upi--2020-12-24--Big program at Santa Anita, two Japanese Grade 1's top weekend horse racing

Dec. 24 ( UPI ) -- Boxing Day , the day after Christmas , long has been a red-letter day for Santa Anita racing fans , and this year 's edition wo n't do anything to hurt that tradition with some really tremendous matchups .
There 's other action , too , including the Tropical Park Derby and Oaks at Gulfstream Park and another clutch of stakes at Laurel Park .
What better to usher out 2020 than a weekend full of top-quality , tough racing ?
And as the horses move around to settle in for the remainder of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For an inside look at what to expect , check out Jude Feld 's perspective at popejude.com .
Jude spent many years training on the Southern California circuit before shifting his tack to Kentucky -- and knows whereof he speaks .
On the international front , hopefuls for next year 's Japanese Classics strut their stuff on Saturday in the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse with the best of the older horses on display the next day over the same course in the Arima Kinen .
Also see `` News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a quick one because it 's about time to start the Christmas shopping -- at the legislation passed by Congress this week that will give a new national organization authority to set medication and safety guidelines for racing and set fees for enforcement .
That is , if the outgoing president does n't make good on his threat to veto it .
Ho , ho , ho .
Away we go .
The $ 300,000 Grade I RUNHAPPY Malibu Stakes for 3-year-olds : This 7-furlong sprint features two from this year 's Triple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- against accomplished sprinter Collusion Illusion and one of the most promising newcomers in this division , Nashville .
Charlatan and Thousand Words are trainer Bob Baffert 's Triple Crown leftovers , no slight intended .
Charlatan , a Speightstown colt , won his first two starts early in the year at Santa Anita , and then finished first in a division of the Arkansas Derby .
He was knocked off the Kentucky Derby trail with an injury , then lost the Oaklawn crown when a drug test came back positive .
Thousand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and has been in and out since then , most recently finishing eighth in the Preakness .
Collusion Illusion has won three graded stakes on the West Coast but most recently was 12th in the Breeders ' Cup Sprint at Keeneland .
Nashville is the promise of the future , all things considered .
Another Speightstown offspring , he won his first two starts so impressively that he would have been among the favorites in the Breeders ' Cup Sprint .
Instead , trainer Steve Asmussen entered him in the Perryville Stakes on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won again for fun .
Even geared down through the final sixteenth , he established a track record while finishing 6 furlongs in 1:07.89 .
This will be a sterner test for Nashville , owned by China Horse Club and WinStar Farm .
Nonetheless , he 's the 6-5 favorite on the morning line -- an assessment hard to fault based on his performance Nov. 7 in Kentucky .
The $ 200,000 Grade II Mathis Brothers Mile : Smooth Like Strait just missed in the Grade I Hollywood Derby at Del Mar in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ II Twilight Derby at Santa Anita in the start before that .
He is the 8-5 favorite on the morning line and should be a handful in this shorter turf test .
The seven-horse field also includes Kentucky shipper Field Pass , last seen winning the Grade III Ontario Derby at Woodbine , and last year 's 45-1 upset winner of the Breeders ' Cup Juvenile winner , Storm the Court , who has not won in seven intervening starts .
The $ 200,000 Grade II San Antonio : Mucho Gusto returns in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The 4-year-old Mucho Macho Man colt has not raced since finishing fourth in the $ 20 million Saudi Cup on Feb. 29 , beaten just 2 3/4 lengths by some of the best horses in the world after leading into the stretch .
Before that , he won the Grade I Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park .
He has been training smartly for Bob Baffert and a good effort her might see him back in Florida in a month and Riyadh in two .
Sharp Samurai comes to the San @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Breeders ' Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland .
Extra Hope , Midcourt and Combatant return after running 1-2-3 in the Grade III Native Diver .
A newcomer to these ranks , Idol , makes just his fourth start .
The Curlin colt won his last two easily at Churchill Downs and gets the sink-or-swim challenge against these rivals .
Finite , Merneith and Motivated Seller look tough in the 7-furlongs La Brea .
Finite , the narrow favorite , invades from New Orleans after another trip produced victory Nov. 21 in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Churchill Downs .
Merneith and Motivated Seller were the first two past the judge in the Fort Springs at Keeneland on Nov. 7 on the Breeders ' Cup undercard .
Several others are worth a look in the Le Brea , which has the faint odor of an upset waiting to happen .
Sharing is 3-1 on the morning line for this 1 1/4-miles race on the turf -- a price that seems generous given the Speightstown filly won the Breeders ' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf last year over the Santa Anita @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot , and won the Grade II Edgewood at Churchill Downs in September .
She was beaten less than 1 length while fourth in the Grade I Matriarch at Del Mar in her last start while facing older rivals .
Sharing does tackle the distance for the first time and has flown back and forth from the East Coast since her last start .
If she 's not up to the task , a few potential beneficiaries are Red Lark , who won the Grade I Del Mar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raced Chad Brown charge Capital Structure , who comes across the continent for a class test .
The fun continues Sunday at the Great Race Place with the $ 100,000 Grade III Robert J. Frankel Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on the turf as the feature .
The great , late conditioner , who lent his name to one of Europe 's all-time great horses and would seem worthy of more than a Grade III race .
But the field 's not bad , so ... Mucho Unusual has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California tracks and won the Grade I Rodeo Drive two starts back .
The 4-year-old then finished 12th in the Breeders ' Cup Filly & Mare Turf in her last outing but wo n't meet that caliber of opposition here .
Rideforthecause was a Grade II winner at Woodbine in September and fourth in the Grade I E.P .
Taylor a month later while moving out of the allowance ranks .
Chad Brown sends Miss Teheran west after the French import failed to make much impact in two starts on the East Coast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ France , also comes cross-country in an effort to get a graded win .
Zee Drop has been knocking on the door .
Also on Sunday 's program , the $ 75,000 Eddie Logan for 2-year-olds drew a field of seven to tackle 1 mile on the turf .
Beer Can Man brings three straight wins , two at Indiana Grand and the most recent the Grade III Cecil B. DeMille at Del Mar , where he went to the post at odds of nearly 20-1 while facing many of the same rivals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Can the Man out of the Dynaformer mare Cheesecake .
The Boxing Day card in the Big Easy has a trio of $ 75,000 stakes .
The Pago Hop has 11 3-year-old fillies tackling 1 mile on the turf .
It looks pretty much a tossup with the 7-2 favorite , Evil Lynne , drawing the outside gate .
Solve the puzzle , get the prize .
The handicapping puzzle is no easier in the Woodchopper , which has 3-year-old colts and geldings going the same trip .
Here , though , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Bodecream is the 7-2 pick on the morning line but this is a good one for the hatpin through the program selection process .
Does anyone still use hatpins ?
The Joseph E. Spanky Broussard Memorial for fillies and mares at 1 mile and 70 yards on the grass drew a field of six with Whoa Nellie and Beautiful Trauma catching the oddsmaker 's eye .
Whoa Nellie , an Orb filly , makes her second start after a long break .
There are three $ 75,000 turf stakes on Saturday 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ H. Allen Jerkens Stakes has 11 entries to go 2 miles on the grass .
It could be called the Snowbird Stakes given that most of the field recently arrived from the frozen north .
Tintoretto , a German-bred , raced in California a bit ago .
Sir Anthony , an Illinois-bred , is worth a look .
Mostly , it 's a balanced field of modestly talented steeds .
The Tropical Park Derby has 10 starters and the Tropical Park Oaks drew 13 .
Both are run at 1 1/16 miles on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some potential turf stars of the future including Fancy Liquor and Don Juan Kitten .
Sole Volante tries the green course after finishing sixth in the Belmont Stakes and 11th in the Kentucky Derby .
Around the world , around the clock : Saturday 's Grade 1 Hopeful at Nakayama features a bunch of undefeated 2-year-olds looking to make one last mark before their important third birthday .
Last year 's winner , Contrail , went on to sweep this year 's Triple Crown and was undefeated until he finished second to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last month .
At least five likely starters in this year 's edition have won both previous starts .
Danon the Kid 's victories include the Grade 3 Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes .
Orthoclase took the Ivy Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse in October for his second win .
Yoho Lake and Land of Liberty , both sons of Deep Impact , are both 2-for-2 with minor stakes victories to their credit .
Admire Sage also has won both starts , including the Kigiku Sho at Hanshin .
The field is even deeper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and lost one but the loss was a second to Danon the Kid in the last start .
Chevalier Rose , another by Deep Impact , is 2-for-3 and comes off a win in the Hagi Stakes at Kyoto .
The 2,000-meter Hopeful starts with a run past the Nakayama Racecourse grandstand and continues another full circuit of the inner turf .
On Sunday , Nakayama hosts the final Grade 1 event of the year , the Arima Kinen , the Grand Prix .
This is a race in which fans vote for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and this year they were pretty emphatic about asking for Chrono Genesis .
The 4-year-old filly logged a record 214,742 votes , largely on the basis of her victory earlier in the year in the Takarazuka Kinen , the other `` fan voting '' race on the Japanese calendar .
Five other horses from among the top 10 vote getters also are expected to face the starter -- Fierement , Lucky Lilac , Kiseki , World Premier and Blast Onepiece .
All have solid credentials although Blast Onepiece , who won last year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ form in his last few races .
The Arima Kinen is run at 2,500 meters , and the final 200 meters includes a significant uphill climb .
The purse of about $ 6 million is equaled in Japan only by that of the Japan Cup itself .
After many years of trying to get it passed , the Senate this week slipped the `` Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act '' into the massive omnibus spending and COVID relief bill sent to the president early this week .
He , however , threatened late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic relief , government operations funds and the money for fish management , as well as the horseracing language .
If he does sign the measure , it would create an independent authority , with majority membership by non-racing members , that would have sweeping power to set medication and safety standards for the industry .
Enforcement would be handled either by state regulatory bodies -- racing commissions -- or , as a default , by the authority through fees levied on industry participants .
Most industry groups signed onto the plan late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , R-Ky. , added his support .
And there is no serious question that the racing industry needs help in making sure uniform rules are established and enforced .
Some horsemen continue to express reservations , principally about who will be assessed the cost of enforcement and how much they will have to pay .
There also is concern that safety standards approved by non-industry people might prove difficult to meet in real-world settings .
A more immediate concern is that the legislation contains provisions to extend some critical aspects of the H-2B @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for non-immigrant , guest worker backstretch help .
The day-to-day care of horses depends on those folks and they 're already in relatively scarce supply .
Let 's see if the president signs it .
If he does , let 's see how state commissions react and who 's appointed to the new body .
Embrace change , but keep the powder dry .

1/2
Thousand Words, shown training at Pimlico for this year's Preakness Stakes, returns in Saturday's Grade I Malibu at Santa Anita. Photo courtesy of Maryland Jockey Club
Dec. 24 (UPI) -- Boxing Day, the day after Christmas, long has been a red-letter day for Santa Anita racing fans, and this year's edition won't do anything to hurt that tradition with some really tremendous matchups. There's other action, too, including the Tropical Park Derby and Oaks at Gulfstream Park and another clutch of stakes at Laurel Park. What better to usher out 2020 than a weekend full of top-quality, tough racing? Advertisement
And as the horses move around to settle in for the remainder of the winter, handicapping gets even harder. For an inside look at what to expect, check out Jude Feld's perspective at popejude.com.
Jude spent many years training on the Southern California circuit before shifting his tack to Kentucky -- and knows whereof he speaks.
On the international front, hopefuls for next year's Japanese Classics strut their stuff on Saturday in the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse with the best of the older horses on display the next day over the same course in the Arima Kinen.
Advertisement
Also see "News and Notes" for a look -- a quick one because it's about time to start the Christmas shopping -- at the legislation passed by Congress this week that will give a new national organization authority to set medication and safety guidelines for racing and set fees for enforcement.
That is, if the outgoing president doesn't make good on his threat to veto it.
Ho, ho, ho. Away we go.
Santa Anita-Saturday
The $300,000 Grade I RUNHAPPY Malibu Stakes for 3-year-olds: This 7-furlong sprint features two from this year's Triple Crown crop -- Charlatan and Thousand Words -- against accomplished sprinter Collusion Illusion and one of the most promising newcomers in this division, Nashville.
Charlatan and Thousand Words are trainer Bob Baffert's Triple Crown leftovers, no slight intended.
Charlatan, a Speightstown colt, won his first two starts early in the year at Santa Anita, and then finished first in a division of the Arkansas Derby. He was knocked off the Kentucky Derby trail with an injury, then lost the Oaklawn crown when a drug test came back positive.
Thousand Words won the 2019 Los Alamitos Futurity and has been in and out since then, most recently finishing eighth in the Preakness.
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Collusion Illusion has won three graded stakes on the West Coast but most recently was 12th in the Breeders' Cup Sprint at Keeneland.
Nashville is the promise of the future, all things considered. Another Speightstown offspring, he won his first two starts so impressively that he would have been among the favorites in the Breeders' Cup Sprint.
Instead, trainer Steve Asmussen entered him in the Perryville Stakes on the undercard at Keeneland, where he won again for fun. Even geared down through the final sixteenth, he established a track record while finishing 6 furlongs in 1:07.89.
This will be a sterner test for Nashville, owned by China Horse Club and WinStar Farm. Nonetheless, he's the 6-5 favorite on the morning line -- an assessment hard to fault based on his performance Nov. 7 in Kentucky.
Express Train and Independence Hall complete the six-horse field.
The $200,000 Grade II Mathis Brothers Mile: Smooth Like Strait just missed in the Grade I Hollywood Derby at Del Mar in his last start and won the Grade II Twilight Derby at Santa Anita in the start before that. He is the 8-5 favorite on the morning line and should be a handful in this shorter turf test.
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The seven-horse field also includes Kentucky shipper Field Pass, last seen winning the Grade III Ontario Derby at Woodbine, and last year's 45-1 upset winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner, Storm the Court, who has not won in seven intervening starts.
The $200,000 Grade II San Antonio: Mucho Gusto returns in this 1 1/16-miles event on the dirt. The 4-year-old Mucho Macho Man colt has not raced since finishing fourth in the $20 million Saudi Cup on Feb. 29, beaten just 2 3/4 lengths by some of the best horses in the world after leading into the stretch.
Before that, he won the Grade I Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park. He has been training smartly for Bob Baffert and a good effort her might see him back in Florida in a month and Riyadh in two.
Sharp Samurai comes to the San Antonio off a good third-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland. Extra Hope, Midcourt and Combatant return after running 1-2-3 in the Grade III Native Diver.
A newcomer to these ranks, Idol, makes just his fourth start. The Curlin colt won his last two easily at Churchill Downs and gets the sink-or-swim challenge against these rivals.
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The $300,000 Grade I La Brea for 3-year-old fillies:
Finite, Merneith and Motivated Seller look tough in the 7-furlongs La Brea.
Finite, the narrow favorite, invades from New Orleans after another trip produced victory Nov. 21 in the Grade II Chilukki Stakes against older rivals at Churchill Downs. Merneith and Motivated Seller were the first two past the judge in the Fort Springs at Keeneland on Nov. 7 on the Breeders' Cup undercard.
Several others are worth a look in the Le Brea, which has the faint odor of an upset waiting to happen.
The $300,000 Grade I American Oaks
Sharing is 3-1 on the morning line for this 1 1/4-miles race on the turf -- a price that seems generous given the Speightstown filly won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf last year over the Santa Anita greensward, finished second in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, and won the Grade II Edgewood at Churchill Downs in September.
She was beaten less than 1 length while fourth in the Grade I Matriarch at Del Mar in her last start while facing older rivals.
Sharing does tackle the distance for the first time and has flown back and forth from the East Coast since her last start. If she's not up to the task, a few potential beneficiaries are Red Lark, who won the Grade I Del Mar Oaks in August, and the lightly raced Chad Brown charge Capital Structure, who comes across the continent for a class test.
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Santa Anita - Sunday
The fun continues Sunday at the Great Race Place with the $100,000 Grade III Robert J. Frankel Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on the turf as the feature.
The great, late conditioner, who lent his name to one of Europe's all-time great horses and would seem worthy of more than a Grade III race. But the field's not bad, so ...
Mucho Unusual has been a consistent performer at the Southern California tracks and won the Grade I Rodeo Drive two starts back. The 4-year-old then finished 12th in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf in her last outing but won't meet that caliber of opposition here.
Rideforthecause was a Grade II winner at Woodbine in September and fourth in the Grade I E.P. Taylor a month later while moving out of the allowance ranks. Chad Brown sends Miss Teheran west after the French import failed to make much impact in two starts on the East Coast.
Altea, another formerly raced in France, also comes cross-country in an effort to get a graded win. Zee Drop has been knocking on the door.
Also on Sunday's program, the $75,000 Eddie Logan for 2-year-olds drew a field of seven to tackle 1 mile on the turf.
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Beer Can Man brings three straight wins, two at Indiana Grand and the most recent the Grade III Cecil B. DeMille at Del Mar, where he went to the post at odds of nearly 20-1 while facing many of the same rivals he'll encounter Sunday. He's by Can the Man out of the Dynaformer mare Cheesecake.
Fair Grounds
The Boxing Day card in the Big Easy has a trio of $75,000 stakes.
The Pago Hop has 11 3-year-old fillies tackling 1 mile on the turf. It looks pretty much a tossup with the 7-2 favorite, Evil Lynne, drawing the outside gate. Solve the puzzle, get the prize.
The handicapping puzzle is no easier in the Woodchopper, which has 3-year-old colts and geldings going the same trip.
Here, though, there are 13 entries to sort through. Bodecream is the 7-2 pick on the morning line but this is a good one for the hatpin through the program selection process. Does anyone still use hatpins?
The Joseph E. Spanky Broussard Memorial for fillies and mares at 1 mile and 70 yards on the grass drew a field of six with Whoa Nellie and Beautiful Trauma catching the oddsmaker's eye. Whoa Nellie, an Orb filly, makes her second start after a long break.
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Gulfstream Park
There are three $75,000 turf stakes on Saturday's South Florida card, too.
The H. Allen Jerkens Stakes has 11 entries to go 2 miles on the grass. It could be called the Snowbird Stakes given that most of the field recently arrived from the frozen north.
Tintoretto, a German-bred, raced in California a bit ago. Sir Anthony, an Illinois-bred, is worth a look. Mostly, it's a balanced field of modestly talented steeds.
The Tropical Park Derby has 10 starters and the Tropical Park Oaks drew 13. Both are run at 1 1/16 miles on the green course.
The Derby has some potential turf stars of the future including Fancy Liquor and Don Juan Kitten. Sole Volante tries the green course after finishing sixth in the Belmont Stakes and 11th in the Kentucky Derby.
Around the world, around the clock:
Japan
Saturday's Grade 1 Hopeful at Nakayama features a bunch of undefeated 2-year-olds looking to make one last mark before their important third birthday.
Last year's winner, Contrail, went on to sweep this year's Triple Crown and was undefeated until he finished second to the great Almond Eye in the Japan Cup last month.
At least five likely starters in this year's edition have won both previous starts.
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Danon the Kid's victories include the Grade 3 Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes. Orthoclase took the Ivy Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse in October for his second win.
Yoho Lake and Land of Liberty, both sons of Deep Impact, are both 2-for-2 with minor stakes victories to their credit. Admire Sage also has won both starts, including the Kigiku Sho at Hanshin.
The field is even deeper than that. Titleholder has won one and lost one but the loss was a second to Danon the Kid in the last start. Chevalier Rose, another by Deep Impact, is 2-for-3 and comes off a win in the Hagi Stakes at Kyoto.
The 2,000-meter Hopeful starts with a run past the Nakayama Racecourse grandstand and continues another full circuit of the inner turf.
On Sunday, Nakayama hosts the final Grade 1 event of the year, the Arima Kinen, the Grand Prix. This is a race in which fans vote for which horses they want to see run and this year they were pretty emphatic about asking for Chrono Genesis.
The 4-year-old filly logged a record 214,742 votes, largely on the basis of her victory earlier in the year in the Takarazuka Kinen, the other "fan voting" race on the Japanese calendar.
Advertisement
Five other horses from among the top 10 vote getters also are expected to face the starter -- Fierement, Lucky Lilac, Kiseki, World Premier and Blast Onepiece. All have solid credentials although Blast Onepiece, who won last year's Arima Kinen, has been off form in his last few races.
The Arima Kinen is run at 2,500 meters, and the final 200 meters includes a significant uphill climb. The purse of about $6 million is equaled in Japan only by that of the Japan Cup itself.
News and Notes
After many years of trying to get it passed, the Senate this week slipped the "Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act" into the massive omnibus spending and COVID relief bill sent to the president early this week.
He, however, threatened late Tuesday to veto the whole shebang -- pandemic relief, government operations funds and the money for fish management, as well as the horseracing language.
If he does sign the measure, it would create an independent authority, with majority membership by non-racing members, that would have sweeping power to set medication and safety standards for the industry.
Enforcement would be handled either by state regulatory bodies -- racing commissions -- or, as a default, by the authority through fees levied on industry participants.
Advertisement
Most industry groups signed onto the plan late in the game once Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., added his support. And there is no serious question that the racing industry needs help in making sure uniform rules are established and enforced.
Some horsemen continue to express reservations, principally about who will be assessed the cost of enforcement and how much they will have to pay. There also is concern that safety standards approved by non-industry people might prove difficult to meet in real-world settings.
A more immediate concern is that the legislation contains provisions to extend some critical aspects of the H-2B visa program, upon which horsemen rely for non-immigrant, guest worker backstretch help. The day-to-day care of horses depends on those folks and they're already in relatively scarce supply.
Let's see if the president signs it. If he does, let's see how state commissions react and who's appointed to the new body. Embrace change, but keep the powder dry.


upi--2020-12-24--What to stream Christmas weekend: 'Wonder Woman 1984,' 'Soul'

Dec. 24 ( UPI ) -- Gal Gadot is back as Wonder Woman , Jamie Foxx voices the lead in Disney and Pixar 's next animated feature and Shonda Rhimes has a new period drama premiering this holiday weekend .
In addition , Tessa Thompson falls in love with a saxophonist in Sylvie 's Love , Letterkenny begins its ninth season and Dave Matthews , Diplo and Foo Fighters will perform during a virtual music festival .
Here 's a rundown of some of the films , TV shows and concerts that will be released on Christmas and this weekend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Midnight Sky , which is available now on Netflix .
Clooney portrays a lonely scientist in the Arctic who is trying to stop Felicity Jones and a team of astronauts from returning home to a global catastrophe .
Caoilinn Springall , Kyle Chandler , David Oyelowo , Tiffany Boone and Demian Bichir also star .
Tessa Thompson and Nnamdi Asomugha star in this jazz-infused romance-drama , which is out now on Amazon Prime Video .
Thompson 's Sylvie falls for Nnamdi 's Robert , a saxophonist .
The pair drift apart after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ directions until they are reunited years later .
TNT and TBS will start their annual 24-hour marathon of classic holiday film A Christmas Story , starting on Thursday at 8 p.m. EST .
Professional wrestlers from AEW will reenact scenes from the film .
MJF stars as Ralphie , Cody and Brandi Rhodes as Mr. and Mrs. Parker and Chris Jericho as Santa .
It airs on TNT .
The long-awaited sequel to 2017 's Wonder Woman finds the titular superhero ( Gal Gadot ) in the 1980s as she faces off against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lord ( Pedro Pascal ) .
Wonder Woman 's former lover Steve Trevor ( Chris Pine ) is back in this action-adventure , which comes to HBO Max and select theaters on Friday .
Patty Jenkins returns as director .
Disney and Pixar present their next animated feature titled Soul , which comes to Disney+ on Friday .
Jamie Foxx voices an aspiring jazz musician whose soul is separated from his body before his big break .
Tina Fey , Questlove , Daveed Diggs , Phylicia Rashad also provide voices in the film @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Powers .
'We Can Be Heroes ' -- Netflix Pedro Pascal , Priyanka Chopra , Christian Slater and Taylor Dooley star in this standalone sequel to The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl from returning director Robert Rodriguez , which premieres Friday on Netflix .
The children of Earth 's heroes must band together to save their parents .
Phoebe Dynevor , Rege-Jean Page and Julie Andrews star in this period drama from Shonda Rhimes , which arrives on Netflix on Friday .
The series is a reimagining of the Julia Quinn book series @ @ @ @ @ @ @ siblings who live in Regency-era London .
Tituss Burgess and Julianne Hough are hosting this holiday special from the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida , which airs Friday at 10 a.m. EST on ABC .
The special will feature musical performances around the park from Burgess , Hough , Becky G , Florida A & M Gospel Choir , Jon Batiste , Keedron Bryant , Maddie & Tae , Tori Kelly and Trevor Jackson .
Keegan-Michael Key will also make an appearance .
Dolly Parton will perform holiday classics and songs from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an intimate candlelit set in this special , which airs Friday at 8 p.m. EST on CBS .
Parton will also recall personal Christmas stories .
NBC is airing the classic 1966 animated version of Dr. Seuss ' holiday classic , which will be broadcasted on Friday at 8 p.m. EST .
Witness the original adaptation of How the Grinch Stole Christmas that features the signature theme song , `` You 're a Mean One , Mr .
Grinch . ''
WWE is holding a special Christmas day edition of SmackDown , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his title against Kevin Owens in a Steel Cage match Friday at 8 p.m. EST on Fox .
Big E challenges Sami Zayn for the Intercontinental Championship and newly crowned Women 's Tag Team Champions Asuka and Charlotte Flair will also be in action .
Country music couple Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood will present Garth & Trisha Live !
A Holiday Concert Event , which will air Friday at 9 p.m. EST on CBS .
The duo will perform holiday favorites , live by request , from their home recording studio .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a new mission in the Sahara in Fast & Furious : Spy Racers Season 3 , which premieres Saturday on Netflix .
The Spy Racers crew must finish what Ms .
Nowhere started after she and Gary disappeared in the Sahara .
Off-beat comedy Letterkenny returns for a ninth season , which premieres Saturday on Hulu .
Wayne ( Jared Keeso ) and his friends will get into a big brawl inside of a restaurant , while his sister Katy ( Michelle Mylett ) will enjoy a ladies night out .
Dave Matthews @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Man and more artists will perform during Georgia Comes Alive , a virtual festival , which takes place Saturday at 3 p.m. EST .
The event , which can be viewed after a donation is made , helps support voter participation in the upcoming Georgia runoff elections .

Dec. 24 (UPI) -- Gal Gadot is back as Wonder Woman, Jamie Foxx voices the lead in Disney and Pixar's next animated feature and Shonda Rhimes has a new period drama premiering this holiday weekend.
In addition, Tessa Thompson falls in love with a saxophonist in Sylvie's Love, Letterkenny begins its ninth season and Dave Matthews, Diplo and Foo Fighters will perform during a virtual music festival.
Advertisement
Here's a rundown of some of the films, TV shows and concerts that will be released on Christmas and this weekend.
Films
'The Midnight Sky' -- Netflix
George Clooney stars in and directs The Midnight Sky, which is available now on Netflix. Clooney portrays a lonely scientist in the Arctic who is trying to stop Felicity Jones and a team of astronauts from returning home to a global catastrophe. Caoilinn Springall, Kyle Chandler, David Oyelowo, Tiffany Boone and Demian Bichir also star.
Advertisement
'Sylvie's Love' -- Amazon
Tessa Thompson and Nnamdi Asomugha star in this jazz-infused romance-drama, which is out now on Amazon Prime Video. Thompson's Sylvie falls for Nnamdi's Robert, a saxophonist. The pair drift apart after their lives and careers go in different directions until they are reunited years later.
'A Christmas Story' marathon -- TNT, TBS
TNT and TBS will start their annual 24-hour marathon of classic holiday film A Christmas Story, starting on Thursday at 8 p.m. EST. Professional wrestlers from AEW will reenact scenes from the film. MJF stars as Ralphie, Cody and Brandi Rhodes as Mr. and Mrs. Parker and Chris Jericho as Santa. It airs on TNT.
'Wonder Woman 1984' -- HBO Max
The long-awaited sequel to 2017's Wonder Woman finds the titular superhero (Gal Gadot) in the 1980s as she faces off against Cheetah (Kristen Wiig) and Max Lord (Pedro Pascal). Wonder Woman's former lover Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) is back in this action-adventure, which comes to HBO Max and select theaters on Friday. Patty Jenkins returns as director.
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'Soul' -- Disney +
Disney and Pixar present their next animated feature titled Soul, which comes to Disney+ on Friday. Jamie Foxx voices an aspiring jazz musician whose soul is separated from his body before his big break. Tina Fey, Questlove, Daveed Diggs, Phylicia Rashad also provide voices in the film, from directors Pete Docter and Kemp Powers.
'We Can Be Heroes' -- Netflix
Pedro Pascal, Priyanka Chopra, Christian Slater and Taylor Dooley star in this standalone sequel to The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl from returning director Robert Rodriguez, which premieres Friday on Netflix. The children of Earth's heroes must band together to save their parents.
TV
'Bridgerton' -- Netflix
Phoebe Dynevor, Rege-Jean Page and Julie Andrews star in this period drama from Shonda Rhimes, which arrives on Netflix on Friday. The series is a reimagining of the Julia Quinn book series that follows the titular Bridergtons, eight siblings who live in Regency-era London.
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'Disney Parks Magical Christmas Celebration' -- ABC
Tituss Burgess and Julianne Hough are hosting this holiday special from the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, which airs Friday at 10 a.m. EST on ABC. The special will feature musical performances around the park from Burgess, Hough, Becky G, Florida A&M Gospel Choir, Jon Batiste, Keedron Bryant, Maddie & Tae, Tori Kelly and Trevor Jackson. Keegan-Michael Key will also make an appearance.
'A Holly Dolly Christmas' -- CBS
Dolly Parton will perform holiday classics and songs from her album A Holly Dolly Christmas from an intimate candlelit set in this special, which airs Friday at 8 p.m. EST on CBS. Parton will also recall personal Christmas stories.
'How the Grinch Stole Christmas' -- NBC
NBC is airing the classic 1966 animated version of Dr. Seuss' holiday classic, which will be broadcasted on Friday at 8 p.m. EST. Witness the original adaptation of How the Grinch Stole Christmas that features the signature theme song, "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch."
'WWE SmackDown' -- Fox
WWE is holding a special Christmas day edition of SmackDown, which will feature Universal Champion Roman Reigns defending his title against Kevin Owens in a Steel Cage match Friday at 8 p.m. EST on Fox. Big E challenges Sami Zayn for the Intercontinental Championship and newly crowned Women's Tag Team Champions Asuka and Charlotte Flair will also be in action.
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'Garth & Trisha Live! A Holiday Concert Event' -- CBS
Country music couple Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood will present Garth & Trisha Live! A Holiday Concert Event, which will air Friday at 9 p.m. EST on CBS. The duo will perform holiday favorites, live by request, from their home recording studio.
'Fast & Furious: Spy Racers' Season 3 -- Netflix
The Spy Racers are back and on a new mission in the Sahara in Fast & Furious: Spy Racers Season 3, which premieres Saturday on Netflix. The Spy Racers crew must finish what Ms. Nowhere started after she and Gary disappeared in the Sahara.
'Letterkenny' Season 9 -- Hulu
Off-beat comedy Letterkenny returns for a ninth season, which premieres Saturday on Hulu. Wayne (Jared Keeso) and his friends will get into a big brawl inside of a restaurant, while his sister Katy (Michelle Mylett) will enjoy a ladies night out.
Music
'Georgia Comes Alive' virtual festival -- Online
Dave Matthews, Diplo, Foo Fighters, Portugal. The Man and more artists will perform during Georgia Comes Alive, a virtual festival, which takes place Saturday at 3 p.m. EST. The event, which can be viewed after a donation is made, helps support voter participation in the upcoming Georgia runoff elections.


upi--2020-12-24--Lions' Darrell Bevell won't coach against Buccaneers due to COVID-19 protocols

Dec. 24 ( UPI ) -- Detroit Lions interim head coach Darrell Bevell will miss Saturday 's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers because of COVID-19 protocols , the team announced Thursday .
In Bevell 's absence , the Lions will move wide receivers coach Robert Prince to head coach and give playcalling duties to quarterbacks coach Sean Ryan , who has never called plays at any level .
`` I might need to find a place to watch it by myself , '' Bevell said of Saturday 's matchup .
`` You know , I ca n't even tell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like .
I know what it was like sitting out , but sitting out and knowing that I 'm just totally disappointed that I ca n't be there and I want to be there for my guys and all the respect that I have for these players .
`` I 'll be a madman , I think .
I 'll be jumping up and down .
I 'll be less calm than I am on game day . ''
On the defensive side of the ball , defensive coordinator Cory Undlin and three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line ) , Ty McKenzie ( linebackers ) and Steve Gregory ( defensive backs ) -- also will not coach Saturday due to COVID-19 protocols .
Bevell and several coaches were deemed to be close contacts after two positive COVID-19 test results surfaced earlier this week .
Bevell said Wednesday that he believed the positive tests resulted from the team 's most recent game against the Tennessee Titans in Nashville .
The Lions will host the Buccaneers at 1 p.m. EST Saturday at Ford Field in Detroit .

Detroit Lions interim head coach Darrell Bevell and several coaches were deemed to be close contacts after two positive COVID-19 test results surfaced earlier this week. File Photo by Mark Black/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 24 (UPI) -- Detroit Lions interim head coach Darrell Bevell will miss Saturday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers because of COVID-19 protocols, the team announced Thursday. In Bevell's absence, the Lions will move wide receivers coach Robert Prince to head coach and give playcalling duties to quarterbacks coach Sean Ryan, who has never called plays at any level. Advertisement
"I might need to find a place to watch it by myself," Bevell said of Saturday's matchup. "You know, I can't even tell you what it's going to be like. I know what it was like sitting out, but sitting out and knowing that I'm just totally disappointed that I can't be there and I want to be there for my guys and all the respect that I have for these players.
"I'll be a madman, I think. I'll be jumping up and down. I'll be less calm than I am on game day."
On the defensive side of the ball, defensive coordinator Cory Undlin and three position coaches -- Bo Davis (defensive line), Ty McKenzie (linebackers) and Steve Gregory (defensive backs) -- also will not coach Saturday due to COVID-19 protocols.
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Bevell and several coaches were deemed to be close contacts after two positive COVID-19 test results surfaced earlier this week. Bevell said Wednesday that he believed the positive tests resulted from the team's most recent game against the Tennessee Titans in Nashville.
The Lions will host the Buccaneers at 1 p.m. EST Saturday at Ford Field in Detroit.
This week in the National Football League


upi--2020-12-24--Federal court rejects Trump's Wisconsin election challenge

Dec. 24 ( UPI ) -- A federal appeals court on Thursday rejected a challenge by President Donald Trump 's campaign , seeking to invalidate more than 200,000 ballots cast for President-elect Joe Biden and have Republican electors cast the state 's electoral votes .
The three-judge panel of the Chicago-based 7th Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously rejected the Trump campaign 's challenge , which stated the Wisconsin Election Commission violated the Constitution by changing voting practices involving , early in-person voting , absentee drop boxes and indefinitely confined voters .
`` The president has had a full opportunity before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Wisconsin law underlying his present claims , '' Judge Michael Scudder Jr. , a Trump appointee , wrote in the decision .
`` Having foregone that opportunity , he can not now -- after the election results have been certified as final -- seek to bring those challenges .
All of this is especially so given that the Commission announced well in advance of the election the guidance he now challenges . ''
Wisconsin election officials and Gov .
Tony Evers certified Biden 's win on Nov. 30 and the state 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to cast its 10 electoral votes for Biden .
The court added that it was not its role to enforce the details of state law .
`` Whatever actions the Commission took here , it took under color of authority expressly granted to it by the Legislature .
And that authority is not diminished by allegations that the Commission erred in its exercise , '' wrote Scudder .
The changes featured in the challenge included voters who were permitted to vote without providing photo ID by declaring themselves , `` indefinitely confined '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 pandemic with a witness ' signature on the ballot envelope replacing the photo ID requirement .
Another was all in-person absentee ballots , with petitioners alleging they should be invalidated since they were n't a `` written application . ''
Third , the Trump campaign alleged municipal officials improperly added witness information on ballots .
And fourth , they alleged all ballots collected at `` Democracy in the Park , '' two City of Madison events in the fall were cast illegally .
Earlier this month , the Wisconsin Supreme Court voted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the decision split between three liberal-backed and three conservative-backed justices with conservative Justice Brian Hagedorn delivering the majority opinion .

The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday rejected the Trump campaign's challenge seeking to invalidate 200,000 votes for President-elect Joe Biden over changes to the state's election laws. File Photo by Chris Kleponis/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 24 (UPI) -- A federal appeals court on Thursday rejected a challenge by President Donald Trump's campaign, seeking to invalidate more than 200,000 ballots cast for President-elect Joe Biden and have Republican electors cast the state's electoral votes. The three-judge panel of the Chicago-based 7th Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously rejected the Trump campaign's challenge, which stated the Wisconsin Election Commission violated the Constitution by changing voting practices involving, early in-person voting, absentee drop boxes and indefinitely confined voters. Advertisement
"The president has had a full opportunity before the election to press the very challenges to Wisconsin law underlying his present claims," Judge Michael Scudder Jr., a Trump appointee, wrote in the decision. "Having foregone that opportunity, he cannot now -- after the election results have been certified as final -- seek to bring those challenges. All of this is especially so given that the Commission announced well in advance of the election the guidance he now challenges."
Wisconsin election officials and Gov. Tony Evers certified Biden's win on Nov. 30 and the state's electors gathered in Madison on Dec. 14 to cast its 10 electoral votes for Biden.
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The court added that it was not its role to enforce the details of state law.
"Whatever actions the Commission took here, it took under color of authority expressly granted to it by the Legislature. And that authority is not diminished by allegations that the Commission erred in its exercise," wrote Scudder.
The changes featured in the challenge included voters who were permitted to vote without providing photo ID by declaring themselves, "indefinitely confined" due to age or disability amid the COVID-19 pandemic with a witness' signature on the ballot envelope replacing the photo ID requirement. Another was all in-person absentee ballots, with petitioners alleging they should be invalidated since they weren't a "written application." Third, the Trump campaign alleged municipal officials improperly added witness information on ballots. And fourth, they alleged all ballots collected at "Democracy in the Park," two City of Madison events in the fall were cast illegally.
Earlier this month, the Wisconsin Supreme Court voted 4-3 to dismiss the suit, with the decision split between three liberal-backed and three conservative-backed justices with conservative Justice Brian Hagedorn delivering the majority opinion.


upi--2020-12-24--DeVonta Smith, Trevor Lawrence headline 2020 Heisman Trophy finalists

Dec. 24 ( UPI ) -- Clemson Tigers quarterback Trevor Lawrence , Florida Gators quarterback Kyle Trask and Alabama Crimson Tide teammates DeVonta Smith and Mac Jones were announced as the 2020 Heisman Memorial Trophy finalists on Thursday .
Voting for this year 's award is expected to be much closer than in 2019 , when former LSU quarterback Joe Burrow was the heavy favorite to win .
The Heisman Trophy winner will be revealed Jan. 5 in a virtual ceremony .
Smith made a strong case over the final month of the college football season after fellow Alabama receiver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ injury .
Smith leads the country with 98 catches and 1,511 receiving yards to go with 17 touchdown receptions .
`` He 's the most electric player in college football , '' Jones said .
`` He means the most to us here at Alabama football .
You can watch the games and see that , what type of person he is with how he plays . ''
Smith could become the first non-quarterback to win the Heisman since Alabama running back Derrick Henry in 2015 .
The last receiver to win the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1991 .
Jones , a redshirt junior , has thrown for 3,739 yards and 32 touchdowns this season .
He has tossed only four interceptions and guided the top-ranked Crimson Tide to a 52-46 win over Florida in the SEC title game last week .
Smith and Jones also are finalists for the Maxwell Award , which is given annually to the best player in the nation .
Lawrence is just the second player in Clemson history to become a Heisman finalist , joining current Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson ( 2015-16 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lawrence has recorded 2,753 passing yards with 22 touchdowns and four interceptions .
He has added 211 rushing yards and seven scores on the ground .
Trask put together one of the best seasons in Florida history in 2020 .
In 11 games , he threw a school-record 43 touchdowns -- which leads the country by 11 .
He also leads the country in passing yards per game ( 375 ) and set a school record with 4,125 passing yards .
Also revealed Thursday were players who finished in the top 10 in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ running back Najee Harris at No .
5 ; Iowa State running back Breece Hall at No .
6 ; Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields at No .
7 ; BYU quarterback Zach Wilson at No .
8 ; Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book at No .
9 ; Florida tight end Kyle Pitts at No .
10 .

Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver DeVonta Smith is hoping to become the first non-quarterback to win the Heisman Trophy since 2015. File Photo by Mark Wallheiser/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 24 (UPI) -- Clemson Tigers quarterback Trevor Lawrence, Florida Gators quarterback Kyle Trask and Alabama Crimson Tide teammates DeVonta Smith and Mac Jones were announced as the 2020 Heisman Memorial Trophy finalists on Thursday. Voting for this year's award is expected to be much closer than in 2019, when former LSU quarterback Joe Burrow was the heavy favorite to win. The Heisman Trophy winner will be revealed Jan. 5 in a virtual ceremony. Advertisement
Smith made a strong case over the final month of the college football season after fellow Alabama receiver Jaylen Waddle went down with an ankle injury. Smith leads the country with 98 catches and 1,511 receiving yards to go with 17 touchdown receptions.
"He's the most electric player in college football," Jones said. "He means the most to us here at Alabama football. You can watch the games and see that, what type of person he is with how he plays."
Smith could become the first non-quarterback to win the Heisman since Alabama running back Derrick Henry in 2015. The last receiver to win the trophy was Michigan star Desmond Howard in 1991.
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Jones, a redshirt junior, has thrown for 3,739 yards and 32 touchdowns this season. He has tossed only four interceptions and guided the top-ranked Crimson Tide to a 52-46 win over Florida in the SEC title game last week.
Smith and Jones also are finalists for the Maxwell Award, which is given annually to the best player in the nation.
Congratulations to our 2020 #HeismanTrophy finalists, Alabama's Mac Jones, Clemson's Trevor Lawrence, Alabama's DeVonta Smith and Florida's Kyle Trask! Full release: https://t.co/Ve8ldfcDAE pic.twitter.com/gbJnrH3a1e— The Heisman Trophy (@HeismanTrophy) December 25, 2020
Lawrence is just the second player in Clemson history to become a Heisman finalist, joining current Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson (2015-16). In nine games this season, Lawrence has recorded 2,753 passing yards with 22 touchdowns and four interceptions. He has added 211 rushing yards and seven scores on the ground.
Trask put together one of the best seasons in Florida history in 2020. In 11 games, he threw a school-record 43 touchdowns -- which leads the country by 11. He also leads the country in passing yards per game (375) and set a school record with 4,125 passing yards.
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Also revealed Thursday were players who finished in the top 10 in voting. Those players are: Alabama running back Najee Harris at No. 5; Iowa State running back Breece Hall at No. 6; Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields at No. 7; BYU quarterback Zach Wilson at No. 8; Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book at No. 9; Florida tight end Kyle Pitts at No. 10.


upi--2020-12-24--Mexico, Chile, Costa Rica begin administering COVID-19 vaccine

Dec. 24 ( UPI ) -- Mexico , Chile and Costa Rica became the first countries in Latin America to begin administering COVID-19 vaccines on Thursday .
Mexico administered the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to Maria Irene Ramirez , 59 , the head of the intensive care unit at Ruben Lenero Hospital in Mexico City .
`` This is the best gift that I could have received in 2020 , '' she said .
`` We are afraid , but we have to keep going because someone has to face this fight . ''
The first doses of the German and U.S.-developed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chile with both countries beginning vaccinations shortly after Mexico , while Argentina received 300,000 doses of Russia 's Sputnik V vaccine on Thursday .
Latin America has become a hotspot for the virus with Mexico reporting 1,350,079 cases and 120,311 deaths , Chile with 594,152 cases and 16,303 deaths , while Costa Rica has 162,990 and 2,086 deaths since the start of the pandemic , according to data gathered by Johns Hopkins University .
The Mexican government has said it plans to vaccinate all health workers by the end of the first quarter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to guarantee this health car right , with vaccines for all Mexicans , '' President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said during a press conference Thursday .
`` We already have the budget , with the money to purchase all the doses that are required . ''
Authorities in Mexico City raised the pandemic alert level in the capital to its highest level , establishing mass shutdowns with only essential businesses remaining open .
However , the federal government 's response has faced criticism as it held data that indicated the capital should have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Obrador has refused to wear a mask and continued public rallies throughout the country .

Mexico, Chile and Costa Rica led Latin America on Thursday, becoming the first countries in the region to begin administering COVID-19 vaccines. Photo by Sashenka Gutierrez/EPA-EFE
Dec. 24 (UPI) -- Mexico, Chile and Costa Rica became the first countries in Latin America to begin administering COVID-19 vaccines on Thursday. Mexico administered the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to Maria Irene Ramirez, 59, the head of the intensive care unit at Ruben Lenero Hospital in Mexico City. Advertisement
"This is the best gift that I could have received in 2020," she said. "We are afraid, but we have to keep going because someone has to face this fight."
The first doses of the German and U.S.-developed Pfizer-BioNTech also arrived in Costa Rica and Chile with both countries beginning vaccinations shortly after Mexico, while Argentina received 300,000 doses of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine on Thursday.
Latin America has become a hotspot for the virus with Mexico reporting 1,350,079 cases and 120,311 deaths, Chile with 594,152 cases and 16,303 deaths, while Costa Rica has 162,990 and 2,086 deaths since the start of the pandemic, according to data gathered by Johns Hopkins University.
The Mexican government has said it plans to vaccinate all health workers by the end of the first quarter of 2021.
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"We are going to guarantee this health car right, with vaccines for all Mexicans," President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said during a press conference Thursday. "We already have the budget, with the money to purchase all the doses that are required."
Authorities in Mexico City raised the pandemic alert level in the capital to its highest level, establishing mass shutdowns with only essential businesses remaining open.
However, the federal government's response has faced criticism as it held data that indicated the capital should have locked down in early December and Lopez Obrador has refused to wear a mask and continued public rallies throughout the country.


upi--2020-12-24--Hornets' Cody Zeller to miss at least four weeks following hand surgery

Dec. 24 ( UPI ) -- Charlotte Hornets center Cody Zeller will miss at least four weeks after undergoing surgery for a fractured left hand , the team announced Thursday .
In a statement , the Hornets said Zeller had successful surgery on the fourth metacarpal of his left hand .
He had the procedure performed by Dr. Michelle Carlson at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York .
The 28-year-old Zeller suffered the injury during the Hornets ' season-opening loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday .
According to ESPN , Zeller is expected to miss four to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be listed as out and will be reevaluated in four weeks , leaving Charlotte without its starting center for an extended period .
In Zeller 's absence , the Hornets could slot backup center Bismack Biyombo into the starting lineup .
Charlotte also has an open roster spot to potentially add a player .
Zeller posted career-best averages of 11.1 points and 7.1 rebounds per game last season .
Charlotte selected Zeller with the No .
4 overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft out of Indiana .
In 420 career games @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he has averaged 8.6 points and 5.9 rebounds .

Charlotte Hornets center Cody Zeller (R) suffered the hand injury during Wednesday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 24 (UPI) -- Charlotte Hornets center Cody Zeller will miss at least four weeks after undergoing surgery for a fractured left hand, the team announced Thursday. In a statement, the Hornets said Zeller had successful surgery on the fourth metacarpal of his left hand. He had the procedure performed by Dr. Michelle Carlson at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. Advertisement
The 28-year-old Zeller suffered the injury during the Hornets' season-opening loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday. According to ESPN, Zeller is expected to miss four to six weeks.
The Hornets said Zeller will be listed as out and will be reevaluated in four weeks, leaving Charlotte without its starting center for an extended period.
In Zeller's absence, the Hornets could slot backup center Bismack Biyombo into the starting lineup. Charlotte also has an open roster spot to potentially add a player.
Zeller posted career-best averages of 11.1 points and 7.1 rebounds per game last season.
Charlotte selected Zeller with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft out of Indiana. In 420 career games (253 starts) with the franchise, he has averaged 8.6 points and 5.9 rebounds.


upi--2020-12-24--Pirates trade All-Star first baseman Josh Bell to Nationals

Dec. 24 ( UPI ) -- The Pittsburgh Pirates have traded All-Star first baseman Josh Bell to the Washington Nationals , the team announced Thursday .
The Pirates will receive young pitchers Wil Crowe and Eddy Yean in return for Bell .
Crowe made his debut with the Nationals last season .
`` We are thrilled to be adding a player of Josh Bell 's caliber to our team , '' Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said in a statement .
`` He adds a switch-hitting power bat to our lineup .
And we know Josh will be an outstanding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
The 28-year-old Bell was an All-Star selection in 2019 after a strong first half in which he recorded a .302 batting average with 27 home runs and 84 RBIs .
Bell , however , has struggled to keep that form over the last year-plus , as he hit .233 with 10 home runs during an injury-riddled second half of the 2019 campaign .
He had only eight homers while batting a career-worst .226 in 57 games for the Pirates last season .
`` In order to build that winning team and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's going to require some difficult decisions at times , '' Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said .
`` This is one of those .
`` I believe what Pirates fans want is a winning team more than they want to root for a single player , even one who is a really good guy and a good player .
If we think about that , that 's how we see it . ''
Bell is under contractual control through at least the 2022 season .
Crowe , 26 , was one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He had a 0-2 record and 11.88 ERA in three starts for Washington in 2020 .
The 19-year-old Yean signed with the Nationals as an undrafted free agent in 2020 .
He has posted a 3-5 record with 75 strikeouts while playing in the low minors .

Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Josh Bell (L) had a .226 batting average with eight home runs in 57 games last season. File Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 24 (UPI) -- The Pittsburgh Pirates have traded All-Star first baseman Josh Bell to the Washington Nationals, the team announced Thursday. The Pirates will receive young pitchers Wil Crowe and Eddy Yean in return for Bell. Crowe made his debut with the Nationals last season. Advertisement
"We are thrilled to be adding a player of Josh Bell's caliber to our team," Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said in a statement. "He adds a switch-hitting power bat to our lineup. And we know Josh will be an outstanding addition to our clubhouse and our community."
The 28-year-old Bell was an All-Star selection in 2019 after a strong first half in which he recorded a .302 batting average with 27 home runs and 84 RBIs.
Bell, however, has struggled to keep that form over the last year-plus, as he hit .233 with 10 home runs during an injury-riddled second half of the 2019 campaign. He had only eight homers while batting a career-worst .226 in 57 games for the Pirates last season.
"In order to build that winning team and get to that winning team, it's going to require some difficult decisions at times," Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said. "This is one of those.
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"I believe what Pirates fans want is a winning team more than they want to root for a single player, even one who is a really good guy and a good player. If we think about that, that's how we see it."
Bell is under contractual control through at least the 2022 season.
Crowe, 26, was one of the Nationals' top pitching prospects. He had a 0-2 record and 11.88 ERA in three starts for Washington in 2020.
The 19-year-old Yean signed with the Nationals as an undrafted free agent in 2020. He has posted a 3-5 record with 75 strikeouts while playing in the low minors.


upi--2020-12-24--Future USS Inouye completes builder's trials after 4 days at sea

Dec. 24 ( UPI ) -- The future USS Daniel Inouye completed builder 's trials after spending four days at sea off the coast of Maine last week , the Navy announced .
Builder 's trials consist of a sequence of in-port and at-sea demonstrations allowing the Navy and the ship 's builder , General Dynamics Bath Iron Works , to assess whether the ship is ready for delivery .
`` The successful completion of these trials is a critical step to ensuring full combat-readiness of the ship , '' Capt .
Seth Miller , DDG 51 class program manager @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ships , said in a Navy press release .
`` The Navy and Industry team is dedicated to adding DDG 118 's critical warfighting capabilities to the fleet and strengthening the Navy 's readiness . ''
The vessel will return to sea early in 2021 to conduct acceptance trials , during which all systems will be inspected and evaluated before the Navy can accept delivery .
The Inouye is a Flight IIA destroyer equipped with the Aegis Baseline combat system , intended to deliver quick reaction time , high firepower and increased electronic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Inouye , a long-time senator from Hawaii and a World War II veteran , the vessel was christened in June 2019 .

The USS Jason Dunham, a Flight IIA Arleigh Burke like the future USS Daniel Inouye, arrives at Naval Station Norfolk in 2010. Photo by Julie R. Matyascik/U.S. Navy
Dec. 24 (UPI) -- The future USS Daniel Inouye completed builder's trials after spending four days at sea off the coast of Maine last week, the Navy announced. Builder's trials consist of a sequence of in-port and at-sea demonstrations allowing the Navy and the ship's builder, General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, to assess whether the ship is ready for delivery. Advertisement
"The successful completion of these trials is a critical step to ensuring full combat-readiness of the ship," Capt. Seth Miller, DDG 51 class program manager, Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships, said in a Navy press release. "The Navy and Industry team is dedicated to adding DDG 118's critical warfighting capabilities to the fleet and strengthening the Navy's readiness."
The vessel will return to sea early in 2021 to conduct acceptance trials, during which all systems will be inspected and evaluated before the Navy can accept delivery.
The Inouye is a Flight IIA destroyer equipped with the Aegis Baseline combat system, intended to deliver quick reaction time, high firepower and increased electronic countermeasures.
Named for the late Daniel Inouye, a long-time senator from Hawaii and a World War II veteran, the vessel was christened in June 2019.
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upi--2020-12-24--U.S. COVID-19 cases top 200,000 for first time in 5 days; California passes 2M cases

Dec. 24 ( UPI ) -- For the first time in almost a week , there are more than 200,000 new COVID-19 cases in the United States , along with more than 3,000 new deaths nationwide .
According to updated data from Johns Hopkins University on Thursday , there were 228,100 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday and about 3,500 deaths .
The case count is the first to exceed 200,000 since last Friday .
The death toll Wednesday is the third-highest to date .
The second-highest was seen on Tuesday .
Since the start of the pandemic , there have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths , according to Johns Hopkins .
There are almost 120,000 coronavirus patients in U.S. hospitals , according to the COVID Tracking Project , the highest figure of the COVID-19 era .
Additionally , California became the first state in the nation to surpass 2 million COVID-19 cases , just 44 days after recording 1 million cases on Nov. 11 as much of the state remains under a stay-at-home order .
The California Department of Public health reported 39,070 new cases from Wednesday , bringing its total to 2,003,146 , while also adding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 23,635 .
The state also reported a record of 18,875 hospitalizations including another record with 3,962 patients in ICU units .
`` It is a reminder that this virus continues to spread through our communities , '' said Dr. Mark Ghaly , secretary of California 's Health and Human Services Agency .
`` Hospitals are full , ICU beds are few , people are dying .
The simplest thing we can do , but also the most significant , is to stay home .
We are the first line of defense against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
A forecasting model by researchers at the University of Washington 's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation now predicts there will be 567,000 deaths in the United States by April .
The updated figure reflects fewer expected vaccinations , due to likely delays in the approval of a new vaccine from AstraZeneca and Oxford University .
`` Deaths are expected to rise into mid-January and then begin declining if state governments impose mandates on gatherings , bar and restaurant openings , and other major locations for transmission , '' the researchers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surpass 5,000 per day by mid-February if governments do n't order additional restrictions .
Of particular concern to health officials is an uptick in holiday travel , which began in earnest on Wednesday .
The Transportation Security Administration says almost 1.2 million travelers passed through airport screening checkpoints on Wednesday -- the most in a single day since the start of the pandemic .
Health experts , including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , have almost universally urged people to stay home over the holiday season to curb the spread of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an attempt by Democratic lawmakers to gain unanimous consent and increase the next stimulus payment to Americans to $ 2,000 , as President Donald Trump floated this week .
• The government is far away from its goal to vaccinate 20 million Americans before the end of 2020 .
So far , a little more than 1 million people in the United States have been vaccinated .

Masked dancers dressed as Santa Claus entertain patrons at a diner in Clayton, Mo., on Wednesday. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 24 (UPI) -- For the first time in almost a week, there are more than 200,000 new COVID-19 cases in the United States, along with more than 3,000 new deaths nationwide. According to updated data from Johns Hopkins University on Thursday, there were 228,100 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday and about 3,500 deaths. The case count is the first to exceed 200,000 since last Friday. Advertisement
The death toll Wednesday is the third-highest to date. The second-highest was seen on Tuesday.
Since the start of the pandemic, there have been about 18.47 million cases and 326,300 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins.
There are almost 120,000 coronavirus patients in U.S. hospitals, according to the COVID Tracking Project, the highest figure of the COVID-19 era.
Additionally, California became the first state in the nation to surpass 2 million COVID-19 cases, just 44 days after recording 1 million cases on Nov. 11 as much of the state remains under a stay-at-home order.
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The California Department of Public health reported 39,070 new cases from Wednesday, bringing its total to 2,003,146, while also adding 351 deaths to raise its death toll to 23,635.
The state also reported a record of 18,875 hospitalizations including another record with 3,962 patients in ICU units.
"It is a reminder that this virus continues to spread through our communities," said Dr. Mark Ghaly, secretary of California's Health and Human Services Agency. "Hospitals are full, ICU beds are few, people are dying. The simplest thing we can do, but also the most significant, is to stay home. We are the first line of defense against this virus and we must act now."
A forecasting model by researchers at the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation now predicts there will be 567,000 deaths in the United States by April.
The updated figure reflects fewer expected vaccinations, due to likely delays in the approval of a new vaccine from AstraZeneca and Oxford University.
"Deaths are expected to rise into mid-January and then begin declining if state governments impose mandates on gatherings, bar and restaurant openings, and other major locations for transmission," the researchers said.
They warned that deaths could surpass 5,000 per day by mid-February if governments don't order additional restrictions.
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Of particular concern to health officials is an uptick in holiday travel, which began in earnest on Wednesday. The Transportation Security Administration says almost 1.2 million travelers passed through airport screening checkpoints on Wednesday -- the most in a single day since the start of the pandemic.
Health experts, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, have almost universally urged people to stay home over the holiday season to curb the spread of the virus.
In other COVID-19 developments Thursday:


upi--2020-12-24--USS John McCain navigates through South China Sea

Dec. 24 ( UPI ) -- USS John McCain conducted what the Navy is describing as a `` freedom of @ @ @ @ @ Con Dao Islands in the South China Sea Thursday .
`` The ship conducted normal @ @ @ @ @ territorial seas to challenge excessive maritime claims and preserve access and navigational freedoms consistent with @ @ @ @ @ a press statement from the Navy .
Thursday 's freedom of navigation operation is the @ @ @ @ @ week .
On Tuesday the McCain navigated near the South China Sea 's Spratly islands @ @ @ @ @ claimed on state television that the Chinese People 's Liberation Army expelled the McCain , @ @ @ @ @ that claim .
The Navy said its operations `` are designed in accordance with international @ @ @ @ @ United States will fly , sail and operate wherever international law allows , '' regardless @ @ @ @ @ and regardless of current events . ''
Specifically , the Navy said Thursday 's operation @ @ @ @ @ Law of the Sea Convention , the international framework for maritime law .

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer John S. McCain (DDG 56) fires its MK-45 5-inch gun during a live-fire exercise in 2014. Photo by Ricardo R Guzman/U.S. Navy
Dec. 24 (UPI) -- USS John McCain conducted what the Navy is describing as a "freedom of navigation operation" near the Con Dao Islands in the South China Sea Thursday. "The ship conducted normal operations within Vietnam's claimed territorial seas to challenge excessive maritime claims and preserve access and navigational freedoms consistent with international law," said a press statement from the Navy. Advertisement
Thursday's freedom of navigation operation is the second in the region this week.
On Tuesday the McCain navigated near the South China Sea's Spratly islands.
The Chinese government later claimed on state television that the Chinese People's Liberation Army expelled the McCain, but the Navy has contested that claim.
The Navy said its operations "are designed in accordance with international law and demonstrate that the United States will fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows," regardless of "excessive maritime claims and regardless of current events."
Specifically, the Navy said Thursday's operation was protected under the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention, the international framework for maritime law.


upi--2020-12-24--U.S. plans to open consulate in Western Sahara, Pompeo says

Dec. 24 ( UPI ) -- The United States will open a consulate in Western Sahara , U.S. Secretary of @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Pleased to announce the beginning of the process to establish a U.S. consulate @ @ @ @ @ inauguration of a virtual presence post effective immediately ! ''
Pompeo wrote on Twitter Thursday @ @ @ @ @ forward to promoting economic and social development , and to engage the people of this @ @ @ @ @ statement , Pompeo added that the virtual presence post in Sahara will be managed by @ @ @ @ @ .
The virtual post will focus on `` promoting economic and social development '' in @ @ @ @ @ a fully functioning consulate .
Thursday 's announcement came after President Donald Trump recognized Morocco @ @ @ @ @ as part of a deal to normalize relations between Morocco and Israel .
The Moroccan @ @ @ @ @ area , but a small portion has been managed by the partially recognized Sahrawi Arab @ @ @ @ @ sovereign state established by the Polisario Front in the 1970s .

U.S. Secretary Mike Pompeo announced Thursday that the United States plans to open a consulate in Western Sahara after President Donald Trump recognized Morocco's sovereignty over the region earlier this month. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 24 (UPI) -- The United States will open a consulate in Western Sahara, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Thursday. "Pleased to announce the beginning of the process to establish a U.S. consulate in Western Sahara and the inauguration of a virtual presence post effective immediately!" Pompeo wrote on Twitter Thursday afternoon. Advertisement
"We look forward to promoting economic and social development, and to engage the people of this region."
In a statement, Pompeo added that the virtual presence post in Sahara will be managed by the U.S. embassy in Rabat.
The virtual post will focus on "promoting economic and social development" in advance of the establishment of a fully functioning consulate.
Thursday's announcement came after President Donald Trump recognized Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara as part of a deal to normalize relations between Morocco and Israel.
The Moroccan government has mostly controlled the area, but a small portion has been managed by the partially recognized Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, a self-proclaimed sovereign state established by the Polisario Front in the 1970s.


upi--2020-12-24--Drug offers hope for acute myeloid leukemia treatment in older adults

Dec. 24 ( UPI ) -- A new drug for acute myeloid leukemia , or AML , improves overall survival in people with the deadly blood cancer by up to 10 months , according to the results of a Phase 3 clinical trial published Thursday by the New England Journal of Medicine .
In a study conducted at 148 hospitals in 23 countries , the drug , called CC-486 , improved survival in patients age 55 and older , the data showed .
Those given the medication , a tablet formulation of the drug azacitidine , had an average survival @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compared to 15 months for patients who did not take the drug .
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved CC-486 in September .
`` It is very exciting to think that , by taking a tablet that is relatively well-tolerated , we can help reduce relapse risk and improve survival , '' study co-author Dr. Andrew Wei said in a press release .
Normally , `` after intensive chemotherapy , the risk of AML relapse is high , '' said Wei , a hematologist at Alfred Health in Melbourne , Australia .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ blood cancer in adults , and the risk for the disease and relapse after remission increases with age .
With current treatments , the prognosis for those with the disease is generally poor .
The majority of older patients will die within two years of diagnosis .
Some 20,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia annually , according to the researchers .
The global trial focused on older adults `` because of an unmet need to identify new agents able to improve outcome in patients after completing chemotherapy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ older patients are not eligible to receive a stem cell transplant and so a less toxic option to reduce disease recurrence is desirable , rather than just being monitored and waiting for the disease to come back , '' he said .
For the study , 472 patients , with an average age 68 years , were either given CC-486 or a placebo .
In addition to longer overall survival , those given CC-486 survived an average about 10 months before disease relapse , compared to an average of about five months for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Our findings show that CC-486 significantly delays recurrence of the disease , thereby prolonging survival and without impacting on quality of life , '' Wei said .
`` This is a very significant advance because the drug is easy to administer and means that adults with acute myeloid leukemia do n't have to spend extra time in hospital , '' he said .

Dec. 24 (UPI) -- A new drug for acute myeloid leukemia, or AML, improves overall survival in people with the deadly blood cancer by up to 10 months, according to the results of a Phase 3 clinical trial published Thursday by the New England Journal of Medicine.
In a study conducted at 148 hospitals in 23 countries, the drug, called CC-486, improved survival in patients age 55 and older, the data showed.
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Those given the medication, a tablet formulation of the drug azacitidine, had an average survival from remission of almost 25 months, compared to 15 months for patients who did not take the drug.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved CC-486 in September.
"It is very exciting to think that, by taking a tablet that is relatively well-tolerated, we can help reduce relapse risk and improve survival," study co-author Dr. Andrew Wei said in a press release.
Normally, "after intensive chemotherapy, the risk of AML relapse is high," said Wei, a hematologist at Alfred Health in Melbourne, Australia.
Acute myeloid leukemia is the most severe blood cancer in adults, and the risk for the disease and relapse after remission increases with age.
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With current treatments, the prognosis for those with the disease is generally poor. The majority of older patients will die within two years of diagnosis.
Some 20,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia annually, according to the researchers.
The global trial focused on older adults "because of an unmet need to identify new agents able to improve outcome in patients after completing chemotherapy," Wei said.
"Many older patients are not eligible to receive a stem cell transplant and so a less toxic option to reduce disease recurrence is desirable, rather than just being monitored and waiting for the disease to come back," he said.
For the study, 472 patients, with an average age 68 years, were either given CC-486 or a placebo.
In addition to longer overall survival, those given CC-486 survived an average about 10 months before disease relapse, compared to an average of about five months for those given placebo, the researchers said.
"Our findings show that CC-486 significantly delays recurrence of the disease, thereby prolonging survival and without impacting on quality of life," Wei said.
"This is a very significant advance because the drug is easy to administer and means that adults with acute myeloid leukemia don't have to spend extra time in hospital," he said.


upi--2020-12-24--Delivery drivers working to death amid online shopping boom in S. Korea

SEOUL , Dec. 24 ( UPI ) -- While the COVID-19 pandemic has taken an economic toll on many industries , online shopping and delivery services have thrived in this year of shuttered storefronts and social distancing .
In South Korea , however , the delivery drivers at the heart of the pandemic economy say that the boom has left them working brutal hours , with an alarming number of injuries and even deaths on the job .
`` This year has been very tough , '' delivery worker Kim Do-gyun , 48 , said as he made deliveries on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Eve .
`` There 's no other sector where so many workers have died .
It 's a serious systematic problem . ''
Couriers have been logging an average of over 71 hours per week during the COVID-19 era , according to a September survey by the Center for Workers ' Health and Safety -- an increase of 30 % over pre-virus days .
Stress and physical strain also has led to 16 deaths so far this year from overwork , known as gwarosa in Korean , a union for the drivers says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week , when a 34-year-old delivery worker in the city of Suwon was found dead Wednesday at his home .
The worker , identified as Mr. Park by the union , had routinely worked from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. and had lost more than 40 pounds since July , according to family members .
Long days such as these have become the norm for the more than 50,000 delivery workers in South Korea such as Kim , who has been a driver for six years .
Kim said he wakes up at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has center where he starts his day before 7 a.m .
There , like most couriers , he spends the next several hours sorting his packages as they come tumbling down a conveyor belt -- work that is unpaid , as drivers only receive a commission for each parcel they deliver .
He usually finishes sorting between 1:30 and 2 p.m. before finally beginning his deliveries , which he wraps up each night at 9 or 10 p.m. Kim carries out the routine six days a week , often skipping meals and subsisting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truck .
Profits have soared for South Korea 's delivery giants , such as CJ Logistics , Hanshin Shipping and Lotte Global Logistics , on the back of shipments that have grown more than 20 % this year , but the benefits have not been trickling down to the drivers .
Only a tiny fraction of the couriers work for the major shipping companies directly ; the rest are contract laborers for agencies that act as intermediaries .
As such , they remain in a legal limbo without worker protections such as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jae-in in 2018 .
`` The reason why they are working under conditions like this is because the companies do not hire them directly -- they are classified as special workers and do not fall under the Labor Standards Act , '' said Kang Min-wook , head of training and publicity for the National Association of Delivery Drivers , the union that supports the couriers .
`` The companies do n't pay them hourly , and they are not protected by the law .
So the [ courier ] companies are making more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeing the same benefits , '' he said .
Delivery drivers are paid by the parcel , a commission that has been squeezed this year by competition between the big courier companies , Kang said .
It currently stands at around 65 cents per package .
The couriers have seen their sheer volume of packages delivered rise dramatically this year , according to the September survey .
Before the pandemic , an average daily total of deliveries for a driver was 247 .
This year , it 's been 313 .
On Christmas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deliver .
However , drivers face a host of expenses that eat into their earnings .
They must supply and maintain their own delivery trucks , as well as pay for everything from packing tape to waybills to the specialized delivery app they use .
The couriers also do n't receive any paid time off , and most are not covered by accident insurance .
As South Korea dipped into a recession in the first half of the year due to the pandemic and is currently trying to recover from a third wave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as couriers find themselves without many alternatives for employment .
`` Most delivery workers used to work in another sector , but now we have nowhere else to go , '' Kim said .
`` We 're at the end of the road . ''
Protests , strikes and news coverage has heightened awareness of the plight of the delivery drivers , and the public has responded with social media campaigns and gestures such as leaving thank-you notes and snacks for the couriers .
The government has also begun taking steps to improve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month that will offer unemployment benefits and accident insurance to gig workers beginning later in 2021 .
This week , the Ministry of Employment and Labor announced that it would set up a dedicated department for gig workers and more closely regulate delivery companies .
`` Currently , anyone can establish a delivery service without restrictions , which limits the protection of delivery workers , '' Employment and Labor Minister Lee Jae-kap said during a press briefing Monday .
The shipping companies have announced a series of changes , including adopting flexible hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the largest firm in the industry with some 21,000 workers , announced in October it would hire 4,000 more employees to help sort packages .
Kim , however , said he has n't seen any difference yet in his daily routine .
`` The companies have announced the solutions and they say they will take place , but I question whether they 'll really happen , '' said Kim , who is active in the driver 's labor union .
`` I do n't have any hope that things will change unless we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Because if we do n't fight against this , nothing will change .
Nothing will improve . ''
In the meantime , Kim said he fully expects there to be more injuries and more cases of gwarosa in the days and weeks ahead .
`` I believe there will be more deaths , '' he said .
`` We need to work to live .
It 's ironic that people are dying from it . ''

1/7
Kim Do-gyun is one of the more than 50,000 delivery drivers working grueling hours as shipments skyrocket during the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI
SEOUL, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- While the COVID-19 pandemic has taken an economic toll on many industries, online shopping and delivery services have thrived in this year of shuttered storefronts and social distancing. In South Korea, however, the delivery drivers at the heart of the pandemic economy say that the boom has left them working brutal hours, with an alarming number of injuries and even deaths on the job. Advertisement
"This year has been very tough," delivery worker Kim Do-gyun, 48, said as he made deliveries on his route northeast of Seoul on Christmas Eve. "There's no other sector where so many workers have died. It's a serious systematic problem."
Couriers have been logging an average of over 71 hours per week during the COVID-19 era, according to a September survey by the Center for Workers' Health and Safety -- an increase of 30% over pre-virus days.
Advertisement
Stress and physical strain also has led to 16 deaths so far this year from overwork, known as gwarosa in Korean, a union for the drivers says.
The most recent death came this week, when a 34-year-old delivery worker in the city of Suwon was found dead Wednesday at his home. The worker, identified as Mr. Park by the union, had routinely worked from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. and had lost more than 40 pounds since July, according to family members.
Long days such as these have become the norm for the more than 50,000 delivery workers in South Korea such as Kim, who has been a driver for six years.
Kim said he wakes up at 5:30 a.m. to get to the distribution has center where he starts his day before 7 a.m. There, like most couriers, he spends the next several hours sorting his packages as they come tumbling down a conveyor belt -- work that is unpaid, as drivers only receive a commission for each parcel they deliver.
He usually finishes sorting between 1:30 and 2 p.m. before finally beginning his deliveries, which he wraps up each night at 9 or 10 p.m. Kim carries out the routine six days a week, often skipping meals and subsisting on snacks in the cab of his truck.
Advertisement
Profits have soared for South Korea's delivery giants, such as CJ Logistics, Hanshin Shipping and Lotte Global Logistics, on the back of shipments that have grown more than 20% this year, but the benefits have not been trickling down to the drivers.
Only a tiny fraction of the couriers work for the major shipping companies directly; the rest are contract laborers for agencies that act as intermediaries. As such, they remain in a legal limbo without worker protections such as a 52-hour maximum workweek introduced by President Moon Jae-in in 2018.
"The reason why they are working under conditions like this is because the companies do not hire them directly -- they are classified as special workers and do not fall under the Labor Standards Act," said Kang Min-wook, head of training and publicity for the National Association of Delivery Drivers, the union that supports the couriers.
"The companies don't pay them hourly, and they are not protected by the law. So the [courier] companies are making more money, but the workers are not seeing the same benefits," he said.
Delivery drivers are paid by the parcel, a commission that has been squeezed this year by competition between the big courier companies, Kang said. It currently stands at around 65 cents per package.
Advertisement
The couriers have seen their sheer volume of packages delivered rise dramatically this year, according to the September survey. Before the pandemic, an average daily total of deliveries for a driver was 247. This year, it's been 313. On Christmas Eve, Kim had 352 parcels to deliver.
However, drivers face a host of expenses that eat into their earnings. They must supply and maintain their own delivery trucks, as well as pay for everything from packing tape to waybills to the specialized delivery app they use. The couriers also don't receive any paid time off, and most are not covered by accident insurance.
As South Korea dipped into a recession in the first half of the year due to the pandemic and is currently trying to recover from a third wave of the virus, gig workers such as couriers find themselves without many alternatives for employment.
"Most delivery workers used to work in another sector, but now we have nowhere else to go," Kim said. "We're at the end of the road."
Protests, strikes and news coverage has heightened awareness of the plight of the delivery drivers, and the public has responded with social media campaigns and gestures such as leaving thank-you notes and snacks for the couriers.
Advertisement
The government has also begun taking steps to improve the situation, passing legislation earlier this month that will offer unemployment benefits and accident insurance to gig workers beginning later in 2021.
This week, the Ministry of Employment and Labor announced that it would set up a dedicated department for gig workers and more closely regulate delivery companies.
"Currently, anyone can establish a delivery service without restrictions, which limits the protection of delivery workers," Employment and Labor Minister Lee Jae-kap said during a press briefing Monday.
The shipping companies have announced a series of changes, including adopting flexible hours and adding manpower. CJ Logistics, the largest firm in the industry with some 21,000 workers, announced in October it would hire 4,000 more employees to help sort packages.
Kim, however, said he hasn't seen any difference yet in his daily routine.
"The companies have announced the solutions and they say they will take place, but I question whether they'll really happen," said Kim, who is active in the driver's labor union.
"I don't have any hope that things will change unless we fight," he said. "Because if we don't fight against this, nothing will change. Nothing will improve."
Advertisement
In the meantime, Kim said he fully expects there to be more injuries and more cases of gwarosa in the days and weeks ahead.
"I believe there will be more deaths," he said. "We need to work to live. It's ironic that people are dying from it."
Seo Jieun contributed to this report.


upi--2020-12-24--Emmanuel Macron free of COVID-19 symptoms after weeklong quarantine

Dec. 24 ( UPI ) -- French President Emanuel Macron was symptom-free after testing positive for COVID-19 last week , @ @ @ @ @ The presidential palace issued a statement declaring that Macron , 42 , no longer was @ @ @ @ @ be released from self-isolation Thursday .
`` In accordance with the health protocol in force @ @ @ @ @ president of the Republic can therefore end after seven days , '' the Elysee said @ @ @ @ @ last Thursday after exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms including a fever , cough and fatigue .
Officials @ @ @ @ @ remotely from a presidential resort and was able to `` remain mobilized on the main @ @ @ @ @ the nation and hold scheduled meetings .
Macron tested positive after attending a dinner with @ @ @ @ @ National Assembly President Richard Ferrand and several top parliamentary leaders , including Christophe Castaner of @ @ @ @ @ and Patrick Mignola of the Democratic Movement .

French President Emmanuel Macron was free of COVID-19 symptoms and was set to exit self-isolation after testing positive last week, officials said Thursday. Photo by Charles Platiau/EPA-EFE
Dec. 24 (UPI) -- French President Emanuel Macron was symptom-free after testing positive for COVID-19 last week, the Elysee announced Thursday. The presidential palace issued a statement declaring that Macron, 42, no longer was exhibiting coronavirus symptoms and would be released from self-isolation Thursday. Advertisement
"In accordance with the health protocol in force, the isolation by the president of the Republic can therefore end after seven days," the Elysee said.
Macron first entered quarantine last Thursday after exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms including a fever, cough and fatigue.
Officials said Macron had been working remotely from a presidential resort and was able to "remain mobilized on the main current affairs issues" of the nation and hold scheduled meetings.
Macron tested positive after attending a dinner with Prime Minister Jean Castex, National Assembly President Richard Ferrand and several top parliamentary leaders, including Christophe Castaner of Macron's En Marche party and Patrick Mignola of the Democratic Movement.
Several key French leaders also quarantined.


upi--2020-12-24--Thousands evacuate after fire breaks out near Camp Pendleton in Southern California

Dec. 24 ( UPI ) -- A wildfire near California 's Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton is forcing about 7,000 @ @ @ @ @ Eve , fire authorities said .
According to Ryan Rushing , a division chief at @ @ @ @ @ , the fire started Wednesday night and by 9 a.m. PST Thursday , it had @ @ @ @ @ was zero percent contained .
Rushing said his department is cooperating with CalFire and the @ @ @ @ @ containment lines for the blaze , which was `` fueled by steep terrain , difficult @ @ @ @ @ '' As of 12 p.m. local time , some evacuation orders issued overnight had been @ @ @ @ @ according to the North County Fire Protection District .

Dec. 24 (UPI) -- A wildfire near California's Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton is forcing about 7,000 people to evacuate on Christmas Eve, fire authorities said.
According to Ryan Rushing, a division chief at the Camp Pendleton Fire Department, the fire started Wednesday night and by 9 a.m. PST Thursday, it had grown to 3,050 acres and was zero percent contained.
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Rushing said his department is cooperating with CalFire and the U.S. Forest Service to build containment lines for the blaze, which was "fueled by steep terrain, difficult access, and winds."
As of 12 p.m. local time, some evacuation orders issued overnight had been modified to evacuation warnings, according to the North County Fire Protection District.
Camp Pendleton is situated 50 miles north of San Diego.


upi--2020-12-24--Woman wins more than $750,000 with decades-old lottery numbers

Dec. 24 ( UPI ) -- An Australian woman collected a lottery jackpot of more than $ 750,000 after buying tickets bearing the same set of numbers for decades .
The Glenelg , South Australia , woman told The Lott officials the numbers she chose when buying her ticket for Wednesday 's X Lotto drawing were the same digits she has been playing for years .
`` I 've been playing Wednesday X Lotto since I was 21 and I 've used the same numbers since then , '' the woman said .
`` They are all my family 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tempted to change them in case I stopped playing them and then they come up ! ''
The woman , who is now retired , won $ 759,300 from the ticket she purchased from Bay Newsagency & Card Center in Glenelg .
The winner said she already is making plans for her windfall .
`` I have a passion for the racing industry , and I 've always wanted to own a share in a racehorse , so this will finally allow me to do that , '' she said .
`` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a few girlfriends , but now we might get cake , too ! ''

A Glenelg, South Australia, woman won a lottery jackpot of more than $750,000 after using the same set of numbers for decades. Photo courtesy of The Lott
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Dec. 24 (UPI) -- An Australian woman collected a lottery jackpot of more than $750,000 after buying tickets bearing the same set of numbers for decades. The Glenelg, South Australia, woman told The Lott officials the numbers she chose when buying her ticket for Wednesday's X Lotto drawing were the same digits she has been playing for years. Advertisement
"I've been playing Wednesday X Lotto since I was 21 and I've used the same numbers since then," the woman said. "They are all my family's birth dates. I've never been tempted to change them in case I stopped playing them and then they come up!"
The woman, who is now retired, won $759,300 from the ticket she purchased from Bay Newsagency & Card Center in Glenelg.
The winner said she already is making plans for her windfall.
"I have a passion for the racing industry, and I've always wanted to own a share in a racehorse, so this will finally allow me to do that," she said. "I was about to go out for coffee with a few girlfriends, but now we might get cake, too!"


upi--2020-12-24--Boy, 12, identifies 39 airlines by their plane tails for Guinness record

Dec. 24 ( UPI ) -- A 12-year-old boy living in the United Arab Emirates set a Guinness World Record @ @ @ @ @ the designs on their airplane tails in one minute .
Siddhant Gumber , who is @ @ @ @ @ and lives in Abu Dhabi , was awarded a Guinness certificate for the most airlines @ @ @ @ @ in one minute after he managed to identify 39 carriers by photos of plane tails @ @ @ @ @ mother helped him prepare for the attempt by creating PowerPoint slides of airplane tails .
@ @ @ @ @ picture memory and usually never forgets an image once he has seen it .
He @ @ @ @ @ interests and likes to know about things into detail , just like air planes .
@ @ @ @ @ flags , we focused on airplane tails for the Guinness record because they too are @ @ @ @ @ 's mother , Monisha Gumber , told Gulf News .

Siddhant Gumber, 12, Abu Dhabi, UAE, set a Guinness World Record by identifying 39 airlines from photos of airplane tails in 60 seconds. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Dec. 24 (UPI) -- A 12-year-old boy living in the United Arab Emirates set a Guinness World Record by identifying 39 airlines by the designs on their airplane tails in one minute. Siddhant Gumber, who is from Haryana, India, and lives in Abu Dhabi, was awarded a Guinness certificate for the most airlines identified by their airplane tails in one minute after he managed to identify 39 carriers by photos of plane tails. Advertisement
The boy said his mother helped him prepare for the attempt by creating PowerPoint slides of airplane tails.
"He has an exceptional picture memory and usually never forgets an image once he has seen it. He does have a variety of interests and likes to know about things into detail, just like air planes.
"Although he loves country flags, we focused on airplane tails for the Guinness record because they too are unique," the boy's mother, Monisha Gumber, told Gulf News.