upi--2020-05-26--Workplace wellness programs don't improve overall staff health, study finds

May 26 ( UPI ) -- Workplace wellness programs designed to encourage employees to engage in activities and monitor their health might have negligible benefits , according to a study published Tuesday by JAMA Internal Medicine .
Researchers said business owners and managers should `` temper their expectations '' regarding the effects of these initiatives on overall health , and consider whether they are worth the effort .
With employers more concerned about the health of their workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic , such programs could gain traction in many industries across the country , but they might not achieve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` At a time where concern about health and safety in the workplace is paramount , employers could use wellness initiatives to signal care for their workers , '' co-author David Molitor , an assistant professor of finance and economics at the University of Illinois Gies College of Business , told UPI .
`` But this is not a replacement for taking actions that have been shown to protect or improve employee health , '' he added , including steps to ensure workplace safety and providing employees with protective equipment .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assessed the impact of a two-year workplace wellness initiative implemented at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign .
The program provided 3,300 employees with financial incentives and paid time off for annual on-site health screenings , annual exams and ongoing activities , including organized physical activity sessions , smoking cessation programs and disease management classes .
They compared healthcare outcomes and attitudes among employees enrolled in the program to those of 1,584 staff members not included in the initiative .
Overall , they found that participants in the wellness program were 5 percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care physician and more likely to have a positive attitude about their own health , compared to employees who did not participate in wellness-related initiatives .
Of the 3,300 participants , 56 percent underwent biometric screening -- height , weight , blood pressure , blood work , blood sugar measurement -- and online health risk assessment in the first year , while 31 percent also attended a wellness-related event in the first year , the researchers said .
However , they also observed that the wellness program had no significant effects on participants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , body mass index , blood pressure , cholesterol or blood-sugar levels .
In addition , the risk for high blood pressure , diabetes or obesity was roughly the same for participants and non-participants after one and two years , researchers said .
Similarly , there were no differences between the two groups in terms of doctors ' office visits , hospital visits or emergency department visits .
`` The study found that a comprehensive workplace wellness programs improved employees ' perceptions about their health , but it did not improve clinical health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a two year period , '' Molitor said .
`` Employers who do adopt wellness programs should also think carefully about how to evaluate whether the program works as intended . ''

Workplace wellness programs might boost employee engagement in medical care, but won't necessarily improve overall health, a new study indicates. File photo by Susan Knowles/UPI | License Photo
May 26 (UPI) -- Workplace wellness programs designed to encourage employees to engage in activities and monitor their health might have negligible benefits, according to a study published Tuesday by JAMA Internal Medicine. Researchers said business owners and managers should "temper their expectations" regarding the effects of these initiatives on overall health, and consider whether they are worth the effort. Advertisement
With employers more concerned about the health of their workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic, such programs could gain traction in many industries across the country, but they might not achieve the stated goals, the researchers said.
"At a time where concern about health and safety in the workplace is paramount, employers could use wellness initiatives to signal care for their workers," co-author David Molitor, an assistant professor of finance and economics at the University of Illinois Gies College of Business, told UPI.
"But this is not a replacement for taking actions that have been shown to protect or improve employee health," he added, including steps to ensure workplace safety and providing employees with protective equipment.
For the research, Molitor and his colleagues assessed the impact of a two-year workplace wellness initiative implemented at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
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The program provided 3,300 employees with financial incentives and paid time off for annual on-site health screenings, annual exams and ongoing activities, including organized physical activity sessions, smoking cessation programs and disease management classes.
They compared healthcare outcomes and attitudes among employees enrolled in the program to those of 1,584 staff members not included in the initiative.
Overall, they found that participants in the wellness program were 5 percent more likely to have a regular primary care physician and more likely to have a positive attitude about their own health, compared to employees who did not participate in wellness-related initiatives.
Of the 3,300 participants, 56 percent underwent biometric screening -- height, weight, blood pressure, blood work, blood sugar measurement -- and online health risk assessment in the first year, while 31 percent also attended a wellness-related event in the first year, the researchers said.
However, they also observed that the wellness program had no significant effects on participants' height, weight, waist circumference, body mass index, blood pressure, cholesterol or blood-sugar levels.
In addition, the risk for high blood pressure, diabetes or obesity was roughly the same for participants and non-participants after one and two years, researchers said.
Similarly, there were no differences between the two groups in terms of doctors' office visits, hospital visits or emergency department visits.
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"The study found that a comprehensive workplace wellness programs improved employees' perceptions about their health, but it did not improve clinical health measures or reduce health care use over a two year period," Molitor said.
"Employers who do adopt wellness programs should also think carefully about how to evaluate whether the program works as intended."


upi--2020-05-26--Coronavirus: Supreme Court rules in favor of vulnerable Ohio inmates

May 26 ( UPI ) -- The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to block a lower court 's order requiring the federal government to transfer medically vulnerable inmates in Ohio to safer conditions during the coronavirus pandemic .
The high court voted in favor of leaving in place a federal judge 's order in April , which said the Elkton Federal Correctional Institution near Canton must identify prisoners who could be transferred to home confinement or safer prisons , or given compassionate release or furlough .
Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito , Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas dissented .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 800 prisoners at higher risk of catching COVID-19 eligible for transfers , but the American Civil Liberties said the prison did n't carry out the order .
District Judge James Gwin issued another order in May to enforce the earlier ruling .
`` We commend the court for choosing to reaffirm the rights of the people incarcerated at Elkton prison , for whom a prison sentence must not become a death sentence , '' ACLU national legal director David Cole said .
The Federal Bureau of Prisons said 162 inmates and seven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested positive for the virus .
The low-security prison houses about 2,500 inmates .
In April , Attorney General William Barr expedited his directive to release inmates at high risk for severe illness related to the novel coronavirus .
He specifically cited the Elkton prison -- where nine people have died -- in his directive .
`` We are experiencing significant levels of infection at several of our facilities , '' Barr said .
`` We have to move with dispatch in using home confinement when appropriate to move vulnerable inmates out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ General Noel Francisco , though , argued in favor of the Supreme Court staying Gwin 's order .
`` A judicial order peremptorily requiring the removal of over 800 inmates from a federal prison based on an alleged Eighth Amendment violation -- in the midst of a pandemic -- presents extraordinarily significant questions and should not be imposed without this court 's review . ''

A group of activists protest outside the Federal Correctional Institution in San Pedro, Calif., on May 2. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court ruled that the Federal Bureau of Prisons must comply with a lower judge's ruling transferring medically vulnerable prisons in Ohio to safer locations during the coronavirus pandemic. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
May 26 (UPI) -- The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to block a lower court's order requiring the federal government to transfer medically vulnerable inmates in Ohio to safer conditions during the coronavirus pandemic. The high court voted in favor of leaving in place a federal judge's order in April, which said the Elkton Federal Correctional Institution near Canton must identify prisoners who could be transferred to home confinement or safer prisons, or given compassionate release or furlough. Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas dissented. Advertisement
The federal judge's order would've made about 800 prisoners at higher risk of catching COVID-19 eligible for transfers, but the American Civil Liberties said the prison didn't carry out the order. District Judge James Gwin issued another order in May to enforce the earlier ruling.
"We commend the court for choosing to reaffirm the rights of the people incarcerated at Elkton prison, for whom a prison sentence must not become a death sentence," ACLU national legal director David Cole said.
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The Federal Bureau of Prisons said 162 inmates and seven staff members at the Ohio prison have tested positive for the virus. The low-security prison houses about 2,500 inmates.
In April, Attorney General William Barr expedited his directive to release inmates at high risk for severe illness related to the novel coronavirus. He specifically cited the Elkton prison -- where nine people have died -- in his directive.
"We are experiencing significant levels of infection at several of our facilities," Barr said. "We have to move with dispatch in using home confinement when appropriate to move vulnerable inmates out of these institutions."
Justice Department Solicitor General Noel Francisco, though, argued in favor of the Supreme Court staying Gwin's order.
"A judicial order peremptorily requiring the removal of over 800 inmates from a federal prison based on an alleged Eighth Amendment violation -- in the midst of a pandemic -- presents extraordinarily significant questions and should not be imposed without this court's review."


upi--2020-05-26--Costa Rica becomes first in Central America to allow gay marriage

May 26 ( UPI ) -- Costa Rica became the first country in Central America to legalize same-sex marriage Tuesday .
Amid the coronavirus pandemic , thousands of people watched Daritza Araya Arguedas , 24 , and Alexandra Quiros Castillo , 29 , get married early Tuesday morning as the first same-sex couple to legally do so in Costa Rica .
The Supreme Elections Tribunal said Tuesday it has received 55 declarations of marriage from same-sex couples it will start to process .
Costa Rica 's Supreme Court of Justice ruled in August 2018 the ban on same-sex marriage was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislate or the ban would be automatically lifted .
The deadline expired Monday night , allowing the ban to be lifted at midnight .
Costa Rican President Carlos Alvarado , who showed support of same-sex marriage during his campaign and marched in the 2019 pride parade in San Jose , praised the move in a statement .
`` To the LGBTQ community , whose rights will be recognized ... Over decades you were offended , humiliated , persecuted , but you never gave up the fight , '' Alvarado said in the statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ determination .
You did so with the three unstoppable forces that should guide the 21st century : Liberty , equality , and democratic institutions . ''
`` Thanks to your work over decades , Costa Rica recognizes the rights you always deserved and returns a little of the liberty that so often was limited , '' he added .
`` You , your partners , your families , your children will have the same rights as any other person , couple or family in this country . ''
Victor Madrigal-Borloz , U.N. independent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , praised the change in a tweet about the move Monday evening .
`` In a few hours my country , # CostaRica , will recognize equal marriage , '' he tweeted .
`` An extraordinary moment of celebration and gratitude to the work of so many activists , and of quiet reflection of the lives of those who lived without seeing this moment . ''

Activist Marco Castillo (L) and his partner Rodrigo Campos (R) kiss during their wedding in Costa Rica Tuesday, the day that legalized same-sex marriage came into effect in the country. Photo by Jeffrey Arguedas.
May 26 (UPI) -- Costa Rica became the first country in Central America to legalize same-sex marriage Tuesday. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, thousands of people watched Daritza Araya Arguedas, 24, and Alexandra Quiros Castillo, 29, get married early Tuesday morning as the first same-sex couple to legally do so in Costa Rica. Advertisement
The Supreme Elections Tribunal said Tuesday it has received 55 declarations of marriage from same-sex couples it will start to process.
Costa Rica's Supreme Court of Justice ruled in August 2018 the ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional and gave parliament 18 months to legislate or the ban would be automatically lifted.
The deadline expired Monday night, allowing the ban to be lifted at midnight.
Costa Rican President Carlos Alvarado, who showed support of same-sex marriage during his campaign and marched in the 2019 pride parade in San Jose, praised the move in a statement.
"To the LGBTQ community, whose rights will be recognized ... Over decades you were offended, humiliated, persecuted, but you never gave up the fight," Alvarado said in the statement. "You persisted with pride and determination. You did so with the three unstoppable forces that should guide the 21st century: Liberty, equality, and democratic institutions."
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"Thanks to your work over decades, Costa Rica recognizes the rights you always deserved and returns a little of the liberty that so often was limited," he added. "You, your partners, your families, your children will have the same rights as any other person, couple or family in this country."
Victor Madrigal-Borloz, U.N. independent expert on sexual orientation and gender identity, praised the change in a tweet about the move Monday evening.
"In a few hours my country, #CostaRica, will recognize equal marriage," he tweeted. "An extraordinary moment of celebration and gratitude to the work of so many activists, and of quiet reflection of the lives of those who lived without seeing this moment."


upi--2020-05-26--For many kids, picky eating isn't just a phase, study finds

For parents hoping their `` picky '' eater will grow out of it , a new study may be unwelcome news .
Researchers found that choosy 4-year-olds were still turning their noses up at many foods at age 9 -- suggesting their finicky eating is more of a trait than a phase .
The study , which followed over 300 children , found three patterns : The majority were consistently middle-of-the-road when it came to food fussiness -- sometimes shunning unfamiliar cuisine , but remaining relatively open to trying new foods .
A sizable minority ( 29 percent ) consistently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Then there was the picky 14 percent .
From age 4 to 9 , they routinely refused new foods and maintained a limited culinary repertoire .
Still , researchers saw bright spots in the findings , published May 26 in the journal Pediatrics .
For one , there were no signs that picky eaters were underweight .
And the fact that the fussiness seems to be a trait -- and not a failure on the parents ' part -- might bring some solace .
`` It can be very stressful for parents to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noted senior researcher Dr. Megan Pesch , a pediatrician at the University of Michigan 's C.S .
Mott Children 's Hospital in Ann Arbor .
But if parents think they did something wrong to cause it , she added , these findings suggest otherwise .
`` It 's not your fault , '' Pesch said .
`` It seems to be part of a child 's disposition . ''
Nor do the findings mean that parents can not do anything about picky eating , she stressed .
The study merely followed families to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not test any intervention to change kids ' habits .
What does seem clear is that mealtime ultimatums do not help .
In this study , mothers of picky eaters reported more efforts to control what their child consumed -- including limits on sugary , fatty foods .
( When kids are high on the finicky scale , Pesch noted , they often stick to those types of foods . )
In fact , coercion is probably destined to fail , according to Nancy Zucker , director of the Duke Center for Eating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ N.C. Zucker , who wrote an editorial published with the study , pointed to one of its key findings .
Based on mothers ' responses to a standard questionnaire , the pickiest eaters also tended to be emotionally reactive in general .
And those kids will not respond well to dinner-table demands -- `` It wo n't work , '' Zucker said .
`` These children will just shut down . ''
She agreed that the findings suggest picky eating is a trait .
`` These kids may be more harm-avoidant , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think about it , eating is breaking a barrier -- allowing something into your body .
These children hold back when everyone else is running to the food . ''
So what can parents do ?
Zucker said that making meals a pleasant experience may at least brighten children 's moods around food .
And that could , at some point , ease their boundaries .
Including kids in shopping and meal preparation , Zucker said , is one way to make it more enjoyable for them .
Pesch agreed , adding that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That is , keep making varied meals for the family so that the picky eater gets used to the sights and smells .
`` But keep it low-pressure , '' Pesch said .
`` Do n't try to force them to 'clean their plates . '
`` The study included 317 mother-child pairs who were followed from the time the child was about 4 until age 9 .
Mothers completed a `` food fussiness '' questionnaire , and 14 percent of kids scored high enough , and consistently enough , to be deemed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in being a picky eater ?
This study found no weight consequences : Finicky kids tended to weigh less than those who liked lots of foods -- but they were not underweight .
There is , however , a concern , Zucker said , about the nutritional quality of their diets , as well as problems like chronic constipation .
Pesch also pointed out that the study looked at run-of-the-mill picky eating -- where kids adhere to childhood favorites like mac and cheese , hot dogs and cereal .
If a child is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , parents should talk to their pediatrician .
The American Academy of Pediatrics has advice for parents of picky eaters .

Pixabay A new study of more than 300 children found that 14 percent routinely refused new foods and maintained a limited culinary repertoire. Photo by avitalchn
For parents hoping their "picky" eater will grow out of it, a new study may be unwelcome news. Researchers found that choosy 4-year-olds were still turning their noses up at many foods at age 9 -- suggesting their finicky eating is more of a trait than a phase. Advertisement
The study, which followed over 300 children, found three patterns: The majority were consistently middle-of-the-road when it came to food fussiness -- sometimes shunning unfamiliar cuisine, but remaining relatively open to trying new foods.
A sizable minority (29 percent) consistently ate everything their parents offered up.
Then there was the picky 14 percent. From age 4 to 9, they routinely refused new foods and maintained a limited culinary repertoire.
Still, researchers saw bright spots in the findings, published May 26 in the journal Pediatrics.
For one, there were no signs that picky eaters were underweight. And the fact that the fussiness seems to be a trait -- and not a failure on the parents' part -- might bring some solace.
Advertisement
"It can be very stressful for parents to deal with a picky eater," noted senior researcher Dr. Megan Pesch, a pediatrician at the University of Michigan's C.S. Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor.
But if parents think they did something wrong to cause it, she added, these findings suggest otherwise.
"It's not your fault," Pesch said. "It seems to be part of a child's disposition."
Nor do the findings mean that parents cannot do anything about picky eating, she stressed. The study merely followed families to see what happened naturally -- and did not test any intervention to change kids' habits.
What does seem clear is that mealtime ultimatums do not help.
In this study, mothers of picky eaters reported more efforts to control what their child consumed -- including limits on sugary, fatty foods. (When kids are high on the finicky scale, Pesch noted, they often stick to those types of foods.)
Despite those battles, children's fussiness held strong.
In fact, coercion is probably destined to fail, according to Nancy Zucker, director of the Duke Center for Eating Disorders at Duke University in Durham, N.C.
Zucker, who wrote an editorial published with the study, pointed to one of its key findings. Based on mothers' responses to a standard questionnaire, the pickiest eaters also tended to be emotionally reactive in general.
Advertisement
And those kids will not respond well to dinner-table demands -- "It won't work," Zucker said. "These children will just shut down."
She agreed that the findings suggest picky eating is a trait. "These kids may be more harm-avoidant," Zucker said. "And when you think about it, eating is breaking a barrier -- allowing something into your body. These children hold back when everyone else is running to the food."
So what can parents do?
Zucker said that making meals a pleasant experience may at least brighten children's moods around food. And that could, at some point, ease their boundaries.
Including kids in shopping and meal preparation, Zucker said, is one way to make it more enjoyable for them.
Pesch agreed, adding that simple exposure may help, too. That is, keep making varied meals for the family so that the picky eater gets used to the sights and smells.
"But keep it low-pressure," Pesch said. "Don't try to force them to 'clean their plates.' "
The study included 317 mother-child pairs who were followed from the time the child was about 4 until age 9. Mothers completed a "food fussiness" questionnaire, and 14 percent of kids scored high enough, and consistently enough, to be deemed persistently picky.
Advertisement
What's the harm in being a picky eater? This study found no weight consequences: Finicky kids tended to weigh less than those who liked lots of foods -- but they were not underweight.
There is, however, a concern, Zucker said, about the nutritional quality of their diets, as well as problems like chronic constipation.
Pesch also pointed out that the study looked at run-of-the-mill picky eating -- where kids adhere to childhood favorites like mac and cheese, hot dogs and cereal. If a child is severely limiting food intake, she said, parents should talk to their pediatrician.
More information
The American Academy of Pediatrics has advice for parents of picky eaters.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-05-26--Territorial aggression between bird species more common than thought

May 26 ( UPI ) -- Territorial aggression between different species was thought to be rare , but new research suggests the behavior is surprisingly common among perching birds , a group that includes songbirds and their closest relatives .
The new study , published Tuesday in the journal PNAS , suggests territorial aggression between species is driven by competition for breeding grounds and hybridization .
Hybrid species and species known to mate with other species are more likely to share common breeding grounds .
The latest research showed the competition for these grounds inspires territorial aggression toward other species @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be able to test this hypothesis -- that is , the hypothesis that competition for access to mates might drive the evolution of territoriality between species , '' lead study author Jonathan Drury , an assistant professor of ecology , evolution and the environment at Durham University in Britain , told UPI in an email .
`` Combined with our results about resource competition , it appears that territorial aggression between species evolves for the same reasons that territoriality between members of the same species evolves , '' Drury said .
Using the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and his colleagues conducted a large-scale phylogenetic analysis of the distribution of territorial aggression among passerine birds .
`` We find that interspecific territoriality is widespread in birds and strongly associated with hybridization and resource overlap during the breeding season , '' researchers wrote in their paper .
Scientists chose to focus on passerine birds , or perching birds , because they are the focus of most ornithological studies , and as a result , there is a lot of related observational data to be mined for fresh insights .
In analyzing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passerine species , Drury and his colleagues found roughly 28 percent of perching bird species form hybrids with one or more other species .
That 's a lot of birds with overlapping breeding territories , he said , which explains the prevalence of territorial aggression .
`` Territorial behavior can include things like physical attacks , chases , displays , and territorial counter singing , '' Drury said .
`` In our study , we limited our set of observations to clear-cut accounts of competition for space , rather than for food -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feeders were n't included . ''
Hybridizing species might get along better if there was more space to spread out , according to Drury .
`` Human activities are causing many changes to the geographical distributions of species , and when individuals of a species reach a novel location , they are likely to interact behaviorally with individuals of other species , '' he said .
`` This research shows that behavioral interactions between newly arriving species and species that were already there are important to account for in conservation efforts . ''

Blue-winged warblers sometimes mate and form hybrids with golden-winged warblers. Photo by TonyCastro/ Wikimedia Commons
May 26 (UPI) -- Territorial aggression between different species was thought to be rare, but new research suggests the behavior is surprisingly common among perching birds, a group that includes songbirds and their closest relatives. The new study, published Tuesday in the journal PNAS, suggests territorial aggression between species is driven by competition for breeding grounds and hybridization. Advertisement
Hybrid species and species known to mate with other species are more likely to share common breeding grounds. The latest research showed the competition for these grounds inspires territorial aggression toward other species.
"We designed our analyses to be able to test this hypothesis -- that is, the hypothesis that competition for access to mates might drive the evolution of territoriality between species," lead study author Jonathan Drury, an assistant professor of ecology, evolution and the environment at Durham University in Britain, told UPI in an email.
"Combined with our results about resource competition, it appears that territorial aggression between species evolves for the same reasons that territoriality between members of the same species evolves," Drury said.
Using the observational data from previous surveys, Drury and his colleagues conducted a large-scale phylogenetic analysis of the distribution of territorial aggression among passerine birds.
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"We find that interspecific territoriality is widespread in birds and strongly associated with hybridization and resource overlap during the breeding season," researchers wrote in their paper.
Scientists chose to focus on passerine birds, or perching birds, because they are the focus of most ornithological studies, and as a result, there is a lot of related observational data to be mined for fresh insights.
In analyzing the scientific literature on the breeding patterns of passerine species, Drury and his colleagues found roughly 28 percent of perching bird species form hybrids with one or more other species. That's a lot of birds with overlapping breeding territories, he said, which explains the prevalence of territorial aggression.
"Territorial behavior can include things like physical attacks, chases, displays, and territorial counter singing," Drury said. "In our study, we limited our set of observations to clear-cut accounts of competition for space, rather than for food -- so, behaviors like aggression at bird feeders weren't included."
Hybridizing species might get along better if there was more space to spread out, according to Drury.
"Human activities are causing many changes to the geographical distributions of species, and when individuals of a species reach a novel location, they are likely to interact behaviorally with individuals of other species," he said. "This research shows that behavioral interactions between newly arriving species and species that were already there are important to account for in conservation efforts."


upi--2020-05-26--Watch: Idaho woman dresses husband in 32 T-shirts to break Guinness record

May 26 ( UPI ) -- An Idaho couple broke a Guinness World Record by teaming up to dress the @ @ @ @ @ one minute .
David Rush , who has broken more than 100 Guinness records to @ @ @ @ @ up with wife Jennifer to break the record for most T-shirts put on in one @ @ @ @ @ ) .
A video of the attempt shows Jennifer Rush dressing her husband in 32 @ @ @ @ @ , beating the previous record of 31 .
`` She had a slick motion where @ @ @ @ @ coming down over the back of my neck and in one swift motion pull it @ @ @ @ @ David Rush said .
He said the attempt marked Jennifer Rush 's first official Guinness @ @ @ @ @ as helping him achieve a world record for fastest time to wrap a person in @ @ @ @ @ not receive a mention in the official listing .

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May 26 (UPI) -- An Idaho couple broke a Guinness World Record by teaming up to dress the husband in 32 T-shirts in one minute.
David Rush, who has broken more than 100 Guinness records to promote STEM education, teamed up with wife Jennifer to break the record for most T-shirts put on in one minute (team of two).
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A video of the attempt shows Jennifer Rush dressing her husband in 32 T-shirts in the allotted time, beating the previous record of 31.
"She had a slick motion where she would catch the shirt coming down over the back of my neck and in one swift motion pull it down my back," David Rush said.
He said the attempt marked Jennifer Rush's first official Guinness World Record after previously acting as helping him achieve a world record for fastest time to wrap a person in cling wrap. She did not receive a mention in the official listing.


upi--2020-05-26--Audi suspends driver Daniel Abt for cheating in esports charity event

May 26 ( UPI ) -- Audi has suspended Formula E driver Daniel Abt after he cheated during a charity esports event .
Abt was suspended from the Formula E team after he was disqualified from the weekend online race .
He was also ordered to pay nearly $ 11,000 to charity .
Organizers of the tournament discovered that Abt facilitated a deal with a professional gamer to compete in the official esports race under Abt 's name .
Formula E drivers normally use electric cars in their races , but now compete virtually while their season is suspended due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last weekend in a Race at Home Challenge with simulators from remote locations .
The races raised money for UNICEF .
Professional gamer Lorenz Hoerzing drove Abt 's car during the race .
He was disqualified from all future rounds of the Challenge Grid competition .
Several drivers were suspicious about Abt 's performance before they found out he was not in control of the car .
Abt 's car finished third in Race 5 Saturday in a virtual version of Berlin , Germany .
He did not film himself while in his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ To be honest , I 'm questioning if it was really Daniel in the car , '' fellow driver Stoffel Vandoorne said after Race 5 .
Vandoorne finished second behind winner Oliver Rowland , who also questioned whether Abt was behind the wheel of his simulator rig .
`` I would like to apologize to Formula E , all of the fans , my team and my fellow drivers for having called in outside help during the race on Saturday , '' Abt said in a statement after he was disqualified .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as I should have . ''
Abt hinted that he had lost his sponsorship with Audi in a video he posted Tuesday on YouTube , but the German car maker said he was suspended .
`` Today I was informed in a conversation with Audi , that our ways will split from now on , '' Abt said Tuesday .
`` We wo n't be racing together in Formula E any more and the cooperation has ended . ''
The Formula E season was suspended in March .
`` Daniel Abt did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ race at the fifth event of the Race at Home Challenge on May 23 himself , but let a professional sim-racer do so , '' Audi said .
`` He directly apologized for this on the following day and accepted the disqualification .
`` Integrity , transparency and consistent compliance with applicable rules are top priorities for Audi -- this applies to all activities the brand is involved in without exception .
For this reason , Audi Sport has decided to suspend Daniel Abt with immediate effect . ''

May 26 (UPI) -- Audi has suspended Formula E driver Daniel Abt after he cheated during a charity esports event.
Abt was suspended from the Formula E team after he was disqualified from the weekend online race. He was also ordered to pay nearly $11,000 to charity.
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Organizers of the tournament discovered that Abt facilitated a deal with a professional gamer to compete in the official esports race under Abt's name.
Formula E drivers normally use electric cars in their races, but now compete virtually while their season is suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Drivers competed last weekend in a Race at Home Challenge with simulators from remote locations. The races raised money for UNICEF.
Professional gamer Lorenz Hoerzing drove Abt's car during the race. He was disqualified from all future rounds of the Challenge Grid competition.
Several drivers were suspicious about Abt's performance before they found out he was not in control of the car. Abt's car finished third in Race 5 Saturday in a virtual version of Berlin, Germany. He did not film himself while in his simulator like the other drivers.
"To be honest, I'm questioning if it was really Daniel in the car," fellow driver Stoffel Vandoorne said after Race 5.
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Vandoorne finished second behind winner Oliver Rowland, who also questioned whether Abt was behind the wheel of his simulator rig.
"I would like to apologize to Formula E, all of the fans, my team and my fellow drivers for having called in outside help during the race on Saturday," Abt said in a statement after he was disqualified. "I did not take it as seriously as I should have."
Abt hinted that he had lost his sponsorship with Audi in a video he posted Tuesday on YouTube, but the German car maker said he was suspended.
"Today I was informed in a conversation with Audi, that our ways will split from now on," Abt said Tuesday. "We won't be racing together in Formula E any more and the cooperation has ended."
The Formula E season was suspended in March.
"Daniel Abt did not drive his car in qualifying and the race at the fifth event of the Race at Home Challenge on May 23 himself, but let a professional sim-racer do so," Audi said. "He directly apologized for this on the following day and accepted the disqualification.
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"Integrity, transparency and consistent compliance with applicable rules are top priorities for Audi -- this applies to all activities the brand is involved in without exception. For this reason, Audi Sport has decided to suspend Daniel Abt with immediate effect."


upi--2020-05-27--Jalen Kitna, son of ex-NFL QB Jon Kitna, commits to Florida

May 27 ( UPI ) -- Jalen Kitna , the son of former NFL quarterback Jon Kitna , has committed to play college football at the University of Florida .
The 6-foot-4 , 185-pound quarterback from Burleson High School in Burleson , Texas , announced his decision to play for the Gators Tuesday on social media .
He is rated as the No .
72 pro-style quarterback prospect in the country , according to 247 Sports .
He is the No .
23 pocket passer in ESPN 's class of 2021 rankings .
Kitna is the second quarterback commit from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Florida also got a commitment from Carlos Del Rio , the No .
59 prospect in the 2021 ESPN 300 recruiting rankings .
Del Rio is the No .
12 pro-style quarterback prospect in ESPN 's rankings and 247 Sports ' rankings .
Kitna initially committed to Boston College before he decommitted in January .
He threw seven touchdowns and seven interceptions last season at Rick Reedy High School in Frisco , Texas .
He then transferred to Burleson High School , where his dad was hired as football coach .
Jon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ School in Tacoma , Wash .
He went to Central Washington University before entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent and signed with the Seattle Seahawks .
Kitna spent four seasons with the Seahawks , five seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals and three seasons with the Detroit Lions before he played his final two seasons for the Dallas Cowboys .
He threw a career-high 26 touchdown passes in 16 starts in 2003 for the Bengals .
The Gators are scheduled to start the 2020 regular season against Eastern Washington on Sept. 5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Fla .

Jalen Kitna, the son of former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Jon Kitna (L), is the second quarterback commitment from the 2021 class to pick Florida. File Photo by Ian Halperin/UPI | License Photo
May 27 (UPI) -- Jalen Kitna, the son of former NFL quarterback Jon Kitna, has committed to play college football at the University of Florida. The 6-foot-4, 185-pound quarterback from Burleson High School in Burleson, Texas, announced his decision to play for the Gators Tuesday on social media. He is rated as the No. 72 pro-style quarterback prospect in the country, according to 247 Sports. He is the No. 23 pocket passer in ESPN's class of 2021 rankings. Advertisement
Kitna is the second quarterback commit from the 2021 class to join the Gators. Florida also got a commitment from Carlos Del Rio, the No. 59 prospect in the 2021 ESPN 300 recruiting rankings. Del Rio is the No. 12 pro-style quarterback prospect in ESPN's rankings and 247 Sports' rankings.
Kitna initially committed to Boston College before he decommitted in January. He threw seven touchdowns and seven interceptions last season at Rick Reedy High School in Frisco, Texas. He then transferred to Burleson High School, where his dad was hired as football coach.
Jon Kitna, 47, attended Lincoln High School in Tacoma, Wash. He went to Central Washington University before entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent and signed with the Seattle Seahawks. Kitna spent four seasons with the Seahawks, five seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals and three seasons with the Detroit Lions before he played his final two seasons for the Dallas Cowboys. He threw a career-high 26 touchdown passes in 16 starts in 2003 for the Bengals.
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The Gators are scheduled to start the 2020 regular season against Eastern Washington on Sept. 5 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla.


upi--2020-05-27--Energy investment on pace for record decline, IEA analysis says

May 27 ( UPI ) -- Global energy investment could sink to its lowest level in history due to fallout from the coronavirus pandemic , the International Energy Agency said in an annual report Wednesday .
The World Energy Investment report said it expects travel and other restrictions to lead to an investment drop it called `` staggering in both scale and swiftness . ''
`` The baseline expectation for 2020 is a widespread global recession caused by prolonged restrictions on mobility and social and economic activity , '' it states .
`` Oil is bearing the brunt of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and aviation , which represent nearly 60 percent of global oil demand , '' it added .
`` After oil , the fuel most affected by the crisis is set to be coal .
Coal demand could decline by 8 percent . ''
The pullback in energy spending cuts across all sectors , from fossil fuels , renewables and efficiency , the report said .
`` It means lost jobs and economic opportunities today , as well as lost energy supply that we might well need tomorrow once the economy recovers , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement .
`` The slowdown in spending on key clean energy technologies also risks undermining the much-needed transition to more resilient and sustainable energy systems . ''
The report assesses trends in global energy investment through mid-May , including individual projects , interviews with energy leaders and investors and the industry 's most recent analysis .
`` A combination of falling demand , lower prices and arise in cases of non-payment of bills means that energy revenues going to governments and industry are set to fall by well over $ 1 trillion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Oil accounts for most of this decline as , for the first time , global consumer spending on oil is set to fall below the amount spent on electricity . ''
There have so far been 5.6 million COVID-19 cases worldwide and 350,800 deaths , according to Johns Hopkins University .
Many countries are still under strict national and international travel restrictions , which is driving down energy use .
`` Now in its fifth edition , the World Energy Investment report is the annual IEA benchmark analysis of investment and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ electricity supply , efficiency , and research and development , '' the agency said .
`` The energy industry that emerges from this crisis will be significantly different from the one that came before . ''

A board on the the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on March 18 shows declining oil prices as a result of the coronavirus pandemic's impact on world energy markets. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
May 27 (UPI) -- Global energy investment could sink to its lowest level in history due to fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, the International Energy Agency said in an annual report Wednesday. The World Energy Investment report said it expects travel and other restrictions to lead to an investment drop it called "staggering in both scale and swiftness." Advertisement
"The baseline expectation for 2020 is a widespread global recession caused by prolonged restrictions on mobility and social and economic activity," it states.
"Oil is bearing the brunt of this shock because of the curtailment in mobility and aviation, which represent nearly 60 percent of global oil demand," it added.
"After oil, the fuel most affected by the crisis is set to be coal. Coal demand could decline by 8 percent."
The pullback in energy spending cuts across all sectors, from fossil fuels, renewables and efficiency, the report said.
"It means lost jobs and economic opportunities today, as well as lost energy supply that we might well need tomorrow once the economy recovers," IEA Executive Director Faith Birol said in a statement. "The slowdown in spending on key clean energy technologies also risks undermining the much-needed transition to more resilient and sustainable energy systems."
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The report assesses trends in global energy investment through mid-May, including individual projects, interviews with energy leaders and investors and the industry's most recent analysis.
"A combination of falling demand, lower prices and arise in cases of non-payment of bills means that energy revenues going to governments and industry are set to fall by well over $1 trillion in 2020," the IEA said. "Oil accounts for most of this decline as, for the first time, global consumer spending on oil is set to fall below the amount spent on electricity."
There have so far been 5.6 million COVID-19 cases worldwide and 350,800 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University. Many countries are still under strict national and international travel restrictions, which is driving down energy use.
"Now in its fifth edition, the World Energy Investment report is the annual IEA benchmark analysis of investment and financing across all areas of fuel and electricity supply, efficiency, and research and development," the agency said.
"The energy industry that emerges from this crisis will be significantly different from the one that came before."
World moves to reopen amid COVID-19 pandemic


upi--2020-05-27--NASCAR: Chase Elliott wins truck race, $100K bounty for win vs. Kyle Busch

May 27 ( UPI ) -- NASCAR 's Chase Elliott ended a streak of close finishes by winning the Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series North Carolina Education Lottery 200 on Tuesday and claimed a $ 100,000 bounty for beating Kyle Busch .
The race was held without fans at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Charlotte , N.C .
It was the first Truck Series event since Feb. 21. , before the NASCAR season was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic .
Elliott 's triumph ended a streak of seven consecutive Truck Series race victories for Busch , who is considered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Elliott 's $ 100,000 prize will be donated to coronavirus relief efforts .
Elliott gave a subtle jab after the win by doing his version of Busch 's celebratory bow when he got out of his No .
24 Chevrolet .
`` It was a spur-of-the-moment thing , '' Elliott told reporters .
`` It 's not a dig at anybody .
`` Just having fun .
It was about beating him [ Busch ] , and it was fun , and we did it , so why not ?
Hopefully , no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but if they do , they do .
Whatever . ''
Fellow driver Kevin Harvick announced before the race that he would donate $ 50,000 to COVID-19 relief efforts to any full-time Cup Series driver who finished ahead of Busch .
Gander RV & Outdoors CEO Marcus Lemonis agreed to match the pledge .
Elliott 's victory came about a week after Busch wrecked his car at the end of a Cup Series race in Darlington , S.C .
It also occurred days after Elliott led comfortably in Sunday 's Coca-Cola 600 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a second-place finish .
John Hunter Nemechek and Brennan Poole were also eligible for Tuesday 's $ 100,000 bounty , but Busch denied them of the prize with a second-place finish .
A group of Chevrolets driven by Zane Smith , Brett Moffitt and Sheldon Creed rounded out the top-5 finishers of the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 .
Nemechek finished sixth , while Poole finished 38th .
Busch led the race three times .
Elliott led a race-high 47 laps and averaged 111.9 mph .
Busch finished third on May 17 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first race of NASCAR 's season resumption after a coronavirus pandemic suspension .
He finished second in the May 20 Toyota 500e and fourth in Sunday 's Coca-Cola 600 .
His Xfinity Series return has been even more successful , with a second-place finish Thursday at Darlington and a win Monday at Charlotte .
`` He is good at anything he does , '' Elliott said of Busch .
`` I was glad I had a chance to race him for the win .
For us to go head-to-head for the win , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on top .
It does n't make up for Sunday , but it was fun . ''
Busch will drive in his sixth race in 10 days when he gets in his car for the Cup Series ' Alsco Uniforms 500 at 8 p.m. EDT Wednesday at Charlotte Motor Speedway .

Chase Elliott (pictured) ended Kyle Busch's seven-race Truck Series win streak with a victory in the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 Tuesday at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C. File Photo by Edwin Locke/UPI | License Photo
May 27 (UPI) -- NASCAR's Chase Elliott ended a streak of close finishes by winning the Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series North Carolina Education Lottery 200 on Tuesday and claimed a $100,000 bounty for beating Kyle Busch. The race was held without fans at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C. It was the first Truck Series event since Feb. 21., before the NASCAR season was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. Advertisement
Elliott's triumph ended a streak of seven consecutive Truck Series race victories for Busch, who is considered NASCAR's most successful truck driver. Elliott's $100,000 prize will be donated to coronavirus relief efforts.
Elliott gave a subtle jab after the win by doing his version of Busch's celebratory bow when he got out of his No. 24 Chevrolet.
"It was a spur-of-the-moment thing," Elliott told reporters. "It's not a dig at anybody.
"Just having fun. It was about beating him [Busch], and it was fun, and we did it, so why not? Hopefully, no one gets their feelings hurt over it, but if they do, they do. Whatever."
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Fellow driver Kevin Harvick announced before the race that he would donate $50,000 to COVID-19 relief efforts to any full-time Cup Series driver who finished ahead of Busch. Gander RV & Outdoors CEO Marcus Lemonis agreed to match the pledge.
Elliott's victory came about a week after Busch wrecked his car at the end of a Cup Series race in Darlington, S.C. It also occurred days after Elliott led comfortably in Sunday's Coca-Cola 600 before a late caution resulted in overtime and a second-place finish.
John Hunter Nemechek and Brennan Poole were also eligible for Tuesday's $100,000 bounty, but Busch denied them of the prize with a second-place finish.
A group of Chevrolets driven by Zane Smith, Brett Moffitt and Sheldon Creed rounded out the top-5 finishers of the North Carolina Education Lottery 200. Nemechek finished sixth, while Poole finished 38th.
Busch led the race three times. Elliott led a race-high 47 laps and averaged 111.9 mph.
Busch finished third on May 17 in The Real Heroes 400 -- the first race of NASCAR's season resumption after a coronavirus pandemic suspension.
He finished second in the May 20 Toyota 500e and fourth in Sunday's Coca-Cola 600. His Xfinity Series return has been even more successful, with a second-place finish Thursday at Darlington and a win Monday at Charlotte.
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"He is good at anything he does," Elliott said of Busch. "I was glad I had a chance to race him for the win. For us to go head-to-head for the win, and it felt good to come out on top. It doesn't make up for Sunday, but it was fun."
Busch will drive in his sixth race in 10 days when he gets in his car for the Cup Series' Alsco Uniforms 500 at 8 p.m. EDT Wednesday at Charlotte Motor Speedway.


upi--2020-05-27--Damian Lillard refuses to play if Blazers don't have 'true' playoff chance

May 27 ( UPI ) -- Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard says he wo n't play if the NBA returns this season unless his team gets a `` true opportunity '' to make the playoffs .
The NBA has been suspended indefinitely since March 11 due to the coronavirus pandemic .
League officials have spoken with The Walt Disney Company about a possible season resumption at the end of July at the Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando , Fla .
The Blazers were in ninth place -- one spot out of the Western Conference playoff picture -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Memphis Grizzlies by 3.5 games for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference .
It remains unclear if the NBA will finish the regular season or jump straight into the playoffs if players are allowed to return to the court .
`` If we come back and they 're just like , 'We 're adding a few games to finish the regular season , ' and they 're throwing us out there for meaningless games and we do n't have a true opportunity to get into the playoffs , I 'm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I 'm a part of the team , '' Lillard told Yahoo Sports .
`` But I 'm not going to be participating .
I 'm telling you that right now . ''
The NHL on Tuesday announced a `` return to play plan '' for the 2019-2020 campaign .
That plan includes a jump into a 24-team playoff tournament and no finish to the regular season .
Playoff games will tentatively be played inside empty arenas at two undecided hub cities .
Lillard said he hopes the NBA will offer a play-in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No .
7 through No .
12 seed in each respective conference .
Lillard , 29 , was averaging a career-high 28.9 points and 7.8 assists per game before the season was suspended .

Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard said he hopes the NBA has a play-in tournament for the No. 7 through No. 12 seed in each conference if the league returns from a coronavirus suspension. Photo by Steve Dipaola/EPA-EFE
May 27 (UPI) -- Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard says he won't play if the NBA returns this season unless his team gets a "true opportunity" to make the playoffs. The NBA has been suspended indefinitely since March 11 due to the coronavirus pandemic. League officials have spoken with The Walt Disney Company about a possible season resumption at the end of July at the Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla. Advertisement
The Blazers were in ninth place -- one spot out of the Western Conference playoff picture -- when the season was halted and trailed the Memphis Grizzlies by 3.5 games for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
It remains unclear if the NBA will finish the regular season or jump straight into the playoffs if players are allowed to return to the court.
"If we come back and they're just like, 'We're adding a few games to finish the regular season,' and they're throwing us out there for meaningless games and we don't have a true opportunity to get into the playoffs, I'm going to be with my team because I'm a part of the team," Lillard told Yahoo Sports.
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"But I'm not going to be participating. I'm telling you that right now."
The NHL on Tuesday announced a "return to play plan" for the 2019-2020 campaign. That plan includes a jump into a 24-team playoff tournament and no finish to the regular season. Playoff games will tentatively be played inside empty arenas at two undecided hub cities.
Lillard said he hopes the NBA will offer a play-in style tournament, which would include the No. 7 through No. 12 seed in each respective conference.
Lillard, 29, was averaging a career-high 28.9 points and 7.8 assists per game before the season was suspended.


upi--2020-05-27--Watch: Lisa Kudrow tells Jimmy Kimmel about Matthew Perry's gift to her on 'Friends'

May 27 ( UPI ) -- Lisa Kudrow appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live and discussed how Matthew Perry gifted her a cookie jar from the set of Friends .
The cookie jar , which has a clock and says Cookie Time , was a background item in Monica ( Courteney Cox ) and Rachel 's ( Jennifer Aniston ) apartment .
Kudrow once referred to the cookie jar as a clock during a scene where her character Phoebe was running late .
The incident turned into an inside joke between the cast with Perry gifting it to her as Friends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laughing hysterically and crying because it was the end , '' Kudrow said about how the cast reacted to Perry 's gift .
Kudrow stated how surprised she was that Perry was able to take an item from the set .
`` I think the first thing I asked was , 'This is so nice , did you get permission ? '
because they were , I mean , my car used to get searched every night when I left , '' she said .
Kudrow and the other cast members will star @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service HBO Max .
The special was going to launch alongside the service on Wednesday , but production was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic .

May 27 (UPI) -- Lisa Kudrow appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live and discussed how Matthew Perry gifted her a cookie jar from the set of Friends.
The cookie jar, which has a clock and says Cookie Time, was a background item in Monica (Courteney Cox) and Rachel's (Jennifer Aniston) apartment.
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Kudrow once referred to the cookie jar as a clock during a scene where her character Phoebe was running late. The incident turned into an inside joke between the cast with Perry gifting it to her as Friends ended its run.
"We were laughing hysterically and crying because it was the end," Kudrow said about how the cast reacted to Perry's gift.
Kudrow stated how surprised she was that Perry was able to take an item from the set.
"I think the first thing I asked was, 'This is so nice, did you get permission?' because they were, I mean, my car used to get searched every night when I left," she said.
Kudrow and the other cast members will star in a Friends reunion special on streaming service HBO Max.
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The special was going to launch alongside the service on Wednesday, but production was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.


upi--2020-05-27--AI robots, automated popcorn dispensers: Cinemas in South Korea go contactless

SEOUL , May 27 ( UPI ) -- As South Korea continues to loosen its social distancing guidelines amid the COVID-19 outbreak , hard-hit movie theaters are trying to find ways to lure customers back .
For theater chains such as CGV , the country 's largest , an automated , contactless cinema experience could be the key to revitalizing an industry that has seen empty seats during the pandemic .
CGV , owned by South Korean conglomerate CJ , is running a trial of a contact-free theater at a branch in Seoul 's Yeouido business district and it offers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may look like .
The system , which has been in operation since April 20 , eliminates virtually all face-to-face interactions between customers and staff .
Patrons buy tickets at touchscreen kiosks or via a smartphone app and then scan them at QR code readers installed at the entrance to each theater .
A five-foot-tall , AI-powered `` Checkbot '' robot with a large front-mounted screen wheels around the cinema , scanning tickets , answering questions using voice recognition technology and leading customers to the restroom or their theater .
The `` Popcorn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that provide popcorn , hot dogs and sodas .
Other snacks such as nachos , grilled squid and beer can be ordered by app or kiosk .
They are then placed by a staff member in a numbered pickup box that the customer opens with a special code .
The theater even authenticates parking automatically .
Interest in contactless services -- known as `` untact '' locally -- has grown dramatically during the COVID-19 outbreak , as online shopping and food delivery usage has spiked and the government Is looking to deregulate telemedicine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ version of contactless services to roughly two dozen of its branches in late April .
The changes that CGV is trying out in Yeouido will likely become a part of everyday life going forward , said Lee Jung-woo , manager of the theater chain 's smart innovation team .
`` The COVID-19 outbreak has raised the need for untact services for customer safety in all industries , and the non-face-to-face needs of movie theater audiences are expected to become part of the new normal , '' Lee said .
The industry is certainly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sales have plunged during the spread of the coronavirus , particularly after a major outbreak in late February that was centered around the southeastern city of Daegu .
The government never officially mandated that movie theaters had to close , but chains shut down many branches due to lack of customers .
South Korea 's box office fell by 65.3 percent over the first quarter of the year compared to the same period last year , according to data from firms S & P Global Market Intelligence and OPUSData .
Even as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread of COVID-19 through an aggressive testing and tracing program , movie patrons have been slow to return .
The number of moviegoers fell to a record-low in April , according to the Korean Film Council .
Only 970,000 tickets were sold nationwide , a drop of 92.7 percent from a year ago .
After a brief surge in early May over a long holiday weekend , sales have remained flat for the past three weeks , the Korean Film Council reported Tuesday , with theaters suffering from a lack of new releases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ film in theaters over the weekend was a 2017 retread , the Hugh Jackman feature The Greatest Showman .
Lee said the new untact theater has n't yet drawn nervous customers back .
`` There is n't a significant change in the occupancy rate of seats , '' he said .
`` However , we 've been receiving positive feedback . ''
Some moviegoers at the near-empty Yeouido theater on a recent weekday evening said they had not been expecting the new automated services .
`` It 's my first time back to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I was quite surprised at first , '' said 22-year-old Kim Song-eun .
`` I did n't expect such a radical change . ''
Kim said she was impressed with the ease of use of the new system and thought it would be a factor in her choice of theaters in the future .
`` It would be good to maintain this system going forward , '' she said .
`` I 'd definitely choose an untact theater over a normal one if it was not too far away . ''
Other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the contactless theater .
`` The coronavirus spreads easily through face-to-face contact , '' said 20-year-old Hong Min-seo .
`` The untact theater is more convenient and It 's less stressful for customers and the staff . ''
In addition to the automated services , theaters are routinely disinfected and seating is spaced out by alternating rows to maintain social distancing , Lee said .
This Yeouido location is just the start , Lee added .
Depending on customer response , it may become the standard platform for all branches of the chain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cinema to all theaters in the future , '' he said .
`` It is expected to enhance customer convenience and streamline the operation of the theater . ''

1/7
"Checkbot," an AI-powered robot, takes tickets, answers questions and gives directions at CGV's contact-free "untact" cinema in Seoul. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI
SEOUL, May 27 (UPI) -- As South Korea continues to loosen its social distancing guidelines amid the COVID-19 outbreak, hard-hit movie theaters are trying to find ways to lure customers back. For theater chains such as CGV, the country's largest, an automated, contactless cinema experience could be the key to revitalizing an industry that has seen empty seats during the pandemic. Advertisement
CGV, owned by South Korean conglomerate CJ, is running a trial of a contact-free theater at a branch in Seoul's Yeouido business district and it offers a glimpse of what the moviegoing future may look like.
The system, which has been in operation since April 20, eliminates virtually all face-to-face interactions between customers and staff. Patrons buy tickets at touchscreen kiosks or via a smartphone app and then scan them at QR code readers installed at the entrance to each theater.
Advertisement
A five-foot-tall, AI-powered "Checkbot" robot with a large front-mounted screen wheels around the cinema, scanning tickets, answering questions using voice recognition technology and leading customers to the restroom or their theater.
The "Popcorn Factory" self-service area features vending machines that provide popcorn, hot dogs and sodas. Other snacks such as nachos, grilled squid and beer can be ordered by app or kiosk. They are then placed by a staff member in a numbered pickup box that the customer opens with a special code. The theater even authenticates parking automatically.
Interest in contactless services -- known as "untact" locally -- has grown dramatically during the COVID-19 outbreak, as online shopping and food delivery usage has spiked and the government Is looking to deregulate telemedicine.
Theater chain Lotte also introduced a version of contactless services to roughly two dozen of its branches in late April.
The changes that CGV is trying out in Yeouido will likely become a part of everyday life going forward, said Lee Jung-woo, manager of the theater chain's smart innovation team.
"The COVID-19 outbreak has raised the need for untact services for customer safety in all industries, and the non-face-to-face needs of movie theater audiences are expected to become part of the new normal," Lee said.
Advertisement
The industry is certainly in need of a boost as ticket sales have plunged during the spread of the coronavirus, particularly after a major outbreak in late February that was centered around the southeastern city of Daegu.
The government never officially mandated that movie theaters had to close, but chains shut down many branches due to lack of customers.
South Korea's box office fell by 65.3 percent over the first quarter of the year compared to the same period last year, according to data from firms S&P Global Market Intelligence and OPUSData.
Even as the country has largely managed to contain the spread of COVID-19 through an aggressive testing and tracing program, movie patrons have been slow to return.
The number of moviegoers fell to a record-low in April, according to the Korean Film Council. Only 970,000 tickets were sold nationwide, a drop of 92.7 percent from a year ago.
After a brief surge in early May over a long holiday weekend, sales have remained flat for the past three weeks, the Korean Film Council reported Tuesday, with theaters suffering from a lack of new releases and lingering customer hesitation. The top-grossing film in theaters over the weekend was a 2017 retread, the Hugh Jackman feature The Greatest Showman.
Advertisement
Lee said the new untact theater hasn't yet drawn nervous customers back.
"There isn't a significant change in the occupancy rate of seats," he said. "However, we've been receiving positive feedback."
Some moviegoers at the near-empty Yeouido theater on a recent weekday evening said they had not been expecting the new automated services.
"It's my first time back to see a movie since the coronavirus outbreak and I was quite surprised at first," said 22-year-old Kim Song-eun. "I didn't expect such a radical change."
Kim said she was impressed with the ease of use of the new system and thought it would be a factor in her choice of theaters in the future.
"It would be good to maintain this system going forward," she said. "I'd definitely choose an untact theater over a normal one if it was not too far away."
Other customers said they felt safer going to the contactless theater.
"The coronavirus spreads easily through face-to-face contact," said 20-year-old Hong Min-seo. "The untact theater is more convenient and It's less stressful for customers and the staff."
In addition to the automated services, theaters are routinely disinfected and seating is spaced out by alternating rows to maintain social distancing, Lee said.
Advertisement
This Yeouido location is just the start, Lee added. Depending on customer response, it may become the standard platform for all branches of the chain.
"We are considering expanding untact cinema to all theaters in the future," he said. "It is expected to enhance customer convenience and streamline the operation of the theater."


upi--2020-05-27--New Zealand police rescue 2 hikers after 19 days in wilderness

May 27 ( UPI ) -- Searchers on Wednesday found two lost hikers alive after they spent nearly three weeks in the remote wilderness of a rugged national park in New Zealand , authorities said .
Dion Reynolds and Jessica O'Connor , both 23 , were found after 19 days in Kahurangi National Park on New Zealand 's South Island , about 185 miles west of Wellington .
The women set off for the hike on May 9 .
When they did n't return , authorities searched the rugged terrain for several days .
New Zealand Police Search and Rescue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made themselves visible in a thickly wooded area on Wednesday by building a fire and sending up smoke that was spotted by searchers in a helicopter .
The women , who had each received minor injuries , were airlifted out of the area .
Saying it was `` pretty rare '' to find people alive after such a lengthy search , York praised Reynolds and O'Connor for doing the `` right thing . ''
`` They stayed put , and they made themselves visible , so when we got to that spot , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' he said .
`` It 's a long way from anywhere out there ... it 's incredibly lucky we got such a good result given the location . ''
The search was plagued this week by fog and bad weather and included 30 police , a volunteer force , five tracking experts and three teams of search dogs .
O'Connor 's father Mark said his family were `` absolutely over the moon '' when the women were found alive .
`` Then they confirmed it was Jess and Dion ... so it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` The search team and the police have done such a fantastic job . ''

May 27 (UPI) -- Searchers on Wednesday found two lost hikers alive after they spent nearly three weeks in the remote wilderness of a rugged national park in New Zealand, authorities said.
Dion Reynolds and Jessica O'Connor, both 23, were found after 19 days in Kahurangi National Park on New Zealand's South Island, about 185 miles west of Wellington.
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The women set off for the hike on May 9. When they didn't return, authorities searched the rugged terrain for several days.
New Zealand Police Search and Rescue Sgt. Malcolm York said the women made themselves visible in a thickly wooded area on Wednesday by building a fire and sending up smoke that was spotted by searchers in a helicopter.
The women, who had each received minor injuries, were airlifted out of the area.
Saying it was "pretty rare" to find people alive after such a lengthy search, York praised Reynolds and O'Connor for doing the "right thing."
"They stayed put, and they made themselves visible, so when we got to that spot, we were able to see them," he said.
"It's a long way from anywhere out there... it's incredibly lucky we got such a good result given the location."
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The search was plagued this week by fog and bad weather and included 30 police, a volunteer force, five tracking experts and three teams of search dogs.
O'Connor's father Mark said his family were "absolutely over the moon" when the women were found alive.
"Then they confirmed it was Jess and Dion ... so it was just fantastic," he said. "The search team and the police have done such a fantastic job."


upi--2020-05-27--Japan police arrest Kyoto studio arson suspect Shinji Aoba after 10-month hospital stay

May 27 ( UPI ) -- Japanese police arrested a suspect Wednesday they say was the arsonist who set fire to an animation studio last summer and killed three dozen people .
Authorities said they waited for 10 months to make the arrest so suspect Shinji Aoba could recover from severe burns he received from the blaze .
Police took Aoba , 42 , into a Kyoto police station on a stretcher and charged him with numerous counts of murder and arson in connection with the July 2019 fire .
Police say he used two containers of gasoline to ignite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Kyoto animation studio .
Police initially wanted to arrest Aoba in January but his unstable condition and coronavirus concerns delayed the transfer .
`` We will now focus on the suspect 's interrogation and pursue our investigation in order to fully examine the crime , '' Kyoto Police Investigator Toshiyuki Kawase told reporters Wednesday .
The fire was Japan 's deadliest since 44 people died in Tokyo 's Kabukicho entertainment district in 2001 .
`` We have nothing to say to the suspect , '' Kyoto Animation said in a statement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ lost will never come back and the wounds of our colleagues will never be healed . ''
Many of those who died in the fire were young professionals in their 20s and 30s .
The studio opened in 1981 .

Firefighters search for missing persons following a major fire at the Kyoto Animation building in Kyoto, Japan, on July 18, 2019. File Photo by JIJI Press/EPA/EFE
May 27 (UPI) -- Japanese police arrested a suspect Wednesday they say was the arsonist who set fire to an animation studio last summer and killed three dozen people. Authorities said they waited for 10 months to make the arrest so suspect Shinji Aoba could recover from severe burns he received from the blaze. Advertisement
Police took Aoba, 42, into a Kyoto police station on a stretcher and charged him with numerous counts of murder and arson in connection with the July 2019 fire. Police say he used two containers of gasoline to ignite the flames at the front door to the Kyoto animation studio.
Police initially wanted to arrest Aoba in January but his unstable condition and coronavirus concerns delayed the transfer.
"We will now focus on the suspect's interrogation and pursue our investigation in order to fully examine the crime," Kyoto Police Investigator Toshiyuki Kawase told reporters Wednesday.
The fire was Japan's deadliest since 44 people died in Tokyo's Kabukicho entertainment district in 2001.
"We have nothing to say to the suspect," Kyoto Animation said in a statement. "Our fellow workers whose lives were lost will never come back and the wounds of our colleagues will never be healed."
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Many of those who died in the fire were young professionals in their 20s and 30s. The studio opened in 1981.


upi--2020-05-27--Jimmy Fallon apologizes for using blackface on 'SNL': 'There is no excuse'

May 27 ( UPI ) -- Jimmy Fallon has apologized on Twitter for wearing blackface in 2000 during a Saturday @ @ @ @ @ clip of Fallon impersonating fellow comedian Chris Rock on SNL resurfaced on Twitter Tuesday , @ @ @ @ @ trend .
Fallon dressed up as Rock during the sketch and interacted with Darrell Hammond @ @ @ @ @ then host of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire ?
`` In 2000 , while @ @ @ @ @ a terrible decision to do an impersonation of Chris Rock while in blackface .
There @ @ @ @ @ , '' Fallon said in his apology .
`` I am very sorry for making @ @ @ @ @ thank all of you for holding me accountable , '' he continued .

In 2000, while on SNL, I made a terrible decision to do an impersonation of Chris Rock while in blackface. There is no excuse for this. I am very sorry for making this unquestionably offensive decision and thank all of you for holding me accountable.— jimmy fallon (@jimmyfallon) May 26, 2020
May 27 (UPI) -- Jimmy Fallon has apologized on Twitter for wearing blackface in 2000 during a Saturday Night Live sketch.
A clip of Fallon impersonating fellow comedian Chris Rock on SNL resurfaced on Twitter Tuesday, leading to #JimmyFallonIsOverParty to trend.
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Fallon dressed up as Rock during the sketch and interacted with Darrell Hammond as Regis Philbin, the then host of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
"In 2000, while on SNL, I made a terrible decision to do an impersonation of Chris Rock while in blackface. There is no excuse for this," Fallon said in his apology.
"I am very sorry for making this unquestionably offensive decision and thank all of you for holding me accountable," he continued.


upi--2020-05-27--House to begin historic proxy voting in face of Republican lawsuit

May 27 ( UPI ) -- The House is set to begin a historic new proxy voting procedure on Wednesday that will let lawmakers cast votes for absent lawmakers , a prospect opposed by Republicans .
The House passed the resolution earlier this month allowing lawmakers unable to travel to Washington , D.C. , to designate another representative as a proxy to cast votes on their behalf for the first time in its 200-year history .
The measure passed by a vote of 217-189 and received no support from Republican lawmakers .
On Wednesday , the House will implement the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prepare to vote on several non-coronavirus measures , including an amendment to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act .
Under the temporary policy change , no lawmaker may hold more than 10 proxies .
The House has not returned from its coronavirus-imposed recess in March , while the Senate returned earlier this month with restrictions .
The House implemented the new policy over concerns the pandemic restrictions might severely impact its ability to function , as there are more than 400 House members compared to just 100 in the Senate .
Proxy voting is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business if they are unable to be physically present in Washington , D.C. , whether it be due to illness , transportation trouble or another coronavirus-related issue .
At least 60 House Democrats have designated a proxy ahead of Wednesday 's votes , but no Republican has done so .
House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy and 20 other GOP lawmakers filed a lawsuit Tuesday challenging the proxy voting method as unconstitutional .
`` This is not simply arcane parliamentary procedure .
It is a brazen violation of the Constitution , a dereliction of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ silence the American people 's voice during a crisis , '' McCarthy , R-Calif. , said .
`` Although I wish this matter could have been solved on a bipartisan basis , the stakes are too high to let this injustice go unaddressed . ''
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi dismissed the lawsuit as a `` sad stunt '' and accused Republicans of trying to delay and obstruct legislation that would be helpful to Americans at a time of crisis .
`` The House made its will clear two weeks ago when it voted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other necessary measures to ensure that Congress can continue to protect lives and livelihoods , '' she said .
`` The House 's position that remote voting by proxy during a pandemic is fully consistent with the Constitution is supported by legal analyses .
`` Further , the Supreme Court made clear over a century ago that the Constitution empowers each chamber of Congress to set its own procedural rules . ''
Proxy voting in the House is a temporary measure and must again be authorized after a 45-day period .
The House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the chamber floor , but used to permit proxy voting in committee as recently as 1995 .

The U.S. Capitol building is seen in Washington, D.C., on May 12. The full House has yet to return to the complex to conduct in-person business. Photo by Tasos Katopodis/UPI | License Photo
May 27 (UPI) -- The House on Wednesday scrapped a vote to reauthorize surveillance authorities under the Foreign Surveillance Act, as it carried out the first proxy votes in its history. The move to cancel the vote came after President Donald Trump urged Republicans in the House to vote against the bill on Tuesday, before threatening to veto the measure on Wednesday. Advertisement
"If the FISA bill is passed tonight on the House floor, I will quickly VETO it," Trump wrote on Twitter. "Our country has just suffered through the greatest political crime in its history. The massive abuse of FISA was a big part of it!"
The House previously passed the reauthorizations 278-136 in March, but the measure was sent back to the chamber after the Senate adopted an amendment providing increased protections for targets for FISA warrants.
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Earlier in the day, the House conducted its first proxy vote, voting 413-1 in favor of legislation calling for sanctions against Chinese officials for the detention of Uighur Muslims in the Xinjiang region.
More than 70 House Democrats designated to have another lawmaker cast their vote.
The House passed the resolution earlier this month allowing lawmakers unable to travel to Washington, D.C., to designate another representative as a proxy to cast votes on their behalf for the first time in its 200-year history.
The measure passed by a vote of 217-189 and received no support from Republican lawmakers.
The House has not returned from its coronavirus-imposed recess in March, while the Senate returned earlier this month with restrictions. The House implemented the new policy over concerns the pandemic restrictions might severely impact its ability to function, as there are more than 400 House members compared to just 100 in the Senate.
Proxy voting is designed to enable lawmakers to conduct legislative business if they are unable to be physically present in Washington, D.C., whether it be due to illness, transportation trouble or another coronavirus-related issue.
No Republican designated proxies and House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy and 20 other GOP lawmakers filed a lawsuit Tuesday challenging the proxy voting method as unconstitutional.
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"This is not simply arcane parliamentary procedure. It is a brazen violation of the Constitution, a dereliction of our duty as elected officials and would silence the American people's voice during a crisis," McCarthy, R-Calif., said. "Although I wish this matter could have been solved on a bipartisan basis, the stakes are too high to let this injustice go unaddressed."
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi dismissed the lawsuit as a "sad stunt" and accused Republicans of trying to delay and obstruct legislation that would be helpful to Americans at a time of crisis.
"The House made its will clear two weeks ago when it voted to implement remote voting by proxy and other necessary measures to ensure that Congress can continue to protect lives and livelihoods," she said. "The House's position that remote voting by proxy during a pandemic is fully consistent with the Constitution is supported by legal analyses.
"Further, the Supreme Court made clear over a century ago that the Constitution empowers each chamber of Congress to set its own procedural rules."
Proxy voting in the House is a temporary measure and must again be authorized after a 45-day period.
The House has never before allowed proxy voting on the chamber floor but used to permit proxy voting in committee as recently as 1995.


upi--2020-05-27--The Fifth Horseman is coronavirus' massive disruption

A Fifth Horseman of the Apocalypse threatens mankind .
This rider brings with it Massive Acts of Disruption .
This new MAD must be contained and prevented as nuclear armageddon was under the Cold War MAD doctrine of Mutual Assured Destruction .
COVID-19 is the deadly purveyor of the new MAD .
In my books , I have re-characterized the original Four Horsemen as Failed and Failing Government ; Economic Despair , Disparity and Dislocation ; Radical and Violent Ideologies and Environmental Catastrophe .
Now , a fifth rider joins the other four .
This pandemic is one of many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new MAD .
Tragically and predictably , governments as well as international organizations were unprepared to cope with this new horseman .
Ironically , it may have been no accident that the most disruptive president in American history took office on Jan. 20 , 2017 , presaging things to come .
MAD does have a beneficial side .
The industrial and information revolutions were profoundly yet creatively disruptive .
So , too , were the American and French Revolutions .
Human ingenuity , innovation , imagination and inspiration are as unlimited as Einstein @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but unbounded .
And revolutionary technologies from artificial intelligence and machine learning to quantum physics , 3-D printing and genome research are creating more new knowledge on a routine basis than existed throughout all prior history .
The challenge is corralling the dangerous sides of the new MAD while exploiting the potential of positive disruption .
Several factors differentiate the new from the old MAD .
An explosive synergy between and among major disruptors to include coronavirus , climate change , cyberterror and exploding debt has been created .
Any one of these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or create others and vice versa .
In this pandemic , for example , `` social distancing '' will surely lead to increased virtual online recruitment of followers to terrorist and violent extremist groups by virtue of self-quarantine and more time spent on the Internet .
A spike in cybercrimes is also noticeable .
Even if the coronavirus were to disappear magically , which it will not , this pandemic is a final warning to governments that no longer can be safely or prudently ignored or disregarded .
Ironically , the more interdependent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the greater are the vulnerabilities and frailties , many of which were unintended consequences of globalization and the diffusion of all forms of power .
In haste to deal with the deadlier sides of MAD , disregarding the beneficial potential aspects would be derelict .
Channeling MAD to improve the human condition will require new intellectual , conceptual , political and practical approaches .
But what about possibly even greater disruptors ?
Conflict , war or crime will not disappear .
Nor will traditional threats recede .
Imagine massive cyberattacks that cripple electrical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that steal your identity and bank accounts .
Imagine climate change that induces even more devastating acts of nature with massive droughts , floods , fires and storms that incapacitate cities and even regions .
Further , imagine how massive forced migration creates tens or hundreds of millions of refugees and displaced persons with nowhere to find refuge leading to unprecedented humanitarian crises .
And imagine how massive acts of terror far worse than Sept. 11 , possibly using nuclear , biological , chemical and cyber weapons , will disrupt our ways of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to keeping a wounded economy alive at some stage must be confronted if it is not to become the ultimate disruptor .
Unfortunately , thus far , too many governments delayed in deriving coherent and comprehensive strategies for containing and mitigating this pandemic and for dealing with the new MAD .
This critique especially applies to democracies that are deeply polarized .
In this time of ultra partisanship , this virus may well exact a greater toll on the political rather than public health , no matter whether coronavirus persists or dissipates for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we choose otherwise .
Two further conclusions are important .
To succeed , actions to bridge the huge and growing partisan political divides in America and between competing and even adversarial states are needed now .
Second , America has a global leadership role to play .
If the United States can not sustain that role , then without its leadership or with the emergence of so-called malign actors as de facto replacements , this planet and its inhabitants will remain at risk , possibly as grave as during the inter-war era , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inevitable .
The questions are when , not if , other MAD will strike .
The most critical for the United States is whether the people listen and act decisively to deal with the new MAD before it is too late .
Harlan Ullman is UPI 's Arnaud deBorchgrave Distinguished Columnist .
He is a senior adviser at the Atlantic Council and author of the upcoming book '' The Fifth Horseman : The New MAD -- Massive Acts of Destruction and the Threats of Corona , Climate , Cyber and Terror to Global @ @ @

An unoccupied police car blocks the entrance to the pier in Manhattan Beach, Calif., on Monday, as the coronavirus pandemic disrupted the usual activities for Memorial Day weekend. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
A Fifth Horseman of the Apocalypse threatens mankind. This rider brings with it Massive Acts of Disruption. This new MAD must be contained and prevented as nuclear armageddon was under the Cold War MAD doctrine of Mutual Assured Destruction. COVID-19 is the deadly purveyor of the new MAD. In my books, I have re-characterized the original Four Horsemen as Failed and Failing Government; Economic Despair, Disparity and Dislocation; Radical and Violent Ideologies and Environmental Catastrophe. Now, a fifth rider joins the other four. Advertisement
This pandemic is one of many disruptive and deadly dangers posed by the new MAD. Tragically and predictably, governments as well as international organizations were unprepared to cope with this new horseman. Ironically, it may have been no accident that the most disruptive president in American history took office on Jan. 20, 2017, presaging things to come.
MAD does have a beneficial side. The industrial and information revolutions were profoundly yet creatively disruptive. So, too, were the American and French Revolutions.
Advertisement
Human ingenuity, innovation, imagination and inspiration are as unlimited as Einstein's view of the universe: finite but unbounded. And revolutionary technologies from artificial intelligence and machine learning to quantum physics, 3-D printing and genome research are creating more new knowledge on a routine basis than existed throughout all prior history.
The challenge is corralling the dangerous sides of the new MAD while exploiting the potential of positive disruption. Several factors differentiate the new from the old MAD. An explosive synergy between and among major disruptors to include coronavirus, climate change, cyberterror and exploding debt has been created.
Any one of these disruptors can and will exacerbate, catalyze or create others and vice versa. In this pandemic, for example, "social distancing" will surely lead to increased virtual online recruitment of followers to terrorist and violent extremist groups by virtue of self-quarantine and more time spent on the Internet. A spike in cybercrimes is also noticeable.
Even if the coronavirus were to disappear magically, which it will not, this pandemic is a final warning to governments that no longer can be safely or prudently ignored or disregarded. Ironically, the more interdependent, integrated and linked states become, the greater are the vulnerabilities and frailties, many of which were unintended consequences of globalization and the diffusion of all forms of power.
Advertisement
In haste to deal with the deadlier sides of MAD, disregarding the beneficial potential aspects would be derelict. Channeling MAD to improve the human condition will require new intellectual, conceptual, political and practical approaches. But what about possibly even greater disruptors? Conflict, war or crime will not disappear. Nor will traditional threats recede.
Imagine massive cyberattacks that cripple electrical grids, financial networks and businesses or that steal your identity and bank accounts. Imagine climate change that induces even more devastating acts of nature with massive droughts, floods, fires and storms that incapacitate cities and even regions.
Further, imagine how massive forced migration creates tens or hundreds of millions of refugees and displaced persons with nowhere to find refuge leading to unprecedented humanitarian crises. And imagine how massive acts of terror far worse than Sept. 11, possibly using nuclear, biological, chemical and cyber weapons, will disrupt our ways of life.
Finally, exploding debt essential to keeping a wounded economy alive at some stage must be confronted if it is not to become the ultimate disruptor.
Unfortunately, thus far, too many governments delayed in deriving coherent and comprehensive strategies for containing and mitigating this pandemic and for dealing with the new MAD. This critique especially applies to democracies that are deeply polarized. In this time of ultra partisanship, this virus may well exact a greater toll on the political rather than public health, no matter whether coronavirus persists or dissipates for the short or long term, unless we choose otherwise.
Advertisement
Two further conclusions are important. To succeed, actions to bridge the huge and growing partisan political divides in America and between competing and even adversarial states are needed now.
Second, America has a global leadership role to play. If the United States cannot sustain that role, then without its leadership or with the emergence of so-called malign actors as de facto replacements, this planet and its inhabitants will remain at risk, possibly as grave as during the inter-war era, 1918-1941.
Massive disruptions beyond COVID-19 are inevitable. The questions are when, not if, other MAD will strike. The most critical for the United States is whether the people listen and act decisively to deal with the new MAD before it is too late.
Harlan Ullman is UPI's Arnaud deBorchgrave Distinguished Columnist. He is a senior adviser at the Atlantic Council and author of the upcoming book"The Fifth Horseman: The New MAD -- Massive Acts of Destruction and the Threats of Corona, Climate, Cyber and Terror to Global Order."
COVID-19 pandemic alters life in New York City