upi--2020-06-17--NASA's new Mars mission will take at least a decade to confirm life

ORLANDO , June 17 ( UPI ) -- NASA 's new microbe-hunting Mars rover , scheduled for launch July 20 , is the most sophisticated rover yet , but it will take at least a decade to determine whether samples the machine collects exhibit signs of life , agency officials said Wednesday .
The Perseverance rover is expected to land on the Red Planet in February .
It is designed to drill samples of rock and drop them for a future mission to pick up and send back to Earth .
The rover also has advanced science equipment on board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past or present life .
But scientists do n't expect the rover 's data , sent over millions of miles through space , to confirmation life on the Red Planet .
`` On Mars , it will be more of a potential confirmation , '' said NASA 's Katie Stack Morgan , the Perseverance deputy project scientist .
`` It 's very likely we 'll have to return those samples to Earth . ''
NASA does n't expect to bring the samples back until 2031 due to the expense and planning required , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two planets are too far apart for travel between them .
Once the samples arrive on Earth , the worldwide scientific community will use all the latest technology to examine them , Stack Morgan said .
The samples `` will provide new knowledge for decades to come , with state-of-the-art lab equipment we could n't possibly take to the Red Planet right now , '' said Lori Glaze , director of NASA 's planetary science division .
NASA also said Wednesday that engineers added cameras and audio equipment to the outside of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that equipment , the space agency hopes to obtain the first footage and audio recordings of a spacecraft landing on another planet , said Matt Wallace , the deputy project manager .
A plaque commemorating medical personnel during the coronavirus pandemic recently was attached to the craft , Wallace said .
The launch is planned for Florida 's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station aboard an Atlas V rocket .
The rover is to land in Mars ' Jezero Crater about seven months later .
The mission could be launched as late as Aug. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as the Red Planet is in its so-called close approach to Earth .
After that , Mars would be too far from Earth for the mission , and NASA would have to wait two years for required proximity .
The rover is to take samples where scientists found evidence of ancient river deltas .
The best samples , up to 35 , will be hermetically sealed for the fetch rover .

NASA's Mars rover Perseverance, which is scheduled to be launched July 17, towers over engineers during a 2019 driving test in California. Photo courtesy of NASA
ORLANDO, June 17 (UPI) -- NASA's new microbe-hunting Mars rover, scheduled for launch July 20, is the most sophisticated rover yet, but it will take at least a decade to determine whether samples the machine collects exhibit signs of life, agency officials said Wednesday. The Perseverance rover is expected to land on the Red Planet in February. It is designed to drill samples of rock and drop them for a future mission to pick up and send back to Earth. The rover also has advanced science equipment on board to scan the samples for signs of past or present life. Advertisement
But scientists don't expect the rover's data, sent over millions of miles through space, to confirmation life on the Red Planet.
"On Mars, it will be more of a potential confirmation," said NASA's Katie Stack Morgan, the Perseverance deputy project scientist. "It's very likely we'll have to return those samples to Earth."
NASA doesn't expect to bring the samples back until 2031 due to the expense and planning required, as well as orbital periods when the two planets are too far apart for travel between them.
Once the samples arrive on Earth, the worldwide scientific community will use all the latest technology to examine them, Stack Morgan said.
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The samples "will provide new knowledge for decades to come, with state-of-the-art lab equipment we couldn't possibly take to the Red Planet right now," said Lori Glaze, director of NASA's planetary science division.
NASA also said Wednesday that engineers added cameras and audio equipment to the outside of the landing spacecraft for the rover. With that equipment, the space agency hopes to obtain the first footage and audio recordings of a spacecraft landing on another planet, said Matt Wallace, the deputy project manager.
A plaque commemorating medical personnel during the coronavirus pandemic recently was attached to the craft, Wallace said.
The launch is planned for Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station aboard an Atlas V rocket. The rover is to land in Mars' Jezero Crater about seven months later.
The mission could be launched as late as Aug. 5 and still make it to Mars, as the Red Planet is in its so-called close approach to Earth. After that, Mars would be too far from Earth for the mission, and NASA would have to wait two years for required proximity.
The rover is to take samples where scientists found evidence of ancient river deltas. The best samples, up to 35, will be hermetically sealed for the fetch rover.
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Astronauts make round trip to space station from U.S. soil


upi--2020-06-17--Aunt Jemima, Uncle Ben's to change brands due to racial stereotyping

June 17 ( UPI ) -- The Quaker Oats Company , the maker of the Aunt Jemima line of pancake mix and syrup , and Mars , which makes Uncle Ben 's rice , each said Wednesday they plan to rebrand the products following weeks of civil unrest in the United States .
Quaker , a PepsiCo subsidiary said it will retire the image of Aunt Jemima , an older black woman who has appeared on the products for decades .
`` We recognize Aunt Jemima 's origins are based on a racial stereotype , '' Quaker Chief Marketing Officer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` As we work to make progress toward racial equality through several initiatives , we also must take a hard look at our portfolio of brands and ensure they reflect our values and meet our consumers ' expectations . ''
The Aunt Jemima character , which has marked the company 's pancake mix since 1889 , has been criticized for years and was the subject of a Change.org petition three years ago called `` Set Her Free . ''
`` We are starting by removing the image and changing the name , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the conversation by gathering diverse perspectives from both our organization and the black community to further evolve the brand and make it one everyone can be proud to have in their pantry . ''
Quaker has n't said yet what brand or image will replace Aunt Jemima , but that announcement is expected this fall .
PepsiCo , which acquired Quaker in 2001 , said Tuesday it will pledge $ 400 million for initiatives to oppose racial injustice , following weeks of unrest following the police killing of George Floyd in Minnesota .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ said it will change its Uncle Ben 's brand , which features the image of an older black man .
The company said it does n't know what the changes will be or when they 'll happen .
`` As a global brand , we know we have a responsibility to take a stand in helping to put an end to racial bias and injustices , '' Mars said .
`` As we listen to the voices of consumers , especially in the Black community , and to the voices of our Associates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the right time to evolve the Uncle Ben 's brand , including its visual brand identity , which we will do . ''
Uncle Ben 's rice was introduced in 1943 and the image of the logo was based on a Chicago maître d'hôtel named Frank Brown .
The name Uncle Ben , came from a rice grower .
In April , Minnesota-based dairy company Land O'Lakes similarly dropped its logo that featured a kneeling Native American woman .

An advertisement for Aunt Jemima pancake mix is seen in a 1951 issue of Ladies Home Journal Magazine. Image via Wikimedia Commons
June 17 (UPI) -- The Quaker Oats Company, the maker of the Aunt Jemima line of pancake mix and syrup, and Mars, which makes Uncle Ben's rice, each said Wednesday they plan to rebrand the products following weeks of civil unrest in the United States. Quaker, a PepsiCo subsidiary said it will retire the image of Aunt Jemima, an older black woman who has appeared on the products for decades. Advertisement
"We recognize Aunt Jemima's origins are based on a racial stereotype," Quaker Chief Marketing Officer Kristin Kroepfl said in a statement. "As we work to make progress toward racial equality through several initiatives, we also must take a hard look at our portfolio of brands and ensure they reflect our values and meet our consumers' expectations."
The Aunt Jemima character, which has marked the company's pancake mix since 1889, has been criticized for years and was the subject of a Change.org petition three years ago called "Set Her Free."
"We are starting by removing the image and changing the name," Kroepfl added. "We will continue the conversation by gathering diverse perspectives from both our organization and the black community to further evolve the brand and make it one everyone can be proud to have in their pantry."
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Quaker hasn't said yet what brand or image will replace Aunt Jemima, but that announcement is expected this fall.
PepsiCo, which acquired Quaker in 2001, said Tuesday it will pledge $400 million for initiatives to oppose racial injustice, following weeks of unrest following the police killing of George Floyd in Minnesota.
Shortly after Quaker's announcement, Mars said it will change its Uncle Ben's brand, which features the image of an older black man. The company said it doesn't know what the changes will be or when they'll happen.
"As a global brand, we know we have a responsibility to take a stand in helping to put an end to racial bias and injustices," Mars said.
"As we listen to the voices of consumers, especially in the Black community, and to the voices of our Associates worldwide, we recognize that now is the right time to evolve the Uncle Ben's brand, including its visual brand identity, which we will do."
Uncle Ben's rice was introduced in 1943 and the image of the logo was based on a Chicago maître d'hôtel named Frank Brown. The name Uncle Ben, came from a rice grower.
In April, Minnesota-based dairy company Land O'Lakes similarly dropped its logo that featured a kneeling Native American woman.


upi--2020-06-17--After NATO conference, no new nukes in Europe

June 17 ( UPI ) -- NATO agreed to strengthen defenses to counter the potential of Russian missiles on Wednesday , but stopped short of deploying new nuclear missiles in Europe .
Ministers of the 30-member military bloc met in a two-day videoconference , after Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke on Sunday of Russia 's cutting-edge weaponry , prominently mentioning its development of hypersonic weapons and defenses against similar weapons of enemies .
`` Russia 's behavior is destabilizing and dangerous , '' NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said at the conclusion of the conference .
`` At our meeting today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a balanced package of political and military elements . ''
`` This includes strengthening our integrated air and missile defense , '' Stoltenberg said .
`` A number of Allies have announced they are acquiring new air and missile defense systems , including Patriot and SAMP/T [ missile defense ] batteries . ''
`` We will maintain our deterrence and defense but we will not mirror Russia , '' he added , a reference to recent Russian troop deployments and conventional missile production .
`` We have no intention to deploy new land-based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also encouraged member nations ' purchase of F-35 fighter planes from the United States .
Stoltenberg recently said U.S. plans to reduce its troop strength in Germany but increase it in Poland could `` best serve the defense of all of Europe . ''
Prior to the meeting , the foreign ministers of France , Germany , Italy , and Spain suggested , in a joint letter , the establishment of a non-NATO unified European armed force under the direction of the European Union .
`` We [ the EU ] should keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as the naval mission dealing with Libya , the letter said .
`` We need a greater common strategic understanding of what we want to be able to do as Europeans in security and defense , '' officials said in the letter .
`` With a view to our single set of forces , we need to plan and develop our defense capabilities strategically to be able to act with real operational output . ''

After a videoconference of NATO officials, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenbers called for strengthening defenses against Russia on Wednesday, but said no new nuclear weapons would be placed in Europe. Photo courtesy of NATO
June 17 (UPI) -- NATO agreed to strengthen defenses to counter the potential of Russian missiles on Wednesday, but stopped short of deploying new nuclear missiles in Europe. Ministers of the 30-member military bloc met in a two-day videoconference, after Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke on Sunday of Russia's cutting-edge weaponry, prominently mentioning its development of hypersonic weapons and defenses against similar weapons of enemies. Advertisement
"Russia's behavior is destabilizing and dangerous,"NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said at the conclusion of the conference. "At our meeting today, ministers discussed these challenges and agreed a balanced package of political and military elements."
"This includes strengthening our integrated air and missile defense," Stoltenberg said. "A number of Allies have announced they are acquiring new air and missile defense systems, including Patriot and SAMP/T [missile defense] batteries."
"We will maintain our deterrence and defense but we will not mirror Russia," he added, a reference to recent Russian troop deployments and conventional missile production. "We have no intention to deploy new land-based nuclear missiles in Europe."
He also encouraged member nations' purchase of F-35 fighter planes from the United States.
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Stoltenberg recently said U.S. plans to reduce its troop strength in Germany but increase it in Poland could "best serve the defense of all of Europe."
Prior to the meeting, the foreign ministers of France, Germany, Italy, and Spain suggested, in a joint letter, the establishment of a non-NATO unified European armed force under the direction of the European Union.
"We [the EU] should keep reinforcing military [operations]," such as the naval mission dealing with Libya, the letter said.
"We need a greater common strategic understanding of what we want to be able to do as Europeans in security and defense," officials said in the letter. "With a view to our single set of forces, we need to plan and develop our defense capabilities strategically to be able to act with real operational output."


upi--2020-06-17--Watch: Man bounces 16 Ping-Pong balls into pint glass for world record

June 17 ( UPI ) -- An Idaho man with a penchant for breaking Guinness World Records added another title @ @ @ @ @ 16 Ping-Pong balls into a pint glass in 1 minute .
David Rush , who @ @ @ @ @ titles to his name , said he decided to take on the record after discovering @ @ @ @ @ 3-minute versions of the Ping-Pong ball record stood at 12 .
Rush said he quickly @ @ @ @ @ a single pint glass was more difficult than it sounded , requiring several attempts before @ @ @ @ @ balls in 1 minute .
`` I thought I had gotten 12 , '' Rush @ @ @ @ @ Hannon ] let me know I had gotten 16 .
I was in disbelief .
@

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June 17 (UPI) -- An Idaho man with a penchant for breaking Guinness World Records added another title to his name by bouncing 16 Ping-Pong balls into a pint glass in 1 minute.
David Rush, who has more than 150 Guinness titles to his name, said he decided to take on the record after discovering that both the 1-minute and 3-minute versions of the Ping-Pong ball record stood at 12.
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Rush said he quickly discovered bouncing Ping-Pong balls into a single pint glass was more difficult than it sounded, requiring several attempts before he managed to sink 16 balls in 1 minute.
"I thought I had gotten 12," Rush said. "Jonathan [Hannon] let me know I had gotten 16. I was in disbelief."


upi--2020-06-17--White House outlines goals of PREVENTS task force to stop veterans' suicides

June 17 ( UPI ) -- President Donald Trump on Wednesday unveiled his administration 's plan to reduce suicide among U.S. veterans , whom he described as the country 's `` most treasured heroes . ''
He discussed the President 's Roadmap to Empower Veterans and End the National Tragedy of Suicide -- or PREVENTS -- task force during an event in the East Room of the White House .
`` With honor and courage these incredible patriots performed their duty to America and now we must fulfill our duty , '' Trump said .
He described the suicide rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tremendous problem . ''
`` They 've been through so much and it 's such a deep-seated problem . ''
White House officials outlined nine priorities and 10 recommendations for the PREVENTS task force with reporters earlier Wednesday .
The task force was part of an executive order last year .
Its primary goal is to unite government agencies and non-profit organizations on the issue .
`` This is the first nationally focused effort on suicide , '' one senior White House official said .
`` The executive order was written intentionally as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suicides .
In order to get there , we have to do a lot of things . ''
The administration stressed , however , that the work is needed at the community level rather than the federal level .
Officials said the task force 's recommendations will be `` anchored '' though community partnerships .
A summit a year ago convened more than 100 researchers , clinicians and decision-makers to discuss research and public health solutions to stop veteran suicides .
`` We need to be able to support the good work that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration official added during Wednesday 's call .
`` We are looking at , over this next year , what is currently available at the government across agencies . ''
The task force is working with Congress and advocates to pinpoint the gaps in the veteran suicide safety net and determine how to fill those vacancies .
One significant boost , officials said , will come from changing the culture about mental health issues .
The White House said a planned national campaign will help bring about that change .
`` Veterans live @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We need to reach those veterans who are not part of the VA to make sure our messaging is coordinated . ''
Other recommendations include prioritizing public research , developing non-profit partnerships , getting employers involved in best practices and training and identifying effective community-based models .
The PREVENTS task force also hopes to strike a balance between veterans and the use of firearms in suicides , the officials said , as some fear their weapon will be taken away if they report a mental health issue .

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President Donald Trump introduces a plan to help prevent suicide among U.S. veterans Wednesday in the East Room of the White House. Photo by Michael Reynolds/UPI | License Photo
June 17 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump on Wednesday unveiled his administration's plan to reduce suicide among U.S. veterans, whom he described as the country's "most treasured heroes." He discussed the President's Roadmap to Empower Veterans and End the National Tragedy of Suicide -- or PREVENTS -- task force during an event in the East Room of the White House. Advertisement
"With honor and courage these incredible patriots performed their duty to America and now we must fulfill our duty," Trump said.
He described the suicide rate among veterans as a "tremendous, tremendous problem."
"They've been through so much and it's such a deep-seated problem."
White House officials outlined nine priorities and 10 recommendations for the PREVENTS task force with reporters earlier Wednesday. The task force was part of an executive order last year. Its primary goal is to unite government agencies and non-profit organizations on the issue.
"This is the first nationally focused effort on suicide," one senior White House official said. "The executive order was written intentionally as an aspirational effort. We can prevent suicides. In order to get there, we have to do a lot of things."
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The administration stressed, however, that the work is needed at the community level rather than the federal level. Officials said the task force's recommendations will be "anchored" though community partnerships.
A summit a year ago convened more than 100 researchers, clinicians and decision-makers to discuss research and public health solutions to stop veteran suicides.
"We need to be able to support the good work that's already being done," the administration official added during Wednesday's call. "We are looking at, over this next year, what is currently available at the government across agencies."
The task force is working with Congress and advocates to pinpoint the gaps in the veteran suicide safety net and determine how to fill those vacancies. One significant boost, officials said, will come from changing the culture about mental health issues.
The White House said a planned national campaign will help bring about that change.
"Veterans live in our society and in our workplace. We need to reach those veterans who are not part of the VA to make sure our messaging is coordinated."
Other recommendations include prioritizing public research, developing non-profit partnerships, getting employers involved in best practices and training and identifying effective community-based models.
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The PREVENTS task force also hopes to strike a balance between veterans and the use of firearms in suicides, the officials said, as some fear their weapon will be taken away if they report a mental health issue.


upi--2020-06-17--First egg ever found in Antarctica might have been laid by an extinct sea lizard

June 17 ( UPI ) -- Nearly a decade ago , Chilean scientists recovered what looked like a deflated football among ancient marine deposits of the Antarctic coast .
But until recently , the fossilized orb -- nicknamed `` The Thing '' -- sat unnamed in collections at Chile 's National Museum of Natural History .
New research , published Wednesday in the journal Nature , suggests The Thing is actually a 66-million-year-old egg .
Measuring 11 inches in length and 7 inches wide , it is the largest soft shell egg ever found , and the second largest in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was laid by an elephant bird , a kiwi relative that went extinct only a few thousand years ago .
Scientists hypothesized that the egg found in Antarctica was laid by an extinct , giant marine reptile , like a mosasaur .
`` It is from an animal the size of a large dinosaur , but it is completely unlike a dinosaur egg , '' lead study author Lucas Legendre , geoscientist and postdoctoral researcher at the University of Texas , said in a news release .
`` It is most similar to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but it is from a truly giant relative of these animals . ''
Chilean scientist David Rubilar-Rogers , a member of the research team that first found the egg , showed the fossil to scientists visiting the museum where it was stored , but most were puzzled -- that is until Julia Clarke , a professor of geological sciences at Texas , took a look .
`` I showed it to her and , after a few minutes , Julia told me it could be a deflated egg ! ''
Rubilar-Rogers said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ microscopes revealed several layers of membrane beneath the surface of the egg .
According to Rubilar-Rogers , the ancient egg looks a lot like transparent , quick-hatching eggs laid by several modern snake and lizard species .
By analyzing the body and egg sizes of 259 living reptiles , researchers determined the species that laid the deflated football some 66 million years ago would have likely stretched about 20 feet from the nose to the end of the body , not counting the tail .
Marine deposits near the egg 's origin have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plesiosaurs , both babies and adults .
`` Many authors have hypothesized that this was sort of a nursery site with shallow protected water , a cove environment where the young ones would have had a quiet setting to grow up , '' Legendre said .
It 's possible the ancient marine lizard laid eggs in the open sea like some modern sea snakes .
The reptile could have also buried its eggs on the beach , just beyond the breakers .
`` We ca n't exclude the idea that they shoved their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like this has ever been discovered , '' Clarke said .

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Scientists likened the egg to a deflated football. Photo by Legendre et al.
June 17 (UPI) -- Nearly a decade ago, Chilean scientists recovered what looked like a deflated football among ancient marine deposits of the Antarctic coast. But until recently, the fossilized orb -- nicknamed "The Thing" -- sat unnamed in collections at Chile's National Museum of Natural History. New research, published Wednesday in the journal Nature, suggests The Thing is actually a 66-million-year-old egg. Advertisement
Measuring 11 inches in length and 7 inches wide, it is the largest soft shell egg ever found, and the second largest in history. The biggest egg ever discovered was laid by an elephant bird, a kiwi relative that went extinct only a few thousand years ago.
Scientists hypothesized that the egg found in Antarctica was laid by an extinct, giant marine reptile, like a mosasaur.
"It is from an animal the size of a large dinosaur, but it is completely unlike a dinosaur egg," lead study author Lucas Legendre, geoscientist and postdoctoral researcher at the University of Texas, said in a news release. "It is most similar to the eggs of lizards and snakes, but it is from a truly giant relative of these animals."
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Chilean scientist David Rubilar-Rogers, a member of the research team that first found the egg, showed the fossil to scientists visiting the museum where it was stored, but most were puzzled -- that is until Julia Clarke, a professor of geological sciences at Texas, took a look.
"I showed it to her and, after a few minutes, Julia told me it could be a deflated egg!" Rubilar-Rogers said.
Clarke's hunch was confirmed when powerful microscopes revealed several layers of membrane beneath the surface of the egg. According to Rubilar-Rogers, the ancient egg looks a lot like transparent, quick-hatching eggs laid by several modern snake and lizard species.
By analyzing the body and egg sizes of 259 living reptiles, researchers determined the species that laid the deflated football some 66 million years ago would have likely stretched about 20 feet from the nose to the end of the body, not counting the tail.
Marine deposits near the egg's origin have previously yielded the remains of mosasaurs and plesiosaurs, both babies and adults.
"Many authors have hypothesized that this was sort of a nursery site with shallow protected water, a cove environment where the young ones would have had a quiet setting to grow up," Legendre said.
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It's possible the ancient marine lizard laid eggs in the open sea like some modern sea snakes. The reptile could have also buried its eggs on the beach, just beyond the breakers.
"We can't exclude the idea that they shoved their tail end up on shore because nothing like this has ever been discovered," Clarke said.


upi--2020-06-18--Islamic State may be going soft on Saudi Arabia

June 18 ( UPI ) -- The Islamic State 's newly anointed spokesman , Abu Hamza al-Qurayshi , issued a statement last month that took terrorist-watchers by surprise .
For the first time , the world 's leading terrorist group singled out Qatar .
Qurayshi attacked Qatar 's role in the U.S.-Taliban peace deal , blasted Qatar for hosting a U.S. air base , torched its support for Muslim Brotherhood-backed groups fighting IS in Syria and denounced alleged transfers of billions of dollars to Iran 's Revolutionary Guard .
But what Qurayshi did not say struck many as more noteworthy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to veteran IS watcher and counterterrorism expert Hassan Hassan : `` This is the first , or at least one of the rarest , statement from the top leaders not to mention Saudi Arabia .
It always comes up , even if briefly , as a key messaging by the group . ''
What are we to make , therefore , of this curious statement that so dramatically departs from the norm ?
Is it a one-off , to be followed by more conventional calls for Muslims to rise up against the House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holy sites in Mecca and Medina ?
Or does it represent a more fundamental change in strategy , whereby IS holds its fire against Saudi Arabia in order to focus on a softer pro-American target ?
Only time will tell , but there are a number of reasons to think that IS -- for the moment at least -- could be going soft on Saudi Arabia .
IS is resurgent .
Having absorbed the dismantling of its caliphate and the assassination in Syria of its senior leadership , the group has re-mobilized and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and worldwide .
IS represents `` a real threat '' in Iraq , according to Qubad Talabani , the deputy prime minister of the northern Kurdish region of Iraq , who says that the group is benefiting from the ongoing political infighting in the country .
IS 's armed activities in Iraq and Syria increased by at least 69 percent in April 2020 .
IS attacks in Kirkuk rose by 200 percent .
In Salah ad Din governorate , one unusually complex attack on May 2 left at least 10 Popular Mobilization Forces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four-hour battle on at least four separate axes .
Closer to home , a Saudi Air Force officer with ties to al-Qaida killed three U.S. sailors and wounded eight at a U.S. naval base in Florida in December .
According to FBI Director Chris Wray , `` the Pensacola attack was actually the brutal culmination of years of planning and preparation by a longtime AQAP associate . ''
AQAP -- al-Qaida 's Yemen-based affiliate -- had guided 2nd Lt. Mohammed Saeed al-Shamrani for years and cultivated him while he trained at the Saudi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ improved IS has good reason to go soft on Saudi Arabia .
Saudi Arabia and its ally , the United Arab Emirates , are working with IS 's comrades in arms , al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula , to fight Yemen 's Houthis .
IS views with sympathy Saudi Arabia 's harsh suppression of the kingdom 's Shia population .
And Saudi Arabia has every reason in the world to encourage IS to set its sights elsewhere : It is an opportune tactical move to deflect attention away from the brutal crackdown on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as to shield itself ( at least temporarily ) from terrorist attack .
Moreover , piling on the pressure against Qatar serves Saudi Arabia 's interests in its three-year dispute with its neighbor to the east .
Saudi Arabia also endeavors to insulate itself against extremist Islam by preaching many of the movement 's most offensive tenets .
Despite the much ballyhooed religious reforms by Saudi Arabia 's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman , the Wahhabi state continues to propagate harsh anti-Christian and anti-Semitic messaging .
The Saudi educational system and its schoolbook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread of extremism within and beyond the country 's borders .
Consider the following excerpts from 10th- and 11th-grade textbooks : `` That Allah Almighty punished the violators from the Jews by deforming them and turning them into actual monkeys . ''
And : `` The hour [ of judgment ] will not come until the Muslims fight the Jews and kill them .
[ It will not come ] until the Jew hides behind rocks and trees . ''
After finishing 12 years of indoctrination through primary and secondary education , Saudis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a second round of extremist and hateful ideology .
The magazine Muslim Soldier , distributed to Saudi military personnel by the Ministry of Defense , is replete with religious teachings against Jews , Christians and non-Wahhabi Muslims .
Saudi Arabia may have bought itself some more time , but as a hotbed of pro-IS sympathies ( the second largest source of IS foreign fighters ) , it will never be able to fully insulate itself against the movement 's violent attentions .
Despite its ongoing efforts to focus extremist Islamic wrath on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its day of reckoning .
Officially sanctioned prejudice , intolerance and fear of the `` other '' remain rampant in Saudi Arabia .
Poisonous state-sponsored rhetoric continues to infect the minds of millions at home and abroad .
Sooner or later , the House of Al Saud will reap the whirlwind of its two-faced policies .
Ali Al-Ahmed is director of the Institute for Gulf Affairs .

U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad (L) and Taliban co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar shake hands during the signing ceremony of the U.S.-Taliban peace agreement in Doha, Qatar, on February 29. File Photo by EPA-EFE
June 18 (UPI) -- The Islamic State's newly anointed spokesman, Abu Hamza al-Qurayshi, issued a statement last month that took terrorist-watchers by surprise. For the first time, the world's leading terrorist group singled out Qatar. Qurayshi attacked Qatar's role in the U.S.-Taliban peace deal, blasted Qatar for hosting a U.S. air base, torched its support for Muslim Brotherhood-backed groups fighting IS in Syria and denounced alleged transfers of billions of dollars to Iran's Revolutionary Guard. Advertisement
But what Qurayshi did not say struck many as more noteworthy than what he did say. According to veteran IS watcher and counterterrorism expert Hassan Hassan: "This is the first, or at least one of the rarest, statement from the top leaders not to mention Saudi Arabia. It always comes up, even if briefly, as a key messaging by the group."
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What are we to make, therefore, of this curious statement that so dramatically departs from the norm? Is it a one-off, to be followed by more conventional calls for Muslims to rise up against the House of Al Saud and liberate Islam's holy sites in Mecca and Medina? Or does it represent a more fundamental change in strategy, whereby IS holds its fire against Saudi Arabia in order to focus on a softer pro-American target?
Only time will tell, but there are a number of reasons to think that IS -- for the moment at least -- could be going soft on Saudi Arabia.
IS is resurgent. Having absorbed the dismantling of its caliphate and the assassination in Syria of its senior leadership, the group has re-mobilized and resumed its deadly attacks in the region and worldwide. IS represents "a real threat" in Iraq, according to Qubad Talabani, the deputy prime minister of the northern Kurdish region of Iraq, who says that the group is benefiting from the ongoing political infighting in the country.
IS's armed activities in Iraq and Syria increased by at least 69 percent in April 2020. IS attacks in Kirkuk rose by 200 percent. In Salah ad Din governorate, one unusually complex attack on May 2 left at least 10 Popular Mobilization Forces militiamen dead, after IS waged a four-hour battle on at least four separate axes.
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Closer to home, a Saudi Air Force officer with ties to al-Qaida killed three U.S. sailors and wounded eight at a U.S. naval base in Florida in December. According to FBI Director Chris Wray, "the Pensacola attack was actually the brutal culmination of years of planning and preparation by a longtime AQAP associate." AQAP -- al-Qaida's Yemen-based affiliate -- had guided 2nd Lt. Mohammed Saeed al-Shamrani for years and cultivated him while he trained at the Saudi Air Force Academy.
The new and improved IS has good reason to go soft on Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia and its ally, the United Arab Emirates, are working with IS's comrades in arms, al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, to fight Yemen's Houthis. IS views with sympathy Saudi Arabia's harsh suppression of the kingdom's Shia population. And Saudi Arabia has every reason in the world to encourage IS to set its sights elsewhere: It is an opportune tactical move to deflect attention away from the brutal crackdown on dissent in the kingdom, as well as to shield itself (at least temporarily) from terrorist attack. Moreover, piling on the pressure against Qatar serves Saudi Arabia's interests in its three-year dispute with its neighbor to the east.
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Saudi Arabia also endeavors to insulate itself against extremist Islam by preaching many of the movement's most offensive tenets. Despite the much ballyhooed religious reforms by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Wahhabi state continues to propagate harsh anti-Christian and anti-Semitic messaging. The Saudi educational system and its schoolbook texts play a major role in the spread of extremism within and beyond the country's borders.
Consider the following excerpts from 10th- and 11th-grade textbooks: "That Allah Almighty punished the violators from the Jews by deforming them and turning them into actual monkeys." And: "The hour [of judgment] will not come until the Muslims fight the Jews and kill them. [It will not come] until the Jew hides behind rocks and trees."
After finishing 12 years of indoctrination through primary and secondary education, Saudis who enlist in the military are exposed to a second round of extremist and hateful ideology. The magazine Muslim Soldier, distributed to Saudi military personnel by the Ministry of Defense, is replete with religious teachings against Jews, Christians and non-Wahhabi Muslims.
Saudi Arabia may have bought itself some more time, but as a hotbed of pro-IS sympathies (the second largest source of IS foreign fighters), it will never be able to fully insulate itself against the movement's violent attentions. Despite its ongoing efforts to focus extremist Islamic wrath on others, Saudi Arabia will eventually face its day of reckoning. Officially sanctioned prejudice, intolerance and fear of the "other" remain rampant in Saudi Arabia. Poisonous state-sponsored rhetoric continues to infect the minds of millions at home and abroad. Sooner or later, the House of Al Saud will reap the whirlwind of its two-faced policies.
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Ali Al-Ahmed is director of the Institute for Gulf Affairs.


upi--2020-06-18--Report: North Korea troops detected at DMZ, disputed maritime border

June 18 ( UPI ) -- North Korea 's military appeared to be moving to the frontlines near the South as a U.S. reconnaissance plane flew over the peninsula , following days of threats and provocations from Pyongyang .
Sources in the South Korean military said North Korean troops were stationed on the North 's side of the Korean demilitarized zones , at vacated guard posts of the tense border , South Korean news service News 1 reported Thursday .
South Korean military sources said the mobilization of North Korea 's armed forces appear to be a follow-up measure after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Korean People 's Army had said it would be deploying its `` No .
1 '' combat operations system , including logistics needed to supply troops .
`` We are keeping an eye on related activities of the North Korean military , '' a source with Seoul 's joint chiefs of staff told News 1 .
`` So far , no direct [ military ] action has been confirmed . ''
The South Korean source said `` it is true '' there was forward deployment to North Korean guard posts , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pyongyang .
On Wednesday North Korea had said it would retake vacated guard posts and take military action if North Korean defectors in the South continued to send anti-Pyongyang leaflets by helium balloon .
North Korean movements have also been detected at the disputed Northern Limit Line that divides North and South in the West Sea , or Yellow Sea .
North Korea 's army could be on the move as the United States deploys the RC-135W , Rivet Joint , to the peninsula on Thursday , according to Aircraft Spot , an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bombers also trained with F-15 fighter jets of Japan 's Air Self-Defense Forces on Wednesday , the U.S. Air Force said Thursday .

North Korean soldiers have moved forward to vacated guard posts in the Korean demilitarized zone, according to a South Korean press report on Thursday. File Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI | License Photo
June 18 (UPI) -- North Korea's military appeared to be moving to the front lines near the South as a U.S. reconnaissance plane flew over the peninsula, following days of threats and provocations from Pyongyang. Sources in the South Korean military said North Korean troops were stationed on the North's side of the Korean demilitarized zones, at vacated guard posts of the tense border, South Korean news service News 1 reported Thursday. Advertisement
South Korean military sources said the mobilization of North Korea's armed forces appear to be a follow-up measure after a declaration from Pyongyang's army.
The Korean People's Army had said it would be deploying its "No. 1" combat operations system, including logistics needed to supply troops.
"We are keeping an eye on related activities of the North Korean military," a source with Seoul's joint chiefs of staff told News 1. "So far, no direct [military] action has been confirmed."
The South Korean source said "it is true" there was forward deployment to North Korean guard posts, but no other measures have been taken by Pyongyang.
On Wednesday North Korea had said it would retake vacated guard posts and take military action if North Korean defectors in the South continued to send anti-Pyongyang leaflets by helium balloon.
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North Korean movements have also been detected at the disputed Northern Limit Line that divides North and South in the West Sea, or Yellow Sea.
North Korea's army could be on the move as the United States deploys the RC-135W, Rivet Joint, to the peninsula on Thursday, according to Aircraft Spot, an aviation tracker.
Two Air Force B-52H bombers also trained with F-15 fighter jets of Japan's Air Self-Defense Forces on Wednesday, the U.S. Air Force said Thursday.


upi--2020-06-18--Gallup: Donald Trump viewed less effective, decisive, honest than Barack Obama in '12

June 18 ( UPI ) -- With less than five months before the Nov. 3 election , Americans ' view of President Donald Trump is slipping , a Gallup survey showed Thursday .
According to the poll , 49 percent of respondents said they view Trump as a decisive leader -- but just 36 percent see him as honest and trustworthy .
Forty-two percent said Trump is an effective government manager .
The survey was conducted between May 28 and June 4 .
The figures put Trump 's approval rating at 39 percent , a decline of 4 points year-to-year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of the qualities that a majority of U.S. adults have ever said applies to Trump , '' Gallup wrote .
`` For the past two years , the slimmest of majorities have said he is a strong and decisive leader , but that has slipped slightly in the current reading . ''
Eighty-seven percent of Republican and those leaning Republican said they view Trump as a decisive leader ; 82 percent see him as an effective manager ; 72 percent view him honest and trustworthy .
All three figures are down slightly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats and those who lean Democratic say Trump is a decisive leader .
Just 10 percent say he 's an effective manager and 9 percent say he 's honest and trustworthy .
Comparatively , at this same stage in 2012 , 53 percent of Americans viewed former President Barack Obama as a decisive leader and 45 percent said he managed the government effectively .
Six in ten Americans viewed him as honest and trustworthy -- a full 24 percent more than do Trump .
Before former President Bill Clinton 's re-election in 1996 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans viewed him as honest and trustworthy , 10 points better than Trump .
Gallup interviewed more than 1,000 U.S. adults for the survey , which has a margin of error of 4 points .

Incoming President Donald Trump and outgoing President Barack Obama stand on the steps of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., with Melania Trump and Michelle Obama on January 20, 2017. File Photo by Rob Carr/UPI/Pool | License Photo
June 18 (UPI) -- With less than five months before the Nov. 3 election, Americans' view of President Donald Trump is slipping, a Gallup survey showed Thursday. According to the poll, 49 percent of respondents said they view Trump as a decisive leader -- but just 36 percent see him as honest and trustworthy. Forty-two percent said Trump is an effective government manager. Advertisement
The survey was conducted between May 28 and June 4.
The figures put Trump's approval rating at 39 percent, a decline of 4 points year-to-year.
"Strong leadership is the only one of the qualities that a majority of U.S. adults have ever said applies to Trump," Gallup wrote. "For the past two years, the slimmest of majorities have said he is a strong and decisive leader, but that has slipped slightly in the current reading."
Eighty-seven percent of Republican and those leaning Republican said they view Trump as a decisive leader; 82 percent see him as an effective manager; 72 percent view him honest and trustworthy. All three figures are down slightly from 2017.
Just 19 percent and Democrats and those who lean Democratic say Trump is a decisive leader. Just 10 percent say he's an effective manager and 9 percent say he's honest and trustworthy.
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Comparatively, at this same stage in 2012, 53 percent of Americans viewed former President Barack Obama as a decisive leader and 45 percent said he managed the government effectively. Six in ten Americans viewed him as honest and trustworthy -- a full 24 percent more than do Trump.
Before former President Bill Clinton's re-election in 1996, Gallup reported that 46 percent of Americans viewed him as honest and trustworthy, 10 points better than Trump.
Gallup interviewed more than 1,000 U.S. adults for the survey, which has a margin of error of 4 points.


upi--2020-06-18--Dolphins star Xavien Howard won't be suspended for domestic incident

MIAMI , June 18 ( UPI ) -- Miami Dolphins star cornerback Xavien Howard will not be suspended by the NFL after his December arrest on a domestic battery charge .
A league spokesman said Wednesday that Howard will not be suspended for the 2020 season .
Howard was arrested Dec. 29 by the Davie ( Fla. ) Police Department .
He was released the next day and the charge was dismissed in February .
The NFL still could have opted to discipline Howard , despite the dropped charge .
The four-year veteran made his first Pro Bowl in 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ despite missing four games .
He appeared in just five games in 2019 before he landed on injured reserve due to a knee injury .
Howard , 26 , signed a five-year , $ 76.5 million contract extension with the Dolphins in May 2019 .
The pact -- which includes $ 46 million guaranteed -- made Howard the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history at the time .
The Dolphins made Byron Jones the league 's highest-paid cornerback this off-season , when they signed the former Dallas Cowboys star to a five-year , $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 54.3 million guaranteed .
Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay is the highest-paid cornerback in the league on an average annual basis , with a salary of $ 16.6 million per season .
Jones has an average annual salary of $ 16.5 million while Howard averages $ 15.05 million per year .
The Dolphins have a pre-season game against the Atlanta Falcons at 7 p.m. EST Aug. 14 in Atlanta .
They start the regular season with a matchup against the New England Patriots at 1 p.m. EDT Sept. 13 in Foxborough , @ @

Miami Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard (25) will not receive a suspension from the NFL after he was arrested in December. File Photo by Matthew Healey/UPI | License Photo
MIAMI, June 18 (UPI) -- Miami Dolphins star cornerback Xavien Howard will not be suspended by the NFL after his December arrest on a domestic battery charge. A league spokesman said Wednesday that Howard will not be suspended for the 2020 season. Advertisement
Howard was arrested Dec. 29 by the Davie (Fla.) Police Department. He was released the next day and the charge was dismissed in February. The NFL still could have opted to discipline Howard, despite the dropped charge.
The four-year veteran made his first Pro Bowl in 2018 and led the NFL with seven interceptions despite missing four games. He appeared in just five games in 2019 before he landed on injured reserve due to a knee injury.
Howard, 26, signed a five-year, $76.5 million contract extension with the Dolphins in May 2019. The pact -- which includes $46 million guaranteed -- made Howard the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history at the time.
The Dolphins made Byron Jones the league's highest-paid cornerback this off-season, when they signed the former Dallas Cowboys star to a five-year, $82.5 million pact. That deal includes $54.3 million guaranteed.
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Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay is the highest-paid cornerback in the league on an average annual basis, with a salary of $16.6 million per season. Jones has an average annual salary of $16.5 million while Howard averages $15.05 million per year.
The Dolphins have a pre-season game against the Atlanta Falcons at 7 p.m. EST Aug. 14 in Atlanta. They start the regular season with a matchup against the New England Patriots at 1 p.m. EDT Sept. 13 in Foxborough, Mass.


upi--2020-06-18--AEW Dynamite: Orange Cassidy gets revenge on Chris Jericho

June 18 ( UPI ) -- Orange Cassidy and Best Friends got revenge against Chris Jericho and his group , The Inner Circle , in the main event of Dynamite .
Chuck Taylor and Trent of Best Friends faced off against Jericho and his Inner Circle teammate Sammy Guevara in a Tag Team match on Wednesday .
The bout was to determine who will get to face the AEW Wold Tag Team Champions at Fyter Fest , which takes place over two days on July 1 and 8 .
Taylor and Trent were angry at the Inner Circle for how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dynamite and started the match by aggressively attacking Jericho and Guevara , who are also collectively known as Le Sex Gods .
Jericho would later gain an advantage by sneakily using his signature baseball bat outside the ring on Trent .
The highly competitive contest continued to escalate as Taylor tried to use a steel chair but the referee noticed and took it away .
Guevara took advantage of the referee being distracted and used Jericho 's baseball bat on Trent inside the ring .
The Spanish God performed a Shooting Star Press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay down .
Guevara then attempted to nail Trent with the GTH but Trent was able to push Guevara into the ropes , where he was tripped by the cameraman .
Trent quickly slammed Guevara on his head and picked up the three count .
The cameraman entered the ring as Jericho rested and revealed himself to be Cassidy .
Freshly Squeezed took Jericho to the ground and landed a number of punches .
AEW announced that Cassidy and Jericho will have a match at Fyter Fest .
Also on Dynamite , AEW @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hangman Adam Page defended their titles against The Natural Nightmares , which consists of QT Marshall and Dustin Rhodes .
Marshall and Dustin Rhodes were accompanied to the ring by Brandi Rhodes , but Marshall 's girlfriend , Allie , was told to stay backstage .
Marshall and Dustin Rhodes fought hard against the champs .
Marshall called for the Diamond Cutter , but Omega blocked it with a Snap Dragon Suplex .
Dustin Rhodes got involved and hit Omega with a Canadian destroyer while Marshall performed the Diamond Cutter on Page .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Marshall from the ramp .
Marshall attempted to land a Moonsault on Omega but missed .
Omega and Page unleashed the Last Call and pinned Marshall for the three count to remain AEW World Tag Team Champions .
In the women 's division , Anna Jay returned to AEW to take on Abadon whose entrance to the ring was straight out of a horror movie .
Abadon dominated Jay and made quick work of the self-proclaimed Star of the Show .
Abadon won the match by performing a Step Up Hurracanrana for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including their leader The Exalted One , Mr. Brodie Lee , made a surprise appearance and handed a contract to Colt Cabana , who was watching the action from ringside .
The Dark Order also helped Jay out of the ring and walked with her to the backstage area .
The moment hinted at Jay possibly joining the cult-like Dark Order .
Other moments from Dynamite included MJF defeating WWE Hall of Famer Billy Gunn with help from his bodyguard , Wardlow ; Dr. Britt Baker having her wheelchair vehicle stolen by Big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Championship against Ricky Starks ; and The Young Bucks defeating The Superbad Squad consisting of Kip Sabian and Jimmy Havoc .

June 18 (UPI) -- Orange Cassidy and Best Friends got revenge against Chris Jericho and his group, The Inner Circle, in the main event of Dynamite.
Chuck Taylor and Trent of Best Friends faced off against Jericho and his Inner Circle teammate Sammy Guevara in a Tag Team match on Wednesday. The bout was to determine who will get to face the AEW Wold Tag Team Champions at Fyter Fest, which takes place over two days on July 1 and 8.
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Taylor and Trent were angry at the Inner Circle for how they brutally assaulted Cassidy last week on Dynamite and started the match by aggressively attacking Jericho and Guevara, who are also collectively known as Le Sex Gods.
Jericho would later gain an advantage by sneakily using his signature baseball bat outside the ring on Trent. The highly competitive contest continued to escalate as Taylor tried to use a steel chair but the referee noticed and took it away.
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Guevara took advantage of the referee being distracted and used Jericho's baseball bat on Trent inside the ring. The Spanish God performed a Shooting Star Press for the victory but Trent wouldn't stay down.
Guevara then attempted to nail Trent with the GTH but Trent was able to push Guevara into the ropes, where he was tripped by the cameraman. Trent quickly slammed Guevara on his head and picked up the three count.
The cameraman entered the ring as Jericho rested and revealed himself to be Cassidy. Freshly Squeezed took Jericho to the ground and landed a number of punches. AEW announced that Cassidy and Jericho will have a match at Fyter Fest.
Also on Dynamite, AEW World Tag Team champions Kenny Omega and Hangman Adam Page defended their titles against The Natural Nightmares, which consists of QT Marshall and Dustin Rhodes.
Marshall and Dustin Rhodes were accompanied to the ring by Brandi Rhodes, but Marshall's girlfriend, Allie, was told to stay backstage.
Marshall and Dustin Rhodes fought hard against the champs. Marshall called for the Diamond Cutter, but Omega blocked it with a Snap Dragon Suplex. Dustin Rhodes got involved and hit Omega with a Canadian destroyer while Marshall performed the Diamond Cutter on Page.
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Allie then came out to cheer for Marshall from the ramp. Marshall attempted to land a Moonsault on Omega but missed. Omega and Page unleashed the Last Call and pinned Marshall for the three count to remain AEW World Tag Team Champions.
In the women's division, Anna Jay returned to AEW to take on Abadon whose entrance to the ring was straight out of a horror movie.
Abadon dominated Jay and made quick work of the self-proclaimed Star of the Show. Abadon won the match by performing a Step Up Hurracanrana for the three count.
The Dark Order, including their leader The Exalted One, Mr. Brodie Lee, made a surprise appearance and handed a contract to Colt Cabana, who was watching the action from ringside.
The Dark Order also helped Jay out of the ring and walked with her to the backstage area. The moment hinted at Jay possibly joining the cult-like Dark Order.
Other moments from Dynamite included MJF defeating WWE Hall of Famer Billy Gunn with help from his bodyguard, Wardlow; Dr. Britt Baker having her wheelchair vehicle stolen by Big Swole; Cody successfully defending his TNT Championship against Ricky Starks; and The Young Bucks defeating The Superbad Squad consisting of Kip Sabian and Jimmy Havoc.


upi--2020-06-18--Chelsea signs RB Leipzig soccer star Timo Werner

Werner will join the Blues in July 1 in London .
Sources told The Guardian and Sky Sports Chelsea paid about $ 56 million to trigger Werner 's release clause from the German club .
Werner also agreed to a five-year deal with the Blues .
Werner , 24 , has scored 32 goals and has 13 assists this season for Leipzig .
He 's scored a total of 93 goals and had 40 assists in 157 career appearances for the German club .
He also has 11 goals in 29 appearances for the German national team .
`` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Blues next season !
It feels like the right step for me and I am delighted to become a part of Chelsea FC , '' Werner tweeted .
`` Really looking forward to playing for such a fantastic and historic club !
See you soon Chelsea fans ! ''
Werner , who joined Leipzig in 2016 from VfB Stuttgart , made his senior career debut in 2013 at Stuttgart .
`` We wish you a successful time in your next step in the Premier League and thank you for the many unforgettable moments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement .
`` We grew up together !
We are incredibly proud of you ! ''
Werner scored in Leipzig 's 2-2 draw against Dusseldorf Wednesday in Leipzig , Germany .
Leipzig battles Borussia Dortmund in Bundesliga play at 9:30 a.m. EDT Saturday in Leipzig .
Chelsea plays their first game since the Premier League returns from a COVID-19 suspension at 11:15 a.m. EDT Sunday in Birmingham , England .

Leipzig's Timo Werner will continue with the Bundesliga club this season before he joins Chelsea FC on July 1. Photo by Filip Singer/EPA-EFE
June 18 (UPI) -- Premier League power Chelsea FC have signed star striker Timo Werner from German Bundesliga club RB Leipzig. Both clubs confirmed the signing Thursday. Advertisement
Werner will join the Blues in July 1 in London. Sources told The Guardian and Sky Sports Chelsea paid about $56 million to trigger Werner's release clause from the German club. Werner also agreed to a five-year deal with the Blues.
Werner, 24, has scored 32 goals and has 13 assists this season for Leipzig. He's scored a total of 93 goals and had 40 assists in 157 career appearances for the German club. He also has 11 goals in 29 appearances for the German national team.
"I'm incredibly happy to be joining the Blues next season! It feels like the right step for me and I am delighted to become a part of Chelsea FC," Werner tweeted. "Really looking forward to playing for such a fantastic and historic club! See you soon Chelsea fans!"
Werner, who joined Leipzig in 2016 from VfB Stuttgart, made his senior career debut in 2013 at Stuttgart.
"We wish you a successful time in your next step in the Premier League and thank you for the many unforgettable moments, Timo," Leipzig said in a statement. "We grew up together! We are incredibly proud of you!"
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Werner scored in Leipzig's 2-2 draw against Dusseldorf Wednesday in Leipzig, Germany.
Leipzig battles Borussia Dortmund in Bundesliga play at 9:30 a.m. EDT Saturday in Leipzig. Chelsea plays their first game since the Premier League returns from a COVID-19 suspension at 11:15 a.m. EDT Sunday in Birmingham, England.


upi--2020-06-18--NTSB: Pilot unconcerned about weather before crash that killed Kobe Bryant, 8 others

June 18 ( UPI ) -- The pilot of the helicopter that crashed in January , killing NBA star Kobe Bryant , his daughter and seven others , had apparently dismissed concerns about bad weather shortly before the flight , federal investigators say .
A series of text messages between pilot Ara Zobayan and flight company officials before the Jan. 26 crash in Calabasas , Calif. , near Los Angeles , were released by the National Transportation Safety Board late Wednesday , along with thousands of other pages of evidence gathered so far in the investigation of the crash .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ days before the crash between Zobayan , Island Express Helicopters Inc. Vice President Whitney Bagge and two flight brokers from OC Helicopters .
The messages revealed that there were concerns about potential fog in the area the weekend of the crash .
Dense fog was reported around the time the Sikorsky S-76B departed John Wayne Airport in Orange County the morning of the crash .
The helicopter collided with a hillside around an hour later , killing Bryant , 13-year-old Gianna Bryant , Zobayan and six others .
`` Just checked not the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as bad as today , '' Zobayan sent in a message the day before the crash .
At 7:30 a.m. on the 26th , Zobayan sent a message to the group .
`` Morning weather looking OK , '' it read .
Fifty minutes later , one of the brokers asked the pilot , `` How is weather looking for 9 [ am ] departure '' ?
`` Should be OK , '' the pilot answered .
The NTSB documents also suggested Zobayan may have become disoriented in the fog , believing he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fog when in fact records show he was descending in the moments before the crash .
The federal safety agency has not yet issued a final report on the crash .

1/2
A screen outside Staples Center in Los Angeles on January 28 pays tribute to former Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others who were killed in a helicopter crash two days earlier. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
June 18 (UPI) -- The pilot of the helicopter that crashed in January, killing NBA star Kobe Bryant, his daughter and seven others, had apparently dismissed concerns about bad weather shortly before the flight, federal investigators say. A series of text messages between pilot Ara Zobayan and flight company officials before the Jan. 26 crash in Calabasas, Calif., near Los Angeles, were released by the National Transportation Safety Board late Wednesday, along with thousands of other pages of evidence gathered so far in the investigation of the crash. Advertisement
The texts showed conversations that began two days before the crash between Zobayan, Island Express Helicopters Inc. Vice President Whitney Bagge and two flight brokers from OC Helicopters.
The messages revealed that there were concerns about potential fog in the area the weekend of the crash. Dense fog was reported around the time the Sikorsky S-76B departed John Wayne Airport in Orange County the morning of the crash. The helicopter collided with a hillside around an hour later, killing Bryant, 13-year-old Gianna Bryant, Zobayan and six others.
"Just checked not the best day tomorrow but it is not as bad as today," Zobayan sent in a message the day before the crash.
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At 7:30 a.m. on the 26th, Zobayan sent a message to the group.
"Morning weather looking OK," it read.
Fifty minutes later, one of the brokers asked the pilot, "How is weather looking for 9 [am] departure"?
"Should be OK," the pilot answered.
The NTSB documents also suggested Zobayan may have become disoriented in the fog, believing he was ascending to fly above the dense fog when in fact records show he was descending in the moments before the crash.
The federal safety agency has not yet issued a final report on the crash.
Mourning NBA icon Kobe Bryant one year later


upi--2020-06-18--Most U.S. workers, businesses not using key unemployment benefit

June 18 ( UPI ) -- More than 30 million workers in the United States have filed for unemployment benefits , but government statistics show that most are n't using a potentially lucrative benefit that was part of the $ 2 trillion CARES Act that was passed in March at the onset of the COVID-19 crisis .
As part of the deep stimulus package , the federal government included provisions to encourage businesses to implement shared-work , or short-time compensation , programs .
The CARES Act provided 100 percent federal funding for the program and provided grants for maintenance .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. payrolls , even if their hours were reduced , and thus stabilize economies in the face of massive layoffs and furloughs .
`` One of the department 's main objectives is to help keep workers connected to their jobs when possible , '' Assistant Labor Secretary for Employment and Training John Pallasch said last month .
`` [ It is ] is one of many tools that employers can use to retain connection with their employees , ease the financial impact of the crisis on their employees and to be ready to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Federal figures , however , show that the program has been underused by both businesses and workers .
Last week 's unemployment report showed that for the week ending May 23 , only about 214,000 of the nearly 30 million Americans who 'd filed for unemployment benefits -- 0.007 percent -- did so through shared-work programs .
That means millions of Americans possibly left some money on the table .
By using the program , employees who have had their hours reduced can make up for the lost wages with unemployment benefits plus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 600 per week .
In some cases , the benefits added up to more than a worker 's normal , full-time wages .
For example , average full-time employees who had their work reduced by eight hours ( 20 percent ) is then eligible to receive 20 percent in available unemployment benefits -- in addition to the wages they earned while working 32 hours .
They also would qualify for the $ 600 weekly payment .
Nate Cook , an entrepreneur in residence at Cornell University in New York , told UPI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might be because the program is poorly understood .
`` Historically , shared-work was an alternative to layoffs and furloughs , '' Cook said .
`` They would have a reduction of hours in lieu of a layoff .
Now , the layoffs and the furloughs have already happened , so it 's a different thing . ''
One possible deterrent keeping larger businesses from participating is that to receive money , they also must file a short-time compensation plan to appropriate state agencies for approval .
And because each state operates differently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Each state runs shared-work programs on an individual basis , meaning that although there are some federal requirements , interstate businesses also face the added administrative burden of calculating benefits provided by each state 's program .
Still , some businesses and workers are in the programs , and the number is expected to rise .
Unless Congress seeks an extension , however , the federal government 's $ 600 weekly enhanced unemployment payment will go away beginning in August .
`` It is n't quite a one-size-fits-all type of scenario , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tells UPI .
`` Size and the type of impact that the crisis has had on a particular business has a lot to do with whether or not it 's appropriate for one employer versus another . ''
Aside from the shared-work program , U.S. businesses also have received more freedom related to how they use federal funds to cope with the fallout of the COVID-19 crisis with the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act , which President Donald Trump signed earlier this month .
The law altered the government 's initial small business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loan forgiveness after disbursement , from eight weeks to 24 weeks .
It also reduced the amount of the loan that must be used on payroll to receive full forgiveness , from 75 percent to 60 percent .
Cook said the changes have lowered the bar for employers to receive forgiveness and put less strain on them to have employees working and receiving pay to meet the requirements .
`` For those smaller employers trying to determine whether they should wait for further recovery before bringing employees back , now ... they have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exist before , '' Cook said .
Experts , including Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell , have said they expect the impact of the coronavirus pandemic to last for a while -- but there are signs the economic fallout has begun to improve .
The Labor Department said the U.S. economy added 2 1/2 million jobs during May , and the Commerce Department said retail sales surged by nearly 20 percent -- both of which came as major surprises to Wall Street .
The department said last week an additional 1.5 million American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , slightly better than most analysts projected .
The latest unemployment report will be released on Thursday .

A sign posted at an engineering firm in Pasadena, Calif., pictured on April 16, informs clients that they were temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
June 18 (UPI) -- More than 30 million workers in the United States have filed for unemployment benefits, but government statistics show that most aren't using a potentially lucrative benefit that was part of the $2 trillion CARES Act that was passed in March at the onset of the COVID-19 crisis. As part of the deep stimulus package, the federal government included provisions to encourage businesses to implement shared-work, or short-time compensation, programs. Advertisement
The CARES Act provided 100 percent federal funding for the program and provided grants for maintenance. The idea was to keep employees on U.S. payrolls, even if their hours were reduced, and thus stabilize economies in the face of massive layoffs and furloughs.
"One of the department's main objectives is to help keep workers connected to their jobs when possible," Assistant Labor Secretary for Employment and Training John Pallasch said last month. "[It is] is one of many tools that employers can use to retain connection with their employees, ease the financial impact of the crisis on their employees and to be ready to reengage quickly as business restarts."
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Federal figures, however, show that the program has been underused by both businesses and workers. Thursday's unemployment report showed that for the week ending May 30, only 227,000 of the 29 million Americans who filed for unemployment benefits -- about 0.008 percent -- did so through shared-work programs.
That means millions of Americans possibly left some money on the table.
By using the program, employees who have had their hours reduced can make up for the lost wages with unemployment benefits plus receive an enhanced federal jobless payment of $600 per week. In some cases, the benefits added up to more than a worker's normal, full-time wages.
For example, average full-time employees who had their work reduced by eight hours (20 percent) is then eligible to receive 20 percent in available unemployment benefits -- in addition to the wages they earned while working 32 hours. They also would qualify for the $600 weekly payment.
Nate Cook, an entrepreneur in residence at Cornell University in New York, told UPI one reason for the low use rate might be because the program is poorly understood.
"Historically, shared-work was an alternative to layoffs and furloughs," Cook said. "They would have a reduction of hours in lieu of a layoff. Now, the layoffs and the furloughs have already happened, so it's a different thing."
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One possible deterrent keeping larger businesses from participating is that to receive money, they also must file a short-time compensation plan to appropriate state agencies for approval. And because each state operates differently, no uniform set of steps exists.
Each state runs shared-work programs on an individual basis, meaning that although there are some federal requirements, interstate businesses also face the added administrative burden of calculating benefits provided by each state's program.
Still, some businesses and workers are in the programs, and the number is expected to rise. Unless Congress seeks an extension, however, the federal government's $600 weekly enhanced unemployment payment will go away beginning in August.
"It isn't quite a one-size-fits-all type of scenario," entrepreneur and economic expert Tom Schryver tells UPI. "Size and the type of impact that the crisis has had on a particular business has a lot to do with whether or not it's appropriate for one employer versus another."
Aside from the shared-work program, U.S. businesses also have received more freedom related to how they use federal funds to cope with the fallout of the COVID-19 crisis with the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act, which President Donald Trump signed earlier this month.
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The law altered the government's initial small business loan program and extended the period of loan forgiveness after disbursement, from eight weeks to 24 weeks. It also reduced the amount of the loan that must be used on payroll to receive full forgiveness, from 75 percent to 60 percent.
Cook said the changes have lowered the bar for employers to receive forgiveness and put less strain on them to have employees working and receiving pay to meet the requirements.
"For those smaller employers trying to determine whether they should wait for further recovery before bringing employees back, now ... they have a new choice that just didn't exist before," Cook said.
Experts, including Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, have said they expect the impact of the coronavirus pandemic to last for a while -- but there are signs the economic fallout has begun to improve.
The Labor Department said the U.S. economy added 2 1/2 million jobs during May, and the Commerce Department said retail sales surged by nearly 20 percent -- both of which came as major surprises to Wall Street.
The department said last week an additional 1.5 million American workers had filed for new unemployment benefits, slightly better than most analysts projected. The latest unemployment report will be released on Thursday.
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World moves to reopen amid COVID-19 pandemic


upi--2020-06-18--Actor Danny Masterson arrested, charged with 3 counts of rape

June 18 ( UPI ) -- Actor Danny Masterson has been arrested and charged with raping three women between 2001 and 2003 , authorities said .
Masterson , 44 , was charged Wednesday with three counts of rape by force of fear , the Los Angeles County District Attorney 's Office said in a statement .
The actor best known for playing Steven Hyde in That '70s Show from 1998 to 2006 was arrested at around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday and was released on a $ 3.3 million bail hours later , according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff 's Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 23-year-old woman in April 2003 , a 23-year-old woman between January and December 2001 and a 28-year-old woman between October and December that same year .
Deputy District Attorney Reinhold Mueller of the Sex Crimes Division said all of the alleged crimes occurred at Masterson 's Hollywood Hills residence .
If convicted , Masterson faces a maximum sentence of 45 years to life in prison .
He is to be arraigned on Sept. 18 .
Masterson 's attorney Tom Mesereau said his client was `` innocent '' in a statement to CNN , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we will be exonerated when all the evidence finally comes to light and witnesses have the opportunity to testify . ''
`` Obviously , Mr. Masterson and his wife are in complete shock considering that these nearly 20-year-old allegations are suddenly resulting in charges being filed , but they and their family are comforted knowing that ultimately the truth will come out , '' Mesereau said .
`` The people who know Mr. Masterson know his character and know the allegations to be false . ''
Masteron was fired from Netflix 's The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four women accused him of sexual assault in separate incidents that go back to the early 2000s .
The Los Angeles District Attorney 's Office said it declined to file charges in two other cases due to insufficient evidence in one and the statute of limitations in the other .

Actor Danny Masterson was released on a $3.3 million bail Wednesday after being arrested and charged with three counts of rape. Photo by Phil McCarten/UPI | License Photo
June 18 (UPI) -- Actor Danny Masterson has been arrested and charged with raping three women between 2001 and 2003, authorities said. Masterson, 44, was charged Wednesday with three counts of rape by force of fear, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office said in a statement. Advertisement
The actor best known for playing Steven Hyde in That '70s Show from 1998 to 2006 was arrested at around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday and was released on a $3.3 million bail hours later, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
Prosecutors accuse Masterson of raping a 23-year-old woman in April 2003, a 23-year-old woman between January and December 2001 and a 28-year-old woman between October and December that same year.
Deputy District Attorney Reinhold Mueller of the Sex Crimes Division said all of the alleged crimes occurred at Masterson's Hollywood Hills residence.
If convicted, Masterson faces a maximum sentence of 45 years to life in prison. He is to be arraigned on Sept. 18.
Masterson's attorney Tom Mesereau said his client was "innocent" in a statement to CNN, stating, "we're confident that we will be exonerated when all the evidence finally comes to light and witnesses have the opportunity to testify."
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"Obviously, Mr. Masterson and his wife are in complete shock considering that these nearly 20-year-old allegations are suddenly resulting in charges being filed, but they and their family are comforted knowing that ultimately the truth will come out," Mesereau said. "The people who know Mr. Masterson know his character and know the allegations to be false."
Masteron was fired from Netflix's The Ranch television show in late 2017 after four women accused him of sexual assault in separate incidents that go back to the early 2000s.
The Los Angeles District Attorney's Office said it declined to file charges in two other cases due to insufficient evidence in one and the statute of limitations in the other.


upi--2020-06-18--New York to make Juneteenth official state holiday

June 18 ( UPI ) -- New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo has signed an executive order declaring Juneteenth an official paid holiday for state employees to recognize the emancipation of African Americans in the United States .
The Democratic governor also announced Wednesday that he will be advancing legislation to make June 19 an official state holiday from next year so `` New Yorkers can use this day to reflect on all the changes we still need to make to create a more fair , just and equal society . ''
`` Although slavery ended over 150 years ago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ systemic discrimination and injustice in this state and this nation and we have been working to enact real reforms to address these inequalities , '' he said .
Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 when Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston , Texas , and announced the end of the Civil War and slavery , nearly two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln had legally freed slaves in the state .
Though the holiday goes back to the late 1860s , Texas was the first to make Juneteenth an official @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states and the District of Columbia following to commemorate or recognize the day , according to the Congressional Research Service of the U.S. Congress .
Cuomo 's executive order came after Virginia Gov .
Ralph Northam announced Tuesday that he intends to make Juneteenth a permanent paid holiday instead of just a day when the government issues a proclamation as it has traditionally done .
`` It 's time to elevate Juneteenth not just as a celebration by and for some Virginians , but one acknowledged and commemorated by all of us , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then because it marked the end of slavery in this country , and it matters now because it says to black communities , this is not just your history -- this is everyone 's shared history , and we will celebrate it together . ''
The moves come as states throughout the country propose laws and reforms to improve equality amid widespread protests and unrest following the death of George Floyd , an unarmed black man who was killed late last month by a white police officer .
U.S. President Donald Trump and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ date last week when it was announced that he was to hold his first rally since the coronavirus pandemic hit the United States on June 19 in Tulsa , Okla. , which is the site of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre that resulted in up to 300 African Americans killed .
Trump announced on Saturday that the rally would be rescheduled .

Amid protests against police brutality and racial inequality, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday that he will move to make Juneteenth an official state holiday from next year. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
June 18 (UPI) -- New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has signed an executive order declaring Juneteenth an official paid holiday for state employees to recognize the emancipation of African Americans in the United States. The Democratic governor also announced Wednesday that he will be advancing legislation to make June 19 an official state holiday from next year so "New Yorkers can use this day to reflect on all the changes we still need to make to create a more fair, just and equal society." Advertisement
"Although slavery ended over 150 years ago, there has still been rampant, systemic discrimination and injustice in this state and this nation and we have been working to enact real reforms to address these inequalities," he said.
Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 when Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced the end of the Civil War and slavery, nearly two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln had legally freed slaves in the state.
Though the holiday goes back to the late 1860s, Texas was the first to make Juneteenth an official state holiday in 1980 with 45 other states and the District of Columbia following to commemorate or recognize the day, according to the Congressional Research Service of the U.S. Congress.
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Cuomo's executive order came after Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced Tuesday that he intends to make Juneteenth a permanent paid holiday instead of just a day when the government issues a proclamation as it has traditionally done.
"It's time to elevate Juneteenth not just as a celebration by and for some Virginians, but one acknowledged and commemorated by all of us," Northam said. "It mattered then because it marked the end of slavery in this country, and it matters now because it says to black communities, this is not just your history -- this is everyone's shared history, and we will celebrate it together."
The moves come as states throughout the country propose laws and reforms to improve equality amid widespread protests and unrest following the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who was killed late last month by a white police officer.
U.S. President Donald Trump and his campaign had stirred controversy over the date last week when it was announced that he was to hold his first rally since the coronavirus pandemic hit the United States on June 19 in Tulsa, Okla., which is the site of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre that resulted in up to 300 African Americans killed.
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Trump announced on Saturday that the rally would be rescheduled.


upi--2020-06-18--G7 urges China to 'reconsider' imposing security law on Hong Kong

June 18 ( UPI ) -- Hours before China 's top legislature was to convene on Thursday , the Group of Seven powerful countries urged Beijing to reconsider imposing a controversial national security law on Hong Kong that critics say will dismantle the embattled region 's autonomy .
The Standing Committee of the 13th National People 's Congress was to convene from Thursday to Saturday when lawmakers will deliberate draft laws , China 's state-run Xinhuanet reported without indicating if the Hong Kong bill was on the schedule .
China has come under widespread international criticism after its rubber-stamp legislature @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criminalize acts of secession , sedition , subversion , terrorism and conspiring with foreign actors to threaten national security in Hong Kong .
However , specifics of the law have not been revealed .
In a statement on Wednesday , the foreign ministers of the G7 nations expressed `` grave concern '' over China 's decision to impose the national security law they say is `` not in conformity '' with Hong Kong 's constitution or Beijing 's responsibilities under the U.N.-registered Sino-British Joint Declaration that returned the region to Chinese sovereignty from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proposed national security law would risk seriously undermining the 'One Country , Two Systems ' principle and the territory 's high degree of autonomy , '' the foreign ministers said , referring to the government framework that gives Hong Kong freedoms absent from mainland China .
`` It would jeopardize the system , which has allowed Hong Kong to flourish and made it a success over many years . ''
The statement , signed by the G7 countries of the United States , Canada , France , Germany , Italy , Japan and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Union , also expressed concern the law will `` curtail and threaten '' the rights and freedoms of all people who live under the rule of law and the existence of an independent justice system .
`` We strongly urge the government of China to reconsider this decision , '' they said .
The G7 call came a day after 86 human rights groups , including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch , sent a letter to Li Zhanshu , chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People 's Congress , urging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The group sent the letter in anticipation that the law will be discussed at the upcoming meeting , stating it could come into force soon after .
Though little is known about the law , the group said they are concerned it may allow for Beijing agencies , such as the Ministry of State Security and the National Security Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security , to operate in Hong Kong .
They are also concerned as comparable legislation on the mainland permits the criminalization of overly broad and vague offenses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which can be used to quell peaceful protests .
`` We urge the NPCSC to abandon plans to introduce national security legislation for Hong Kong , as what is known about the draft law so far and the experiences with respective national security laws in mainland China strongly indicate that neither the law nor its application would conform to international human rights law and standards , '' the group said .
The law was proposed amid ongoing pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong that were ignited a year ago by a now withdrawn extradition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stated its support for the protesters and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has notified Congress that Hong Kong 's level of autonomy no longer warrants special trade status .
Late last year , U.S. President Donald Trump signed two laws in support of the Hong Kong protesters : One to assess the autonomous region 's autonomy from China and another to prohibit U.S. exports of crowd-control tools , such as tear gas , pepper spray , grenades and others , to the Hong Kong police .
China has repeatedly rejected such criticism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affairs .
In retaliation to the laws , China suspended port calls by U.S. military ships to the embattled region and sanctioned non-government organizations , including Human Rights Watch .

Protesters burn a sign celebrating the 70th anniversary of China during an anti-government rally in Hong Kong on October 1, 2019. File Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo
June 18 (UPI) -- Hours before China's top legislature was to convene on Thursday, the Group of Seven urged Beijing to reconsider imposing a controversial national security law on Hong Kong that critics say will dismantle the region's autonomy. The Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress was to convene from Thursday to Saturday when lawmakers will deliberate draft laws, China's state-run Xinhuanet reported without indicating if the Hong Kong bill was on the schedule. Advertisement
China has come under widespread international criticism after its rubber-stamp legislature near unanimously approved a bill late in May to criminalize acts of secession, sedition, subversion, terrorism and conspiring with foreign actors to threaten national security in Hong Kong. Specifics of the law have not been revealed.
In a statement Wednesday, the foreign ministers of the G7 nations expressed "grave concern" over China's decision to impose the national security law they say is "not in conformity" with Hong Kong's constitution or Beijing's responsibilities under the U.N.-registered Sino-British Joint Declaration that returned the region to Chinese sovereignty from British rule in 1997.
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"The proposed national security law would risk seriously undermining the 'One Country, Two Systems' principle and the territory's high degree of autonomy," the foreign ministers said, referring to the government framework that gives Hong Kong freedoms absent from mainland China. "It would jeopardize the system, which has allowed Hong Kong to flourish and made it a success over many years."
The statement, signed by the G7 countries of the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Britain, as well as the European Union, also expressed concern the law will "curtail and threaten" the rights and freedoms of all people who live under the rule of law and the existence of an independent justice system.
"We strongly urge the government of China to reconsider this decision," they said.
The G7 call came a day after 86 human rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, sent a letter to Li Zhanshu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, urging him to "reject" the legislation.
The group sent the letter in anticipation that the law will be discussed at the upcoming meeting, stating it could come into force soon after.
Though little is known about the law, the group said they are concerned it may allow for Beijing agencies, such as the Ministry of State Security and the National Security Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security, to operate in Hong Kong.
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They are also concerned as comparable legislation on the mainland permits the criminalization of overly broad and vague offenses that include criticism of the government, which can be used to quell peaceful protests.
"We urge the NPCSC to abandon plans to introduce national security legislation for Hong Kong, as what is known about the draft law so far and the experiences with respective national security laws in mainland China strongly indicate that neither the law nor its application would conform to international human rights law and standards," the group said.
The law was proposed amid ongoing pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong that were ignited a year ago by a now withdrawn extradition bill.
The United States has repeatedly stated its support for the protesters and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has notified Congress that Hong Kong's level of autonomy no longer warrants special trade status.
Late last year, U.S. President Donald Trump signed two laws in support of the Hong Kong protesters: one to assess the autonomous region's autonomy from China and another to prohibit U.S. exports of crowd-control tools, such as tear gas, pepper spray, grenades and others, to the Hong Kong police.
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China has repeatedly rejected such criticism and moves as meddling in its internal affairs.
In retaliation to the laws, China suspended port calls by U.S. military ships to the embattled region and sanctioned non-government organizations, including Human Rights Watch.


upi--2020-06-18--Tick control across U.S. lagging amid rising Lyme disease threat

Tick monitoring and control is lacking in much of the United States despite a steady increase in tick-borne illnesses , such as Lyme disease , a new study finds .
In the United States , tick-borne illnesses more than doubled between 2004 and 2018 , according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
For the new study , the researchers surveyed tick management programs across the country .
They found that less than half of public health and vector-control agencies do active tick surveillance , and only 12 percent directly conduct or otherwise support tick-control efforts .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ mosquitoes that can transmit , or `` vector , '' diseases ( like Lyme ) to humans .
The study was conducted by researchers at the CDC 's five Vector-Borne Disease Regional Centers of Excellence .
The results were published June 17 in the Journal of Medical Entomology .
`` Ticks are responsible for the majority of our vector-borne illnesses in the U.S. , and our programming does not adequately meet the need in its current form , for both surveillance and control , '' said study lead author Emily Mader .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Center for Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases , located at Cornell University in New York .
The researchers surveyed 140 vector-borne disease professionals at state , county and local agencies in the fall of 2018 .
They found that while 65 percent said their programs do passive tick surveillance , such as accepting tick samples submitted by the public , only 46 percent said their programs routinely collect tick samples in their community .
Only 26 percent of survey respondents said their jurisdictions conduct or fund testing of ticks for disease-causing pathogens .
Just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presence of such pathogens in animals -- such as mice and other rodents -- from which ticks get those pathogens .
`` Pathogen testing is an essential component of surveillance and is needed in order to understand tick-borne disease risk to communities , '' Mader said in a news release from the Entomological Society of America .
`` There appears to be a significant barrier for many tick-surveillance programs across the country to access pathogen-testing services . ''
Only 12 percent of survey respondents said their jurisdiction conducts or funds tick control , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ticks on animal hosts , such as deer and rodents .
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on ticks .

Tick monitoring and control is lacking in much of the United States despite a steady increase in tick-borne illnesses, such as Lyme disease, a new study finds.
In the United States, tick-borne illnesses more than doubled between 2004 and 2018, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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For the new study, the researchers surveyed tick management programs across the country. They found that less than half of public health and vector-control agencies do active tick surveillance, and only 12 percent directly conduct or otherwise support tick-control efforts. Vector-control agencies monitor pests like ticks and mosquitoes that can transmit, or "vector," diseases (like Lyme) to humans.
The study was conducted by researchers at the CDC's five Vector-Borne Disease Regional Centers of Excellence. The results were published June 17 in the Journal of Medical Entomology.
"Ticks are responsible for the majority of our vector-borne illnesses in the U.S., and our programming does not adequately meet the need in its current form, for both surveillance and control," said study lead author Emily Mader. She's program manager of the Northeast Regional Center for Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases, located at Cornell University in New York.
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The researchers surveyed 140 vector-borne disease professionals at state, county and local agencies in the fall of 2018. They found that while 65 percent said their programs do passive tick surveillance, such as accepting tick samples submitted by the public, only 46 percent said their programs routinely collect tick samples in their community.
Only 26 percent of survey respondents said their jurisdictions conduct or fund testing of ticks for disease-causing pathogens. Just 7 percent said their programs evaluate the presence of such pathogens in animals -- such as mice and other rodents -- from which ticks get those pathogens.
"Pathogen testing is an essential component of surveillance and is needed in order to understand tick-borne disease risk to communities," Mader said in a news release from the Entomological Society of America. "There appears to be a significant barrier for many tick-surveillance programs across the country to access pathogen-testing services."
Only 12 percent of survey respondents said their jurisdiction conducts or funds tick control, with those efforts primarily focused on reducing ticks on animal hosts, such as deer and rodents.
More information
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on ticks.
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