upi--2020-11-16--60% of seniors with depression won't seek treatment, survey finds

Nov. 16 ( UPI ) -- More than 60 % of seniors with depression in the United States wo n't seek treatment for their condition , according to the results of a nationwide survey released Monday by genetic testing company Myriad Neuroscience .
One-third of surveyed adults 65 and older believe they can `` snap out '' of it on their own , without counseling , drug therapy or other forms of treatment , the data showed .
`` Many older Americans think that admitting they are struggling with depression and anxiety is a sign of weakness , '' Dr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a problem , especially now when the isolation , fear and sadness associated with the pandemic is having an enormous impact on the mental health of older Americans , '' said Pollack , chief medical officer of Mason , Ohio-based Myriad Neuroscience .
Myriad Neuroscience conducted an online survey of nearly 1,500 adults age 65 and older and 650 adults age 18 and older , across the United States between Aug. 12 and Sept. 27 .
Among the 1,500 seniors who responded , 61 % acknowledged that they are concerned they might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treatment because `` my issues are n't that bad , '' the data showed .
In addition , 39 % felt they could manage their symptoms by themselves , without a doctor 's help , while 35 % indicated they did n't want to be on medication for the condition .
Among the older respondents , 30 % described depression as a normal part of aging , while one in three said the symptoms affected aspects of their lives and one in four said the condition impact their overall health .
Of all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 21 % of women described depression as a normal part of aging .
Myriad Neurosciences manufacturers the GeneSight , a genetic test designed to identify potential gene-drug interactions for depression medications and is used by doctors to help assist with medication selection .
`` Mental health issues like depression and anxiety should be addressed the same way as physical illness , '' Pollack said .
`` People seek treatment for conditions like heart disease , high blood pressure or diabetes and depression should be no different , '' he said .

Many older adults with depression say they won't seek treatment, a new survey has found. Photo by Sabine van Erp /Pixabay
Nov. 16 (UPI) -- More than 60% of seniors with depression in the United States won't seek treatment for their condition, according to the results of a nationwide survey released Monday by genetic testing company Myriad Neuroscience. One-third of surveyed adults 65 and older believe they can "snap out" of it on their own, without counseling, drug therapy or other forms of treatment, the data showed. Advertisement
"Many older Americans think that admitting they are struggling with depression and anxiety is a sign of weakness," Dr. Mark Pollack told UPI.
"This is a problem, especially now when the isolation, fear and sadness associated with the pandemic is having an enormous impact on the mental health of older Americans," said Pollack, chief medical officer of Mason, Ohio-based Myriad Neuroscience.
Myriad Neuroscience conducted an online survey of nearly 1,500 adults age 65 and older and 650 adults age 18 and older, across the United States between Aug. 12 and Sept. 27.
Among the 1,500 seniors who responded, 61% acknowledged that they are concerned they might have depression, but would not seek treatment because "my issues aren't that bad," the data showed.
In addition, 39% felt they could manage their symptoms by themselves, without a doctor's help, while 35% indicated they didn't want to be on medication for the condition.
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Among the older respondents, 30% described depression as a normal part of aging, while one in three said the symptoms affected aspects of their lives and one in four said the condition impact their overall health.
Of all respondents, 44% of men and 21% of women described depression as a normal part of aging.
Myriad Neurosciences manufacturers the GeneSight, a genetic test designed to identify potential gene-drug interactions for depression medications and is used by doctors to help assist with medication selection.
"Mental health issues like depression and anxiety should be addressed the same way as physical illness," Pollack said.
"People seek treatment for conditions like heart disease, high blood pressure or diabetes and depression should be no different," he said.


upi--2020-11-16--Dow climbs 470 points on news of 2nd vaccine

Nov. 16 ( UPI ) -- The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed more than 470 points , or 1.6 % , on Monday on news that a second coronavirus vaccine might be available within the next few months .
The NASDAQ Composite rose by 94.94 points , or 0.8 % and the S & P 500 was up by 41.76 points , or 1.16 % on Monday afternoon .
U.S. biotech firm Moderna on Monday published interim data from a late-stage trial showing the company 's mRNA-1273 vaccine is 94.5 % effective in preventing COVID-19 infection .
`` Forget the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defeat in the U.S. election , or that Europe and the U.S. remain gripped by new waves of the virus , or that another key Brexit deadline has passed and a 'no deal ' exit is edging closer , '' Neil Shearing , group chief economist at Capital Economics , told CNN .
`` Markets are focused on the increasing likelihood of a vaccine breakthrough . ''
Pfizer also announced last week that the company had achieved a 90 % success rate on a late-trial vaccine .
Other vaccines are being tested in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AstraZeneca and Novavax .
Stocks that would benefit from the widespread lifting of COVID-19-related restrictions benefitted Monday , as Carnival stock climbed 9.74 % and United Airlines increased 5.16 % .
Bank stocks also rose , with Citigroup increasing 3.6 % , Wells Fargo gaining 3.45 % and JPMorgan Chase growing 2.82 % .

Markets at the New York Stock Exchange on Wall Street were higher as U.S. stocks jumped on more positive news on Covid-19 vaccines. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 16 (UPI) -- The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed more than 470 points, or 1.6%, on Monday on news that a second coronavirus vaccine might be available within the next few months. The Dow reached 29,950, 50 points short of a record-breaking 30,000 points. Advertisement
The NASDAQ Composite rose by 94.94 points, or 0.8% and the S&P 500 was up by 41.76 points, or 1.16% on Monday afternoon.
U.S. biotech firm Moderna on Monday published interim data from a late-stage trial showing the company's mRNA-1273 vaccine is 94.5% effective in preventing COVID-19 infection.
Moderna stocks rose 9.58% Monday.
"Forget the fact President Trump has refused to concede defeat in the U.S. election, or that Europe and the U.S. remain gripped by new waves of the virus, or that another key Brexit deadline has passed and a 'no deal' exit is edging closer," Neil Shearing, group chief economist at Capital Economics, told CNN. "Markets are focused on the increasing likelihood of a vaccine breakthrough."
Pfizer also announced last week that the company had achieved a 90% success rate on a late-trial vaccine. Other vaccines are being tested in late-stage trials by Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca and Novavax.
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Stocks that would benefit from the widespread lifting of COVID-19-related restrictions benefitted Monday, as Carnival stock climbed 9.74% and United Airlines increased 5.16%. Bank stocks also rose, with Citigroup increasing 3.6%, Wells Fargo gaining 3.45% and JPMorgan Chase growing 2.82%.


upi--2020-11-16--Maryland executive, ex-coach charged in Harvard admission scheme

Nov. 16 ( UPI ) -- An ex-Harvard fencing coach and a Maryland executive were arrested Monday in an alleged $ 1.5 million bribing scheme related to university admission .
Federal authorities identified telecommunications executive Jie `` Jack '' Zhao , 61 , and former fencing coach Peter Brand , 67 , as the pair charged in the alleged scheme to admit Zhao 's two sons to the university .
After a Boston Globe report showed last year transactions between Zhao and Brand , Harvard fired Brand , citing conflicts of interest that violated the school 's policies .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ house to Zhao for nearly $ 1 million in 2016 when its assessed value was only $ 549,300 .
Zhao 's younger son later was admitted to Harvard and joined the fencing team .
Zhao sold the house 17 months later , taking a $ 324,500 loss .
Zhao told the Globe that the house deal was a favor for a friend , not a bribe to get his son into Harvard , and that he did not become friends with Brand until his older son 's freshman year .
`` I want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so sorry he has to travel so much to go to fencing practice , '' Zhao said at the time regarding the home sale .
Zhao also allegedly paid off Brand 's car loan and utility bills and funneled money to Brand through a charity .
The case was brought by the same federal prosecutor 's office that found out about `` Operation Varsity Blues , '' centering around mastermind William `` Rick '' Singer , where prosecutors have charged more than 50 people , including actresses Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ people to get their children into prestigious schools .
However , the Harvard deal is not part of `` Operation Varsity Blues , '' and there has been no indication that Singer was involved .
The former fencing coach had been overspending for several years before the house sale , his wife said in court documents , alleging the scheme began in 2012 when they couple were under financial strain .
`` [ Zhao 's ] boys do n't have to be great fencers , '' Brand allegedly told a cooperating witness in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a good incentive to recruit them .
You can tell him that . ''

Nov. 16 (UPI) -- An ex-Harvard fencing coach and a Maryland executive were arrested Monday in an alleged $1.5 million bribing scheme related to university admission.
Federal authorities identified telecommunications executive Jie "Jack" Zhao, 61, and former fencing coach Peter Brand, 67, as the pair charged in the alleged scheme to admit Zhao's two sons to the university.
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After a Boston Globe report showed last year transactions between Zhao and Brand, Harvard fired Brand, citing conflicts of interest that violated the school's policies.
The transactions included then-fencing coach Brand selling his house to Zhao for nearly $1 million in 2016 when its assessed value was only $549,300. Zhao's younger son later was admitted to Harvard and joined the fencing team. Zhao sold the house 17 months later, taking a $324,500 loss.
Zhao told the Globe that the house deal was a favor for a friend, not a bribe to get his son into Harvard, and that he did not become friends with Brand until his older son's freshman year.
"I want to help Peter Brand because I feel so sorry he has to travel so much to go to fencing practice," Zhao said at the time regarding the home sale.
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Zhao also allegedly paid off Brand's car loan and utility bills and funneled money to Brand through a charity.
The case was brought by the same federal prosecutor's office that found out about "Operation Varsity Blues," centering around mastermind William "Rick" Singer, where prosecutors have charged more than 50 people, including actresses Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman. Parents allegedly used their wealth to bribe people to get their children into prestigious schools.
However, the Harvard deal is not part of "Operation Varsity Blues," and there has been no indication that Singer was involved.
The former fencing coach had been overspending for several years before the house sale, his wife said in court documents, alleging the scheme began in 2012 when they couple were under financial strain.
"[Zhao's] boys don't have to be great fencers," Brand allegedly told a cooperating witness in May 2012. "All I need is a good incentive to recruit them. You can tell him that."


upi--2020-11-16--Life's building blocks can form in interstellar clouds without the help of stellar fusion

Nov. 16 ( UPI ) -- New research suggests one of life 's most important building blocks , a simple amino acid called glycine , can form inside interstellar clouds well before the emergence of stars and planets .
Scientists have previously detected glycine in the coma of the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko .
Stardust sampling missions have also turned up evidence of interplanetary glycine .
Until now , scientists thought significant amounts of energy were required for the formation of glycine and other amino acids -- the kind of energy produced by stars .
However , new experiments -- detailed Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` dark chemistry '' reactions can produce glycine on the surface of icy dust grains without the assistance of stellar energy .
`` Dark chemistry refers to chemistry without the need of energetic radiation , '' lead study author Sergio Ioppolo said in a news release .
`` In the laboratory we were able to simulate the conditions in dark interstellar clouds where cold dust particles are covered by thin layers of ice and subsequently processed by impacting atoms causing precursor species to fragment and reactive intermediates to recombine , '' said Ioppolo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of London .
The experiments first revealed the formation of methylamine , a glycine precursor .
After repeated tests and the assistance of precise , atomic beam-powered diagnostic technologies , researchers were able to also detect the production of glycine .
The analysis showed that while solar energy was nonessential , water ice was vital to the glycine formation process .
Researchers were able to confirm their experimental results using astrochemical models .
`` From this we find that low but substantial amounts of glycine can be formed in space with time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ professor at Radboud University in the Netherlands .
Based on the results of the dark chemistry experiments , researchers hypothesize that glycine can exist in abundance prior to the formation of stars and planets -- preserved in the icy particles of interstellar clouds and easily incorporated into comets .
`` Once formed , glycine can also become a precursor to other complex organic molecules , '' said Ioppolo .
`` Following the same mechanism , in principle , other functional groups can be added to the glycine backbone , resulting in the formation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alanine and serine in dark clouds in space . ''
`` In the end , this enriched organic molecular inventory is included in celestial bodies , like comets , and delivered to young planets , as happened to our Earth and many other planets , '' Ioppolo said .

Scientists previously detected the presence of the amino acid glycine in the coma of the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Photo by ESA
Nov. 16 (UPI) -- New research suggests one of life's most important building blocks, a simple amino acid called glycine, can form inside interstellar clouds well before the emergence of stars and planets. Scientists have previously detected glycine in the coma of the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Stardust sampling missions have also turned up evidence of interplanetary glycine. Advertisement
Until now, scientists thought significant amounts of energy were required for the formation of glycine and other amino acids -- the kind of energy produced by stars.
However, new experiments -- detailed Monday in the journal Nature Astronomy -- suggest "dark chemistry" reactions can produce glycine on the surface of icy dust grains without the assistance of stellar energy.
"Dark chemistry refers to chemistry without the need of energetic radiation," lead study author Sergio Ioppolo said in a news release.
"In the laboratory we were able to simulate the conditions in dark interstellar clouds where cold dust particles are covered by thin layers of ice and subsequently processed by impacting atoms causing precursor species to fragment and reactive intermediates to recombine," said Ioppolo, a researcher at Queen Mary University of London.
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The experiments first revealed the formation of methylamine, a glycine precursor. After repeated tests and the assistance of precise, atomic beam-powered diagnostic technologies, researchers were able to also detect the production of glycine.
The analysis showed that while solar energy was nonessential, water ice was vital to the glycine formation process. Researchers were able to confirm their experimental results using astrochemical models.
"From this we find that low but substantial amounts of glycine can be formed in space with time," said study co-author Herma Cuppen, professor at Radboud University in the Netherlands.
Based on the results of the dark chemistry experiments, researchers hypothesize that glycine can exist in abundance prior to the formation of stars and planets -- preserved in the icy particles of interstellar clouds and easily incorporated into comets.
"Once formed, glycine can also become a precursor to other complex organic molecules," said Ioppolo. "Following the same mechanism, in principle, other functional groups can be added to the glycine backbone, resulting in the formation of other amino acids, such as alanine and serine in dark clouds in space."
"In the end, this enriched organic molecular inventory is included in celestial bodies, like comets, and delivered to young planets, as happened to our Earth and many other planets," Ioppolo said.


upi--2020-11-16--Trump administration moves to sell drilling rights in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

Nov. 16 ( UPI ) -- The Trump administration moved this week to lock in oil and gas leases at Alaska 's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge by asking companies to stake claims on tracts in the wilderness area that will be sold by the Interior Department .
Interior 's `` call for nominations '' to be published in the Federal Register on Tuesday , covers 1.6 million acres in the wildlife refuge 's coastal plain in northeast Alaska that the Bureau of Land Management estimates to contain between 4.25 billion and 11.8 billion barrels of technically recoverable oil .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ step closer to holding an historic first Coastal Plain lease sale , satisfying the directive of Congress in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and advancing this administration 's policy of energy independence , '' BLM Alaska state director Chad Padgett told the Anchorage Daily News .
The area is home to caribou , polar bears , and more than 280 species of other wildlife .
Conservation groups and Native American groups have sued over the plan , claiming it violates the Endangered Species Act and other environmental policies .
`` Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the extinction of polar bears and other endangered arctic species on his way out the door .
This is unconscionable , '' Kristen Monsell , senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity , said in a statement on Monday .
`` The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge ca n't be replaced , so we ca n't let this lame-duck president give it away to Big Oil , '' Monsell added .
The BLM sale would take place before President-elect Joe Biden has been sworn in , and contradicts Biden 's campaign vow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spelled out on his website .
Biden 's plan calls for banning oil and gas development on public lands and replacing them with renewable development , including `` doubling offshore wind '' by 2030 .
In October , the Trump administration stripped federal protections for Alaska 's Tongass National Forest , the largest old-growth forest in the United States , to logging and other business operations .

The Bureau of Land Management will open up bids for leases to drill oil and gas on the coastal region of Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge this week. File Photo courtesy of USFWS/U.S. Department of the Interior/Facebook
Nov. 16 (UPI) -- The Trump administration moved this week to lock in oil and gas leases at Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge by asking companies to stake claims on tracts in the wilderness area that will be sold by the Interior Department. Interior's "call for nominations" to be published in the Federal Register on Tuesday, covers 1.6 million acres in the wildlife refuge's coastal plain in northeast Alaska that the Bureau of Land Management estimates to contain between 4.25 billion and 11.8 billion barrels of technically recoverable oil. Advertisement
"This call for nominations brings us one step closer to holding an historic first Coastal Plain lease sale, satisfying the directive of Congress in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and advancing this administration's policy of energy independence," BLM Alaska state director Chad Padgett told the Anchorage Daily News.
The area is home to caribou, polar bears, and more than 280 species of other wildlife.
Conservation groups and Native American groups have sued over the plan, claiming it violates the Endangered Species Act and other environmental policies.
"Trump is trying to lock in climate chaos and the extinction of polar bears and other endangered arctic species on his way out the door. This is unconscionable," Kristen Monsell, senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a statement on Monday.
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"The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge can't be replaced, so we can't let this lame-duck president give it away to Big Oil," Monsell added.
The BLM sale would take place before President-elect Joe Biden has been sworn in, and contradicts Biden's campaign vow to prevent drilling on public lands, spelled out on his website.
Biden's plan calls for banning oil and gas development on public lands and replacing them with renewable development, including "doubling offshore wind" by 2030.
In October, the Trump administration stripped federal protections for Alaska's Tongass National Forest, the largest old-growth forest in the United States, to logging and other business operations.


upi--2020-11-16--Look: Italian artist breaks world record with 6,119-square-foot drawing

Nov. 16 ( UPI ) -- An Italian sketch artist broke a Guinness World Record when he spent five days @ @ @ @ @ 6,118.96 square feet .
Altomonte-based artist FRA !
, aka Francesco Caporale , took on @ @ @ @ @ world 's largest drawing by an individual in Altomonte 's central square .
The artist @ @ @ @ @ drawings submitted to Xiaomi Italia 's online platform DoodleDream.it .
Caporale 's attempt was sponsored @ @ @ @ @ drawing included doodles of objects , textures and imaginary characters from the art-sharing platform .
@ @ @ @ @ to the city of Altomonte , which said a portion of the canvas will be @ @ @ @ @ community programs .

Italian artist FRA!, aka Francesco Caporale, broke the Guinness World Record for the largest drawing by an individual when he covered a 6,118.96-square-foot canvas with sketches. Photo courtesy of Guinness World Records
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Nov. 16 (UPI) -- An Italian sketch artist broke a Guinness World Record when he spent five days creating a drawing that covers 6,118.96 square feet. Altomonte-based artist FRA!, aka Francesco Caporale, took on the challenge of creating the world's largest drawing by an individual in Altomonte's central square. Advertisement
The artist's doodles were inspired by drawings submitted to Xiaomi Italia's online platform DoodleDream.it. Caporale's attempt was sponsored by Xiaomi Italia.
The drawing included doodles of objects, textures and imaginary characters from the art-sharing platform.
The artwork is being donated to the city of Altomonte, which said a portion of the canvas will be sold to raise money for community programs.


upi--2020-11-16--New model helps scientists forecast changes in apex predator populations

Nov. 16 ( UPI ) -- Thanks to newly developed statistical methods , researchers can now use data from smaller surveys to scale wildlife population forecasts across borders .
The breakthrough -- detailed Monday in the journal PNAS -- will allow biologists and wildlife managers to precisely model apex predator populations at unprecedented scale .
A growing body of research has highlighted the importance apex predators play in maintaining the health and balance of Earth 's ecosystems .
The research has made the protection of these large species all the more important , but because big carnivores tend to spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dynamics and distribution of apex predators remains difficult .
Statistical methods developed by researchers at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences promises to make the task more manageable -- bringing a landscape-level approach to wildlife modeling .
`` The way we tend to study populations is a bit like looking at an elephant through a microscope , '' Richard Bischof , study author and NMBU ecologist , said in a news release .
`` We can understand fine details but find it difficult to make out the entire shape . ''
Thanks to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and statistical modeling techniques , researchers can monitor and analyze populations across much broader scales -- relying only on collected samples of feces , urine or hair .
Over the last 20 years , researcher in Norway and Sweden have been working together to amass a giant database of DNA samples from brown bears , grey wolves and wolverines across Scandinavia .
Deploying novel statistical methods , researchers were able to use the database to construct a detailed distribution map of the three different predator populations across all of Scandinavia .
The new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ snapshot in time , but can be frequently updated with new data to detect population changes .
`` Wildlife surveys rarely detect every individual , '' said Bischof .
`` So , to estimate population size , we can not simply count the number of animals for which DNA is found .
Our models correct for this . ''

New statistical modeling techniques allowed researchers to analyze DNA samples from brown bears, wolves and wolverines and forecast their populations across the entirety of Scandinavia. Photo by Pxfuel /CC
Nov. 16 (UPI) -- Thanks to newly developed statistical methods, researchers can now use data from smaller surveys to scale wildlife population forecasts across borders. The breakthrough -- detailed Monday in the journal PNAS -- will allow biologists and wildlife managers to precisely model apex predator populations at unprecedented scale. Advertisement
A growing body of research has highlighted the importance apex predators play in maintaining the health and balance of Earth's ecosystems. The research has made the protection of these large species all the more important, but because big carnivores tend to spread out across the landscape, modeling population dynamics and distribution of apex predators remains difficult.
Statistical methods developed by researchers at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences promises to make the task more manageable -- bringing a landscape-level approach to wildlife modeling.
"The way we tend to study populations is a bit like looking at an elephant through a microscope," Richard Bischof, study author and NMBU ecologist, said in a news release. "We can understand fine details but find it difficult to make out the entire shape."
Thanks to a combination of improved genetic sequencing technologies and statistical modeling techniques, researchers can monitor and analyze populations across much broader scales -- relying only on collected samples of feces, urine or hair.
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Over the last 20 years, researcher in Norway and Sweden have been working together to amass a giant database of DNA samples from brown bears, grey wolves and wolverines across Scandinavia.
Deploying novel statistical methods, researchers were able to use the database to construct a detailed distribution map of the three different predator populations across all of Scandinavia.
The new modeling techniques don't simply offer a snapshot in time, but can be frequently updated with new data to detect population changes.
"Wildlife surveys rarely detect every individual," said Bischof. "So, to estimate population size, we cannot simply count the number of animals for which DNA is found. Our models correct for this."


upi--2020-11-16--USAF F-16s move from Germany to UAE

USAF F-16s move from Germany to UAE

Nov. 16 ( UPI ) -- A detachment of U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter planes moved from Germany to the United Arab Emirates , the U.S. Central Command announced on Monday .
Planes of the 480th Fighter Squadron , 52nd Fighter Wing , deployed at Spangdahlem Air Base , arrived last week at Al Dhafra Air Base , UAE , the command said .
Although CENTCOM did not offer specific information about the move , the UAE base has been the center of operations for planes patrolling the Persian Gulf to monitor activities by Iran 's military .
F-35s stationed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Force Base , Utah , in October .
`` The deployment of the 480th Fighter Squadron demonstrates the U.S. Air Force 's agility and CENTCOM 's commitment to allies and partners to bolster security and stability in the region , '' said Lt. Gen. Greg Guillot , 9th Air Force commander , said in a statement .
`` While deployed , the unit will conduct a wide range of missions , including combat operations and training with joint and regional partners , enhance the unit 's overall readiness and return to [ U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ future operations , '' Guillot said .
The move was an example of the command 's Dynamic Force Employment concept , which gives `` joint force commanders the critical capability to move forces fluidly into and across the theater in order to seize , retain and exploit the initiative against an adversary , '' CENTCOM said .
CENTCOM 's last dynamic deployment , a detachment of U.S. Air Force F-16s from Aviano Air Base , Italy , to the UAE , occurred in October 2019 .

F-16 fighter planes of the 480th Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Wing, moved from Germany to the United Arab Emirates, CENTCOM announced on Monday. Photo by SSgt. Zade Vadnais/U.S. Air Force
Nov. 16 (UPI) -- A detachment of U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter planes moved from Germany to the United Arab Emirates, the U.S. Central Command announced on Monday. Planes of the 480th Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Wing, deployed at Spangdahlem Air Base, arrived last week at Al Dhafra Air Base, UAE, the command said. Advertisement
Although CENTCOM did not offer specific information about the move, the UAE base has been the center of operations for planes patrolling the Persian Gulf to monitor activities by Iran's military.
F-35s stationed at the base returned to Hill Air Force Base, Utah, in October.
"The deployment of the 480th Fighter Squadron demonstrates the U.S. Air Force's agility and CENTCOM's commitment to allies and partners to bolster security and stability in the region," said Lt. Gen. Greg Guillot, 9th Air Force commander, said in a statement.
"While deployed, the unit will conduct a wide range of missions, including combat operations and training with joint and regional partners, enhance the unit's overall readiness and return to [U.S. European Command] better prepared to support future operations," Guillot said.
The move was an example of the command's Dynamic Force Employment concept, which gives "joint force commanders the critical capability to move forces fluidly into and across the theater in order to seize, retain and exploit the initiative against an adversary," CENTCOM said.
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CENTCOM's last dynamic deployment, a detachment of U.S. Air Force F-16s from Aviano Air Base, Italy, to the UAE, occurred in October 2019.


upi--2020-11-16--France seeks drones to detect, intercept battlefield radio communications

Nov. 16 ( UPI ) -- The French Defense Ministry seeks an unmanned aerial vehicle capable of intercepting radio communications transmitters , a request for proposal indicates .
A `` call for projects for a mini-payload of electronic support on drones '' was revealed by France 's Defense Innovation Agency for `` an electronic support payload that can be integrated into drones with a maximum take-off mass of less than '' 55 pounds .
`` This payload must be able to detect , locate , identify or even interact with or block telecommunications transmitters , '' the agency said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agency referred to its project as `` Sauron , '' named after the all-seeing eye in the book series `` The Lord of the Rings . ''
It is budgeted for $ 473,000 .
It cites a January 2021 deadline for submissions , and a seven-month window for research and development leading to demonstrations .
The request emphasizes that the UAV must work unitarily and autonomously , instead of in a more typical swarm , and that it can detect , locate , track and possibly jam radio transmitters operating at between 30 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an example of signal intelligence , and comes as several similar efforts are underway in Europe .
The size of the proposed UAV suggests it could be used by small Army units for better situational awareness of nearby enemy units , experts said .
The U.S. Army has a similar initiative , outlined in a 2010 in its `` Unmanned Systems Roadmap , 2010-2035 , '' using the Silent Echo , Scan Eagle payloads and the MQ-1C Gray Eagle UAV .
France 's request for proposal , though , specifies that the project @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the European Union . ''

While European defense contractors build unmanned aerial vehicles such as the UAS Spy Owl 200, depicted, France called for a request for proposals to build a UAV with radio transmitter detection and intercept capabilities. Photo courtesy of UAS
Nov. 16 (UPI) -- The French Defense Ministry seeks an unmanned aerial vehicle capable of intercepting radio communications transmitters, a request for proposal indicates. A "call for projects for a mini-payload of electronic support on drones" was revealed by France's Defense Innovation Agency for "an electronic support payload that can be integrated into drones with a maximum take-off mass of less than" 55 pounds. Advertisement
"This payload must be able to detect, locate, identify or even interact with or block telecommunications transmitters," the agency said in a press release on Friday.
The agency referred to its project as "Sauron," named after the all-seeing eye in the book series "The Lord of the Rings." It is budgeted for $473,000.
It cites a January 2021 deadline for submissions, and a seven-month window for research and development leading to demonstrations.
The request emphasizes that the UAV must work unitarily and autonomously, instead of in a more typical swarm, and that it can detect, locate, track and possibly jam radio transmitters operating at between 30 and 6,000 megahertz.
The project is an example of signal intelligence, and comes as several similar efforts are underway in Europe. The size of the proposed UAV suggests it could be used by small Army units for better situational awareness of nearby enemy units, experts said.
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The U.S. Army has a similar initiative, outlined in a 2010 in its "Unmanned Systems Roadmap, 2010-2035," using the Silent Echo, Scan Eagle payloads and the MQ-1C Gray Eagle UAV.
France's request for proposal, though, specifies that the project "must not involve any subcontractor outside the European Union."


upi--2020-11-16--Metal detector hobbyist reunites 1980 class ring with owner

Nov. 16 ( UPI ) -- A Massachusetts man who found a 40-year-old class ring while out with his metal detector reunited the item with a woman who had completely forgotten it was lost .
James Gilbert said he was treasure hunting in the spring near a pond in the Burbank Hospital area of Fitchburg when he unearthed a white gold ring from Auburn High School 's Class of 1980 .
Gilbert said he contacted the school and officials identified the ring 's engraved initials , CLB , as likely belonging to 1980 graduate Carol L. Bartlett .
The metal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to track down Bartlett before seeking help on a Facebook group called Metal detecting Massachusetts .
He said it was only a matter of hours before another group member had located the woman , now named Carol Mulvey .
Mulvey recognized the ring , but said she had no memory of losing it .
She said her best guess is that she lost the ring while doing an internship at the hospital while she was student at Fitchburg State College .
Gilbert said the discovery is now his favorite of the items he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ metal detecting , because he was able to return the ring to its owner .
A New Mexico woman was reunited with a precious high school keepsake this month when her 2006 yearbook from Rio Grande High School in Albuquerque turned up in a resident 's yard .
The resident turned the book over to the high school with a note saying it had been dumped in their yard , and officials were able to return the tome to Analisa Brill , who said the yearbook had been among the personal items stolen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years earlier .

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Nov. 16 (UPI) -- A Massachusetts man who found a 40-year-old class ring while out with his metal detector reunited the item with a woman who had completely forgotten it was lost.
James Gilbert said he was treasure hunting in the spring near a pond in the Burbank Hospital area of Fitchburg when he unearthed a white gold ring from Auburn High School's Class of 1980.
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Gilbert said he contacted the school and officials identified the ring's engraved initials, CLB, as likely belonging to 1980 graduate Carol L. Bartlett.
The metal detecting enthusiast said he spent months trying to track down Bartlett before seeking help on a Facebook group called Metal detecting Massachusetts. He said it was only a matter of hours before another group member had located the woman, now named Carol Mulvey.
Mulvey recognized the ring, but said she had no memory of losing it. She said her best guess is that she lost the ring while doing an internship at the hospital while she was student at Fitchburg State College.
Gilbert said the discovery is now his favorite of the items he has found in his seven years of metal detecting, because he was able to return the ring to its owner.
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A New Mexico woman was reunited with a precious high school keepsake this month when her 2006 yearbook from Rio Grande High School in Albuquerque turned up in a resident's yard.
The resident turned the book over to the high school with a note saying it had been dumped in their yard, and officials were able to return the tome to Analisa Brill, who said the yearbook had been among the personal items stolen from her home in a break-in nine years earlier.


upi--2020-11-16--Kenyan Olympic champion pleads not guilty to defilement of minor

Nov. 16 ( UPI ) -- Kenyan Olympic champion runner Conseslus Kipruto pleaded not guilty Monday where he appeared in court on charges of defilement of a 15-year-old girl .
Kipruto , 25 , pleaded not guilty Monday morning in a court in Kenya in his hometown Kapsabet , which is the capital of Nandi County .
The court released the man , who won gold for the 3,000 meter Steeplechase final at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro , Brazil , on $ 1,850 cash bond .
Prosecutors said that the charges stem from a report to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made , alleging Kipruto eloped with their daughter on Oct. 20 .
The 15-year-old allegedly went missing for three days , and once she returned home she refused to disclose where she had been , according to the police report , but upon looking at her phone log , police found that she had constantly been communicating with Kipruto .
With the age of consent being 18 in Kenya , the Olympic runner was charged with defilement of a 15-year-old girl .
If found guilty , under the Sexual Offenses Act 2006 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prison sentence .
Kipruto appeared in the court before the magistrate through Zoom because of the COVID-19 pandemic with tight security and wearing a hood to avoid media pictures .
The trial is set to begin on May 10 .
Kipruto , who has also won a world championship in London in 2017 and in Doha , Qatar , in 2019 , competed in only one race this year after testing positive for COVID-19 in August .

Conseslus Kipruto (on left), who won the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics, appeared before a magistrate Monday on charges of defilement of a 15-year-old girl. File Photo by Kevin DIestsch | License Photo
Nov. 16 (UPI) -- Kenyan Olympic champion runner Conseslus Kipruto pleaded not guilty Monday where he appeared in court on charges of defilement of a 15-year-old girl. Kipruto, 25, pleaded not guilty Monday morning in a court in Kenya in his hometown Kapsabet, which is the capital of Nandi County. The court released the man, who won gold for the 3,000 meter Steeplechase final at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on $1,850 cash bond. Advertisement
Prosecutors said that the charges stem from a report to a local police station the teenager's parents made, alleging Kipruto eloped with their daughter on Oct. 20.
The 15-year-old allegedly went missing for three days, and once she returned home she refused to disclose where she had been, according to the police report, but upon looking at her phone log, police found that she had constantly been communicating with Kipruto.
With the age of consent being 18 in Kenya, the Olympic runner was charged with defilement of a 15-year-old girl.
If found guilty, under the Sexual Offenses Act 2006, he could receive up to a 14-year prison sentence.
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Kipruto appeared in the court before the magistrate through Zoom because of the COVID-19 pandemic with tight security and wearing a hood to avoid media pictures.
The trial is set to begin on May 10.
Kipruto, who has also won a world championship in London in 2017 and in Doha, Qatar, in 2019, competed in only one race this year after testing positive for COVID-19 in August.


upi--2020-11-16--NORAD to track Santa on Christmas Eve with smaller crew due to COVID-19

Nov. 16 ( UPI ) -- The North American Aerospace Defense Command , better known as NORAD , announced preparations on Monday for its annual tracking of the arrival of Santa Claus .
The `` NORAD Tracks Santa '' program that traditionally follows a simulated track of Santa Clause from the North Pole around the world on Christmas Eve will happen again this year , but the command has made some changes because of the COVID-19 pandemic .
While NORAD will track Santa 's journey -- as it has every year since 1955 -- most people who call 1-800-HI-NORAD for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get a recording instead of a live volunteer .
Officials at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado said Monday that the NORAD Tracks Santa call center will only have a small number of volunteers taking calls this year as part of ongoing public concern about increasing COVID-19 cases .
`` While NORAD understands the call center is an important tradition for many families around the world , we [ are reducing ] the health risks posed by attempting to conduct a large , indoor , in-person call center during the pandemic , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call center presence will be reduced , but Santa will be trackable on NORAD 's website , www.noradsanta.org , on Dec. 24 , as well as with mobile apps and social media , including OnStar and Amazon Alexa , beginning on Dec. 1 , the command said .
The combined defense agency of the United States and Canada normally conducts aerospace and maritime warning and control in the defense of North America as it identifies hostile aircraft across the Arctic region .

The North American Aerospace Command announced plans on Monday for its traditional Christmas Eve tracking of the travels of Santa Claus. Photo courtesy of NORAD/Twitter
Nov. 16 (UPI) -- The North American Aerospace Defense Command, better known as NORAD, announced preparations on Monday for its annual tracking of the arrival of Santa Claus. The "NORAD Tracks Santa" program that traditionally follows a simulated track of Santa Clause from the North Pole around the world on Christmas Eve will happen again this year, but the command has made some changes because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Advertisement
While NORAD will track Santa's journey -- as it has every year since 1955 -- most people who call 1-800-HI-NORAD for updates on the Christmas Eve trip may get a recording instead of a live volunteer.
Officials at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado said Monday that the NORAD Tracks Santa call center will only have a small number of volunteers taking calls this year as part of ongoing public concern about increasing COVID-19 cases.
"While NORAD understands the call center is an important tradition for many families around the world, we [are reducing] the health risks posed by attempting to conduct a large, indoor, in-person call center during the pandemic," officials said in a statement.
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The call center presence will be reduced, but Santa will be trackable on NORAD's website, www.noradsanta.org, on Dec. 24, as well as with mobile apps and social media, including OnStar and Amazon Alexa, beginning on Dec. 1, the command said.
The combined defense agency of the United States and Canada normally conducts aerospace and maritime warning and control in the defense of North America as it identifies hostile aircraft across the Arctic region.


upi--2020-11-16--Hungary, Poland veto European Union budget

Nov. 16 ( UPI ) -- Hungary and Poland have rejected the European Union 's $ 2.1 trillion seven-year budget and coronavirus recovery plan , putting the bloc 's massive plan to rebuild the continent 's battered economy in jeopardy .
Various state members had been working for months to reach a deal and avert the delay in approving the budget as the coronavirus makes a second spike .
Some balked at plans to tie funds to establishing democratic norms with new `` rule of law '' measures .
Hungary Prime Minister Viktor Orban bristled at what he believed was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its internal affairs .
In a letter to German Chancellor Angela Merkel , European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel , the President of the European Council , Orban said Hungary would vote against the budget .
Hungary said in a statement it shared EU 's values and commitment to the rule of law `` but it should be left to the Hungarian people to decide whether those regulations are adhered to and implemented correctly , as they are as good judges of the issue as to any other European @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been facing EU sanctions for alleged attempts by their governments to undermine the independence of their judges .
`` The resistance of Orban and the Polish government is irresponsible , '' European Parliament member Rasmus Andersen from Germany said .
`` Orban is afraid that the new rule of law mechanism will harm his autocratic regime .
He is trying to take Europe and COVID hostage for his failed policies .
Hungary and Poland risk plunging the EU into a deep crisis . ''

Hungary Prime Minister Viktor Orban, shown at the White House to meet President Donald Trump on May 13, 2019, vetoed the European Union budget Monday along with Poland. Photo by Chris Kleponis/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 16 (UPI) -- Hungary and Poland have rejected the European Union's $2.1 trillion seven-year budget and coronavirus recovery plan, putting the bloc's massive plan to rebuild the continent's battered economy in jeopardy. Various state members had been working for months to reach a deal and avert the delay in approving the budget as the coronavirus makes a second spike. Some balked at plans to tie funds to establishing democratic norms with new "rule of law" measures. Advertisement
Hungary Prime Minister Viktor Orban bristled at what he believed was an overreach by the European Union in its internal affairs. In a letter to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel, the President of the European Council, Orban said Hungary would vote against the budget.
Hungary said in a statement it shared EU's values and commitment to the rule of law "but it should be left to the Hungarian people to decide whether those regulations are adhered to and implemented correctly, as they are as good judges of the issue as to any other European people."
Hungary and Poland had been facing EU sanctions for alleged attempts by their governments to undermine the independence of their judges.
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"The resistance of Orban and the Polish government is irresponsible," European Parliament member Rasmus Andersen from Germany said. "Orban is afraid that the new rule of law mechanism will harm his autocratic regime. He is trying to take Europe and COVID hostage for his failed policies. Hungary and Poland risk plunging the EU into a deep crisis."


upi--2020-11-17--Peatland conservation may prevent new diseases from jumping to humans

Nov. 17 ( UPI ) -- In a new paper , scientists argue tropical peatland areas have been mostly ignored as potential settings for new diseases to jump from animals to humans .
According to the authors of the new study , published Tuesday in journal PeerJ , better protecting and restoring tropical peat-swamp forests could help curb the effects of the current pandemic , and also prevent the emergence of future zoonotic diseases .
COVID-19 has changed the way we look at the world -- and scientists say it 's also changed the way they look at their areas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increasingly clear that COVID-19 was n't going to magically disappear in a few weeks , we began thinking and talking about what the potential impacts of the pandemic might be on the conservation of this ecosystem and resident local communities , and the idea of this paper was conceived , '' lead study author Mark Harrison , an ecologist and postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Exeter in Britain , told UPI in an email .
In their paper , Harrison and his colleagues acknowledge that tropical peatland are n't unique in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but claim that they 've been largely ignored .
Peatland areas host high levels of biodiversity .
They 're also subject to increasing levels of habitat destruction and wildlife harvesting .
These attributes make tropical peat-swamp forests ripe for animal-to-human disease transmission .
`` The joint-first reported case of Ebola in 1976 is from a peatland area , in Yambuku , Democratic Republic of Congo , and the cradle of the HIV/AIDS pandemic is believed to be around Kinshasa , DRC , another area with extensive peatlands , '' Harrison said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ riskier than other tropical environs , and should n't be viewed as an ecosystem to be fearful of .
`` Rather , the evidence suggests there is a risk that has not been previously highlighted , and that this risk will be reduced through protection and restoration of these ecosystems and their wildlife , '' Harrison said .
Previous studies have suggested the risk of animal-human disease transmission is greatest among degraded habitats .
In the new paper , researchers argue protecting peatlands can curb the risk of zoonotic disease emergence and transmission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peatlands commonly involves their drainage , which leads to peat degradation and high dry season fire risk , posing serious threats to global climate , biodiversity and -- as we highlight in our paper -- public health , '' Harrison said .
`` Most important is therefore preventing conversion to drained peat uses and where necessary restoring the natural wet , flooded conditions of these swamps , to protect the peat , keep its carbon locked up and reduce the risk of fire , '' he said .
To protect peatlands and prevent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must not only focus on ecological health , but also address a complex array of social , economic and political issues where the needs of local populations are in conflict with the needs of the environment .
In addition to reducing the risk of future pandemics , researchers claim efforts to protect and restore peatlands can help mitigate the effects of the current COVID-19 pandemic .
`` One important way that tropical peatland conservation and restoration can help mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic is through preventing peat wildfires , which can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and produce thick smoke clouds that are known to impact human health , '' Harrison said .
`` Researchers working in other areas have recently identified air pollution as a risk factor leading to increased COVID-19 case numbers , hospital admissions and mortalities , so there is a clear risk here in relation to tropical peatland fires , '' he said .
Harrison and his colleagues describe their paper as a collection of `` informed predictions '' about the possible impacts of COVID-19 on peatland conservation and vice versa .
Moving forward , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collect field data throughout and beyond the pandemic in order to gauge the accuracy of their predictions .
`` This wo n't become clear for many years , so in the mean time it is important to focus research efforts on improving the resilience of tropical peatland ecosystems and communities , including establishing how to improve the health of peatland ecosystems , resident human communities and the relationships between these , '' Harrison said .

Local fishers paddle through the smoky haze from peatland fires in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. Photo by Suzanne Turnock/Borneo Nature Foundation
Nov. 17 (UPI) -- In a new paper, scientists argue tropical peatland areas have been mostly ignored as potential settings for new diseases to jump from animals to humans. According to the authors of the new study, published Tuesday in journal PeerJ, better protecting and restoring tropical peat-swamp forests could help curb the effects of the current pandemic, and also prevent the emergence of future zoonotic diseases. Advertisement
COVID-19 has changed the way we look at the world -- and scientists say it's also changed the way they look at their areas of expertise.
"As it became increasingly clear that COVID-19 wasn't going to magically disappear in a few weeks, we began thinking and talking about what the potential impacts of the pandemic might be on the conservation of this ecosystem and resident local communities, and the idea of this paper was conceived," lead study author Mark Harrison, an ecologist and postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Exeter in Britain, told UPI in an email.
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In their paper, Harrison and his colleagues acknowledge that tropical peatland aren't unique in their potential to host zoonotic disease transmission, but claim that they've been largely ignored.
Peatland areas host high levels of biodiversity. They're also subject to increasing levels of habitat destruction and wildlife harvesting. These attributes make tropical peat-swamp forests ripe for animal-to-human disease transmission.
The risk isn't just hypothetical.
"The joint-first reported case of Ebola in 1976 is from a peatland area, in Yambuku, Democratic Republic of Congo, and the cradle of the HIV/AIDS pandemic is believed to be around Kinshasa, DRC, another area with extensive peatlands," Harrison said.
Researchers suggest tropical peatlands aren't necessarily riskier than other tropical environs, and shouldn't be viewed as an ecosystem to be fearful of.
"Rather, the evidence suggests there is a risk that has not been previously highlighted, and that this risk will be reduced through protection and restoration of these ecosystems and their wildlife," Harrison said.
Previous studies have suggested the risk of animal-human disease transmission is greatest among degraded habitats. In the new paper, researchers argue protecting peatlands can curb the risk of zoonotic disease emergence and transmission.
Scientists suggest peatland conservation efforts focus on keeping peatland habitat sufficiently wet.
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"Conversion and use of tropical peatlands commonly involves their drainage, which leads to peat degradation and high dry season fire risk, posing serious threats to global climate, biodiversity and -- as we highlight in our paper -- public health," Harrison said.
"Most important is therefore preventing conversion to drained peat uses and where necessary restoring the natural wet, flooded conditions of these swamps, to protect the peat, keep its carbon locked up and reduce the risk of fire," he said.
To protect peatlands and prevent their drainage, researchers suggest policy makers must not only focus on ecological health, but also address a complex array of social, economic and political issues where the needs of local populations are in conflict with the needs of the environment.
In addition to reducing the risk of future pandemics, researchers claim efforts to protect and restore peatlands can help mitigate the effects of the current COVID-19 pandemic.
"One important way that tropical peatland conservation and restoration can help mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic is through preventing peat wildfires, which can occur annually in parts of South-east Asia and produce thick smoke clouds that are known to impact human health," Harrison said.
"Researchers working in other areas have recently identified air pollution as a risk factor leading to increased COVID-19 case numbers, hospital admissions and mortalities, so there is a clear risk here in relation to tropical peatland fires," he said.
Advertisement
Harrison and his colleagues describe their paper as a collection of "informed predictions" about the possible impacts of COVID-19 on peatland conservation and vice versa.
Moving forward, researchers suggest efforts must be taken to collect field data throughout and beyond the pandemic in order to gauge the accuracy of their predictions.
"This won't become clear for many years, so in the mean time it is important to focus research efforts on improving the resilience of tropical peatland ecosystems and communities, including establishing how to improve the health of peatland ecosystems, resident human communities and the relationships between these," Harrison said.


upi--2020-11-17--Padres sign Mike Clevinger, announce Tommy John surgery

Nov. 17 ( UPI ) -- The San Diego Padres have locked down Mike Clevinger with a two-year contract , but also announced that the right-handed pitcher will undergo Tommy John surgery on Tuesday and is expected to miss the 2021 season .
San Diego announced Clevinger 's new pact and ulnar collateral ligament surgery on Monday .
Sources told MLB Network that the contact is worth $ 11.5 million in addition to performance incentives .
The contract replaces Clevinger 's two years of arbitration eligibility .
Clevinger , 29 , appeared in eight games last season for the Cleveland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3.18 ERA in four starts for Cleveland before he was sent to San Diego in August as part of a nine-player trade .
He went on to log a 2.84 ERA and 2-1 record in four starts for the Padres before elbow issues ended his 2020 campaign .
The Seminole Community College product entered the league as a fourth-round pick by the Los Angeles Angels in the 2011 MLB Draft .
He was traded to the Indians in 2014 before he made his MLB debut in 2016 .
Clevinger has a career ERA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a starter .
He has appeared in 105 games .

1/3
San Diego Padres pitcher Mike Clevinger is now under contract through the 2022 season after he agreed to a new pact with the franchise on Monday. File Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 17 (UPI) -- The San Diego Padres have locked down Mike Clevinger with a two-year contract, but also announced that the right-handed pitcher will undergo Tommy John surgery on Tuesday and is expected to miss the 2021 season. San Diego announced Clevinger's new pact and ulnar collateral ligament surgery on Monday. Sources told MLB Network that the contact is worth $11.5 million in addition to performance incentives. The contract replaces Clevinger's two years of arbitration eligibility. Advertisement
Clevinger, 29, appeared in eight games last season for the Cleveland Indians and Padres. He posted a 3.18 ERA in four starts for Cleveland before he was sent to San Diego in August as part of a nine-player trade. He went on to log a 2.84 ERA and 2-1 record in four starts for the Padres before elbow issues ended his 2020 campaign.
The Seminole Community College product entered the league as a fourth-round pick by the Los Angeles Angels in the 2011 MLB Draft. He was traded to the Indians in 2014 before he made his MLB debut in 2016.
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Clevinger has a career ERA of 3.19 and a 44-23 record as a starter. He has appeared in 105 games.


upi--2020-11-17--Nick Jonas to return as 'The Voice' coach in Season 20

Nov. 17 ( UPI ) -- Nick Jonas is returning to The Voice in Season 20 .
The NBC reality singing competition announced Tuesday that Jonas , 28 , will serve as a coach in the upcoming season .
Jonas will replace Gwen Stefani , who is serving as a coach in Season 19 .
Blake Shelton , Kelly Clarkson and John Legend will return as coaches in Season 20 .
Jonas previously served as a coach on The Voice in Season 18 .
Shelton and Stefani got engaged in October after five years of dating .
In a teaser @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Legend arrive on The Voice set while wondering who the new coach will be .
They find Jonas , who is meditating and reflecting on his preparations for the new season .
`` I 've been living and breathing The Voice since Season 18 , '' Jonas thinks in a voiceover .
`` I 've honed in my skills .
Channel your inner champion .
Make Blake cry , hahaha ! ''
`` Little do these coaches know , I 've grown stronger by the day , '' he adds .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Jonas and his brothers Kevin Jonas and Joe Jonas perform in the pop rock band Jonas Brothers .
The group released its fifth studio album , Happiness Begins , in June 2019 .
The Jonas Brothers released a video for their holiday song `` I Need You Christmas '' this week .

Nov. 17 (UPI) -- Nick Jonas is returning to The Voice in Season 20.
The NBC reality singing competition announced Tuesday that Jonas, 28, will serve as a coach in the upcoming season.
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Jonas will replace Gwen Stefani, who is serving as a coach in Season 19. Blake Shelton, Kelly Clarkson and John Legend will return as coaches in Season 20.
Jonas previously served as a coach on The Voice in Season 18.
Shelton and Stefani got engaged in October after five years of dating.
In a teaser for Season 20, Clarkson, Shelton and Legend arrive on The Voice set while wondering who the new coach will be. They find Jonas, who is meditating and reflecting on his preparations for the new season.
"I've been living and breathing The Voice since Season 18," Jonas thinks in a voiceover. "I've honed in my skills. Channel your inner champion. Make Blake cry, hahaha!"
"Little do these coaches know, I've grown stronger by the day," he adds. "The newbie has now become the master."
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Jonas and his brothers Kevin Jonas and Joe Jonas perform in the pop rock band Jonas Brothers. The group released its fifth studio album, Happiness Begins, in June 2019.
The Jonas Brothers released a video for their holiday song "I Need You Christmas" this week.


upi--2020-11-17--U.S. adds 166K COVID-19 cases; millions in California, Washington under new restrictions

Nov. 17 ( UPI ) -- The United States has added more than 160,000 COVID-19 cases , according to updated data , and surges along parts of the West Coast ushered in new restrictions Tuesday .
Data Tuesday from researchers at Johns Hopkins University showed a little more than 166,000 new cases on Monday , the third-highest one-day total to date .
The three highest days have all come within the past week , including a record 177,000 cases Friday .
There were also about 1,000 COVID-19 deaths on Monday , according to Johns Hopkins .
Since the start of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million cases and 247,300 deaths nationwide .
Hospitalizations on Monday rose to 70,000 for the first time , according to the COVID Tracking Project .
In California , new restrictions took effect on Tuesday in counties statewide that are home to 94 % of the state 's population .
The counties returned to the most restrictive tier under the government 's plan , which closes many non-essential indoor business operations .
Restaurants in most counties will be limited again to outdoor and takeout service .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom has also strengthened the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ masks in public , with limited exceptions , and is considering a curfew .
California cases have doubled over the past two weeks and the total surpassed 1 million last week .
Washington state , which was one of the first areas of the United States to see an influx of cases in the spring , is now seeing another surge -- and ushering in new restrictions .
Starting Tuesday , indoor dining , theaters , gyms and other non-essential indoor businesses are not permitted .
Gov .
Jay Inslee ordered the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outdoor events to five people .
For outdoor dining , that means a limit of five people to a table .
More than 1 million U.S. children have now been infected by COVID-19 , according to an update from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children 's Hospital Association .
Children represent almost 12 % of all U.S. cases , the group said , and the overall rate is about 1,400 cases per 100,000 children .
`` As a pediatrician who has practiced medicine for over three decades , I find this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Dr. Sally Goza said .
`` We have n't seen a virus flash through our communities in this way since before we had vaccines for measles and polio . ''
Goza called on elected leaders to enact a new national strategy to `` control the pandemic . ''
`` And that should include implementing proven public health measures like mask wearing and physical distancing , '' she said .

A woman and a masked child are seen walking in New York City on Monday. Rising cases nationwide have prompted officials in some states to reintroduce stricter measures to control the outbreaks. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 17 (UPI) -- The United States has added more than 160,000 COVID-19 cases, according to updated data, and surges along parts of the West Coast ushered in new restrictions Tuesday. Data Tuesday from researchers at Johns Hopkins University showed a little more than 166,000 new cases on Monday, the third-highest one-day total to date. Advertisement
The three highest days have all come within the past week, including a record 177,000 cases Friday.
There were also about 1,000 COVID-19 deaths on Monday, according to Johns Hopkins.
Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 11.2 million cases and 247,300 deaths nationwide.
Hospitalizations on Monday rose to 70,000 for the first time, according to the COVID Tracking Project.
In California, new restrictions took effect on Tuesday in counties statewide that are home to 94% of the state's population. The counties returned to the most restrictive tier under the government's plan, which closes many non-essential indoor business operations.
Restaurants in most counties will be limited again to outdoor and takeout service.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has also strengthened the state's face covering guidance to mandate masks in public, with limited exceptions, and is considering a curfew.
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California cases have doubled over the past two weeks and the total surpassed 1 million last week.
Washington state, which was one of the first areas of the United States to see an influx of cases in the spring, is now seeing another surge -- and ushering in new restrictions.
Starting Tuesday, indoor dining, theaters, gyms and other non-essential indoor businesses are not permitted. Gov. Jay Inslee ordered the new measures last weekend, which also limit outdoor events to five people. For outdoor dining, that means a limit of five people to a table.
More than 1 million U.S. children have now been infected by COVID-19, according to an update from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children's Hospital Association.
Children represent almost 12% of all U.S. cases, the group said, and the overall rate is about 1,400 cases per 100,000 children.
"As a pediatrician who has practiced medicine for over three decades, I find this number staggering and tragic," AAP President Dr. Sally Goza said. "We haven't seen a virus flash through our communities in this way since before we had vaccines for measles and polio."
Goza called on elected leaders to enact a new national strategy to "control the pandemic."
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"And that should include implementing proven public health measures like mask wearing and physical distancing," she said.


upi--2020-11-17--Half-nephew of Kim Jong Un in CIA custody, report says

Nov. 17 ( UPI ) -- The half-nephew of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was taken into CIA custody , but his whereabouts are unknown , according to a recent report .
Kim Han Sol was taken to an undisclosed location after a meeting with CIA agents , The New Yorker reported .
Kim was expected to arrive at Schiphol Airport outside Amsterdam in 2017 , but went missing en route while accompanied by a CIA agent .
Kim is the son of Kim Jong Nam , the man who was assassinated on Feb. 13 , 2017 , at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Kim Han Sol and his family was made possible with the help of Free Joseon 's Adrian Hong Chang and Christopher Ahn , a former U.S. marine .
The two men were also involved in a raid on the North Korean Embassy in Spain in 2019 .
Free Joseon , sometimes known as Cheollima Civil Defense , has often been identified as a North Korea government-in-exile .
Hong Chang first met Kim Han Sol in Paris around 2013 through a mutual contact .
Kim , a teenager at the time , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hong Chang said .
`` Never met a kid with so much money .
Kim Jong Nam had stashed away a lot of cash during his life , '' he said , according to The New Yorker .
In 2017 Kim Han Sol reached out to Hong Chang after his father 's death .
The family was living in Macau .
Kim said the Macau police at his house had vanished without explanation .
The family decided to leave immediately , and Hong Chang coordinated with Ahn to make their getaway , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the report says .
Hong Chang purchased tickets for the family to go to Amsterdam and Ahn was planning to travel with the group , but CIA agents who appeared at the airport in Taiwan prevented Ahn from involvement .
`` A team sent by Free Joseon , assisted by a Dutch human rights lawyer , was waiting at the gate '' of the Dutch airport , the report says .
`` Yet they never came through the gate . ''
Kim Han Sol 's father has previously been linked to a North @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he helped manage .
The regime often uses overseas contacts to earn foreign currency , but many activities are illicit .
Japan 's NHK reported Tuesday two South Korean passport holders have been arrested for illegal seafood trading with North Korea .
International sanctions ban North Korean exports of seafood .

Kim Han Sol, who has identified himself as the oldest son of slain Kim Jong Nam (pictured), was taken into CIA custody and his whereabouts are unknown, according to a recent report. File Photo screenshot courtesy of Cheollima Civil Defense/YouTube
Nov. 17 (UPI) -- The half-nephew of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was taken into CIA custody, but his whereabouts are unknown, according to a recent report. Kim Han Sol was taken to an undisclosed location after a meeting with CIA agents, The New Yorker reported. Kim was expected to arrive at Schiphol Airport outside Amsterdam in 2017, but went missing en route while accompanied by a CIA agent. Kim is the son of Kim Jong Nam, the man who was assassinated on Feb. 13, 2017, at an airport in Malaysia. Advertisement
The rescue of Kim Han Sol and his family was made possible with the help of Free Joseon's Adrian Hong Chang and Christopher Ahn, a former U.S. marine. The two men were also involved in a raid on the North Korean Embassy in Spain in 2019.
Free Joseon, sometimes known as Cheollima Civil Defense, has often been identified as a North Korea government-in-exile.
Hong Chang first met Kim Han Sol in Paris around 2013 through a mutual contact. Kim, a teenager at the time, was wearing a pair of Gucci shoes, Hong Chang said.
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"Never met a kid with so much money. Kim Jong Nam had stashed away a lot of cash during his life," he said, according to The New Yorker.
In 2017 Kim Han Sol reached out to Hong Chang after his father's death. The family was living in Macau. Kim said the Macau police at his house had vanished without explanation. The family decided to leave immediately, and Hong Chang coordinated with Ahn to make their getaway, which began at an airport in Taiwan, the report says.
Hong Chang purchased tickets for the family to go to Amsterdam and Ahn was planning to travel with the group, but CIA agents who appeared at the airport in Taiwan prevented Ahn from involvement.
"A team sent by Free Joseon, assisted by a Dutch human rights lawyer, was waiting at the gate" of the Dutch airport, the report says. "Yet they never came through the gate."
Kim Han Sol's father has previously been linked to a North Korea slush fund in Macau, which he helped manage. The regime often uses overseas contacts to earn foreign currency, but many activities are illicit.
Japan's NHK reported Tuesday two South Korean passport holders have been arrested for illegal seafood trading with North Korea. International sanctions ban North Korean exports of seafood.


upi--2020-11-17--Justin Duggar engaged to Claire Spivey: 'We cannot wait to be married'

Nov. 17 ( UPI ) -- Justin Duggar is engaged to be married .
The 18-year-old television personality recently proposed to his girlfriend , Claire Spivey .
Duggar is the 14th of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar 's 19 children .
Duggar , who stars with his family on Counting On , shared news of his engagement Monday on Instagram alongside a photo of himself with Spivey .
`` So excited to announce that we are engaged !
!
I will never forget the look on her face when I slid the ring on her singer .
We look forward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ begin the rest of our lives together ! ''
he captioned the post .
Duggar 's sister Jill Duggar , who married Derick Dillard in 2014 , was among those to congratulate the couple in the comments .
`` Congrats bro !
Being married to your best friend the best !
!
! ''
Jill said .
Duggar and Spivey also confirmed their engagement to TLC , which airs Counting On .
`` There is nothing comparable to finding the one you are meant to spent your life with , '' the couple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found that in each other .
We can not wait to be married and are looking forward to a life together of faith in Christ , love for one another , and happiness ! ''
they added .
The Duggars and Spiveys are family friends who have known each other for more than 20 years .
Duggar and Spivey first met in spring 2019 and announced their courtship in September .
Duggar and his family came to fame on the TLC series 19 Kids & Counting .
The family now stars on Counting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in September .
Duggar 's sister Joy-Anna Duggar gave birth to her second child , daughter Evelyn , in August .
His brother Joseph Duggar is expecting his third child with his wife , Kendra Duggar .

Nov. 17 (UPI) -- Justin Duggar is engaged to be married.
The 18-year-old television personality recently proposed to his girlfriend, Claire Spivey. Duggar is the 14th of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar's 19 children.
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Duggar, who stars with his family on Counting On, shared news of his engagement Monday on Instagram alongside a photo of himself with Spivey.
"So excited to announce that we are engaged!! I will never forget the look on her face when I slid the ring on her singer. We look forward to the day that we get to begin the rest of our lives together!" he captioned the post.
Duggar's sister Jill Duggar, who married Derick Dillard in 2014, was among those to congratulate the couple in the comments.
"Congrats bro! Being married to your best friend the best!!!" Jill said.
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Duggar and Spivey also confirmed their engagement to TLC, which airs Counting On.
"There is nothing comparable to finding the one you are meant to spent your life with," the couple said.
"We know we have found that in each other. We cannot wait to be married and are looking forward to a life together of faith in Christ, love for one another, and happiness!" they added.
The Duggars and Spiveys are family friends who have known each other for more than 20 years. Duggar and Spivey first met in spring 2019 and announced their courtship in September.
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Duggar and his family came to fame on the TLC series 19 Kids & Counting. The family now stars on Counting On, which completed an 11th season in September.
Duggar's sister Joy-Anna Duggar gave birth to her second child, daughter Evelyn, in August. His brother Joseph Duggar is expecting his third child with his wife, Kendra Duggar.


upi--2020-11-17--In photos: Moments from the National Football League for the week of Nov. 15, 2020

The Baltimore Ravens ' Lamar Jackson throws a pass against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough , @ @ @ @ @ where the Patriots defeated the Ravens 23-17 .
Photo by Matthew Healey/UPI

Minnesota Vikings' Tyler Conklin (L) is tackled by Chicago Bears' Roquan Smith at Soldier Field in Chicago on Monday, where the Vikings won 19-13. Photo by Mark Black/UPI


upi--2020-11-17--ACC changes schedule due to Miami COVID-19 cases

Nov. 17 ( UPI ) -- The Atlantic Coast Conference has rescheduled several games due to positive COVID-19 cases in the University of Miami football program .
ACC officials announced Monday that the Hurricanes will have their next three games postponed .
`` The announcement follows the positive tests and subsequent quarantining of student-athletes within the Miami football team , '' the ACC said in a news release .
`` The conference and team are adhering to the outlined protocols within the ACC medical advisory group report , which is available on theACC.com . ''
The Hurricanes ( 7-1 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saturday in Blacksburg , Va .
They were scheduled to host Georgia Tech on Saturday , but are now slated to play the Yellow Jackets on Dec. 19 in Miami .
The Hurricanes ' Nov. 28 game at Wake Forest was moved to Dec. 5 .
Miami 's Dec. 5 game against North Carolina was rescheduled for Dec. 12 in Miami .
The Miami-Georgia Tech game will be played only if the Hurricanes do n't advance to the ACC Championship game or if the result of that game has no impact on determining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ title game .
Hurricanes coach Manny Diaz hinted Saturday that the team was on the `` brink '' of postponing or canceling games due to COVID-19 .
The Hurricanes had 13 players -- including three starters -- unavailable for Saturday 's game against Virginia Tech .
`` They wanted to play , and we were right on the brink at some position groups whether we could even function as a team .
Some guys had to step up , '' Diaz told reporters .
`` We were really down on numbers at offensive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ practice .
It makes it hard to do anything , but no one cares , right ?
You go play a game and there 's no excuses .
The players came here to win the game .
I told them I thought they won the game on Friday with their mentality and their attitude with all the things we had to go through this week . ''
The ACC also announced on Thursday that the Georgia Tech-Pittsburgh game -- scheduled for Saturday -- was postponed after each team reported COVID-19 cases .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Atlanta .
`` We are disappointed that we will not be able to play the next two weeks as scheduled but this decision was made in the best interests of the health and safety of all teams , '' Miami athletic director Blake James said .
`` The health and safety of our student-athletes is always our top priority and we will continue to follow the conference 's protocols in order to safely and responsibly return to play . ''

The Miami Hurricanes will not play football until at least December due to COVID-19 cases. File Photo by Joe Marino-Bill Cantrell/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 17 (UPI) -- The Atlantic Coast Conference has rescheduled several games due to positive COVID-19 cases in the University of Miami football program. ACC officials announced Monday that the Hurricanes will have their next three games postponed. Advertisement
"The announcement follows the positive tests and subsequent quarantining of student-athletes within the Miami football team,'' the ACC said in a news release.
"The conference and team are adhering to the outlined protocols within the ACC medical advisory group report, which is available on theACC.com."
The Hurricanes (7-1, 6-1 ACC) beat Virginia Tech on Saturday in Blacksburg, Va. They were scheduled to host Georgia Tech on Saturday, but are now slated to play the Yellow Jackets on Dec. 19 in Miami. The Hurricanes' Nov. 28 game at Wake Forest was moved to Dec. 5. Miami's Dec. 5 game against North Carolina was rescheduled for Dec. 12 in Miami.
The Miami-Georgia Tech game will be played only if the Hurricanes don't advance to the ACC Championship game or if the result of that game has no impact on determining whether either team plays in the conference title game.
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Hurricanes coach Manny Diaz hinted Saturday that the team was on the "brink" of postponing or canceling games due to COVID-19. The Hurricanes had 13 players -- including three starters -- unavailable for Saturday's game against Virginia Tech.
"They wanted to play, and we were right on the brink at some position groups whether we could even function as a team. Some guys had to step up," Diaz told reporters.
"We were really down on numbers at offensive line. It makes it hard to practice. It makes it hard to do anything, but no one cares, right? You go play a game and there's no excuses. The players came here to win the game. I told them I thought they won the game on Friday with their mentality and their attitude with all the things we had to go through this week."
The ACC also announced on Thursday that the Georgia Tech-Pittsburgh game -- scheduled for Saturday -- was postponed after each team reported COVID-19 cases. That game is now scheduled for Dec. 12 in Atlanta.
"We are disappointed that we will not be able to play the next two weeks as scheduled but this decision was made in the best interests of the health and safety of all teams,'' Miami athletic director Blake James said.
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"The health and safety of our student-athletes is always our top priority and we will continue to follow the conference's protocols in order to safely and responsibly return to play."


upi--2020-11-17--Watch: Maria Bakalova of 'Borat 2' says mom was 'full of tears' after seeing film

Nov. 17 ( UPI ) -- Maria Bakalova , who portrayed Borat 's daughter Tutar in Borat 2 , appeared on The Late Late Show to discuss the film and how it brought her mother to tears .
`` My mom FaceTimed me after she watched the movie and she was so sad .
Her eyes were like full of tears .
She was crying for maybe two hours , '' Bakalova , who hails from Bulgaria said .
`` And because she 's kind of a masochist , obviously , she watched it twice and she was even more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bakalova got the part over 600 others after her friend filmed her audition tape as a joke .
She sent in more audition tapes and eventually left Bulgaria to film the project .
Bakalova 's mother was scared for her safety .
Bakalova also discussed her Borat 2 scene with President Donald Trump 's attorney Rudy Giuliani , who was filmed in a compromising position with her character Tutar .
Giuliani has denied any wrongdoing in the scene which appeared to show him put his hands down his pants while he was with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ room .
Sacha Baron Cohen 's Borat quickly jumped out of a hidden closet to end the scene .
`` Nerve-racking .
My heart was racing and I was nervous .
I was scared .
Not scared because Sacha was in the closest , '' she said about the Giuliani scene .
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm : Delivery of Prodigious Bride to American Regime for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan , is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video .

Nov. 17 (UPI) -- Maria Bakalova, who portrayed Borat's daughter Tutar in Borat 2, appeared on The Late Late Show to discuss the film and how it brought her mother to tears.
"My mom FaceTimed me after she watched the movie and she was so sad. Her eyes were like full of tears. She was crying for maybe two hours," Bakalova, who hails from Bulgaria said.
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"And because she's kind of a masochist, obviously, she watched it twice and she was even more sad," the actress continued.
Bakalova got the part over 600 others after her friend filmed her audition tape as a joke. She sent in more audition tapes and eventually left Bulgaria to film the project. Bakalova's mother was scared for her safety.
Bakalova also discussed her Borat 2 scene with President Donald Trump's attorney Rudy Giuliani, who was filmed in a compromising position with her character Tutar.
Giuliani has denied any wrongdoing in the scene which appeared to show him put his hands down his pants while he was with Bakalova in character, inside a hotel room. Sacha Baron Cohen's Borat quickly jumped out of a hidden closet to end the scene.
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"Nerve-racking. My heart was racing and I was nervous. I was scared. Not scared because Sacha was in the closest," she said about the Giuliani scene.
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bride to American Regime for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.


upi--2020-11-17--University of California system agrees to $73M settlement in sex abuse suit against Dr. James Heaps

Nov. 17 ( UPI ) -- The University of California system of higher education has reached a class-action settlement worth nearly $ 75 million with several women who 'd accused a former gynecologist of sexual abuse .
The financial agreement would include seven primary complainants and thousands of former patients of Dr. James Heaps between 1983 and 2018 .
The University of California system Board of Regents approved the settlement , which would not require Heaps to admit to wrongdoing .
The university system would pay the total amount .
`` The settlement , if approved , will provide real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- no less than $ 2,500 and up to $ 250,000 , or more in extraordinary circumstances , '' said plaintiffs attorney Elizabeth Kramer .
`` In a case involving widespread sexual misconduct , a class settlement compensates survivors who otherwise would not have come forward to seek relief from the courts , through a respectful and confidential process . ''
If approved by a judge , the agreement would also mandate reforms at the University of California , Los Angeles , where Heaps was a gynecologist .
Heaps , who still faces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accused of abusing patients where he worked , at the campus ' student health center and UCLA Medical Center .
The criminal case is scheduled to begin on Dec. 7 .
Heaps has pleaded not guilty , but his medical license has been suspended pending the outcome of the criminal case .
`` Dr. Heaps has maintained his innocence ever since he was first accused , and this proposed settlement involving civil litigation , does not change that , '' Leonard Levine , an attorney for Heaps , said Monday .
`` `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ liability by Dr. Heaps to any of the allegations against him .
`` It is unfortunate that the Regents of the University of California have decided on this proposed settlement without ever once questioning Dr. Heaps ' accusers , under oath , in a court of law . ''
Heaps , the university system and the accusers all signed off on the settlement .
`` The incidents described in the lawsuit reflect alleged conduct that is contrary to our values , '' UCLA Health said .
`` We thank the individuals who came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is one small step forward for the patients involved . ''
UCLA identified about 5,000 of Heaps ' former patients and estimate there are 1,600 others whose records are no longer at the school .
All are covered by Monday 's settlement .

Nov. 17 (UPI) -- The University of California system of higher education has reached a class-action settlement worth nearly $75 million with several women who'd accused a former gynecologist of sexual abuse.
The financial agreement would include seven primary complainants and thousands of former patients of Dr. James Heaps between 1983 and 2018.
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The University of California system Board of Regents approved the settlement, which would not require Heaps to admit to wrongdoing. The university system would pay the total amount.
"The settlement, if approved, will provide real and immediate compensation to thousands of women -- no less than $2,500 and up to $250,000, or more in extraordinary circumstances," said plaintiffs attorney Elizabeth Kramer.
"In a case involving widespread sexual misconduct, a class settlement compensates survivors who otherwise would not have come forward to seek relief from the courts, through a respectful and confidential process."
If approved by a judge, the agreement would also mandate reforms at the University of California, Los Angeles, where Heaps was a gynecologist.
Heaps, who still faces criminal charges in the case, is accused of abusing patients where he worked, at the campus' student health center and UCLA Medical Center.
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The criminal case is scheduled to begin on Dec. 7. Heaps has pleaded not guilty, but his medical license has been suspended pending the outcome of the criminal case.
"Dr. Heaps has maintained his innocence ever since he was first accused, and this proposed settlement involving civil litigation, does not change that," Leonard Levine, an attorney for Heaps, said Monday. ""It involves no admission of guilt or liability by Dr. Heaps to any of the allegations against him.
"It is unfortunate that the Regents of the University of California have decided on this proposed settlement without ever once questioning Dr. Heaps' accusers, under oath, in a court of law."
Heaps, the university system and the accusers all signed off on the settlement.
"The incidents described in the lawsuit reflect alleged conduct that is contrary to our values," UCLA Health said. "We thank the individuals who came forward and hope that this settlement ... is one small step forward for the patients involved."
UCLA identified about 5,000 of Heaps' former patients and estimate there are 1,600 others whose records are no longer at the school. All are covered by Monday's settlement.