientists had previously observed vampire bats practicing social distancing in captivity , but the latest research suggests wild bats also work to flatten the curve .
For the study , researchers captured 31 adult female vampire bats from a roost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
To simulate the influence of illness , scientists injected half the bats with lipopolysaccharide , an immune-challenging substance .
The control bats were injected with saline .
After attaching proximity sensors to the bats , researchers released them back into the wild .
The data revealed shifting interaction patterns among the different bats during the six-hour treatment period -- before the effects of the injection wore off .
The sick bats interacted with fewer members of the colony and spent less time their peers .
In the hours following their release back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a control bat had a 49 percent chance of interacting with another control bat , but only a 35 percent of interacting with a sick bat .
Sick bats also spent 25 fewer minutes with their partners than control bats .
`` The sensors gave us an amazing new window into how the social behavior of these bats changed from hour to hour and even minute to minute during the course of the day and night , even while they are hidden in the darkness of a hollow tree , '' lead study @ @ @ @ @ @ @ release .
`` We 've gone from collecting data every day to every few seconds , '' said Ripperger , an ecologist at Ohio State University .
For most species , illness symptoms , such as lethargy and sleep , or reduced movement and sociality , prevent infected individuals from interacting with the rest of the community -- a kind of involuntary social distancing .
But the latest research suggests bats are part of a minority group of animals that purposefully self-isolate in cooperation with their colony mates .

Vampire bats self isolate when they're sick, according to a new study. Photo by Sherri and Brock Fenton/Behavioral Ecology
Oct. 27 (UPI) -- New research suggests vampire bats are better at following CDC guidelines than some humans. When a vampire bat gets sick, they spend less time around other members of the colony, helping to slow the spread of disease, according to a new study published Tuesday in the journal Behavioral Ecology. Advertisement
Scientists had previously observed vampire bats practicing social distancing in captivity, but the latest research suggests wild bats also work to flatten the curve.
For the study, researchers captured 31 adult female vampire bats from a roost located in a hollow tree in Belize. To simulate the influence of illness, scientists injected half the bats with lipopolysaccharide, an immune-challenging substance. The control bats were injected with saline.
After attaching proximity sensors to the bats, researchers released them back into the wild.
The data revealed shifting interaction patterns among the different bats during the six-hour treatment period -- before the effects of the injection wore off. The sick bats interacted with fewer members of the colony and spent less time their peers.
In the hours following their release back into the wild, the data showed a control bat had a 49 percent chance of interacting with another control bat, but only a 35 percent of interacting with a sick bat. Sick bats also spent 25 fewer minutes with their partners than control bats.
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"The sensors gave us an amazing new window into how the social behavior of these bats changed from hour to hour and even minute to minute during the course of the day and night, even while they are hidden in the darkness of a hollow tree," lead study author Simon Ripperger said in a news release.
"We've gone from collecting data every day to every few seconds," said Ripperger, an ecologist at Ohio State University.
For most species, illness symptoms, such as lethargy and sleep, or reduced movement and sociality, prevent infected individuals from interacting with the rest of the community -- a kind of involuntary social distancing. But the latest research suggests bats are part of a minority group of animals that purposefully self-isolate in cooperation with their colony mates.


upi--2020-10-27--49ers WR Deebo Samuel, RB Jeff Wilson Jr. to miss extended time

Oct. 27 ( UPI ) -- The San Francisco 49ers rash of injuries continues as the NFL season enters Week 8 , with wide receiver Deebo Samuel and running back Jeff Wilson Jr. each expected to miss an extended period of time .
49ers coach Kyle Shanahan updated his players ' injury statuses on Monday when he met with reporters .
`` Deebo Samuel had a hamstring strain .
He 'll be out this week [ and ] with the [ next ] Thursday night game , most likely against Green Bay , '' Shanahan said .
`` Then Jeff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He 'll go on injured reserve most likely later this week . ''
Samuel sustained his hamstring strain in the fourth quarter of the 49ers 33-6 win over the New England Patriots on Sunday in Foxborough , Mass .
Wilson sustained his ankle injury in the third quarter of the Week 7 victory .
Samuel had five catches for 65 yards before his exit .
Wilson had 112 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries before his departure .
The 49ers face the Seattle Seahawks at 4:25 p.m. EDT on Sunday in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bay Packers on Nov. 5 in Santa Clara , Calif. Shanahan hinted that Samuel will miss both games .
The 49ers wide receiver also missed time earlier this season due to a broken foot .
Wilson will miss at least the next three games after he goes on injured reserve .
The 49ers will likely turn to Jerick McKinnon and JaMycal Hasty to lead their backfield .
Starting running back Raheem Mostert is also on injured reserve due to an ankle injury .
Shanahan said backup running back Tevin Coleman -- who is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could return at the end of the week , but he would be `` surprised '' if the running back can practice by Wednesday .
Coleman is recovering from a sprained knee .
Wilson has 238 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns on 44 touches this season .
Samuel has 185 yards and a score on 16 catches .

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San Francisco 49ers running back Jeff Wilson Jr. (30) will miss at least his next three games due to a high-ankle sprain. File Photo by Matthew Healey/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 27 (UPI) -- The San Francisco 49ers rash of injuries continues as the NFL season enters Week 8, with wide receiver Deebo Samuel and running back Jeff Wilson Jr. each expected to miss an extended period of time. 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan updated his players' injury statuses on Monday when he met with reporters. Advertisement
"Deebo Samuel had a hamstring strain. He'll be out this week [and] with the [next] Thursday night game, most likely against Green Bay," Shanahan said. "Then Jeff Wilson Jr. had a high ankle sprain. He'll go on injured reserve most likely later this week."
Samuel sustained his hamstring strain in the fourth quarter of the 49ers 33-6 win over the New England Patriots on Sunday in Foxborough, Mass. Wilson sustained his ankle injury in the third quarter of the Week 7 victory.
Samuel had five catches for 65 yards before his exit. Wilson had 112 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries before his departure.
The 49ers face the Seattle Seahawks at 4:25 p.m. EDT on Sunday in Seattle. They then host the Green Bay Packers on Nov. 5 in Santa Clara, Calif. Shanahan hinted that Samuel will miss both games. The 49ers wide receiver also missed time earlier this season due to a broken foot.
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Wilson will miss at least the next three games after he goes on injured reserve.
The 49ers will likely turn to Jerick McKinnon and JaMycal Hasty to lead their backfield. Starting running back Raheem Mostert is also on injured reserve due to an ankle injury.
Shanahan said backup running back Tevin Coleman -- who is eligible to return from injured reserve -- could return at the end of the week, but he would be "surprised" if the running back can practice by Wednesday. Coleman is recovering from a sprained knee.
Wilson has 238 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns on 44 touches this season. Samuel has 185 yards and a score on 16 catches.
This week in the National Football League


upi--2020-10-27--Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin fined $25K for retweet about refs

Oct. 27 ( UPI ) -- The Southeastern Conference has fined Ole Miss football coach Lane Kiffin $ 25,000 for a retweeting a Twitter post , which called the conference a `` disgrace '' for `` atrocious '' officiating .
Kiffin took to Twitter after Ole Miss lost to Auburn on Saturday in Oxford , Miss .
He saw a tweet that was critical of referees for not correctly calling an Auburn fumble late in the fourth quarter of Saturday 's game .
The play in question came with 5:43 remaining in the contest .
Ole Miss kicked off to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Tigers player during the sequence .
The ball then bounced into the end zone , where it was recovered by Ole Miss .
Officials said the ball never touched an Auburn player and called a touchback .
Slow-motion video replays of the sequence showed the ball hit the Tigers player .
`` Y'all are a disgrace SEC , '' an Ole Miss fan tweeted after the game .
`` Your officiating is absolutely atrocious .
If y'all want to just keep gifting Auburn wins , just say it . ''
The SEC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for his retweet of the original post , which featured a video of the play .
The conference also admitted that they should have stopped the game and reviewed the play , which should have been ruled a fumble and a Rebels touchdown .
Jerrion Ealy gave the Rebels a 28-27 lead with a five-yard rushing touchdown just before the kickoff .
The Tigers went on to score the game-winning touchdown when Bo Nix connected with Seth Williams on a 58-yard touchdown toss on the resulting drive .
`` Mr. Kiffin 's use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to publicly criticize officiating is in violation of conference bylaws and commissioner 's regulations that govern sportsmanship and communication with the conference office on officiating issues , '' the SEC said in a news release .
Kiffin -- who is one of the most active college football coaches on Twitter -- continued to tweet about the fine after he received it .
The Rebels coach also joked that he could use his son 's college fund to pay the fine .
Ole Miss faces Vanderbilt at 4 p.m. EDT on Saturday in Nashville @ @ @ @ @ @ @ EDT Saturday in Auburn , Ala .

Oct. 27 (UPI) -- The Southeastern Conference has fined Ole Miss football coach Lane Kiffin $25,000 for a retweeting a Twitter post, which called the conference a "disgrace" for "atrocious" officiating.
Kiffin took to Twitter after Ole Miss lost to Auburn on Saturday in Oxford, Miss. He saw a tweet that was critical of referees for not correctly calling an Auburn fumble late in the fourth quarter of Saturday's game.
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The play in question came with 5:43 remaining in the contest. Ole Miss kicked off to Auburn and the ball appeared to hit a Tigers player during the sequence. The ball then bounced into the end zone, where it was recovered by Ole Miss.
Officials said the ball never touched an Auburn player and called a touchback. Slow-motion video replays of the sequence showed the ball hit the Tigers player.
"Y'all are a disgrace SEC," an Ole Miss fan tweeted after the game. "Your officiating is absolutely atrocious. If y'all want to just keep gifting Auburn wins, just say it."
The SEC announced Monday that Kiffin received the fine for his retweet of the original post, which featured a video of the play.
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The conference also admitted that they should have stopped the game and reviewed the play, which should have been ruled a fumble and a Rebels touchdown.
Jerrion Ealy gave the Rebels a 28-27 lead with a five-yard rushing touchdown just before the kickoff. The Tigers went on to score the game-winning touchdown when Bo Nix connected with Seth Williams on a 58-yard touchdown toss on the resulting drive.
"Mr. Kiffin's use of social media Saturday following the game to publicly criticize officiating is in violation of conference bylaws and commissioner's regulations that govern sportsmanship and communication with the conference office on officiating issues," the SEC said in a news release.
Kiffin -- who is one of the most active college football coaches on Twitter -- continued to tweet about the fine after he received it.
"Where can I find 2.5 million pennies?" Kiffin tweeted Monday.
The Rebels coach also joked that he could use his son's college fund to pay the fine.
Ole Miss faces Vanderbilt at 4 p.m. EDT on Saturday in Nashville. Auburn hosts LSU at 3:30 p.m. EDT Saturday in Auburn, Ala.


upi--2020-10-27--U.S. adds 67K COVID-19 cases as dramatic spike over past week grows

Oct. 27 ( UPI ) -- After compiling 300,000 new COVID-19 cases in just four days , the United States added close to 70,000 to that total on Monday , according to updated data from Johns Hopkins University .
Researchers at the university listed another 66,800 cases and close to 500 additional deaths nationwide for Monday .
The United States has n't seen fewer than 60,000 cases for any one day in over a week .
For the past week , the United States has averaged about 63,500 new cases and more than 800 deaths per day .
Nearly 43,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the COVID Tracking Project .
There have been 8.71 million cases and 225,800 deaths in the United States since the start of the pandemic , according to Johns Hopkins .
In Massachusetts , more than a dozen cities were forced to return to tighter measures after falling into the state 's `` red zone '' for COVID-19 transmission .
The cities , including Holyoke and Plymouth , had previously been allowed to increase capacity in gyms , museums , libraries and performance venues .
Now , many of those businesses will have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen earlier this year .
Businesses including roller skating rinks , trampoline parks , laser tag and escape rooms must also close under the restrictions .
Massachusetts on Monday saw a third straight day of at least 1,000 new cases .
In Idaho , officials rolled back the state 's reopening plans and re-imposed some restrictions amid one of the nation 's most intense recent outbreaks .
Gov .
Brad Little ordered indoor gatherings limited to no more than 50 people and outdoor gatherings to 25 % of capacity .
The measure also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bars and restaurants to seated customers at tables .
Little , who had resisted new measures , said the move is necessary to prevent the state 's healthcare system from becoming overwhelmed .
`` Hospitals throughout the state are quickly filling up or are already full with COVID-19 patients and other patients , and way too many healthcare workers are out sick with COVID-19 , '' he said .
Idaho has the nation 's fifth-highest transmission rate , according to the Brown School of Public Health .
In Utah , health officials say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intensive care and warned that facilities are close to implementing emergency plans that may result in rationed care .
`` We have to think in the next week , or two , that we 're going to be at the maximum of even our contingency planning for ICU beds , '' Utah Hospital Association President Greg Bell told KSL Radio .
Bell said providers are also dealing with staffing shortages and presented a list of possible measures to Gov .
Gary Herbert last week .
Under the criteria , worsening intensive care patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and younger patients would receive priority care , as older adults are more likely to die .
`` This is NOT OK , '' Utah state epidemiologist Dr. Angela Dunn tweeted .
`` It is maddening that we are planning to ration care in Utah .
Unacceptable .
`` We must do EVERYTHING we can to slow [ the ] spread .
No excuses . ''

Missouri restaurant owner Gerald Craft talks Monday about the importance of wearing a mask during a briefing of the St. Louis Metropolitan Pandemic Task Force, in Earth City, Mo. Craft shared his story about how difficult it's been for food establishments during the pandemic. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 27 (UPI) -- After compiling 300,000 new COVID-19 cases in just four days, the United States added close to 70,000 to that total on Monday, according to updated data from Johns Hopkins University. Researchers at the university listed another 66,800 cases and close to 500 additional deaths nationwide for Monday. The United States hasn't seen fewer than 60,000 cases for any one day in over a week. Advertisement
For the past week, the United States has averaged about 63,500 new cases and more than 800 deaths per day.
Nearly 43,000 patients were hospitalized Monday, according to the COVID Tracking Project.
There have been 8.71 million cases and 225,800 deaths in the United States since the start of the pandemic, according to Johns Hopkins.
In Massachusetts, more than a dozen cities were forced to return to tighter measures after falling into the state's "red zone" for COVID-19 transmission.
The cities, including Holyoke and Plymouth, had previously been allowed to increase capacity in gyms, museums, libraries and performance venues. Now, many of those businesses will have to close or scale back capacity to levels seen earlier this year.
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Businesses including roller skating rinks, trampoline parks, laser tag and escape rooms must also close under the restrictions.
Massachusetts on Monday saw a third straight day of at least 1,000 new cases.
In Idaho, officials rolled back the state's reopening plans and re-imposed some restrictions amid one of the nation's most intense recent outbreaks.
Gov. Brad Little ordered indoor gatherings limited to no more than 50 people and outdoor gatherings to 25% of capacity. The measure also requires distancing at all gatherings and limits bars and restaurants to seated customers at tables.
Little, who had resisted new measures, said the move is necessary to prevent the state's healthcare system from becoming overwhelmed.
"Hospitals throughout the state are quickly filling up or are already full with COVID-19 patients and other patients, and way too many healthcare workers are out sick with COVID-19," he said.
Idaho has the nation's fifth-highest transmission rate, according to the Brown School of Public Health.
In Utah, health officials say hospitals may soon reach maximum occupancy for intensive care and warned that facilities are close to implementing emergency plans that may result in rationed care.
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"We have to think in the next week, or two, that we're going to be at the maximum of even our contingency planning for ICU beds," Utah Hospital Association President Greg Bell told KSL Radio.
Bell said providers are also dealing with staffing shortages and presented a list of possible measures to Gov. Gary Herbert last week.
Under the criteria, worsening intensive care patients would be moved out of ICU units and younger patients would receive priority care, as older adults are more likely to die.
"This is NOT OK," Utah state epidemiologist Dr. Angela Dunn tweeted. "It is maddening that we are planning to ration care in Utah. Unacceptable.
"We must do EVERYTHING we can to slow [the] spread. No excuses."


upi--2020-10-27--WWE Raw: Randy Orton encounters The Fiend, Team Raw starts to form

Oct. 27 ( UPI ) -- Newly crowned WWE Champion Randy Orton was caught between The Fiend Bray Wyatt and his rival Drew McIntyre on Raw .
Orton , who won the title from McIntyre on Sunday at the Hell in a Cell pay-per-view event , was invited to appear onto Alexa Bliss ' talk show A Moment of Bliss in the main event .
Bliss is the new partner of Wyatt and hinted at big things happening on A Moment of Bliss during a demented installment of Wyatt 's Firefly Funhouse that paid homage to Alice in Wonderland .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and appeared upset as he thought back to how The Viper once burned down the Wyatt Family compound and the remains of his mentor , Sister Abigail .
Orton asked Bliss where Wyatt was during their interview but was interrupted by McIntyre who was looking for revenge .
Bliss laughed in the corner as the grapplers fought each other until the lights in the arena went out .
The champ , when the lights turned back on , had escaped to the entrance ramp where Wyatt waited behind him .
Orton chose not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and instead headed back towards the ring to fight with McIntyre .
Orton and McIntyre exchanged blows on the announcer 's desk as Raw went off the air .
WWE announced on Monday a handful of champion vs. champion matches that will happen at Survivor Series on Nov. 22 .
The annual pay-per-view event pits Raw and SmackDown against each other to determine the top brand in WWE .
Orton will be battling SmackDown 's Universal Champion Roman Reigns .
Raw Women 's Champion Asuka vs. SmackDown Women 's Champion Sasha Banks ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn ; and Raw Tag Team Champions The New Day vs. SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Street Profits will be taking place at Survivor Series .
Survivor Series also features five-on-five elimination matches between Raw and SmackDown .
A number of matches were held on Monday to see who will represent Raw 's men 's and women 's teams .
AJ Styles earned his place on the Raw men 's team by defeating Jeff Hardy with a Phenomenal Forearm .
Keith Lee earned the second spot after defeating Elias who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Truth , that is available on Spotify and Apple Music .
Sheamus got onto the team after he beat Matt Riddle with Brogue Kick .
The other two members of the Raw men 's team will be decided at a later date .
The Raw Women 's team was formed by WWE official Adam Pearce who selected Women 's Tag Team Champions Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler ; Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke .
Lana earned the last spot on the team by winning a Fatal 4-Way match against Nikki Cross , Lacey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lana to the team by slamming her through a table for the sixth week in a row .
Other moments from Raw included Lucha House Party defeating Akira Tozawa and Drew Gulak ; The Hurt Business defeating Retribution by disqualification in a Tag Team Elimination match ; and McIntyre defeating Mr. Money in the Bank , The Miz .
McIntyre , after his victory over The Miz , pointed to actor Matthew McConaughey who was watching the show virtually with his family .

Oct. 27 (UPI) -- Newly crowned WWE Champion Randy Orton was caught between The Fiend Bray Wyatt and his rival Drew McIntyre on Raw.
Orton, who won the title from McIntyre on Sunday at the Hell in a Cell pay-per-view event, was invited to appear onto Alexa Bliss' talk show A Moment of Bliss in the main event.
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Bliss is the new partner of Wyatt and hinted at big things happening on A Moment of Bliss during a demented installment of Wyatt's Firefly Funhouse that paid homage to Alice in Wonderland.
Wyatt has a long history with Orton and appeared upset as he thought back to how The Viper once burned down the Wyatt Family compound and the remains of his mentor, Sister Abigail.
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Orton asked Bliss where Wyatt was during their interview but was interrupted by McIntyre who was looking for revenge. Bliss laughed in the corner as the grapplers fought each other until the lights in the arena went out.
The champ, when the lights turned back on, had escaped to the entrance ramp where Wyatt waited behind him. Orton chose not to turn around knowing what awaited him and instead headed back towards the ring to fight with McIntyre.
Orton and McIntyre exchanged blows on the announcer's desk as Raw went off the air.
WWE announced on Monday a handful of champion vs. champion matches that will happen at Survivor Series on Nov. 22. The annual pay-per-view event pits Raw and SmackDown against each other to determine the top brand in WWE.
Orton will be battling SmackDown's Universal Champion Roman Reigns. Raw Women's Champion Asuka vs. SmackDown Women's Champion Sasha Banks; United States Champion Bobby Lashley vs. Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn; and Raw Tag Team Champions The New Day vs. SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Street Profits will be taking place at Survivor Series.
Survivor Series also features five-on-five elimination matches between Raw and SmackDown. A number of matches were held on Monday to see who will represent Raw's men's and women's teams.
AJ Styles earned his place on the Raw men's team by defeating Jeff Hardy with a Phenomenal Forearm. Keith Lee earned the second spot after defeating Elias who just released a new album titled Universal Truth, that is available on Spotify and Apple Music. Sheamus got onto the team after he beat Matt Riddle with Brogue Kick. The other two members of the Raw men's team will be decided at a later date.
The Raw Women's team was formed by WWE official Adam Pearce who selected Women's Tag Team Champions Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler; Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke. Lana earned the last spot on the team by winning a Fatal 4-Way match against Nikki Cross, Lacey Evans and Peyton Royce.
Jax welcomed Lana to the team by slamming her through a table for the sixth week in a row.
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Other moments from Raw included Lucha House Party defeating Akira Tozawa and Drew Gulak; The Hurt Business defeating Retribution by disqualification in a Tag Team Elimination match; and McIntyre defeating Mr. Money in the Bank, The Miz.
McIntyre, after his victory over The Miz, pointed to actor Matthew McConaughey who was watching the show virtually with his family.


upi--2020-10-27--Ohio trafficking sting nabs nearly 200 suspects. finds 45 children

Oct. 27 ( UPI ) -- Federal authorities have made nearly 200 arrests this month and recovered dozens of missing children in a trafficking operation in central Ohio , officials said .
The U.S .
Marshals Service and Ohio Attorney General 's office said the multi-agency Operation Autumn Hope found 45 child victims of human trafficking , sexual misconduct and other crimes .
Authorities said 20 other vulnerable children were located through well-being checks .
`` The success of Operation Autumn Hope is measured not only in the number of arrests but in the lives that were rescued from this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yost said in a statement Monday .
`` Every agency on this team looks for the day when no person is bought and sold in Ohio .
Do n't buy sex in Ohio . ''
Sgt .
Dana Hess , director of the multi-agency Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force , said some of the cases fell through the cracks for various reasons .
The victims were referred to social service agencies once they were rescued .
In one case , law enforcement said they found an at-risk 15-year-old girl in Columbus with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Cleveland .
Two other children were recovered during a traffic stop in West Virginia .
Yost 's office some victims had been exploited and used for sex trafficking and some of the 179 suspects arrested were looking to buy sex .
`` Survivors of rape and sex trafficking deserve to be believed and have access to justice , '' said Sondra Miller , president of the Cleveland Rape Center .
`` By holding offenders accountable and reducing demand for human trafficking , this operation prevented many from being harmed . ''

Oct. 27 (UPI) -- Federal authorities have made nearly 200 arrests this month and recovered dozens of missing children in a trafficking operation in central Ohio, officials said.
The U.S. Marshals Service and Ohio Attorney General's office said the multi-agency Operation Autumn Hope found 45 child victims of human trafficking, sexual misconduct and other crimes.
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Authorities said 20 other vulnerable children were located through well-being checks.
"The success of Operation Autumn Hope is measured not only in the number of arrests but in the lives that were rescued from this evil," Ohio Attorney General David Yost said in a statement Monday.
"Every agency on this team looks for the day when no person is bought and sold in Ohio. Don't buy sex in Ohio."
"The success of Op. Autumn Hope is measured not only in the number of arrests but in the lives that were rescued from this evil," Yost said. "Every agency on this team looks for the day when no person is bought and sold in Ohio. Don't buy sex in Ohio!"  https://t.co/WcnSkupstj pic.twitter.com/FXtMtNS2v0— Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost (@OhioAG) October 26, 2020
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Sgt. Dana Hess, director of the multi-agency Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force, said some of the cases fell through the cracks for various reasons. The victims were referred to social service agencies once they were rescued.
In one case, law enforcement said they found an at-risk 15-year-old girl in Columbus with suspected human traffickers after she went missing from Cleveland. Two other children were recovered during a traffic stop in West Virginia.
Yost's office some victims had been exploited and used for sex trafficking and some of the 179 suspects arrested were looking to buy sex.
"Survivors of rape and sex trafficking deserve to be believed and have access to justice," said Sondra Miller, president of the Cleveland Rape Center.
"By holding offenders accountable and reducing demand for human trafficking, this operation prevented many from being harmed."


upi--2020-10-27--LA Rams defense dominates Chicago Bears 24-10 on MNF

Oct. 27 ( UPI ) -- Leonard Floyd and the Los Angeles Rams defense held the Chicago Bears to 49 rushing yards , forced two turnovers and had four sacks for a dominant victory on Monday Night Football .
Floyd had two sacks in the 24-10 win on Monday at SoFi Stadium .
Justin Hollins had another sack for the Rams and Greg Gaines and Aaron Donald added a half sack apiece in the victory .
Jalen Ramsey and Taylor Rapp each intercepted Bears quarterback Nick Foles , who completed 28 of 40 passes for 261 yards but failed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intercepted twice .
`` Great job by our team to get the win , '' Rams coach Sean McVay told reporters .
`` I thought our defense was outstanding , from start to finish they did such a great job .
Some key turnovers , some key fourth down stops .
`` Leonard Floyd came through in a big way against his former team .
I thought offensively , we did enough early on in the game to get that lead .
We were just really trying to get the clock , kind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make sure when [ we were ] up 24-3 , that we closed it out . ''
The Rams and Bears punted on the game 's first three possessions .
Rams quarterback Jared Goff then threw a four-yard touchdown pass to Josh Reynolds for a 7-0 lead .
The Bears answered with an eight-play , 58-yard scoring drive that was capped with a 42-yard field goal by Bears kicker Cairo Santos .
Rams kicker Sam Sloman made a 22-yard attempt to make the score 10-3 at halftime .
Los Angeles added another touchdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ score about seven minutes into the second half .
Rapp later intercepted Foles to lead to another Rams score , a touchdown pass from Goff to tight end Gerald Everett with 1:39 remaining in the third quarter .
Bears linebacker Robert Quinn then forced a Robert Woods fumble with 7:35 remaining .
Eddie Jackson recovered the fumble for Chicago and ran for an eight-yard score for the final points of the game .
Goff completed 23 of 33 passes for 219 yards and two scores for the Rams .
The Rams ( 5-2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 p.m. EDT Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami and the Bears ( 5-2 ) will host the New Orleans Saints at 4:25 p.m. at Soldier Field .

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The Los Angeles Rams defense forced two turnovers and held the Chicago Bears to 279 total yards in a win Monday in Inglewood, Calif. File Photo by Lori Shepler/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 27 (UPI) -- Leonard Floyd and the Los Angeles Rams defense held the Chicago Bears to 49 rushing yards, forced two turnovers and had four sacks for a dominant victory on Monday Night Football. Floyd had two sacks in the 24-10 win on Monday at SoFi Stadium. Justin Hollins had another sack for the Rams and Greg Gaines and Aaron Donald added a half sack apiece in the victory. Advertisement
Jalen Ramsey and Taylor Rapp each intercepted Bears quarterback Nick Foles, who completed 28 of 40 passes for 261 yards but failed to throw a touchdown pass. He was intercepted twice.
"Great job by our team to get the win," Rams coach Sean McVay told reporters. "I thought our defense was outstanding, from start to finish they did such a great job. Some key turnovers, some key fourth down stops.
"Leonard Floyd came through in a big way against his former team. I thought offensively, we did enough early on in the game to get that lead. We were just really trying to get the clock, kind of just run out that game and make sure when [we were] up 24-3, that we closed it out."
Advertisement SAVAGE MODE 2.0 @jalenramsey with the pick! pic.twitter.com/eu01v2GdAU— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) October 27, 2020
The Rams and Bears punted on the game's first three possessions. Rams quarterback Jared Goff then threw a four-yard touchdown pass to Josh Reynolds for a 7-0 lead. The Bears answered with an eight-play, 58-yard scoring drive that was capped with a 42-yard field goal by Bears kicker Cairo Santos.
Rams kicker Sam Sloman made a 22-yard attempt to make the score 10-3 at halftime.
Los Angeles added another touchdown when Malcolm Brown ran for a one-yard score about seven minutes into the second half. Rapp later intercepted Foles to lead to another Rams score, a touchdown pass from Goff to tight end Gerald Everett with 1:39 remaining in the third quarter.
Bears linebacker Robert Quinn then forced a Robert Woods fumble with 7:35 remaining. Eddie Jackson recovered the fumble for Chicago and ran for an eight-yard score for the final points of the game.
Goff completed 23 of 33 passes for 219 yards and two scores for the Rams.
The Rams (5-2) next face the Miami Dolphins at 1 p.m. EDT Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami and the Bears (5-2) will host the New Orleans Saints at 4:25 p.m. at Soldier Field.
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This week in the National Football League


upi--2020-10-27--Google honors physician and microbiologist Dr. Stamen Grigorov with new Doodle

Oct. 27 ( UPI ) -- Google is celebrating Bulgarian physician and microbiologist Dr. Stamen Grigorov with a new Doodle Tuesday , on what would have been his 142nd birthday .
Grigorov , who was born in 1878 in the village of Studen Izvor in the Trun region of Bulgaria , is the first scientist to discover the bacterium essential to the fermentation of yogurt .
He also helped with the development of the first tuberculosis vaccine .
Google 's homepage features artwork of Grigorov being surrounded by multiple bowls of yogurt .
Grigorov , who worked as a research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Switzerland , started to inspect yogurt under a microscope after being intrigued by its reported health benefits .
The scientist found the rod-shaped microorganism that causes yogurt 's fermentation in 1905 after thousands of experiments .
The bacterium was named Lactobacillus bulgaricus , in honor of his home nation of Bulgaria .
The following year , Grigorov released a groundbreaking paper demonstrating the first use of penicillin fungi against tuberculosis while working as chief physician at a hospital in Trun .
Studen Izvor is home to the world 's only yogurt museums @

Google paid homage to physician and microbiologist Dr. Stamen Grigorov with this new Doodle. Image courtesy of Google
Oct. 27 (UPI) -- Google is celebrating Bulgarian physician and microbiologist Dr. Stamen Grigorov with a new Doodle Tuesday, on what would have been his 142nd birthday. Grigorov, who was born in 1878 in the village of Studen Izvor in the Trun region of Bulgaria, is the first scientist to discover the bacterium essential to the fermentation of yogurt. He also helped with the development of the first tuberculosis vaccine. Advertisement
Google's homepage features artwork of Grigorov being surrounded by multiple bowls of yogurt.
Grigorov, who worked as a research assistant at the Medical University of Geneva, Switzerland, started to inspect yogurt under a microscope after being intrigued by its reported health benefits.
The scientist found the rod-shaped microorganism that causes yogurt's fermentation in 1905 after thousands of experiments. The bacterium was named Lactobacillus bulgaricus, in honor of his home nation of Bulgaria.
The following year, Grigorov released a groundbreaking paper demonstrating the first use of penicillin fungi against tuberculosis while working as chief physician at a hospital in Trun.
Studen Izvor is home to the world's only yogurt museums.


upi--2020-10-27--Zeta weakens to tropical storm after lashing Mexico, moves toward U.S.

Oct. 27 ( UPI ) -- Hurricane Zeta weakened to a tropical storm early Tuesday after making landfall on the southeastern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico , but is expected to restrengthen before it gets to the U.S. Gulf Coast later this week .
The National Hurricane Center said in its 4 a.m. CDT advisory that Zeta was located 85 miles southeast of Progreso , Mexico , and 560 miles south of the mouth of the Mississippi River .
It had maximum sustained winds of 70 mph , just 4 mph shy of hurricane strength , and was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ storm made landfall on the tip of the peninsula late Monday , bringing heavy rains and hurricane conditions to the area .
It is forecast to make landfall as a hurricane somewhere on the Gulf Coast between eastern Louisiana and western Alabama on Wednesday .
`` On the forecast track , the center of Zeta will move over the southern Gulf of Mexico later this morning , and over the central Gulf of Mexico tonight , '' the NHC said in its advisory .
`` Zeta is forecast to approach the northern Gulf @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within the hurricane warning area late Wednesday or Wednesday night . ''
A hurricane warning is in effect from Morgan City , La.
, to the Mississippi-Alabama border and Lake Pontchartrain , Lake Maurepas and metropolitan New Orleans .
Zeta is heading for a portion of the Gulf Coast that has already had to deal with four named tropical systems this year -- Laura , Marco , Sally and Delta .
Marco , Sally and Delta all made landfall along the Louisiana coast , while Sally struck just east along the Alabama coast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not make landfall as a hurricane .

Hurricane Zeta weakened to a Category 1 storm after making landfall. Photo courtesy of NOAA
Oct. 28 (UPI) -- Hurricane Zeta made landfall on New Orleans as a Category 2 storm Wednesday evening, bringing life-threatening storm surge, high winds and heavy rain, meteorologists said. Early Wednesday afternoon, Zeta strengthened into a Category 2 storm packing 110-mph winds as it bore down on the Gulf Coast. Advertisement
In its 10 p.m. CDT advisory, the National Hurricane Center said the eye had moved to about 70 miles northeast of Hattiesburg, Miss., and was moving northeast at 31 mph. The storm weakened slightly to a Category 1 with 80 mph winds.
Forecasters rated Zeta a 1 on the AccuWeather RealImpact Scale at the time of landfall. The company's hurricane scale takes into account a broad range of impacts, rather than just wind speed used in the Saffir-Simpson scale to assess the overall impact of a tropical system.
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As Zeta came crashing ashore, it became the fifth named storm to hit the Louisiana coast during what has been a relentless hurricane season, and the 11th to strike the country as a whole -- a national record. City officials in New Orleans called for residents who live outside the levee system to evacuate voluntarily as AccuWeather's futurecast shows that Zeta's eyewall could move right over the Big Easy.
Impacts along the coast began to occur late Wednesday morning. AccuWeather National Reporter Jonathan Petramala was stationed in Grand Isle, Louisiana, a barrier island about 100 miles south of New Orleans, and storm surge was already encroaching onto land.
In addition to New Orleans, hurricane warnings were in effect along the Gulf Coast from central Louisiana eastward to the Mississippi-Alabama border and tropical storm watches have been issued northward through Atlanta.
Dangerous and damaging storm surge, high winds and flooding rainfall will hammer the area from southeastern Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle. Several tornadoes could also touch down as the Zeta batters the U.S. Gulf Coast, especially near and east of where the storm comes onshore.
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The storm's projected path has the potential to bring the most significant impacts in southeastern Louisiana and the New Orleans area of any tropical system this season as the city managed to avoid the core of all tropical systems thus far this year. The Big Easy is at risk for power outages, flooding and property damage from Zeta -- and conditions will deteriorate quickly there late Wednesday afternoon and early Wednesday evening.
A storm surge of 3 feet to 6 feet is forecast along much of the southeastern Louisiana coast, including Lake Pontchartrain. But, a storm surge of 6 feet to 10 feet is forecast along portions of the Mississippi coast and Lake Borgne, and a surge of 1 foot to 3 feet can occur as far to the east as the northern Gulf coast of Florida and as far to the west as Intercoastal City, La.
Storm surge warnings have been issued from the mouth of the Atchafalaya River in Louisiana to Navarre, Fla. This includes the bays around Gulfport, Miss., and Mobile, Ala.
Significant power outages and tree damage are still anticipated in southeastern Louisiana to part of southern Mississippi and central and southern Alabama with gusts frequenting 60 mph to 80 mph. An AccuWeather Local StormMax of 100 mph is forecast in southeastern Louisiana.
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"Power outages could last for a few days to a week in some areas and minor structural damage is expected as well, especially to weak and poorly built buildings," Douty said.
Sporadic tree damage and power outages can occur with wind gusts of 40-60 mph as far to the north as the Piedmont areas of the interior South and perhaps to the mid-Atlantic coast. Major cities well inland, such as Montgomery, Ala.; Atlanta; Greenville, S.C., and Charlotte, N.C., could experience power outages and travel problems due to fallen trees and urban flooding.
The central and eastern Gulf is being warned to closely monitor the progress of Zeta as the area will bear the brunt of the tropical system's impacts, but effects will also reach far inland across the U.S.
Enough rain to cause flash and urban flooding is forecast as far to the north as the Ohio Valley, central and southern Appalachians and the mid-Atlantic coast. Torrential rainfall will be limited to several hours due to the fast forward motion of Zeta, but downpours and moderate rainfall will precede the storm many hours in advance.
"Heavy rain is by far going to be the most widespread impact from Zeta in the United States," warned AccuWeather meteorologist Niki LoBiondo.
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Rainfall on the order of 4 inches to 8 inches will occur along the path of Zeta as it interacts with a non-tropical storm, the same one bringing heavy snow and ice to the southern Plains and Rockies. An AccuWeather Local StormMax of 12 inches is forecast from southeastern Louisiana to part of western Alabama, which will be closest to the source of tropical moisture from the Gulf of Mexico.
"Flash flooding will be a threat across much of the area where the heaviest rain totals are expected, especially in places with steeper terrain," according to AccuWeather meteorologist Jake Sojda. "Ponding on roads and in poor drainage areas will likely be widespread, especially in communities where falling leaves clog storm drains."
Due to the widespread nature of heavy rain over the lower Mississippi and Ohio valleys, as well as the southern Appalachians, small stream flooding is expected and some minor river flooding may also develop along the tributaries of the major rivers by the end of the week.
Zeta's legacy may include tornado outbreak
Sometimes, when tropical storms or hurricanes make landfall, tornadoes and waterspouts can occur, and that will be a threat when Zeta comes ashore on the Gulf Coast.
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"Tornadoes to the east of Zeta's track can lead to localized areas of more intense damage," Douty said. "There is the concern that there could be a higher-than-usual number of tornadoes with this tropical system as extra energy from the non-tropical storm system over the southern Plains interacts with Zeta as it moves inland."
In the wake of Zeta, showers and thunderstorms will be left behind in the area from the western Caribbean to the southern Gulf of Mexico and the Florida Straits. "This area will have to be watched for the next potential tropical development zone next week," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dave Houk.
"We're doing everything we can to prepare for this storm"
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency on Monday ahead of Zeta's arrival. "[The] good thing and the bad thing is we've had a lot of practice" at weathering storms this season, Edwards said during a Monday afternoon update on the looming threat for his state. "We're doing everything we can to prepare for this storm," he added.
Nearly 3,600 people remain sheltered by the state after devastating back-to-back hurricane strikes. Laura struck the state as a devastating Category 4 storm in late August, and then just 43 days later, Category 2 Hurricane Delta made landfall only 13 miles to the east of where Laura hit.
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Zeta is predicted to be the fifth tropical system to make landfall in Louisiana at tropical storm strength or greater following hits from Tropical Storm Cristobal, Hurricane Laura, Tropical Storm Marco and Hurricane Delta. Once this occurs, it will break the record set in 2002, when four tropical systems made landfall in the state.
Edwards also noted that his state is dealing with dueling disasters amid the public health emergency of the pandemic. "We may be tired of COVID-19 and hurricanes, but neither the virus nor Mother Nature is going to take that into account," Edwards said.
The National Guard was mobilized and ready to respond to Zeta in 16 parishes of Louisiana. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey and Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves both issued emergency declarations in advance of the hurricane's effects.
Zeta made its first landfall as a Category 1 hurricane, packing 80-mph winds, along the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico just north of Tulum shortly after 11 p.m. CDT Monday. The storm lost some wind intensity once over land and weakened into a tropical storm as it spun northward unleashing storm surge, heavy rain and strong winds Monday night.
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Zeta became the 11th hurricane of the extremely busy Atlantic hurricane season over the northwestern Caribbean Sea on Monday afternoon. Only two other Atlantic hurricane seasons since 1851(1950 and 2005) spawned 11 or more hurricanes by Oct. 26, according to Colorado State University meteorologist Philip Klotzbach. An average season generates six hurricanes and 12 named storms.
It will become the eighth named storm to strike the Gulf Coast this season, and the 11th tropical system to make landfall in the U.S. in 2020. Hurricane Delta was number 10, which broke the record of nine storms to crash into the continental U.S. in one season, previously set in 1916.
Zeta is projected to be the sixth landfalling hurricane in the continental U.S. this season, which will tie another national record previously set in 1886 and 1985. Hanna, Isaias, Laura, Sally and Delta are the other hurricanes that hit U.S. soil in 2020.
Also notable is the calendar date that Zeta will impact the U.S. It's expected to be the latest hurricane landfall in the calendar year since Kate hit Mexico Beach, Florida, in 1985.
"For those counting, 2005 still holds the record for the most number of named storms in a season (28). NHC identified an 'unnamed' subtropical storm in its post-season analysis that year, which is included in the total," the National Hurricane Center said on Twitter. "With #Zeta, the number for 2020 currently stands at 27."


upi--2020-10-27--COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy higher when government confidence lower

When scientists finish developing a COVID-19 vaccine , will people be willing to take it ?
An international research team analyzed data from 19 countries hit hard by the new coronavirus and found that when confidence in government was low , hesitancy to accept a COVID-19 vaccine was higher .
Based on a previous survey of more than 13,400 people , researchers found that about 72 % were likely to take a vaccine .
About 14 % would refuse and a similar percentage would hesitate , the survey showed .
`` The problem of vaccine hesitancy is strongly related with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vaccine confidence was invariably higher in countries where trust was higher , '' said study co-leader Jeffrey Lazarus , of the Barcelona Institute for Global Health in Spain .
Study co-leader Ayman El-Mohandes said health leaders need to increase confidence and improve the public 's understanding of how they can help control the spread of COVID-19 .
El-Mohandes is dean of the School of Public Health at the City University of New York .
Vaccine hesitancy will be a key obstacles for public health officials , in addition to the already challenging tasks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a vaccine .
More than 90 COVID-19 vaccines are in development around the world , and about half are in human trials .
Vaccine acceptance varied by country , with the highest percentage of positive responses , 87 % , coming from respondents in China .
The lowest number of positives , 55 % , was from Russia .
In the United States , 76 % of survey respondents gave positive responses .
About 11 % were negative 13 % of respondents had no opinion .
Respondents who were older and those with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a vaccine .
People who had been sick with COVID-19 or whose relatives had been sick were not more likely to respond positively .
`` It will be tragic if we develop safe and effective vaccines and people refuse to take them , '' said study co-author Scott Ratzan , a lecturer at CUNY .
`` We need to develop a robust and sustained effort to address vaccine hesitancy and rebuild public confidence in the personal , family and community benefits of immunizations , '' he said in a CUNY news release .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with recent surveys in the United States , which point to diminished public trust in a COVID-19 vaccine .
The findings were published recently in the journal Nature Medicine .
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on vaccine planning .

When scientists finish developing a COVID-19 vaccine, will people be willing to take it?
An international research team analyzed data from 19 countries hit hard by the new coronavirus and found that when confidence in government was low, hesitancy to accept a COVID-19 vaccine was higher.
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Based on a previous survey of more than 13,400 people, researchers found that about 72% were likely to take a vaccine. About 14% would refuse and a similar percentage would hesitate, the survey showed.
"The problem of vaccine hesitancy is strongly related with a lack of trust in government. Vaccine confidence was invariably higher in countries where trust was higher," said study co-leader Jeffrey Lazarus, of the Barcelona Institute for Global Health in Spain.
Study co-leader Ayman El-Mohandes said health leaders need to increase confidence and improve the public's understanding of how they can help control the spread of COVID-19. El-Mohandes is dean of the School of Public Health at the City University of New York.
Vaccine hesitancy will be a key obstacles for public health officials, in addition to the already challenging tasks of developing, producing and equitably distributing a vaccine. More than 90 COVID-19 vaccines are in development around the world, and about half are in human trials.
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Vaccine acceptance varied by country, with the highest percentage of positive responses, 87%, coming from respondents in China. The lowest number of positives, 55%, was from Russia.
In the United States, 76% of survey respondents gave positive responses. About 11% were negative 13% of respondents had no opinion.
Respondents who were older and those with higher incomes were more likely to accept a vaccine. People who had been sick with COVID-19 or whose relatives had been sick were not more likely to respond positively.
"It will be tragic if we develop safe and effective vaccines and people refuse to take them," said study co-author Scott Ratzan, a lecturer at CUNY. "We need to develop a robust and sustained effort to address vaccine hesitancy and rebuild public confidence in the personal, family and community benefits of immunizations," he said in a CUNY news release.
Ratzan noted that the results were consistent with recent surveys in the United States, which point to diminished public trust in a COVID-19 vaccine.
The findings were published recently in the journal Nature Medicine.
More information
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on vaccine planning.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-10-27--Famous birthdays for Oct. 27: Fran Lebowitz, Kelly Osbourne

Oct. 27 ( UPI ) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Scorpio .
-- Theodore @ @ @ @ @ the United States/Nobel Peace Prize laureate , in 1858

Fran Lebowitz arrives on the red carpet at the premiere of "The Irishman" at Alice Tully Hall on September 27, 2019, in New York City. The writer turns 70 on October 27. File Photo by Bryan Smith/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 27 (UPI) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Scorpio. They include: Advertisement
-- Dutch humanist Erasmus in 1469
-- English explorer Capt. James Cook in 1728
-- Italian violin virtuoso Niccolo Paganini in 1782
-- Sewing machine developer Isaac Singer in 1811
-- Theodore Roosevelt, 26th president of the United States/Nobel Peace Prize laureate, in 1858
UPI File Photo
-- Etiquette arbiter Emily Post in 1872
-- Painter Lee Krasner in 1908
-- Longtime Tonight Show producer/director Fred de Cordova in 1910
-- Actor Leif Erickson in 1911
-- Welsh poet Dylan Thomas in 1914
-- Actor Nanette Fabray in 1920
-- Baseball Hall of Fame member Ralph Kiner in 1922
-- Pop artist Roy Lichtenstein in 1923
-- Poet Sylvia Plath in 1932
-- Comedian John Cleese in 1939 (age 81)
-- Country singer Lee Greenwood in 1942 (age 78)
File Photo by Terry Wyatt/UPI
-- Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in 1945 (age 75)
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-- Canadian filmmaker Ivan Reitman in 1946 (age 74)
-- Writer Fran Lebowitz in 1950 (age 70)
-- Actor Roberto Benigni in 1952 (age 68)
-- Actor Robert Picardo in 1953 (age 67)
-- Singer Simon Le Bon in 1958 (age 62)
-- Actor Marla Maples in 1963 (age 57)
-- Rock musician Scott Weiland in 1967
-- Author Zadie Smith in 1975 (age 45)
-- Television personality Kelly Osbourne in 1984 (age 36)
File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
-- Actor Troy Gentile in 1993 (age 27)


upi--2020-10-27--Space companies use Earth-imaging satellites to combat climate change

ORLANDO , Fla. , Oct. 27 ( UPI ) -- A growing number of space companies are launching satellites intended to combat climate change by using Earth-observation technology .
Such satellites monitor a range of climate conditions , such as sea levels , deforestation and the release of greenhouse gases , particularly methane , according to new industry reports and a panel of experts at the recent International Astronautical Congress .
Climate change services are helping drive up sales in the Earth-observation industry , which are expected to reach $ 8.1 billion annually by 2029 , according to a September @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Research .
For some new satellite companies , climate ethics and new global sustainability goals are part of their mission , said Pooja Pandey , an engineer with San Francisco-based satellite company Planet , formerly Planet Labs .
The company has launched 150 satellites using such companies as SpaceX and California-based Rocket Lab .
Pandey said Planet uses the United Nations ' sustainable development goals to guide its business .
Such goals include combatting climate change around the globe and providing access to clean water and affordable clean energy for everyone .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ imagery is used for a purpose and these are the goals that we 're supporting at the moment , '' Pandey said .
One of Planet 's marquis climate change projects was to monitor the health of the Brandenburg Forest in Germany for the German government , Pandey said .
`` The results that we saw in Brandenburg Forest were incredible because [ the satellites ] were able to accurately detect health issues among the trees , '' Pandey said .
`` We were able to reduce the time spent on the ground @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lower costs . ''
Planet plans to launch nine more Earth observation satellites , which it calls SuperDoves , from New Zealand on Wednesday with Rocket Lab .
The mission also will carry another Earth observation spacecraft for Canon Electronics , the CE-SAT-IIB , which has a telescope equipped with an ultra-high sensitivity camera to take night images of the Earth .
Similar satellites were launched several times this year from Florida with SpaceX .
Other companies in the Earth observation sector include New York-based Bluefield Technologies and San Francisco-based Capella Space .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaks of methane -- a potentially dangerous gas that contributes to global warming .
Capella , co-founded by a former NASA engineer , is focused on high-resolution radar images from its spacecraft , named Denali and Sequoia .
Space agencies in Germany and France are also developing new technology to detect methane leaks , said Mathieu Quatrevalet , a research scientist with the German Aerospace Center .
`` There 's a strong scientific case to be made for methane [ detection ] since it is ... the second-largest contributor to [ human-caused ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Any additional large source of methane could be a big problem . ''
Constellations of satellites that feature optical technology , radar or radio frequency monitoring are expected to grow to more than 1,000 in orbit , said Dallas Kasaboski , senior analyst with Northern Sky Research .
`` The market eagerly awaits larger volumes of data and more services , '' Kasaboski said .
`` New technology , such as artificial intelligence and machine learning , will make Earth observation service even better and more accurate . ''

Earth-imaging satellites, like these being launched in 2016 by Planet Labs, are increasingly used to combat climate change. Photo courtesy of NASA | License Photo
ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 27 (UPI) -- A growing number of space companies are launching satellites intended to combat climate change by using Earth-observation technology. Such satellites monitor a range of climate conditions, such as sea levels, deforestation and the release of greenhouse gases, particularly methane, according to new industry reports and a panel of experts at the recent International Astronautical Congress. Advertisement
Climate change services are helping drive up sales in the Earth-observation industry, which are expected to reach $8.1 billion annually by 2029, according to a September report from France-based analyst firm Northern Sky Research.
For some new satellite companies, climate ethics and new global sustainability goals are part of their mission, said Pooja Pandey, an engineer with San Francisco-based satellite company Planet, formerly Planet Labs.
The company has launched 150 satellites using such companies as SpaceX and California-based Rocket Lab.
Pandey said Planet uses the United Nations' sustainable development goals to guide its business. Such goals include combatting climate change around the globe and providing access to clean water and affordable clean energy for everyone.
"We want to make sure that our imagery is used for a purpose and these are the goals that we're supporting at the moment," Pandey said.
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One of Planet's marquis climate change projects was to monitor the health of the Brandenburg Forest in Germany for the German government, Pandey said.
"The results that we saw in Brandenburg Forest were incredible because [the satellites] were able to accurately detect health issues among the trees," Pandey said. "We were able to reduce the time spent on the ground by personnel there and to help them lower costs."
Planet plans to launch nine more Earth observation satellites, which it calls SuperDoves, from New Zealand on Wednesday with Rocket Lab. The mission also will carry another Earth observation spacecraft for Canon Electronics, the CE-SAT-IIB, which has a telescope equipped with an ultra-high sensitivity camera to take night images of the Earth.
Similar satellites were launched several times this year from Florida with SpaceX.
Other companies in the Earth observation sector include New York-based Bluefield Technologies and San Francisco-based Capella Space.
Bluefield still is testing sensors that detect leaks of methane -- a potentially dangerous gas that contributes to global warming. Capella, co-founded by a former NASA engineer, is focused on high-resolution radar images from its spacecraft, named Denali and Sequoia.
Space agencies in Germany and France are also developing new technology to detect methane leaks, said Mathieu Quatrevalet, a research scientist with the German Aerospace Center.
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"There's a strong scientific case to be made for methane [detection] since it is ... the second-largest contributor to [human-caused] climate change," Quatrevalet said. "Any additional large source of methane could be a big problem."
Constellations of satellites that feature optical technology, radar or radio frequency monitoring are expected to grow to more than 1,000 in orbit, said Dallas Kasaboski, senior analyst with Northern Sky Research.
"The market eagerly awaits larger volumes of data and more services," Kasaboski said. "New technology, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, will make Earth observation service even better and more accurate."
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