upi--2020-11-13--Masters golf, boxing title bout, football headline weekend sports schedule

Nov. 13 ( UPI ) -- The 2020 Masters -- one of golf 's four major championships -- is the main sports event this weekend as 92 players fight for a Green Jacket in Augusta , Ga. Boxing bouts and dozens of football games also pack the schedule .
Rain and lightning delayed the first round of the Masters on Thursday at Augusta National Golf Club .
Organizers will now have to reschedule tee times and have some players split their rounds Friday and Saturday to remain on track for a Sunday afternoon finale .
The Masters airs Thursday through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , NBC , ESPN and Fox also will carry an abundance of football games this weekend , with more than 40 college football matchups Saturday and 12 NFL games Sunday .
Undefeated WBO welterweight champion Terence Crawford ( 36-0 ) also will put his belt on the line when he fights Kell Brook on Saturday on ESPN .
Bryson DeChambeau is favored to win the 2020 Masters Tournament this weekend in Augusta , but Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods enter the tournament looking to add to their numerous milestones at majors .
McIlroy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slam of major championships .
He has won the PGA Championship twice , the 2014 British Open and the 2011 U.S. Open , but has never finished better than fourth at Augusta .
Woods , the defending champion , looks to win back-to-back titles for the first time since he won in 2001 and 2002 .
He is also on a quest to win his 16th major title , which would put him within two titles of a tie for first place all-time with Jack Nicklaus .
Nine golfers teed off on time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the tournament was delayed by nearly three hours .
World No .
1 Dustin Johnson , No .
2 Jon Rahm and No .
3 Justin Thomas join DeChambeau and McIlroy among the top five favorites to win at Augusta .
The players with the lowest 50 scores or tied in that range after the second round will qualify for the third round of the Masters .
The coronavirus pandemic continues to cause postponed and canceled college football games , but thousands of players still will take the field this weekend across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teams will meet on Saturday in college football and several powerhouse programs have tough road matchups .
Top-ranked Alabama had been scheduled to face LSU in a road SEC matchup Saturday in Baton Rouge , La.
, but that game has been postponed .
Clemson , Ohio State and Texas A & M also will take the weekend off .
Notre Dame will put its undefeated record on the line on Saturday at Boston College .
Wisconsin battles Michigan , Indiana faces Michigan State and Northwestern plays at Purdue Saturday in Big Ten @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hurricanes and Oregon Ducks will be among the other top college football teams in action Saturday .
The Week 10 NFL schedule features several rivalries and key divisional games .
The New York Giants host the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday in an NFC East game .
The Carolina Panthers host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday in an NFC South matchup .
Two top rookie quarterbacks will battle Sunday in Miami Gardens , Fla. Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa -- the No .
5 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft -- takes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( No .
6 ) at 4:05 p.m. EST .
That game airs on CBS .
Other big Week 10 NFL matchups include : the Denver Broncos at the Las Vegas Raiders ; the Buffalo Bills at the Arizona Cardinals ; the Seattle Seahawks at the Los Angeles Rams ; and the Cincinnati Bengals at the Pittsburgh Steelers .
A boxing bout between Terence Crawford and Kell Brook headlines the main card of Top Rank on ESPN on Saturday in Las Vegas .
The card also features a fight between super flyweights Joshua @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 39-2 with 27 knockouts ) is a heavy underdog against perhaps the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world .
The 5-foot-9 England native has won his last three fights since consecutive losses to Errol Spence Jr. and Gennady Golovkin .
Golovkin snatched a title belt from Brook during their 2016 meeting .
Brook knocked out Mark Deluca in the seventh round of his last bout Feb. 8 .
Crawford , who also has 27 knockouts , last fought on Dec. 14 , when he beat Egidijus Kavaliauskas .
The 5-foot-8 Omaha native is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ card for Saturday 's fights starts at 10 p.m. EST Saturday on ESPN .
The undercard airs at 7 p.m. EST and airs on ESPN+ .
The Masters Tournament : Second round from 7:39 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. EST on CBSSports.com ; TV from 1 to 5:30 p.m. EST on ESPN East Carolina at Cincinnati at 7:30 p.m. EST on ESPN2 The Masters Tournament : Third round from 10 a.m. EST to completion of play on CBSSports.com ; TV from 1 to 5 p.m. EST on CBS Miami at Virginia Tech at noon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at noon EST on ABC Coastal Carolina at Troy at noon EST on ESPN2 Western Carolina at Liberty at noon EST on ESPNU Middle Tennessee at Marshall at 1:30 p.m. EST on CBSSN South Alabama at Louisiana at 2 p.m. EST on ESPN+ Notre Dame at Boston College at 3:30 p.m. EST on ABC USC at Arizona at 3:30 p.m. EST on Fox Arkansas at Florida at 7 p.m. EST on ESPN SMU at Tulsa at 7 p.m. EST on ESPN2 Oregon at Washington State at 7 p.m. EST at Fox Wisconsin at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Northwestern at Purdue at 7:30 p.m. EST on Big Ten Network UEFA Nations League : Portugal vs. France at 2:45 p.m. EST on ESPN+ Terence Crawford vs. Kell Brook at 10 p.m. EST on ESPN The Masters Tournament : Fourth round from 8 a.m. EST to completion of play on CBSSports.com ; TV from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. EST on CBS Eagles at Giants at 1 p.m. EST on Fox Jaguars at Packers at 1 p.m. EST on Fox Washington Football Team at Lions at 1 p.m. EST on Fox Buccaneers at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chargers at Dolphins at 4:05 p.m. EST on CBS Broncos at Raiders at 4:05 p.m. EST on CBS Bills at Cardinals at 4:05 p.m. EST on CBS 49ers at Saints at 4:25 p.m. EST on Fox Seahawks at Rams at 4:25 p.m. EST on Fox Bengals at Steelers at 4:25 p.m. EST on Fox Ravens at Patriots at 8:20 p.m. EST on NBC UEFA Nations League : Belgium vs. England at 2:45 p.m. EST on ESPN

1/4
Tiger Woods hits out of a bunker on the second hole in the first round of the 2020 Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., on Thursday. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 13 (UPI) -- The 2020 Masters -- one of golf's four major championships -- is the main sports event this weekend as 92 players fight for a Green Jacket in Augusta, Ga. Boxing bouts and dozens of football games also pack the schedule. Rain and lightning delayed the first round of the Masters on Thursday at Augusta National Golf Club. Organizers will now have to reschedule tee times and have some players split their rounds Friday and Saturday to remain on track for a Sunday afternoon finale. Advertisement
The Masters airs Thursday through Sunday on CBS and ESPN.
CBS, NBC, ESPN and Fox also will carry an abundance of football games this weekend, with more than 40 college football matchups Saturday and 12 NFL games Sunday.
Undefeated WBO welterweight champion Terence Crawford (36-0) also will put his belt on the line when he fights Kell Brook on Saturday on ESPN.
Advertisement
2020 Masters
Bryson DeChambeau is favored to win the 2020 Masters Tournament this weekend in Augusta, but Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods enter the tournament looking to add to their numerous milestones at majors.
McIlroy will attempt to win a career grand slam of major championships. He has won the PGA Championship twice, the 2014 British Open and the 2011 U.S. Open, but has never finished better than fourth at Augusta.
Woods, the defending champion, looks to win back-to-back titles for the first time since he won in 2001 and 2002. He is also on a quest to win his 16th major title, which would put him within two titles of a tie for first place all-time with Jack Nicklaus.
Nine golfers teed off on time to start the first round Thursday before the tournament was delayed by nearly three hours.
World No. 1 Dustin Johnson, No. 2 Jon Rahm and No. 3 Justin Thomas join DeChambeau and McIlroy among the top five favorites to win at Augusta.
The players with the lowest 50 scores or tied in that range after the second round will qualify for the third round of the Masters.
Football matchups
The coronavirus pandemic continues to cause postponed and canceled college football games, but thousands of players still will take the field this weekend across the United States.
Advertisement
A number of ranked teams will meet on Saturday in college football and several powerhouse programs have tough road matchups.
Top-ranked Alabama had been scheduled to face LSU in a road SEC matchup Saturday in Baton Rouge, La., but that game has been postponed. Clemson, Ohio State and Texas A&M also will take the weekend off.
Notre Dame will put its undefeated record on the line on Saturday at Boston College. Wisconsin battles Michigan, Indiana faces Michigan State and Northwestern plays at Purdue Saturday in Big Ten play.
The Florida Gators, Miami Hurricanes and Oregon Ducks will be among the other top college football teams in action Saturday.
The Week 10 NFL schedule features several rivalries and key divisional games. The New York Giants host the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday in an NFC East game. The Carolina Panthers host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday in an NFC South matchup.
Two top rookie quarterbacks will battle Sunday in Miami Gardens, Fla. Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa -- the No. 5 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft -- takes on Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (No. 6) at 4:05 p.m. EST. That game airs on CBS.
Other big Week 10 NFL matchups include: the Denver Broncos at the Las Vegas Raiders; the Buffalo Bills at the Arizona Cardinals; the Seattle Seahawks at the Los Angeles Rams; and the Cincinnati Bengals at the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Advertisement
Boxing bout
A boxing bout between Terence Crawford and Kell Brook headlines the main card of Top Rank on ESPN on Saturday in Las Vegas. The card also features a fight between super flyweights Joshua Franco and Andrew Moloney.
Brook (39-2 with 27 knockouts) is a heavy underdog against perhaps the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world. The 5-foot-9 England native has won his last three fights since consecutive losses to Errol Spence Jr. and Gennady Golovkin.
Golovkin snatched a title belt from Brook during their 2016 meeting. Brook knocked out Mark Deluca in the seventh round of his last bout Feb. 8.
Crawford, who also has 27 knockouts, last fought on Dec. 14, when he beat Egidijus Kavaliauskas. The 5-foot-8 Omaha native is a three-division world champion.
The main card for Saturday's fights starts at 10 p.m. EST Saturday on ESPN. The undercard airs at 7 p.m. EST and airs on ESPN+.
Friday
Golf
The Masters Tournament: Second round from 7:39 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. EST on CBSSports.com; TV from 1 to 5:30 p.m. EST on ESPN
College football
East Carolina at Cincinnati at 7:30 p.m. EST on ESPN2
Saturday
The Masters Tournament: Third round from 10 a.m. EST to completion of play on CBSSports.com; TV from 1 to 5 p.m. EST on CBS
Advertisement
College football
Miami at Virginia Tech at noon EST on ESPN
Indiana at Michigan State at noon EST on ABC
Coastal Carolina at Troy at noon EST on ESPN2
Western Carolina at Liberty at noon EST on ESPNU
Middle Tennessee at Marshall at 1:30 p.m. EST on CBSSN
South Alabama at Louisiana at 2 p.m. EST on ESPN+
Notre Dame at Boston College at 3:30 p.m. EST on ABC
USC at Arizona at 3:30 p.m. EST on Fox
Arkansas at Florida at 7 p.m. EST on ESPN
SMU at Tulsa at 7 p.m. EST on ESPN2
Oregon at Washington State at 7 p.m. EST at Fox
Wisconsin at Michigan at 7:30 p.m. EST on ABC
Northwestern at Purdue at 7:30 p.m. EST on Big Ten Network
Soccer
UEFA Nations League: Portugal vs. France at 2:45 p.m. EST on ESPN+
Boxing
Terence Crawford vs. Kell Brook at 10 p.m. EST on ESPN
Sunday
Golf
The Masters Tournament: Fourth round from 8 a.m. EST to completion of play on CBSSports.com; TV from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. EST on CBS
NFL
Eagles at Giants at 1 p.m. EST on Fox
Jaguars at Packers at 1 p.m. EST on Fox
Washington Football Team at Lions at 1 p.m. EST on Fox
Advertisement
Buccaneers at Panthers at 1 p.m. EST on Fox
Chargers at Dolphins at 4:05 p.m. EST on CBS
Broncos at Raiders at 4:05 p.m. EST on CBS
Bills at Cardinals at 4:05 p.m. EST on CBS
49ers at Saints at 4:25 p.m. EST on Fox
Seahawks at Rams at 4:25 p.m. EST on Fox
Bengals at Steelers at 4:25 p.m. EST on Fox
Ravens at Patriots at 8:20 p.m. EST on NBC
Soccer
UEFA Nations League: Belgium vs. England at 2:45 p.m. EST on ESPN
Moments from the 2020 Masters Tournament


upi--2020-11-13--On This Day, Nov. 13: Paris terror attacks kill 130 people

Nov. 13 ( UPI ) -- On this date in history : In 1927 , the Holland Tunnel was opened under the Hudson River , linking New York City and New Jersey .
In 1933 , the first recorded `` sit-down '' strike in the United States was staged by workers at the Hormel Packing Co. in Austin , Minn .
In 1947 , development of the AK-47 is completed by the Soviet Union .
Between 70 and 100 million of these assault rifles have been produced since then .
Fifty years later , the designer of the assault rifle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regretted the `` misuse '' of the weapon by terrorists .
In 1956 , the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the federal district court 's ruling in Browder v. Gayle ( 1956 ) that segregation on interstate buses was unconstitutional .
They would issue their decision in December with the Montgomery Bus Boycott ending quickly thereafter .
In 1967 , Carl Stokes became the first black U.S. mayor when he was elected in Cleveland .
In 1970 , more than 500,000 people died in a single night as the Bhola cyclone devastated the Ganges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In 1982 , thousands of veterans of the Vietnam War march on Washington , D.C. , to attend the dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial .
In 1985 , the Nevado del Ruiz volcano erupted in Colombia , killing 25,000 people .
It was one of the deadliest volcanic eruptions in history .
In 2004 , an Iraqi national security adviser said up to 1,000 insurgents were killed in a six-day battle for Fallujah .
In 2010 , the military government of Myanmar , formerly Burma , released pro-democracy leader Aung San @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leader of the National League for Democracy , who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 , had spent 15 of the past 21 years confined to her home .
In 2011 , Mario Monti , an economist and former EU commissioner , was picked to succeed Silvio Berlusconi as Italy 's prime minister .
Berlusconi , 75 , resigned after Parliament passed austerity measures to address the country 's $ 2.6 trillion debt .
Monti was PM until April 2013 .
In 2013 , the U.S. Department of Health and Human @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health plans in the new Affordable Care Act marketplace through October , about 20 percent of the number expected .
The new health system had been plagued by problems with its federal website since it opened Oct. 1 .
In 2015 , a series of coordinated terrorist attacks across the French capital of Paris claimed the lives of 130 people and left 368 others injured .
In 2019 , the House of Representatives held its first public hearing in President Donald Trump 's impeachment inquiry .

1/6
Victims of the shooting at the Bataclan concert venue in central Paris are being evacuated to receive first aid on November 14, 2015. File Photo by Maya Vidon-White/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 13 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1927, the Holland Tunnel was opened under the Hudson River, linking New York City and New Jersey. Advertisement
In 1933, the first recorded "sit-down" strike in the United States was staged by workers at the Hormel Packing Co. in Austin, Minn.
In 1947, development of the AK-47 is completed by the Soviet Union. Between 70 and 100 million of these assault rifles have been produced since then. Fifty years later, the designer of the assault rifle, Gen. Mikhail Kalashnikov, said he regretted the "misuse" of the weapon by terrorists.
In 1956, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the federal district court's ruling in Browder v. Gayle (1956) that segregation on interstate buses was unconstitutional. They would issue their decision in December with the Montgomery Bus Boycott ending quickly thereafter.
File Photo by Bill Clark/UPI
In 1967, Carl Stokes became the first black U.S. mayor when he was elected in Cleveland.
In 1970, more than 500,000 people died in a single night as the Bhola cyclone devastated the Ganges Delta region in what is now Bangladesh.
Advertisement
In 1982, thousands of veterans of the Vietnam War march on Washington, D.C., to attend the dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
In 1985, the Nevado del Ruiz volcano erupted in Colombia, killing 25,000 people. It was one of the deadliest volcanic eruptions in history.
In 2004, an Iraqi national security adviser said up to 1,000 insurgents were killed in a six-day battle for Fallujah.
In 2010, the military government of Myanmar, formerly Burma, released pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest. The leader of the National League for Democracy, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991, had spent 15 of the past 21 years confined to her home.
File Photo by Pat Benic/UPI
In 2011, Mario Monti, an economist and former EU commissioner, was picked to succeed Silvio Berlusconi as Italy's prime minister. Berlusconi, 75, resigned after Parliament passed austerity measures to address the country's $2.6 trillion debt. Monti was PM until April 2013.
In 2013, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported that 106,185 people had chosen health plans in the new Affordable Care Act marketplace through October, about 20 percent of the number expected. The new health system had been plagued by problems with its federal website since it opened Oct. 1.
Advertisement
In 2015, a series of coordinated terrorist attacks across the French capital of Paris claimed the lives of 130 people and left 368 others injured.
In 2019, the House of Representatives held its first public hearing in President Donald Trump's impeachment inquiry.


upi--2020-11-13--Famous birthdays for Nov. 13: Neil Flynn, Jimmy Kimmel

Nov. 13 ( UPI ) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Scorpio .

1/3
Natalie Morales and Neil Flynn arrive on the red carpet at the 2018 NBCUniversal Upfront at Radio City Music Hall on May 14, 2018, in New York City. Flynn turns 60 on November 13. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 13 (UPI) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Scorpio. They include: Advertisement
-- King Edward III of England in 1312
-- Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson in 1850
-- U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis in 1856
-- Buck O'Neil, Negro League star and manager, in 1911
-- TV producer/director Garry Marshall in 1934
-- Actor Joe Mantegna in 1947 (age 73)
File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
-- Actor Tracy Scoggins in 1953 (age 67)
-- Actor Frances Conroy in 1953 (age 67)
-- Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador in 1953 (age 67)
-- Actor Chris Noth in 1954 (age 66)
-- Actor Whoopi Goldberg in 1955 (age 65)
-- Actor Neil Flynn in 1960 (age 60)
-- Football Hall of fame member Vinny Testaverde in 1963 (age 57)
-- Television talk-show host Jimmy Kimmel in 1967 (age 53)
File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
-- Actor Steve Zahn in 1967 (age 53)
Advertisement
-- Actor Gerard Butler in 1969 (age 51)
-- Actor Monique Coleman in 1980 (age 40)
-- Actor Devon Bostick in 1991 (age 29)
-- Singer Julia Michaels, born Julia Carin Cavazos, in 1993 (age 27)


upi--2020-11-13--Otto Farrant: 'Alex Rider' puts typical teen on espionage roller coaster

NEW YORK , Nov. 13 ( UPI ) -- White Queen and Clash of the Titans alum Otto Farrant said Alex Rider might be a high-octane , teen spy thriller , but it also is rooted in reality .
Set to debut Friday in the United States on IMDB TV , the eight-part series is based on Anthony Horowitz 's best-selling , young-adult novels .
Farrant plays the title character -- a resourceful , orphaned , high school student pressured to go undercover by a shadowy government agency after the mysterious death of his uncle .
`` He 's a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goes to parties and school and hangs out with his mate , but he 's thrown into this world of espionage and does n't know who to trust , and I think that that grounds him , '' the 23-year-old actor told UPI in a recent Zoom conference with Horowitz .
Farrant was n't a big reader as a boy , but remembers devouring the Alex Rider novels .
`` That 's just a testament to how great a character this is and how great this franchise is , so getting the opportunity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come true , '' Farrant said .
Action scenes that required the actor to run , bike , climb and fight forced him to embrace a level of athleticism he had n't for a role before , he said .
The physical challenges also were cathartic in how they offset the more intense moments .
`` Tracking the journey of someone who has lost a guardian , lost their uncle , the grieving process is a difficult thing , emotionally , to go through .
So , having those moments where all I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nice in some ways , because it was such a release of physical and emotional tension , '' he said .
Horowitz , 65 , is the author of several Sherlock Holmes and James Bond novels , and published nine books for young adults before he created Alex Rider .
What sets Alex apart from other protagonists he has written about is `` a sort of seriousness , '' Horowitz said .
`` This was a real teenager , with real emotions who wanted to get on with his life , who did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a book or a film or in life , but who was sucked into it reluctantly , '' the writer said .
`` His reluctance , his desire to have an ordinary life , the fact that he ca n't believe anyone around him , that he is alone , is what has made him so enduring and it 's why so many people [ for ] over 20 years now have related to the character . ''
Hororowitz said it always is his intention to empower and inspire his readers .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I am always writing that , if you are in any [ difficult ] circumstances , if you draw on your inner strength , your self-confidence , your inner voice , your inner beliefs , you will prevail , '' he said .
`` A writer for young people has one duty , and that is to be optimistic and be positive about what it is possible to achieve . ''
Farrant said he thinks viewers of the show will see themselves in Alex .
`` It 's such a hard thing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you are and find your identity and Alex is a great example because he is still working that out , but he also knows what 's right and wrong and follows his heart a lot of the time , '' the actor said .
`` That 's something [ the show ] can teach people : follow your heart , listen to yourself and do n't always trust everyone . ''
The show 's U.S. debut comes at a time when many teens and adolescents have had their social lives and education upended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hopes Alex Rider serves as `` a beacon of hope that there is always a brighter future . ''
`` Books and storytelling have had a huge importance , especially for young people who have been out of school and away from their friends and in an environment that has been something so alien and hostile to them .
I think there is something to be said about Alex Rider arriving at this moment and providing pure escapism , fun and adventure on television , '' Horowitz said .
Farrant agreed , adding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to be a roller coaster watching it , so buckle up . ''
Alex Rider co-stars Stephen Dillane , Vicky McClure and Andrew Buchan .
The show has been renewed for a second season .

Otto Farrant's teen spy drama "Alex Rider" premieres on IMDB TV Friday. Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures Television
NEW YORK, Nov. 13 (UPI) -- White Queen and Clash of the Titans alum Otto Farrant said Alex Rider might be a high-octane, teen spy thriller, but it also is rooted in reality. Set to debut Friday in the United States on IMDB TV, the eight-part series is based on Anthony Horowitz's best-selling, young-adult novels. Advertisement
Farrant plays the title character -- a resourceful, orphaned, high school student pressured to go undercover by a shadowy government agency after the mysterious death of his uncle.
"He's a normal kid, an ordinary teenager who goes to parties and school and hangs out with his mate, but he's thrown into this world of espionage and doesn't know who to trust, and I think that that grounds him," the 23-year-old actor told UPI in a recent Zoom conference with Horowitz.
Farrant wasn't a big reader as a boy, but remembers devouring the Alex Rider novels.
Advertisement
"That's just a testament to how great a character this is and how great this franchise is, so getting the opportunity to play this role was a dream come true," Farrant said.
Action scenes that required the actor to run, bike, climb and fight forced him to embrace a level of athleticism he hadn't for a role before, he said. The physical challenges also were cathartic in how they offset the more intense moments.
"Tracking the journey of someone who has lost a guardian, lost their uncle, the grieving process is a difficult thing, emotionally, to go through. So, having those moments where all I was doing was literally running was so nice in some ways, because it was such a release of physical and emotional tension," he said.
Horowitz, 65, is the author of several Sherlock Holmes and James Bond novels, and published nine books for young adults before he created Alex Rider.
What sets Alex apart from other protagonists he has written about is "a sort of seriousness," Horowitz said.
"This was a real teenager, with real emotions who wanted to get on with his life, who did not want to be a hero in a book or a film or in life, but who was sucked into it reluctantly," the writer said.
Advertisement
"His reluctance, his desire to have an ordinary life, the fact that he can't believe anyone around him, that he is alone, is what has made him so enduring and it's why so many people [for] over 20 years now have related to the character."
Hororowitz said it always is his intention to empower and inspire his readers.
"When I write for young people, I am always writing that, if you are in any [difficult] circumstances, if you draw on your inner strength, your self-confidence, your inner voice, your inner beliefs, you will prevail," he said. "A writer for young people has one duty, and that is to be optimistic and be positive about what it is possible to achieve."
Farrant said he thinks viewers of the show will see themselves in Alex.
"It's such a hard thing to grow up, to learn about who you are and find your identity and Alex is a great example because he is still working that out, but he also knows what's right and wrong and follows his heart a lot of the time," the actor said.
"That's something [the show] can teach people: follow your heart, listen to yourself and don't always trust everyone."
Advertisement
The show's U.S. debut comes at a time when many teens and adolescents have had their social lives and education upended because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Horowitz hopes Alex Rider serves as "a beacon of hope that there is always a brighter future."
"Books and storytelling have had a huge importance, especially for young people who have been out of school and away from their friends and in an environment that has been something so alien and hostile to them. I think there is something to be said about Alex Rider arriving at this moment and providing pure escapism, fun and adventure on television," Horowitz said.
Farrant agreed, adding with a laugh, "It's going to be a roller coaster watching it, so buckle up."
Alex Rider co-stars Stephen Dillane, Vicky McClure and Andrew Buchan. The show has been renewed for a second season.


upi--2020-11-13--UPI News Quiz: Counting & recounting votes, fake meat, 'flying taxi'

U.S. News // 8 hours ago
Search for victims of Maui wildfire ongoing as death toll climbs to 101
Aug. 15 (UPI) -- The death toll from the Maui wildfires has risen to 101, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said Tuesday night, as he announced plans to reopen the Lahaina Bypass for several hours a day to "reunite the pieces of Maui."


upi--2020-11-13--Don Young, oldest member of Congress, tests positive for COVID-19

Nov. 13 ( UPI ) -- Rep. Don Young of Alaska announced via Twitter that he has tested positive for COVID-19 .
`` I have tested positive for COVID-19 , '' the 87-year-old Republican politician said in a statement on Thursday .
`` I am feeling strong , following proper protocols , working from home in Alaska and ask for privacy at this time . ''
Young , the longest-serving Republican in congressional history and the oldest member in either chamber , was re-elected to Congress last week for a 25th term .
He has previously downplayed the risk of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a group of senior citizens that the threat of the `` beer virus '' was overblown , seemingly in reference to the similarities between the name of the coronavirus and the popular beer , Corona .
`` They call it the coronavirus .
I call it the beer virus .
How do you like that , '' he said , Anchorage Daily News reported .
`` It attacks us senior citizens .
I 'm one of you .
I still say we have to as a nation and state go forth with everyday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dunleavy and Sen. Lisa Murkowski both sent Young well wishes via Twitter .
`` Alaska is with you , Don ! ''
Dunleavy said via Twitter .
According to data from the state 's Health and Social Services Coronavirus Response Department , infections have been steadily climbing since September and Alaska reported a daily record of some 600 cases earlier this month .
The department said there are 20,688 infections , 520 hospitalizations and 96 deaths due to the virus .
In a video message on Thursday , Dunleavy told the public that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communities and issued a series of measures , including ordering residents to work from home , if possible , to stymie the disease 's spread .

Republican Rep. Don Young of Alaska won a 25th term in office last week. Photo courtesy of Rep. Don Young/ Website
Nov. 13 (UPI) -- Rep. Don Young of Alaska announced via Twitter that he has tested positive for COVID-19. "I have tested positive for COVID-19," the 87-year-old Republican politician said in a statement on Thursday. "I am feeling strong, following proper protocols, working from home in Alaska and ask for privacy at this time." Advertisement
Young, the longest-serving Republican in congressional history and the oldest member in either chamber, was re-elected to Congress last week for a 25th term.
He has previously downplayed the risk of the coronavirus, and in March told a group of senior citizens that the threat of the "beer virus" was overblown, seemingly in reference to the similarities between the name of the coronavirus and the popular beer, Corona.
"They call it the coronavirus. I call it the beer virus. How do you like that," he said, Anchorage Daily News reported. "It attacks us senior citizens. I'm one of you. I still say we have to as a nation and state go forth with everyday activities."
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy and Sen. Lisa Murkowski both sent Young well wishes via Twitter.
Advertisement
"Alaska is with you, Don!" Dunleavy said via Twitter.
My friend and colleague Congressman Don Young is a fighter. I'm glad to hear he's doing well and will be praying for his health and recovery, along with all those impacted by #COVID19. https://t.co/USpuJhvV3q— Sen. Lisa Murkowski (@lisamurkowski) November 12, 2020
According to data from the state's Health and Social Services Coronavirus Response Department, infections have been steadily climbing since September and Alaska reported a daily record of some 600 cases earlier this month.
The department said there are 20,688 infections, 520 hospitalizations and 96 deaths due to the virus.
In a video message on Thursday, Dunleavy told the public that the virus was rapidly spreading throughout Alaskan communities and issued a series of measures, including ordering residents to work from home, if possible, to stymie the disease's spread.


upi--2020-11-13--Positive COVID-19 tests reported on first Caribbean cruise to resume operations amid pandemic

Nov. 13 ( UPI ) -- The first cruise ship to set sail in the Caribbean since the cruise industry ground to a halt due to the coronavirus pandemic has confirmed cases of the virus among its passengers .
In a press release on Thursday , the SeaDream Yacht Club said guests aboard the SeaDream I vessel have tested positive for COVID-19 .
The release did not say how many passengers tested positive for the deadly and infectious coronavirus but said all crew have been tested and their results came back negative .
Due to the positive cases , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ current Caribbean voyage and has returned to Barbados , the company said .
`` We are working closely with local health and government authorities to resolve this situation in the best possible way , '' SeaDream 's Andreas Brynestad said in the statement .
`` Our main priority is the health and safety of our crew , guests and the communities we visit . ''
All guests and non-essential crew have been quarantined to their staterooms while SeaDream awaits authorization from the Barbados government to disembark guests , the statement said .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ship , Cruise Critic reported .
The voyage , which set sail from Barbados over the weekend , was the first of 22 roundtrip sailings of the West Indies the company had planned for the SeaDream I following the completion of 21 voyages in Norway during the summer season , it said .
`` This journey will take us to beautiful beaches while enjoying a safe environment onboard and SeaDream 's signature service , '' the company said in a tweet as guests were boarding the ship late last week .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sailing in the Caribbean ! ''
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that research shows cruise ships pose a greater risk for transmitting COVID-19 than other settings due to their high density of their populations .
The CDC had issued a no sail order from March 14 to Oct. 29 and is currently taking a phased approach to resuming passenger operations , it said .
During the first months of the pandemic , several cruise ships became infected with the coronavirus .
In January , the Diamond Princess was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Japan after infections of the coronavirus were discovered among passengers on board .
By the last passenger to disembark from the vessel , a total of 712 of the 3,711 passengers on board had tested positive for the virus .
In March , the Grand Princess docked off the California coast with at least 21 positives coronavirus cases .
The SeaDream Yacht Club said every crew member has been certified by the World Health Organization to prevent and control COVID-19 and has undergone the COVID-19 contact tracing course offered by Johns Hopkins University @

SeaDream I has docked in Barbados after confirming cases of COVID-19 among its 53 passengers. Photo courtesy of SeaDream Yacht Club/ Twitter
Nov. 13 (UPI) -- The first cruise ship to set sail in the Caribbean since the cruise industry ground to a halt due to the coronavirus pandemic has confirmed cases of the virus among its passengers. In a press release on Thursday, the SeaDream Yacht Club said guests aboard the SeaDream I vessel have tested positive for COVID-19. Advertisement
The release did not say how many passengers tested positive for the deadly and infectious coronavirus but said all crew have been tested and their results came back negative.
Due to the positive cases, the SeaDream I has "paused" its current Caribbean voyage and has returned to Barbados, the company said.
"We are working closely with local health and government authorities to resolve this situation in the best possible way," SeaDream's Andreas Brynestad said in the statement. "Our main priority is the health and safety of our crew, guests and the communities we visit."
Advertisement
All guests and non-essential crew have been quarantined to their staterooms while SeaDream awaits authorization from the Barbados government to disembark guests, the statement said.
There are 53 passengers and 66 crew aboard the ship, Cruise Critic reported.
The voyage, which set sail from Barbados over the weekend, was the first of 22 roundtrip sailings of the West Indies the company had planned for the SeaDream I following the completion of 21 voyages in Norway during the summer season, it said.
"This journey will take us to beautiful beaches while enjoying a safe environment onboard and SeaDream's signature service," the company said in a tweet as guests were boarding the ship late last week. "Proud to be the only line currently sailing in the Caribbean!"
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that research shows cruise ships pose a greater risk for transmitting COVID-19 than other settings due to their high density of their populations.
Advertisement
The CDC had issued a no sail order from March 14 to Oct. 29 and is currently taking a phased approach to resuming passenger operations, it said.
During the first months of the pandemic, several cruise ships became infected with the coronavirus.
In January, the Diamond Princess was moored off the Port of Yokohama in Japan after infections of the coronavirus were discovered among passengers on board. By the last passenger to disembark from the vessel, a total of 712 of the 3,711 passengers on board had tested positive for the virus.
In March, the Grand Princess docked off the California coast with at least 21 positives coronavirus cases.
The SeaDream Yacht Club said every crew member has been certified by the World Health Organization to prevent and control COVID-19 and has undergone the COVID-19 contact tracing course offered by Johns Hopkins University.


upi--2020-11-13--Baltimore Ravens' Calais Campbell ruled out for first time since 2014

Nov. 13 ( UPI ) -- Baltimore Ravens defensive lineman Calais Campbell has been ruled out for Sunday night 's game against the New England Patriots because of a calf injury , head coach John Harbaugh said Friday .
Campbell , who suffered the calf injury during last week 's win over the Indianapolis Colts , will miss his first game since 2014 .
His streak of 98 consecutive starts -- which was the NFL 's second-longest among defensive ends -- was behind only the New Orleans Saints ' Cameron Jordan ( 137 ) .
Campbell , who was acquired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this past off-season , leads the Ravens with four sacks and is tied for the team lead with five tackles for a loss this season .
`` Losing a guy like Calais ... that sucks , because he 's one of the all-time greats playing the defensive line and his leadership is unmatched , '' Ravens defensive end Derek Wolfe said .
`` He 's the ultimate professional .
I think I do have to step up . ''
Meanwhile , running back Mark Ingram returned to practice Friday after missing the past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to the Ravens ' official injury report , he was limited in Wednesday 's practice before sitting out Thursday .
He was listed as a full participant during Friday 's session .
Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith has n't practiced all week because of an ankle issue .
The team listed him as doubtful for Sunday 's matchup against the Patriots .

Baltimore Ravens veteran defensive lineman Calais Campbell (L) will miss Sunday night's game against the New England Patriots due to a calf injury. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 13 (UPI) -- Baltimore Ravens defensive lineman Calais Campbell has been ruled out for Sunday night's game against the New England Patriots because of a calf injury, head coach John Harbaugh said Friday. Campbell, who suffered the calf injury during last week's win over the Indianapolis Colts, will miss his first game since 2014. His streak of 98 consecutive starts -- which was the NFL's second-longest among defensive ends -- was behind only the New Orleans Saints' Cameron Jordan (137). Advertisement
Campbell, who was acquired in a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars this past off-season, leads the Ravens with four sacks and is tied for the team lead with five tackles for a loss this season.
"Losing a guy like Calais ... that sucks, because he's one of the all-time greats playing the defensive line and his leadership is unmatched," Ravens defensive end Derek Wolfe said. "He's the ultimate professional. I think I do have to step up."
Advertisement "Calais is out Sunday. Jimmy, we'll have to see where he's at." pic.twitter.com/5R48LZK7o2— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) November 13, 2020
Meanwhile, running back Mark Ingram returned to practice Friday after missing the past two games with an ankle injury. According to the Ravens' official injury report, he was limited in Wednesday's practice before sitting out Thursday. He was listed as a full participant during Friday's session.
Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith hasn't practiced all week because of an ankle issue. The team listed him as doubtful for Sunday's matchup against the Patriots.
This week in the National Football League


upi--2020-11-13--Bears head coach Matt Nagy hands play-calling duties to OC Bill Lazor

Nov. 13 ( UPI ) -- Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy said Friday that he will turn over play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Bill Lazor ahead of Monday night 's NFC North showdown against the Minnesota Vikings .
`` It 's just kind of where we 're at , '' Nagy told reporters after Friday 's practice .
`` You get a feel and you understand , 'OK , this is where our offense is at right now , ' and we 've been struggling and for different reasons .
I do n't think it 's one particular reason @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can help spark us , or sometimes it 's just a changeup .
`` It 's like bringing in , for instance , a different style [ of ] pitcher .
You have one pitcher that throws one way , now you have another pitcher that throws another way .
Sometimes change can be good in that regard .
So again , none of it was for a particular reason other than we 've just been struggling , and I feel like it 's the best thing for this team . ''
Prior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nagy called offensive plays for the Bears since taking over as head coach in January 2018 .
Chicago hired Nagy primarily because of the time he spent learning under head coach Andy Reid while with the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs .
`` Is it hard to do ?
Absolutely , '' Nagy said .
`` I 'd be lying to every one of you guys if I told you that this is easy .
It 's not easy .
It 's one of my favorite parts of coaching .
`` ... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asking me before ?
No , it 's not permanent .
But guess what ?
If this is what 's best for the team , then that 's what I 'm going to do .
We need to do what 's best for us , not what 's best for Matt Nagy .
That 's where I 'm at .
I 'm excited about it , you know , looking forward to it . ''
Nagy , who was the NFL 's Coach of the Year in 2018 , holds a 25-16 career @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the third-year coach has been under increased pressure to get the Bears ' sputtering offense back on track .
Chicago ( 5-4 ) ranks 29th in the league in points per game ( 19.8 ) and 30th in red zone offensive efficiency .
Lazor , who joined Nagy 's coaching staff last off-season , previously served as offensive coordinator of the Miami Dolphins ( 2014-15 ) and Cincinnati Bengals ( 2017-18 ) .

Prior to handing over play-calling duties, Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy called offensive plays for the team since he took over as coach in January 2018. File Photo by Kamil Krzaczynski/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 13 (UPI) -- Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy said Friday that he will turn over play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Bill Lazor ahead of Monday night's NFC North showdown against the Minnesota Vikings. "It's just kind of where we're at," Nagy told reporters after Friday's practice. "You get a feel and you understand, 'OK, this is where our offense is at right now,' and we've been struggling and for different reasons. I don't think it's one particular reason, but if there's something that can help spark us, or sometimes it's just a changeup. Advertisement
"It's like bringing in, for instance, a different style [of] pitcher. You have one pitcher that throws one way, now you have another pitcher that throws another way. Sometimes change can be good in that regard. So again, none of it was for a particular reason other than we've just been struggling, and I feel like it's the best thing for this team."
Prior to giving up his play-calling duties, Nagy called offensive plays for the Bears since taking over as head coach in January 2018. Chicago hired Nagy primarily because of the time he spent learning under head coach Andy Reid while with the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs.
Advertisement
"Is it hard to do? Absolutely," Nagy said. "I'd be lying to every one of you guys if I told you that this is easy. It's not easy. It's one of my favorite parts of coaching.
"... Is it permanent, like you were asking me before? No, it's not permanent. But guess what? If this is what's best for the team, then that's what I'm going to do. We need to do what's best for us, not what's best for Matt Nagy. That's where I'm at. I'm excited about it, you know, looking forward to it."
Nagy, who was the NFL's Coach of the Year in 2018, holds a 25-16 career record in the regular season, but the third-year coach has been under increased pressure to get the Bears' sputtering offense back on track. Chicago (5-4) ranks 29th in the league in points per game (19.8) and 30th in red zone offensive efficiency.
Lazor, who joined Nagy's coaching staff last off-season, previously served as offensive coordinator of the Miami Dolphins (2014-15) and Cincinnati Bengals (2017-18).
This week in the National Football League


upi--2020-11-13--UCLA to play Cal on Sunday following Arizona State, Utah cancellations

Nov. 13 ( UPI ) -- Shortly after the Pac-12 called off football games involving the UCLA Bruins and California Golden Bears due to the coronavirus , the conference announced that both teams will play each other Sunday at the Rose Bowl .
`` The scheduling of this game is consistent with the conference 's commitment to provide opportunities for student-athletes through maximum scheduling flexibility while still prioritizing health and safety , '' the Pac-12 said in a statement Friday .
Cal was initially scheduled to play at Arizona State on Saturday , while UCLA was set to host Utah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive COVID-19 cases and related contact tracing at Arizona State and Utah .
Now , Cal and UCLA will square off at noon EST on Sunday .
The game will be televised on Fox Sports One .
`` First and foremost , I want to commend our football student-athletes on their flexibility and focus in the midst of a lot of uncertainty , '' UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond said in a statement .
`` I 'd also like to thank Jim Knowlton , Justin Wilcox and the Cal football program , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working diligently with us to find a way to compete this weekend .
It 's an unconventional solution in an unconventional year and we 're excited to host the Bears at the Rose Bowl on Sunday . ''
California 's game against Washington was scrapped last week as a result of one COVID-19 case .
The Golden Bears were left without multiple players , including their entire defensive line , due to contact tracing related to the positive test result .
UCLA-Cal will be the first regular-season college football game to take place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ season .
There were a pair of Sunday games that year -- Akron-Western Michigan and East Carolina-UConn .
As a result of the schedule change , the UCLA-Oregon matchup set for Nov. 20 will instead move to Nov. 21 .

UCLA and California are set to play Sunday at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., following the Arizona State and Utah cancellations this weekend. File Photo by Juan Ocampo/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 13 (UPI) -- Shortly after the Pac-12 called off football games involving the UCLA Bruins and California Golden Bears due to the coronavirus, the conference announced that both teams will play each other Sunday at the Rose Bowl. "The scheduling of this game is consistent with the conference's commitment to provide opportunities for student-athletes through maximum scheduling flexibility while still prioritizing health and safety," the Pac-12 said in a statement Friday. Advertisement
Cal was initially scheduled to play at Arizona State on Saturday, while UCLA was set to host Utah. Those games were canceled because of positive COVID-19 cases and related contact tracing at Arizona State and Utah.
Now, Cal and UCLA will square off at noon EST on Sunday. The game will be televised on Fox Sports One.
"First and foremost, I want to commend our football student-athletes on their flexibility and focus in the midst of a lot of uncertainty," UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond said in a statement.
"I'd also like to thank Jim Knowlton, Justin Wilcox and the Cal football program, as well as Pac-12 Conference leadership, for working diligently with us to find a way to compete this weekend. It's an unconventional solution in an unconventional year and we're excited to host the Bears at the Rose Bowl on Sunday."
Advertisement
California's game against Washington was scrapped last week as a result of one COVID-19 case. The Golden Bears were left without multiple players, including their entire defensive line, due to contact tracing related to the positive test result.
UCLA-Cal will be the first regular-season college football game to take place on an NFL Sunday since the 2017 season. There were a pair of Sunday games that year -- Akron-Western Michigan and East Carolina-UConn.
As a result of the schedule change, the UCLA-Oregon matchup set for Nov. 20 will instead move to Nov. 21.


upi--2020-11-13--'Yorkshire Ripper' Peter Sutcliffe dies after contracting COVID-19

Nov. 13 ( UPI ) -- Peter Sutcliffe , the serial killer dubbed the `` Yorkshire Ripper '' by the British press for admitting to killing 13 women in the 1970s , died after testing positive for COVID-19 , the British Ministry of Justice said Friday .
Prison officials declined to offer a cause of death for Sutcliffe , 74 , but said he had the coronavirus as well as other underlying health conditions .
He was serving a life sentence at HMP Frankland and had been transferred to University Hospital of North Durham for treatment .
He spent most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high-security psychiatric prison before being deemed fit to enter general population at Frankland in 2016 .
Sutcliffe confessed in 1981 to killing 13 women and attempting to kill seven others during a spree lasting from 1969 to 1980 .
During his trial , he told the court he bludgeoned and mutilated his victims to death in a `` divine mission '' to rid the world of prostitutes .
`` I am not proud of doing any of the murders , '' he told police after his arrest .
`` It was my own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at any cost . ''
Not all of his victims were sex workers .
Prosecutors said invented his obsessional `` hatred of prostitutes '' to back up his plea of insanity with the hopes of receiving a lenient sentence .
Sutcliffe pleaded guilty to manslaughter with `` diminished responsibility '' for the 13 deaths and guilty to seven counts of attempted murder , but the jury convicted him of murder .

Nov. 13 (UPI) -- Peter Sutcliffe, the serial killer dubbed the "Yorkshire Ripper" by the British press for admitting to killing 13 women in the 1970s, died after testing positive for COVID-19, the British Ministry of Justice said Friday.
Prison officials declined to offer a cause of death for Sutcliffe, 74, but said he had the coronavirus as well as other underlying health conditions.
Advertisement
He was serving a life sentence at HMP Frankland and had been transferred to University Hospital of North Durham for treatment. He spent most of his time behind bars at Broadmoor high-security psychiatric prison before being deemed fit to enter general population at Frankland in 2016.
Sutcliffe confessed in 1981 to killing 13 women and attempting to kill seven others during a spree lasting from 1969 to 1980.
During his trial, he told the court he bludgeoned and mutilated his victims to death in a "divine mission" to rid the world of prostitutes.
"I am not proud of doing any of the murders," he told police after his arrest. "It was my own intention to get rid of the prostitutes at any cost."
Advertisement
Not all of his victims were sex workers. Prosecutors said invented his obsessional "hatred of prostitutes" to back up his plea of insanity with the hopes of receiving a lenient sentence.
Sutcliffe pleaded guilty to manslaughter with "diminished responsibility" for the 13 deaths and guilty to seven counts of attempted murder, but the jury convicted him of murder.


upi--2020-11-13--Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas among leaders after second day of Masters

Nov. 13 ( UPI ) -- Dustin Johnson and Justin Thomas were among four players tied for the lead when the second round of the 2020 Masters was suspended due to darkness Friday at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia .
The second day of the tournament started with the remainder of the first round , which was pushed into early Friday morning after a three-hour weather delay caused 44 golfers to fall short of finishing all 18 holes Thursday .
Due to that first-round delay , the second round began slightly off-schedule .
The late start of the second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to head to the clubhouse because of darkness Friday night .
The suspension of play , however , did n't impact the top of the leaderboard , which consisted of Abraham Ancer , Cameron Smith , Thomas and Johnson at 9-under 135 through their first 36 holes .
Ancer , one of 26 newcomers to the Masters , rattled off six birdies Friday for a 5-under 67 , while Smith had an eagle and three consecutive birdies over his last four holes for a 68 .
Thomas , who was among the 44 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ round , was 3-under in the second round .
Johnson followed up his opening-round 65 with a 2-under 70 .
`` You have to really throw all the past knowledge out the window this week , as weird as it is , '' Thomas said .
`` A lot of the history and things that you know about the golf course , it can sometimes hurt you this week because of what you 're used to .
But at the end of the day , it is a lot softer and a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sungjae Im , Hideki Matsuyama and Jon Rahm were one shot back of the lead at 8-under par .
Before officials halted play , Matsuyama was 4-under through 15 holes and Rahm was 5-under through 12 .
Tiger Woods , the defending champion at the Masters , also failed to finish his second round .
He was at even-par through 10 holes , sitting in a tie for 22nd at 4-under .
Rory McIlroy was one stroke behind him after shooting a 6-under 66 in the second round .
Paul Casey , Patrick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whom sat near the top of the leaderboard after the first day -- were tied for 14th at 6-under par .
Schauffele was 1-under through 12 holes , while Casey ( +1 ) and Reed ( -2 ) made it to hole No .
12 before play was suspended .
Phil Mickelson ( 70 ) and Brooks Koepka ( 69 ) ended the second round at 5-under 139 .
Both were tied for 19th .
Rickie Fowler climbed four spots in the standings to 22nd with another 70 .
Bryson DeChambeau , Henrik @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are among those who are expected to miss the cut Saturday .
Woods and those who did n't finish the second round will resume play at 7:30 a.m. EST Saturday .
If no further delays occur , the third round will begin at about 10:30 a.m .

1/5
Justin Thomas drives off the tee box on the 16th hole during the second round of the 2020 Masters on Friday at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 13 (UPI) -- Dustin Johnson and Justin Thomas were among four players tied for the lead when the second round of the 2020 Masters was suspended due to darkness Friday at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia. The second day of the tournament started with the remainder of the first round, which was pushed into early Friday morning after a three-hour weather delay caused 44 golfers to fall short of finishing all 18 holes Thursday. Advertisement
Due to that first-round delay, the second round began slightly off-schedule. The late start of the second round was enough to force 48 players to head to the clubhouse because of darkness Friday night.
The suspension of play, however, didn't impact the top of the leaderboard, which consisted of Abraham Ancer, Cameron Smith, Thomas and Johnson at 9-under 135 through their first 36 holes.
Ancer, one of 26 newcomers to the Masters, rattled off six birdies Friday for a 5-under 67, while Smith had an eagle and three consecutive birdies over his last four holes for a 68.
Thomas, who was among the 44 players who had to finish his opening round, was 3-under in the second round. Johnson followed up his opening-round 65 with a 2-under 70.
Advertisement
"You have to really throw all the past knowledge out the window this week, as weird as it is," Thomas said. "A lot of the history and things that you know about the golf course, it can sometimes hurt you this week because of what you're used to. But at the end of the day, it is a lot softer and a lot more scorable."
Patrick Cantlay, Sungjae Im, Hideki Matsuyama and Jon Rahm were one shot back of the lead at 8-under par. Before officials halted play, Matsuyama was 4-under through 15 holes and Rahm was 5-under through 12.
Tiger Woods, the defending champion at the Masters, also failed to finish his second round. He was at even-par through 10 holes, sitting in a tie for 22nd at 4-under. Rory McIlroy was one stroke behind him after shooting a 6-under 66 in the second round.
Paul Casey, Patrick Reed and Xander Schauffele -- all of whom sat near the top of the leaderboard after the first day -- were tied for 14th at 6-under par. Schauffele was 1-under through 12 holes, while Casey (+1) and Reed (-2) made it to hole No. 12 before play was suspended.
Advertisement
Phil Mickelson (70) and Brooks Koepka (69) ended the second round at 5-under 139. Both were tied for 19th. Rickie Fowler climbed four spots in the standings to 22nd with another 70.
Bryson DeChambeau, Henrik Stenson, Matthew Wolff and Gary Woodland are among those who are expected to miss the cut Saturday.
Woods and those who didn't finish the second round will resume play at 7:30 a.m. EST Saturday. If no further delays occur, the third round will begin at about 10:30 a.m.
Moments from the 2020 Masters Tournament


upi--2020-11-13--Judge denies bond to father, son in Ahmaud Arbery death

Nov. 13 ( UPI ) -- A Georgia judge on Friday denied bond for two of the three men charged with murder for the death of Ahmaud Arbery earlier this year .
Chatham County Superior Court Judge Timothy Walmsley said Greg McMichael and his son , Travis McMichael , must remain behind bars because a video of them appearing to chase down Arbery and shoot him to death shows they pose a danger to their community .
The McMichaels , along with William `` Roddie '' Bryan , each face charges of malice murder , felony murder , aggravated assault @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commit false imprisonment for the Feb. 23 death of Arbery .
Video footage from Bryan 's vehicle showed Arbery 's death as he was jogging through a Brunswick neighborhood less than 2 miles from his home .
It shows Arbery , 25 , being boxed in by two pickup trucks driven by the defendants .
Travis McMichael then appears to get out of his vehicle and shoot Arbery three times with a shotgun .
The elder McMichael told police they pursued Arbery after suspecting he 'd committed a series of break-ins in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a string of break-ins reported in the area in weeks .
Family and friends of the McMichaels testified to the character of the two men to Walmsley , but the judge cited the video footage in his decision to deny bond .
He said the men had no way to know whether Arbery was behind any burglaries .
`` And that somehow resulted in individuals thinking it was appropriate to block that individual 's path of travel , shoulder a firearm in order to get him to stop , '' the judge said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to all of those actions .
Individuals who do that need to be aware of the fact they can end up exactly where [ the McMichaels ] are now . ''
Bryan also was denied bond earlier this year .
Arbery 's mother , Wanda Cooper-Jones , had asked the judge to deny the bail .
`` These men are proud of what they 've done , '' she said .
`` In their selfish minds , they think they 're good guys . ''
Arbery 's death was one of several that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ globe over the past several months .
Advocates said the White defendants in the case targeted Arbery because he was Black .

1/2
Gregory McMichael was denied bond as he awaits trial on murder charges for the death of Ahmaud Arbery. File Photo courtesy the Glenn County Detention Center | License Photo
Nov. 13 (UPI) -- A Georgia judge on Friday denied bond for two of the three men charged with murder for the death of Ahmaud Arbery earlier this year. Chatham County Superior Court Judge Timothy Walmsley said Greg McMichael and his son, Travis McMichael, must remain behind bars because a video of them appearing to chase down Arbery and shoot him to death shows they pose a danger to their community. Advertisement
The McMichaels, along with William "Roddie" Bryan, each face charges of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, false imprisonment and criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment for the Feb. 23 death of Arbery.
Video footage from Bryan's vehicle showed Arbery's death as he was jogging through a Brunswick neighborhood less than 2 miles from his home. It shows Arbery, 25, being boxed in by two pickup trucks driven by the defendants. Travis McMichael then appears to get out of his vehicle and shoot Arbery three times with a shotgun.
The elder McMichael told police they pursued Arbery after suspecting he'd committed a series of break-ins in the neighborhood, though there hadn't been a string of break-ins reported in the area in weeks.
Advertisement
Family and friends of the McMichaels testified to the character of the two men to Walmsley, but the judge cited the video footage in his decision to deny bond. He said the men had no way to know whether Arbery was behind any burglaries.
"And that somehow resulted in individuals thinking it was appropriate to block that individual's path of travel, shoulder a firearm in order to get him to stop," the judge said.
"There is a significant danger to all of those actions. Individuals who do that need to be aware of the fact they can end up exactly where [the McMichaels] are now."
Bryan also was denied bond earlier this year.
Arbery's mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones, had asked the judge to deny the bail.
"These men are proud of what they've done," she said. "In their selfish minds, they think they're good guys."
Arbery's death was one of several that sparked Black Lives Matter protests across the globe over the past several months. Advocates said the White defendants in the case targeted Arbery because he was Black.


upi--2020-11-13--Formation of Tropical Storm Iota adds to record 2020 storm tally

Nov. 13 ( UPI ) -- Tropical Storm Iota developed Friday afternoon in the central Caribbean just hours after the system had become Tropical Depression 31 .
It could become the next hurricane -- the 13th of the season -- and just two shy of the record number of hurricanes to churn in the Atlantic in one season held by 2005 .
Forecasters are warning that Iota may strengthen enough to become a hurricane before it takes aim at the nations of Nicaragua , Honduras and Guatemala that are still reeling from Hurricane Eta 's disastrous strike last week .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in nearly the same exact place that Eta formed less than two weeks ago .
Central America is facing a humanitarian crisis following Eta 's deadly blow .
Millions are enduring dangerous conditions in the storm 's wake -- with concerns over waterborne diseases and COVID-19 complicating recovery .
And the situation could become even more dire .
`` I am greatly concerned we may soon have another major disaster on our hands in Central America if this Caribbean tropical system pans out like we suspect , '' AccuWeather 's top hurricane expert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Iota were 40 mph at 4 p.m. EST on Friday , the system crawling west-southwestward at 3 mph .
This is the first time the NHC has ever gotten this far into the Greek alphabet during a tropical season .
Conditions will be conducive for further strengthening as waters remain very warm -- around 84 degrees Fahrenheit -- in the area where the storm is churning .
The weak wind pattern over the Caribbean will also likely factor into intensification of the system over the next several days .
In the early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tend to be rather spread out in nature with showers and thunderstorms extending from the northern shores of South America to the large islands of the northern Caribbean .
But as the system organizes and strengthens , showers and thunderstorms will become more compact over the western Caribbean this weekend .
The disturbed weather could once again expand in areal coverage and intensity as the system nears Central America early next week .
It could take a run at Nicaragua or Honduras as a major hurricane with winds of 111 mph or greater @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tropical storm could unleash life-threatening impacts and catastrophic damage in Eta 's aftermath .
Eta struck Nicaragua as a Category 4 hurricane , ranking among the top five strongest storms to ever hit the nation .
The dangerous storm carved a path of destruction through Nicaragua , Honduras and Guatemala , unleashing feet of rain , tremendous flooding and killing more than 100 in early November .
`` There is also the potential for this system to take a more northwesterly path over the western Caribbean , which could bring a strong hurricane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mexico 's Yucatan Peninsula .
We will have a better grasp of where this system is likely to track once the feature reaches a solid tropical storm intensity , '' Kottlowski said .
The greatest threat to lives and property from the new cyclone is expected to be dealt by serious flooding caused by feet of rainfall .
Major river flooding and flash flooding could occur .
The exact track it takes and its strength and forward speed as it plows onshore in Central America will determine how grim the situation will become @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeing back-to-back hurricane strikes in the same general area of Central America , but with the craziness of this hurricane season , we can not rule that out at this early stage , '' Kottlowski said .
It is possible the system 's path may become erratic as it approaches and moves over Central America , since the winds expected to guide the system along are likely to weaken -- a similar scenario to what unfolded as Eta neared the region in early November .
Weak steering winds caused a similar effect back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ late October and early November of 1998 .
Mitch peaked as a Category 5 hurricane , packing maximum sustained winds of 180 mph ( 290 km/h ) , over the western Caribbean , but it weakened to a Category 1 hurricane with 80-mph ( 130-km/h ) winds prior to landfall in Honduras .
Mitch unloaded up to 50 inches ( 1250 mm ) of rain and caused disastrous flooding that took the lives of more than 11,000 people in Central America .
2020 set the record for the most tropical storms to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Theta became the 29th tropical storm of the season earlier this week .
And the Caribbean threat was n't the only feature keeping forecasters busy .
After striking Florida twice in less than a week , Eta moved out to sea on Thursday afternoon .
Early Friday morning , Eta became a non-tropical low as it merged with a cold front over the western Atlantic .
The National Hurricane Center issued its last advisory on the system .
Meanwhile , Tropical Storm Theta continued to swirl south of the Azores on Friday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Canary Islands before it takes a northeastward turn .
It is likely to fluctuate in strength but with an overall weakening trend forecast .
Some of Theta 's wind and rain could remain intact , eventually affecting part of western Europe later this month .

Iota weakened to a tropical storm by Tuesday afternoon. Photo courtesy of NOAA
Nov. 17 (UPI) -- Government officials in Central America blamed at least eight deaths on Iota on Tuesday, less than 24 hours after it made landfall in Nicaragua as a Category 4 storm. Just as the coastal region began making strides in its recovery from Eta, which hit the country two weeks ago, Iota brewed up even stronger impacts and slammed the same communities with 155-mph winds at Monday night's landfall, the strongest tropical cyclone of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season. Making landfall at 10:40 p.m. EST Monday, Iota's maximum sustained winds were just 2 mph shy of Category 5 status. Advertisement
By Tuesday night, as the center of Iota barged inland across Nicaragua and into Honduras, it had weakened to a tropical storm with sustained winds of 40 mph and was spreading heavy rainfall across Honduras, El Salvador and parts of Guatemala.
Advertisement
In its 12 a.m. Wednesday advisory, the National Hurricane Center located Iota about 25 miles northeast of El Papalon, El Salvador, as it moved westward at 12 mph.
"On the forecast track, the center of Iota will move across southern Honduras and El Salvador before the system dissipates later today," it said. "Rapid weakening is forecast, and Iota should weaken to a tropical depression later this morning and degenerate into a remnant low pressure area by this afternoon."
The government of Honduras has discontinued the Tropical Storm Watch from Punta Castilla eastward to the Honduras/Nicaragua border, though one is still in effect for the country's coast was of Punta Castilla to the border with Guatemala and for the Bay Islands.
Nicaraguan Vice President Rosario Murillo announced Tuesday that the storm had killed four adults and two minors and Colombian President Ivan Duque also said two people were killed and a third was still missing, CNN reported.
The pair of November hurricanes marked the first time on record that two major hurricanes made landfall in Nicaragua in the same season, further devastating the saturated nation that was still flooded from Eta, a storm that claimed at least 130 lives.
Advertisement
Philip Klotzbach, a scientist at Colorado State University, tweeted that Iota was the strongest November hurricane on record to make landfall in Nicaragua, surpassing Eta.
#Iota has made landfall in Nicaragua as a Category 4 #hurricane with max winds of 155 mph. Iota is now the strongest November hurricane on record to make landfall in Nicaragua, surpassing the previous record set by Eta (140 mph) just 13 days ago. pic.twitter.com/Qyek5o5Nm6— Philip Klotzbach (@philklotzbach) November 17, 2020
The humanitarian crisis that was set into motion after Eta's feet of rainfall will be severely compounded by Iota's torrential rainfall. AccuWeather Founder and CEO Dr. Joel N. Myers warned before Iota crashed onshore that the back-to-back hurricane landfalls may cause "one of the worst floods in some of these areas in a thousand years or more," since the ground was still saturated from Eta when Iota lashed the region. The mountainous terrain will further play into the disaster unfolding, adding to the dangers of significant flooding and mudslides.
Conditions deteriorated along the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua and Honduras during the day Monday as Iota approached as a Category 5 storm with lashing winds and rising storm surge.
Advertisement
AccuWeather forecasters are projecting catastrophic damage across northern Nicaragua and throughout much of Honduras from Iota with an AccuWeather Local StormMax of 30 inches of rain.
Sustained winds were whipping at 160 mph Monday evening with higher gusts, according to the hurricane hunters who flew a mission through the eye of the storm. Hours before landfall, the center of Iota was situated about 30 miles east-southeast of Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua, the same area where Hurricane Eta blasted onshore less than two weeks ago.
Shortly before landfall on Monday night, Iota lost a slight bit of wind intensity and became a strong Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 155 mph.
Iota's landfall marks only the second time in history that two hurricanes have made landfall in Nicaragua in one season. The only other time that this occurred was in 1971 when Hurricane Irene and Hurricane Edith crashed ashore.
AccuWeather has rated Iota as a 5 on the AccuWeather RealImpact Scale for Hurricanes, which takes into account factors including wind speed, flooding rain, storm surge and economic damage and loss.
"This is a catastrophic situation unfolding for northeastern Nicaragua," the National Hurricane Center said. "Hurricane Iota's landfall location is approximately 15 miles south of where Category 4 hurricane Eta made landfall earlier this month." Eta made landfall near Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua, with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph on Nov. 3.
Advertisement
The back-to-back strikes could cause the humanitarian crisis in Nicaragua and Honduras to worsen, Myers said. "Some of these countries may not completely recover for five to 10 years."
Before Iota neared Central America, heavy tropical downpours associated with the storm caused significant disruptions in Colombia. Homes were submerged in some communities in northern Colombia, stranding residents on their roofs while waiting for help to arrive. At least three fatalities were reported in Colombia due to flooding and mudslides.
The substantial damage caused in Nicaragua and Honduras could lead to an uptick in the wholesale price of coffee as the two countries lead Central America in coffee production, accounting for around 8 percent of the world's coffee output.
With Iota reaching Category 5 force on Monday, it makes 2020 the fifth consecutive year in which there has been a Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic basin. Matthew began the pattern in 2016, and Irma and Maria continued the trend in 2017, followed by Michael in 2018, and Dorian and Lorenzo in 2019. This is the longest streak of consecutive years with a Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic basin since records began.
Iota rapidly intensified over a 24-hour period to reach Category 5 status. In this 24-hour window, maximum winds spiked from 90 mph to 160 mph and the lowest barometric pressure in the eye of the storm plummeted a staggering 1.8 inches of mercury (61 millibars). The drop in pressure alone is more than twice what is required for a winter storm to be called a "bomb cyclone," which is usually a drop of 0.71 of an inch of mercury (24 millibars) in 24 hours. This is the fourth time that a hurricane this season rapidly intensified and one of the most extreme intensifications on record, according to meteorologist Sam Lillo.
Advertisement
Even after reaching Category 5 status, the highest and most extreme classification for a hurricane, NOAA's GOES-East weather satellite continued to detect lightning in the eye of the storm an indication that the hurricane was still strengthening at the time.
Iota became the sixth major hurricane of the season, or a hurricane that has reached Category 3 status or greater on the Saffir-Simpson wind scale, and it follows Laura, Teddy, Delta, Epsilon and Eta. However, it is not out of the question that another storm could make this exclusive list before the end of 2020.
"Another tropical wave will enter the southern and western Caribbean later this week and could become another named tropical system by the weekend before heading, once again, for Central America," AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski explained.
The next name on the Atlantic hurricane list, now well into the Greek alphabet, is Kappa.


upi--2020-11-13--NASA, SpaceX delay launch of four astronauts into space to Sunday

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER , Fla. , Nov. 13 ( UPI ) -- Citing a forecast for windy conditions in the Atlantic Ocean , NASA and SpaceX have pushed back the Crew-1 launch of four astronauts to the International Space Station to Sunday evening from Saturday .
Liftoff on SpaceX 's Falcon 9 rocket now is planned for 7:27 p.m. EST from Kennedy Space Center , with NASA astronauts Mike Hopkins , Victor Glover and Shannon Walker , and Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi on board .
Winds at sea hampered recovery operations , NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said via Twitter on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first-stage booster for the Falcon 9 rocket on a barge , while any abort of the mission would necessitate having the capsule land at sea .
A Space Force forecast for the Sunday attempt shows a 40 % chance of poor weather conditions -- chiefly clouds and rain -- that could cause another delay .
NASA officials said Wednesday would be the next potential date .
The launch delay from Saturday means the crew 's flight time to the space station will tripled 27 hours from 8 1/2 hours .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dragon and wake up and then jump into the rendezvous profile to dock for the [ space ] station , '' said Norm Knight , NASA 's deputy manager for flight operations .
The launch represents a major step forward in the advent of human commercial spaceflight , Bridenstine and other government officials said .
`` This [ launch ] is what happens when you add a drop or two of rocket fuel to ingenuity , '' Stephen Dickson , administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration , said in a press conference at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , SpaceX Crew-1 , represents the first time the FAA has issued a launch license for a crewed orbital launch .
The government is preparing for more space activity by companies such as Elon Musk 's SpaceX and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos ' Blue Origin .
The agency also has streamlined FAA licensing for space launches , which allows one launch company , such as SpaceX , to obtain permission to launch more than one time from more than one location .
The FAA expects to license launches at a pace of one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ space tourism gets started , we could be doing 100 a year , '' Dickson said .
Space travelers scheduled for future missions are eager to see the liftoff since it will be the first operational launch of SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule , astronaut Sunita Williams said .
`` This is an exciting time for all of us , watching them pave the way , so we can do low-Earth orbit with a commercial crew , '' said Williams , who expects to travel aboard a Boeing Starliner capsule at the end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ excited about is watching four of my friends launching on that rocket tomorrow , '' astronaut Jonny Kim told those assembled at the space center .
The mission will bring more than 520 pounds of pressurized cargo , including material for science experiments , NASA officials said .
While onboard the space station , Glover will collect biological samples from himself to provide data to the scientists on how certain dietary changes affect his body .
The astronauts also will participate in a study of their neural function aboard the space station to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and enabling scientists to keep astronauts healthy .
The astronauts even plan to tend radishes growing in different types of light and soil , and study how microbes that interact with rocks could help to break down minerals for possible future use on the moon or Mars .
SpaceX 's Musk became a subject of the COVID-19 discussion Friday after he posted on Twitter that he had tested positive for the disease , but also has received negative tests .
He said he had `` symptoms of a typical cold -- nothing unusual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be allowed at the space center for the launch , NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said that when anyone at NASA tests positive , `` it is our policy for that person to quarantine and self-isolate , so we anticipate that that will be taking place . ''
He said he also expects SpaceX to do contact tracing and identify anyone who may have been exposed to Musk .
The astronauts scheduled for Sunday 's mission have been in quarantine , however .
Bridenstine said the planned launch is considered part of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SpaceX to transport people to the space station .
Be he added that the agency will be vigilant .
`` When you think about spaceflight , every flight is a test flight , '' Bridenstine said , noting that the Dragon capsule , Resilience , has n't flown before .
The mission that starts Sunday also will mark the first time any space capsule carries four people and the first time a Crew Dragon capsule will spend six months in space -- the duration of that mission .

1/6
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is shown Friday as it is prepared to launch four astronauts Sunday evening to the International Space Station from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla., Nov. 13 (UPI) -- Citing a forecast for windy conditions in the Atlantic Ocean, NASA and SpaceX have pushed back the Crew-1 launch of four astronauts to the International Space Station to Sunday evening from Saturday. Liftoff on SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket now is planned for 7:27 p.m. EST from Kennedy Space Center, with NASA astronauts Mike Hopkins, Victor Glover and Shannon Walker, and Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi on board. Advertisement
Winds at sea hampered recovery operations, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said via Twitter on Friday afternoon. SpaceX intends to recover the first-stage booster for the Falcon 9 rocket on a barge, while any abort of the mission would necessitate having the capsule land at sea.
Update: Due to onshore winds and recovery operations, @NASA and @SpaceX are targeting launch of the Crew-1 mission with astronauts to the @Space_Station at 7:27 p.m. EST Sunday, Nov. 15. The first stage booster is planned to be reused to fly astronauts on Crew-2. #LaunchAmerica— Jim Bridenstine (@JimBridenstine) November 13, 2020 Advertisement
A Space Force forecast for the Sunday attempt shows a 50% chance of poor weather conditions -- chiefly clouds and rain -- that could cause another delay. NASA officials said Wednesday would be the next potential date.
The launch delay from Saturday means the crew's flight time to the space station will tripled 27 hours from 8 1/2 hours.
"The crew will actually go to sleep in Dragon and wake up and then jump into the rendezvous profile to dock for the [space] station," said Norm Knight, NASA's deputy manager for flight operations.
The launch represents a major step forward in the advent of human commercial spaceflight, Bridenstine and other government officials said.
"This [launch] is what happens when you add a drop or two of rocket fuel to ingenuity," Stephen Dickson, administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, said in a press conference at the space center Friday.
The mission, SpaceX Crew-1, represents the first time the FAA has issued a launch license for a crewed orbital launch. The government is preparing for more space activity by companies such as Elon Musk's SpaceX and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin.
Advertisement
The agency also has streamlined FAA licensing for space launches, which allows one launch company, such as SpaceX, to obtain permission to launch more than one time from more than one location. The FAA expects to license launches at a pace of one per week in 2021.
"Once space tourism gets started, we could be doing 100 a year," Dickson said.
Space travelers scheduled for future missions are eager to see the liftoff since it will be the first operational launch of SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, astronaut Sunita Williams said.
"This is an exciting time for all of us, watching them pave the way, so we can do low-Earth orbit with a commercial crew," said Williams, who expects to travel aboard a Boeing Starliner capsule at the end of 2021.
"What I'm most excited about is watching four of my friends launching on that rocket tomorrow," astronaut Jonny Kim told those assembled at the space center.
The mission will bring more than 520 pounds of pressurized cargo, including material for science experiments, NASA officials said.
While onboard the space station, Glover will collect biological samples from himself to provide data to the scientists on how certain dietary changes affect his body.
Advertisement
The astronauts also will participate in a study of their neural function aboard the space station to better understand how spaceflight affects brain function and enabling scientists to keep astronauts healthy.
The astronauts even plan to tend radishes growing in different types of light and soil, and study how microbes that interact with rocks could help to break down minerals for possible future use on the moon or Mars.
SpaceX's Musk became a subject of the COVID-19 discussion Friday after he posted on Twitter that he had tested positive for the disease, but also has received negative tests. He said he had "symptoms of a typical cold -- nothing unusual so far."
Asked if Musk would be allowed at the space center for the launch, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said that when anyone at NASA tests positive, "it is our policy for that person to quarantine and self-isolate, so we anticipate that that will be taking place."
He said he also expects SpaceX to do contact tracing and identify anyone who may have been exposed to Musk. The astronauts scheduled for Sunday's mission have been in quarantine, however.
Bridenstine said the planned launch is considered part of a routine operation now that NASA has certified SpaceX to transport people to the space station. Be he added that the agency will be vigilant.
Advertisement
"When you think about spaceflight, every flight is a test flight," Bridenstine said, noting that the Dragon capsule, Resilience, hasn't flown before.
The mission that starts Sunday also will mark the first time any space capsule carries four people and the first time a Crew Dragon capsule will spend six months in space -- the duration of that mission.
20 years aboard the International Space Station
The International Space Station is photographed by Expedition 56 crew members from a Soyuz spacecraft after undocking on October 4, 2018. NASA astronauts Andrew Feustel and Ricky Arnold and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev executed a fly-around of the orbiting laboratory to take pictures of the space station before returning home after spending 197 days in space. Photo courtesy of NASA/Roscosmos


upi--2020-11-13--Trump says general population could have vaccine by April

Nov. 13 ( UPI ) -- President Donald Trump on Friday hailed the success of Pfizer 's COVID-19 vaccine trials and suggested the general population could have access to it by April .
He gave an update from the White House 's Rose Garden on his administration 's Operation Warp Speed to quickly find a vaccine for the novel coronavirus .
It was the first time Trump has spoken publicly since Joe Biden won the presidential election .
Trump said an emergency use authorization for the vaccine from the Food and Drug Administration could come `` extremely soon . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ will soon be going out the door , '' he said .
`` As soon as April , the vaccine will be available to the entire general population -- with the exception of places like New York state . ''
Trump 's targeting of New York comes in retaliation to comments Gov .
Andrew Cuomo has made casting doubt about the efficacy of a rushed vaccine under the Trump administration .
`` We ca n't let this vaccination plan go forward the way that Trump and his administration is designing it , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he plans to put together a panel of scientists and experts to review the trial data from the various vaccines under development .
`` He does n't trust where the vaccine 's coming from , '' Trump said Friday .
`` These are coming from the greatest companies anywhere in the world , the greatest labs in the world , but he does n't trust the fact that it 's this White House , this administration .
`` So we wo n't be delivering it to New York until we have authorization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to say that .
...
So the governor , Gov .
Cuomo , will have to let us know when he 's ready for it . ''
Drugmaker Pfizer and its partner BioNTech announced Monday that tests of their COVID-19 vaccine candidate showed its first scientific evidence that it can block the virus in about 90 % of humans .
Trump credited his administration 's Operation Warp Speed for the success of the Pfizer trial , but the company did n't accept government funding for the development and testing of the vaccine candidate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the administration , though , in which the government will purchase 100 million doses for $ 1.95 billion if the FDA authorizes it .
Trump still did not concede the presidential election to Biden during Friday 's remarks , saying instead that `` time will tell . ''

President Donald Trump delivers an update on Operation Warp Speed on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Friday. Photo by Chris Kleponis/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 13 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump on Friday hailed the success of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine trials and suggested the general population could have access to it by April. He gave an update from the White House's Rose Garden on his administration's Operation Warp Speed to quickly find a vaccine for the novel coronavirus. It was the first time Trump has spoken publicly since Joe Biden won the presidential election. Advertisement
Trump said an emergency use authorization for the vaccine from the Food and Drug Administration could come "extremely soon."
"Right away, millions of doses will soon be going out the door," he said. "As soon as April, the vaccine will be available to the entire general population -- with the exception of places like New York state."
Trump's targeting of New York comes in retaliation to comments Gov. Andrew Cuomo has made casting doubt about the efficacy of a rushed vaccine under the Trump administration.
"We can't let this vaccination plan go forward the way that Trump and his administration is designing it," Cuomo said earlier this week.
Advertisement
He said he plans to put together a panel of scientists and experts to review the trial data from the various vaccines under development.
"He doesn't trust where the vaccine's coming from," Trump said Friday. "These are coming from the greatest companies anywhere in the world, the greatest labs in the world, but he doesn't trust the fact that it's this White House, this administration.
"So we won't be delivering it to New York until we have authorization to do so. That pains me to say that. ... So the governor, Gov. Cuomo, will have to let us know when he's ready for it."
Drugmaker Pfizer and its partner BioNTech announced Monday that tests of their COVID-19 vaccine candidate showed its first scientific evidence that it can block the virus in about 90% of humans.
Trump credited his administration's Operation Warp Speed for the success of the Pfizer trial, but the company didn't accept government funding for the development and testing of the vaccine candidate.
The company did sign an agreement with the administration, though, in which the government will purchase 100 million doses for $1.95 billion if the FDA authorizes it.
Trump still did not concede the presidential election to Biden during Friday's remarks, saying instead that "time will tell."


upi--2020-11-13--ULA launches spy satellite from Florida after weather delays

ORLANDO , Fla. , Nov. 13 ( UPI ) -- A U.S. government spy satellite , NROL 101 , was launched into orbit from Florida at sunset Friday after a week of weather delays .
United Launch Alliance 's Atlas V rocket lifted off at 5:32 p.m. EST from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station .
After just a few minutes in flight , the rocket had reached 66 miles in altitude , according to launch announcers .
Rain , clouds and wind from storm Eta , which reached hurricane strength at times , delayed the launch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problem with the rocket 's propellant fuel system had foiled a previous attempt on Nov. 4 , according to the launch company .
The Defense Department 's National Reconnaissance Office says little about any of its satellites , but the mission description states that the NROL 101 mission will `` provide intelligence data to the United States ' senior policymakers '' and to the nation 's intelligence agencies and military .
The agency designed and built the satellite , and will operate it , according to the mission description .
The rocket used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time -- three GEM 63 motors built by Northrop Grumman .
The strap-on boosters added to the total thrust .
The first-stage rocket core provides 860,200 pounds of thrust at liftoff .
The three side boosters provide an additional 371,550 pounds , for a total of 1.23 million pounds .
By comparison , SpaceX 's Falcon 9 rocket provides more than 1.7 million pounds of thrust at liftoff , according to the company .
The new boosters are part of ULA 's transition away from the Atlas V and toward a new rocket @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company plans its first Vulcan launch in the first half of 2021 .

1/5
A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket streaks through the twilight as it lifts off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Friday, carrying a classified payload called NROL-101 for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo
ORLANDO, Fla., Nov. 13 (UPI) -- A U.S. government spy satellite, NROL 101, was launched into orbit from Florida at sunset Friday after a week of weather delays. United Launch Alliance's Atlas V rocket lifted off at 5:32 p.m. EST from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. After just a few minutes in flight, the rocket had reached 66 miles in altitude, according to launch announcers. Advertisement
Rain, clouds and wind from storm Eta, which reached hurricane strength at times, delayed the launch Sunday, according to ULA. A problem with the rocket's propellant fuel system had foiled a previous attempt on Nov. 4, according to the launch company.
The Defense Department's National Reconnaissance Office says little about any of its satellites, but the mission description states that the NROL 101 mission will "provide intelligence data to the United States' senior policymakers" and to the nation's intelligence agencies and military.
The agency designed and built the satellite, and will operate it, according to the mission description.
The rocket used updated solid rocket boosters for the first time -- three GEM 63 motors built by Northrop Grumman. The strap-on boosters added to the total thrust.
Advertisement
The first-stage rocket core provides 860,200 pounds of thrust at liftoff. The three side boosters provide an additional 371,550 pounds, for a total of 1.23 million pounds.
By comparison, SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket provides more than 1.7 million pounds of thrust at liftoff, according to the company.
The new boosters are part of ULA's transition away from the Atlas V and toward a new rocket and launch system, Vulcan. The company plans its first Vulcan launch in the first half of 2021.


upi--2020-11-13--Several dozen Secret Service officers sidelined by COVID-19

Nov. 13 ( UPI ) -- More than 100 members of the Secret Service have tested positive for COVID-19 or are isolating due to exposure to the virus , sources familiar with the situation said Friday .
The sources , who spoke on condition of anonymity , told CNN , The Washington Post and USA Today it 's believed that the illnesses and quarantines are linked to several campaign rallies held by President Donald Trump .
Dozens of USSS officers travel with or ahead of the president for each campaign rally .
One source said that of the more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested positive for the novel coronavirus and the rest were ordered to isolate because of exposure to the virus .
Another source said Secret Service officers are n't aware how many of their colleagues are ill or isolated because they 're not being told by superiors .
The affected officers are part of the Secret Service 's Uniformed Division of about 1,600 people .
The outbreak among the officers coincides with a number of other positive tests linked to the White House .
Trump 's chief of staff , Mark Meadows , tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least four people who attended the White House election night party also tested positive -- Trump campaign adviser Corey Lewandowski , political director Brian Jack , political adviser Healy Baumgardner and an unidentified White House staffer .
Several others , including Trump and first lady Melania Trump , tested positive last month .
So far , at least 30 administration and campaign officials have tested positive since late September .
More than a dozen who attended a Sept. 26 event at the Rose Garden to introduce Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people tested positive for coronavirus in the United States on Thursday and 900 people died .

Secret Service agents wearing protective face masks stand by as U.S. President Donald Trump departs from the South Lawn of the White House on Marine One on October 2. Sources say more than 100 Secret Service officers have tested positive for COVID-19 or have been placed in isolation due to exposure. File Photo by Sarah Silbiger/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 13 (UPI) -- More than 100 members of the Secret Service have tested positive for COVID-19 or are isolating due to exposure to the virus, sources familiar with the situation said Friday. The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told CNN, The Washington Post and USA Today it's believed that the illnesses and quarantines are linked to several campaign rallies held by President Donald Trump. Dozens of USSS officers travel with or ahead of the president for each campaign rally. Advertisement
One source said that of the more than 100 officers affected, a minority have tested positive for the novel coronavirus and the rest were ordered to isolate because of exposure to the virus.
Another source said Secret Service officers aren't aware how many of their colleagues are ill or isolated because they're not being told by superiors.
The affected officers are part of the Secret Service's Uniformed Division of about 1,600 people.
The outbreak among the officers coincides with a number of other positive tests linked to the White House.
Trump's chief of staff, Mark Meadows, tested positive shortly after Election Day, while at least four people who attended the White House election night party also tested positive -- Trump campaign adviser Corey Lewandowski, political director Brian Jack, political adviser Healy Baumgardner and an unidentified White House staffer.
Advertisement
Several others, including Trump and first lady Melania Trump, tested positive last month.
So far, at least 30 administration and campaign officials have tested positive since late September. More than a dozen who attended a Sept. 26 event at the Rose Garden to introduce Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett later tested positive.
A record 153,500 people tested positive for coronavirus in the United States on Thursday and 900 people died.