upi--2020-10-28--Defense Secretary Mark Esper: India-U.S. military pact meant to challenge China

Oct. 28 ( UPI ) -- An agreement between the United States and India calls for military cooperation and is a check on Chinese aggression , U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said .
Esper and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with their counterparts , Indian Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar and Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh , in New Delhi on Tuesday to sign a Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement .
The pact will give India , involved in a protracted border conflict with China , access to advanced U.S. map and satellite imagery to enhance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ missiles .
The U.S. Navy has notably been involved in attempts to curtail Chinese influence , including claims of sovereignty , in the Indo-Pacific theater of military operations .
At the signing ceremony , Pompeo and Esper lauded India , the world 's largest democracy , and spoke of having a mutual adversary in China .
`` Based on our shared values and common interests , we stand shoulder-to-shoulder in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific for all , particularly in light of increased aggression and destabilizing activities by China , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ India and the United States are working to establish dialogue regarding in cybersecurity and space domains .
Afterward , Pompeo was more blunt in his assessment of China .
`` Our leaders and our citizens see with increasing clarity that the [ Chinese Communist Party ] is no friend to democracy , the rule of law , transparency , nor to freedom of navigation , the foundation of a free and open and prosperous Indo-Pacific , '' Pompeo said .
A week before a U.S. presidential election , Esper is on a multi-country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the administration of President Donald Trump , and traveled to Sri Lanka after his visit to New Delhi .
Earlier in his trip , he noted that cooperation between the navies of India and the United States is strong .
`` We are looking to build more army-to-army and air force-to-air force opportunities , '' he said Esper , noting India 's decision to include Australia , with Japan and the United States , in November 's Malabar naval exercises .
`` We have a lot of existing exercises right now , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to multilateralize more things . ''

An agreement between India and the United States was signed in New Delhi this week calling for U.S. sharing of geospatial data, useful for steering missiles and drones, with India. Photo courtesy of U.S. Defense Department
Oct. 28 (UPI) -- An agreement between the United States and India calls for military cooperation and is a check on Chinese aggression, U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said. Esper and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with their counterparts, Indian Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar and Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, in New Delhi on Tuesday to sign a Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement. Advertisement
The pact will give India, involved in a protracted border conflict with China, access to advanced U.S. map and satellite imagery to enhance accuracy of Indian weapons, drones and missiles.
The U.S. Navy has notably been involved in attempts to curtail Chinese influence, including claims of sovereignty, in the Indo-Pacific theater of military operations.
At the signing ceremony, Pompeo and Esper lauded India, the world's largest democracy, and spoke of having a mutual adversary in China.
"Based on our shared values and common interests, we stand shoulder-to-shoulder in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific for all, particularly in light of increased aggression and destabilizing activities by China," Esper said.
Esper also said that India and the United States are working to establish dialogue regarding in cybersecurity and space domains.
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Afterward, Pompeo was more blunt in his assessment of China.
"Our leaders and our citizens see with increasing clarity that the [Chinese Communist Party] is no friend to democracy, the rule of law, transparency, nor to freedom of navigation, the foundation of a free and open and prosperous Indo-Pacific," Pompeo said.
A week before a U.S. presidential election, Esper is on a multi-country tour to reinforce the anti-China message of the administration of President Donald Trump, and traveled to Sri Lanka after his visit to New Delhi.
Earlier in his trip, he noted that cooperation between the navies of India and the United States is strong.
"We are looking to build more army-to-army and air force-to-air force opportunities," he said Esper, noting India's decision to include Australia, with Japan and the United States, in November's Malabar naval exercises.
"We have a lot of existing exercises right now," Esper said. "We would like to multilateralize more things."


upi--2020-10-28--Watch: Raccoon leads faculty members on chase through Texas school

Oct. 28 ( UPI ) -- A Texas high school shared security camera footage of teachers and an animal control @ @ @ @ @ through the halls .
Trinity High School Principal Mike Harris shared security camera footage of @ @ @ @ @ the Euless school when a raccoon made its way into the building .
The video @ @ @ @ @ teachers and an animal control officer chasing the raccoon through the empty hallways of the @ @ @ @ @ The raccoon eventually darts out of the building through an open door .
The incident @ @ @ @ @ two raccoons that made headlines earlier this month when security cameras at the Chase Bank @ @ @ @ @ the masked intruders wandering around inside the closed facility .
The would-be bank robbers were @ @ @ @ @ Peninsula Humane Society and SPCA .

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Oct. 28 (UPI) -- A Texas high school shared security camera footage of teachers and an animal control officer chasing a loose raccoon through the halls.
Trinity High School Principal Mike Harris shared security camera footage of the scene that unfolded at the Euless school when a raccoon made its way into the building.
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The video shows a group of seven teachers and an animal control officer chasing the raccoon through the empty hallways of the school for several moments.
The raccoon eventually darts out of the building through an open door.
The incident comes on the heels of two raccoons that made headlines earlier this month when security cameras at the Chase Bank branch in Redwood City recorded the masked intruders wandering around inside the closed facility.
The would-be bank robbers were ejected by personnel from the Peninsula Humane Society and SPCA.


upi--2020-10-28--Boeing to slash 7,000 jobs due to pandemic, 737 Max crisis

Oct. 28 ( UPI ) -- U.S. aeronautical company Boeing announced Wednesday it 's slashing more than 7,000 jobs as it deals with the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing disruptions caused by malfunctions with the 737 Max aircraft .
Boeing announced the cuts as part of its third-quarter results , which showed a net loss of $ 466 million , a sharp decrease from its $ 1.2 billion profit the same time last year .
Sales were down 29 % at $ 14.1 billion , with the biggest drop among commercial aircraft -- from $ 8.2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2020 .
`` As we share our third-quarter financial results today , the deep impacts of COVID-19 on the commercial aviation market and our business are reflected in lower revenue , earnings and cash flow compared to this time last year , '' Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun said .
`` As we align to market realities , our business units and functions are carefully making staffing decisions to prioritize natural attrition and stability in order to limit the impact on our people and our company .
We anticipate a workforce of about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
The Chicago-based company has seen a drop in new plane orders as airlines worldwide adjust to reduced travel since the start of the pandemic earlier this year .
But even before travel restrictions in response to the novel coronavirus , Boeing was dealing with the fallout of two crashes in its 737 Max within six months , which killed 346 people .
Investigators determined both flights showed problems with their maneuvering characteristics augmentation system , which affects the pitch of the aircraft .
Boeing 737 Max planes were grounded worldwide in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fix the error .
Calhoun said he expects federal regulators to lift the grounding on the plane after testing the newly fixed aircraft , but the pandemic delayed its return to the skies .
Boeing 's shares were down 5.34 % Wednesday afternoon after news of the job cuts .

Boeing's shares dropped 5.23% as of Wednesday afternoon announcing third-quarter results and a cut of 7,000 jobs. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 28 (UPI) -- U.S. aeronautical company Boeing announced Wednesday it's slashing more than 7,000 jobs as it deals with the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing disruptions caused by malfunctions with the 737 Max aircraft. Boeing announced the cuts as part of its third-quarter results, which showed a net loss of $466 million, a sharp decrease from its $1.2 billion profit the same time last year. Sales were down 29% at $14.1 billion, with the biggest drop among commercial aircraft -- from $8.2 billion in 2019 to $3.6 billion in 2020. Advertisement
"As we share our third-quarter financial results today, the deep impacts of COVID-19 on the commercial aviation market and our business are reflected in lower revenue, earnings and cash flow compared to this time last year," Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun said.
"As we align to market realities, our business units and functions are carefully making staffing decisions to prioritize natural attrition and stability in order to limit the impact on our people and our company. We anticipate a workforce of about 130,000 employees by the end of 2021."
The Chicago-based company has seen a drop in new plane orders as airlines worldwide adjust to reduced travel since the start of the pandemic earlier this year.
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But even before travel restrictions in response to the novel coronavirus, Boeing was dealing with the fallout of two crashes in its 737 Max within six months, which killed 346 people.
Investigators determined both flights showed problems with their maneuvering characteristics augmentation system, which affects the pitch of the aircraft. Boeing 737 Max planes were grounded worldwide in March 2019 as the company worked to fix the error.
Calhoun said he expects federal regulators to lift the grounding on the plane after testing the newly fixed aircraft, but the pandemic delayed its return to the skies.
Boeing's shares were down 5.34% Wednesday afternoon after news of the job cuts.


upi--2020-10-28--U.S. Strategic Command completes global joint operations, readiness exercise

Oct. 28 ( UPI ) -- The U.S. Strategic Command announced the successful completion on Wednesday of `` Global Thunder 21 , '' an annual exercise involving over 150,000 personnel .
The nine-day command and control exercise focuses on realistic training scenarios for nuclear readiness of U.S. forces around the world , allied nations and partner organizations .
It is designed to deter and defeat a simulated strategic attack against the United States , USSTRATCOM officials said in a press release .
The exercise is essentially a rehearsal of actions in the event of a nuclear war , with portions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base , Neb.
, Whiteman Air Force Base , Mo.
, and Barksdale Air Force Base , La .
`` Global Thunder 21 also involves allied personnel from Australia and the United Kingdom , '' USSTRATCOM said at the start of Global Thunder 21 in a statement .
`` Allied personnel integrate into senior leadership teams and work across a broad spectrum of areas , offering public affairs and policy support , as well as deterrence and information operations insight . ''
The event took one year of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` Bravo Zulu to all those who were involved in development and execution of this year 's exercise , '' Adm. Charles Richard , USSTRATCOM commander , said at the conclusion of the exercise .
`` I have complete confidence , now more than ever , in the men and women standing watch around the globe 24 hours a day , seven days a week who provide the credible deterrent which underpins all other joint force operations . ''
`` Throughout the exercise , USSTRATCOM continued to fulfill its 24/7 global @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operations , joint electromagnetic spectrum operations , global strike , missile defense and analysis and targeting , '' he added .

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509th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron B-2 Spirit crew chiefs conduct preflight checks at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri in support of Global Thunder 21. Photo by SSgt. Dylan Nuckolls/USSTRATCOM
Oct. 28 (UPI) -- The U.S. Strategic Command announced the successful completion on Wednesday of "Global Thunder 21," an annual exercise involving over 150,000 personnel. The nine-day command and control exercise focuses on realistic training scenarios for nuclear readiness of U.S. forces around the world, allied nations and partner organizations. Advertisement
It is designed to deter and defeat a simulated strategic attack against the United States, USSTRATCOM officials said in a press release.
The exercise is essentially a rehearsal of actions in the event of a nuclear war, with portions occurring at multiple locations, notably USSTRATCOM headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., and Barksdale Air Force Base, La.
"Global Thunder 21 also involves allied personnel from Australia and the United Kingdom," USSTRATCOM said at the start of Global Thunder 21 in a statement. "Allied personnel integrate into senior leadership teams and work across a broad spectrum of areas, offering public affairs and policy support, as well as deterrence and information operations insight."
The event took one year of planning, a USSTRATCOM statement on Wednesday said.
"Bravo Zulu to all those who were involved in development and execution of this year's exercise," Adm. Charles Richard, USSTRATCOM commander, said at the conclusion of the exercise. "I have complete confidence, now more than ever, in the men and women standing watch around the globe 24 hours a day, seven days a week who provide the credible deterrent which underpins all other joint force operations."
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"Throughout the exercise, USSTRATCOM continued to fulfill its 24/7 global responsibilities, including strategic deterrence, nuclear operations, joint electromagnetic spectrum operations, global strike, missile defense and analysis and targeting," he added.


upi--2020-10-28--Look: Treasure shares tracklist for 'The First Step: Chapter Three'

Oct. 28 ( UPI ) -- South Korean boy band Treasure is gearing up to release new music .
The @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday for its forthcoming single album , The First Step : Chapter Three .
The @ @ @ @ @ title track `` Mmm '' and the song `` Orange . ''
The CD version @ @ @ @ @ of the songs .
The members of Treasure appear in a tracklist poster that shows @ @ @ @ @ orange outfits .
Treasure previously shared a title poster for `` Mmm '' that shows @ @ @ @ @ coordinating black and white outfits .
Treasure will release The First Step : Chapter Three @ @ @ @ @ and in physical format Nov. 13 .
The album is the third in the group @ @ @ @ @ , following Chapter One , released in August , and Chapter Two , released in @ @ @ @ @ Hyunsuk , Jihoon , Yoshi , Mashiho , Jaehyuk , Asahi , Yedam , Doyoung @ @ @ @ @ Junghwan .
The group made its debut in August .

Oct. 28 (UPI) -- South Korean boy band Treasure is gearing up to release new music.
The K-pop group shared a tracklist Wednesday for its forthcoming single album, The First Step: Chapter Three.
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The new album will feature the title track "Mmm" and the song "Orange." The CD version will also include instrumental versions of the songs.
The members of Treasure appear in a tracklist poster that shows them wearing coordinating black and orange outfits.
Treasure previously shared a title poster for "Mmm" that shows the members dancing while wearing coordinating black and white outfits.
Treasure will release The First Step: Chapter Three in digital format Nov. 6 and in physical format Nov. 13. The album is the third in the group's The First Step series, following Chapter One, released in August, and Chapter Two, released in September.
Treasure consists of Hyunsuk, Jihoon, Yoshi, Mashiho, Jaehyuk, Asahi, Yedam, Doyoung, Haruto, Jeongwoo and Junghwan. The group made its debut in August.


upi--2020-10-28--Watch: 111-foot-long Lego bridge breaks Guinness record at British museum

Oct. 28 ( UPI ) -- A British museum earned a Guinness World Record when 205,000 Lego bricks were assembled @ @ @ @ @ feet , 6 inches long with an unsupported span of 55 feet , 11 inches @ @ @ @ @ teamed up with the Institution of Civil Engineers to construct the massive Lego bridge at @ @ @ @ @ operated by Ironbridge Gorge .
The bridge broke a Guinness record with a single span @ @ @ @ @ inches between supports .
The previous record , 55 feet and 5.64 inches , was @ @ @ @ @ in 2016 .
`` We are delighted that our record-breaking attempt has now been verified @ @ @ @ @ '' Jo Barnett , regional director of ICE East and West Midlands , told the @ @ @ @ @ wanted to attract and inspire children to consider engineering as a fun potential career , @ @ @ @ @ local organization that shares our values and vision . ''

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Oct. 28 (UPI) -- A British museum earned a Guinness World Record when 205,000 Lego bricks were assembled into a bridge spanning 111 feet, 6 inches long with an unsupported span of 55 feet, 11 inches.
The Ironbridge Gorge Museums teamed up with the Institution of Civil Engineers to construct the massive Lego bridge at Enginuity, a Coalbrookdale museum operated by Ironbridge Gorge.
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The bridge broke a Guinness record with a single span measuring 55 feet, 11 inches between supports.
The previous record, 55 feet and 5.64 inches, was set by an ICE team in 2016.
"We are delighted that our record-breaking attempt has now been verified by Guinness World Records," Jo Barnett, regional director of ICE East and West Midlands, told the Shropshire Star. "We wanted to attract and inspire children to consider engineering as a fun potential career, and also partner with a local organization that shares our values and vision."


upi--2020-10-29--Watch: Gina Kirschenheiter defends comments about Braunwyn Windham-Burke's drinking

Oct. 29 ( UPI ) -- Gina Kirschenheiter is defending her comments about her Real Housewives of Orange County co-star Braunwyn Windham-Burke 's drinking .
The 36-year-old television personality explained on Wednesday 's episode of Watch What Happens Live why she felt it was okay to remark on Windham-Burke 's drinking during the new episode of RHOC .
Wednesday 's episode of RHOC showed Kirschenheiter and Windham-Burke clash during Shannon Beador 's housewarming party .
Kirschenheiter lashed out at Windham-Burke after Windham-Burke criticized her character .
`` Character ?
You 're going to talk to me about character ? ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ up .
You 're a sloppy Chihuahua .
You 're never clear .
You 're wasted all the time !
Get over yourself .
Go get wasted again ! ''
Windham-Burke , who went public about being an alcoholic during the RHOC Season 15 premiere , responded by saying she was `` 30 days sober '' and throwing her glass .
On WWHL , Kirschenheiter was asked why she commented on Windham-Burke 's drinking when she herself has a previous DUI .
`` I get that , but I mean , I made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the consequences for that bad decision , '' Kirschenheiter said .
`` I think it was Braunwyn 's continual drink-til-you-were-unconscious on a regular basis that other people were noticing , '' she added .
`` Obviously , she 's an alcoholic . ''
Windham-Burke said during a previous episode of WWHL that going public about her alcoholism and sobriety was a `` very freeing '' experience .
`` I have known that I 've had a problem with alcohol for decades and saying it so vocally and stated in a way that I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weight off my shoulders , '' she said .
On Wednesday 's WWHL , Kirschenheiter also confirmed she backed out of attending Kelly Dodd 's wedding at the last minute .
`` I decided last minute not to go , just because of everything going on , '' she said , referencing the COVID-19 pandemic .
`` You can run a risk of catching something from anywhere . ''

Oct. 29 (UPI) -- Gina Kirschenheiter is defending her comments about her Real Housewives of Orange County co-star Braunwyn Windham-Burke's drinking.
The 36-year-old television personality explained on Wednesday's episode of Watch What Happens Live why she felt it was okay to remark on Windham-Burke's drinking during the new episode of RHOC.
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Wednesday's episode of RHOC showed Kirschenheiter and Windham-Burke clash during Shannon Beador's housewarming party. Kirschenheiter lashed out at Windham-Burke after Windham-Burke criticized her character.
"Character? You're going to talk to me about character?" Kirschenheiter replied. "Braunwyn, wake up. You're a sloppy Chihuahua. You're never clear. You're wasted all the time! Get over yourself. Go get wasted again!"
Windham-Burke, who went public about being an alcoholic during the RHOC Season 15 premiere, responded by saying she was "30 days sober" and throwing her glass.
On WWHL, Kirschenheiter was asked why she commented on Windham-Burke's drinking when she herself has a previous DUI.
"I get that, but I mean, I made a very bad decision and I paid the consequences for that bad decision," Kirschenheiter said.
"I think it was Braunwyn's continual drink-til-you-were-unconscious on a regular basis that other people were noticing," she added. "Obviously, she's an alcoholic."
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Windham-Burke said during a previous episode of WWHL that going public about her alcoholism and sobriety was a "very freeing" experience.
"I have known that I've had a problem with alcohol for decades and saying it so vocally and stated in a way that I had to be accountable was a huge weight off my shoulders," she said.
On Wednesday's WWHL, Kirschenheiter also confirmed she backed out of attending Kelly Dodd's wedding at the last minute.
"I decided last minute not to go, just because of everything going on," she said, referencing the COVID-19 pandemic. "You can run a risk of catching something from anywhere."


upi--2020-10-29--United offers free COVID-19 tests on flights between New York City area, London

Oct. 29 ( UPI ) -- United Airlines announced Thursday that it will be the first carrier to provide rapid COVID-19 tests at no cost to travelers aboard certain trans-Atlantic flights to London next month .
United said the testing will be available to passengers flying between Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey to London Heathrow .
The pilot program will run between Nov. 16 and Dec.11 for all travelers at least 2 years old .
United said passengers who do n't want to be tested will be rebooked for another flight , an effort to guarantee that all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have negative results before making the trans-Atlantic trip .
`` We believe the ability to provide fast , same-day COVID-19 testing will play a vital role in safely reopening travel around the world and navigating quarantines and travel restrictions , particularly to key international destinations like London , '' United Chief Customer Officer Toby Enqvist said in a statement .
`` Through this pilot program , we 'll guarantee that everyone on board has tested negative for COVID-19 , adding another element to our layered approach to safety .
United will continue to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same time exploring new solutions . ''
Enqvist added that the tests will allow United to provide the `` safest travel experience possible . ''
Multiple carriers have signaled that they 're moving toward the preflight testing model as an alternative to quarantine and travel restrictions .
`` There are alternatives to quarantines , such as testing and screening of passengers at or ahead of departure , that can significantly reduce the risk of importation of COVID-19 , and may actually be more effective due to the difficulties [ with enforcement ] , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ represents aviation companies like Boeing and American Airlines , said last week in a letter to the Trump administration .
United began selling COVID-19 tests earlier this month for passengers traveling between San Francisco and Hawaii .

United Airlines said the no-cost tests will allow the carrier to provide the "safest travel experience possible." File Photo by Brian Kersey/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 29 (UPI) -- United Airlines announced Thursday that it will be the first carrier to provide rapid COVID-19 tests at no cost to travelers aboard certain trans-Atlantic flights to London next month. United said the testing will be available to passengers flying between Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey to London Heathrow. The pilot program will run between Nov. 16 and Dec.11 for all travelers at least 2 years old. Advertisement
United said passengers who don't want to be tested will be rebooked for another flight, an effort to guarantee that all travelers on the COVID-19 test flights will have negative results before making the trans-Atlantic trip.
"We believe the ability to provide fast, same-day COVID-19 testing will play a vital role in safely reopening travel around the world and navigating quarantines and travel restrictions, particularly to key international destinations like London," United Chief Customer Officer Toby Enqvist said in a statement.
"Through this pilot program, we'll guarantee that everyone on board has tested negative for COVID-19, adding another element to our layered approach to safety. United will continue to lead on testing, while at the same time exploring new solutions."
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Enqvist added that the tests will allow United to provide the "safest travel experience possible."
Multiple carriers have signaled that they're moving toward the preflight testing model as an alternative to quarantine and travel restrictions.
"There are alternatives to quarantines, such as testing and screening of passengers at or ahead of departure, that can significantly reduce the risk of importation of COVID-19, and may actually be more effective due to the difficulties [with enforcement]," a trade union group, which represents aviation companies like Boeing and American Airlines, said last week in a letter to the Trump administration.
United began selling COVID-19 tests earlier this month for passengers traveling between San Francisco and Hawaii.


upi--2020-10-29--U.S. soccer star Christian Pulisic scores nutmeg goal at Champions League

Oct. 29 ( UPI ) -- United States Men 's National Team soccer star Christian Pulisic capped off a run of three goals in the final 13 minutes of Chelsea 's win over Russian club Krasnodar in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League .
Pulisic 's nutmeg score came in the 90th minute of the 4-0 shutout victory on Wednesday in Krasnodar , Russia .
The Blues sit atop Group E with a 1-0-1 record in the 2020-2021 edition of the European tournament .
`` It was a tough game , '' Pulisic told reporters .
`` There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] chances .
We had a lot of good defending .
`` We can walk away proud of the point [ earned in the standings ] . ''
Chelsea led 3-0 when striker Tammy Abraham ran up the right flank in the 90th minute while deep in Krasnodar territory .
He sprinted ahead to receive the final pass of a give-and-go sequence .
Abraham then cut his dribble inside to his left and tapped the ball between a defender 's legs for a nutmeg .
He then sliced a pass into the box @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ball forward with his first touch before he used his right boot to smack a shot between the legs of Krasnodar keeper Matvei Safonov for another nutmeg .
His shot then went into the middle of the net .
The Blues had a 1-0 lead at halftime of Wednesday 's match after midfielder Kai Havertz assisted a Callum Hudson-Odoi score in the 37th minute .
Chelsea striker Timo Werner doubled the lead with a penalty kick in the 76th minute .
Werner then assisted a Hakim Ziyech goal in the 79th minute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the match .
The Blues battle Burnley in the Premier League on Saturday before they return to Champions League play with a game against Rennes on Wednesday in London .
Krasnodar faces Akhmat Grozny on Saturday in the Russian Premier League before a Champions League match against Sevilla on Wednesday in Seville , Spain .

Christian Pulisic of Chelsea scored in the 90th minute of a Champions League win over Krasnodar on Wednesday in Krasnodar, Russia. Photo by Ben Stansall/EPA-EFE
Oct. 29 (UPI) -- United States Men's National Team soccer star Christian Pulisic capped off a run of three goals in the final 13 minutes of Chelsea's win over Russian club Krasnodar in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League. Pulisic's nutmeg score came in the 90th minute of the 4-0 shutout victory on Wednesday in Krasnodar, Russia. The Blues sit atop Group E with a 1-0-1 record in the 2020-2021 edition of the European tournament. Advertisement
"It was a tough game," Pulisic told reporters. "There weren't a lot of [scoring] chances. We had a lot of good defending.
"We can walk away proud of the point [earned in the standings]."
Chelsea led 3-0 when striker Tammy Abraham ran up the right flank in the 90th minute while deep in Krasnodar territory. He sprinted ahead to receive the final pass of a give-and-go sequence. Abraham then cut his dribble inside to his left and tapped the ball between a defender's legs for a nutmeg.
He then sliced a pass into the box to find Pulisic. The American tapped the ball forward with his first touch before he used his right boot to smack a shot between the legs of Krasnodar keeper Matvei Safonov for another nutmeg. His shot then went into the middle of the net.
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The Blues had a 1-0 lead at halftime of Wednesday's match after midfielder Kai Havertz assisted a Callum Hudson-Odoi score in the 37th minute. Chelsea striker Timo Werner doubled the lead with a penalty kick in the 76th minute.
Werner then assisted a Hakim Ziyech goal in the 79th minute before Pulisic scored the final goal of the match.
The Blues battle Burnley in the Premier League on Saturday before they return to Champions League play with a game against Rennes on Wednesday in London.
Krasnodar faces Akhmat Grozny on Saturday in the Russian Premier League before a Champions League match against Sevilla on Wednesday in Seville, Spain.


upi--2020-10-29--Hurricane Zeta kills 3, cuts power to almost 2M in U.S. Southeast

Oct. 29 ( UPI ) -- Nearly 2 million homes and businesses in five states were without power early Thursday after Hurricane Zeta arrived over land in Louisiana as a Category 2 storm .
Roughly 1.4 million power customers in Louisiana and Georgia did n't have electricity , according to Poweroutage.us .
Other widespread outages were reported in Alabama , Mississippi and northwest Florida .
New Orleans ' famous Bourbon Street was dark on Thursday , along with almost 80 % of the city .
Power utility Entergy said about 10 % of New Orleans customers may have to wait @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is restored .
Hundreds of uprooted trees were blamed for the majority of the outages as officials reported debris scattered across major thoroughfares .
Hurricane Zeta lashed southeastern Louisiana as the eye passed over the state Wednesday night .
Tropical storm warnings covered the affected states , plus North Carolina , South Carolina and Tennessee .
By Thursday morning , now-Tropical Storm Zeta was still packing gusty winds as it moved northeast toward North Carolina and Virginia .
At least three people have died in the storm , including a 55-year-old man in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ touched a live power line .
A man drowned at a marina in Biloxi , Miss.
, while shooting a video of the storm and another died when a tree fell on a mobile home in Cherokee County , Ga .

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A resident looks at electrical transformers that fell onto a car during Hurricane Zeta the day after the storm passed through the New Orleans area on Thursday. Photo by AJ Sisco/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 29 (UPI) -- At least six people have died and almost 2 million customers remained without power as Category 2 hurricane Zeta moved through the U.S. South, leaving a path of destruction. One storm-related fatality each was reported in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama and three people were reported killed in Georgia by Thursday. Advertisement
Among the deaths were a 55-year-old man in New Orleans who was electrocuted when he touched a live power line. A man drowned at a marina in Biloxi, Miss., while shooting a video of the storm and another died when a tree fell on a mobile home in Cherokee County, Ga.
By Thursday evening, the storm had passed about 25 miles off the shore of Cape May, N.J. and was spinning back into the mid-Atlantic ocean. Maximum sustained winds were recorded at 50 mph, which could still cause gusts in eastern North Carolina, southeaster Virginia and the southern Delmarva Peninsula, the National Hurricane Center said.
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About 1.9 million power customers in Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi and Oklahoma didn't have electricity, according to Poweroutage.us' evening update.
Georgia had the most customers in the dark with about 430,000 outages. Louisiana had more than 363,000; Alabama more than 322,000; Oklahoma over 241,000 and North Carolina and Mississippi each had more than 150,000.
New Orleans' famous Bourbon Street was dark on Thursday, along with almost 80% of the city.
Power utility Entergy said about 10% of New Orleans customers may have to wait as long as 10 days before electricity is restored.
Hundreds of uprooted trees were blamed for the majority of the outages as officials reported debris scattered across major thoroughfares.
Hurricane Zeta lashed southeastern Louisiana as the eye passed over the state Wednesday night. Tropical storm warnings covered the affected states, plus North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.
By Thursday morning, Tropical Storm Zeta was still packing gusty winds as it moved northeast toward North Carolina and Virginia.
In New Orleans, officials warned people to beware of downed power lines and possible live wires on roads. Although there were no reports of significant flooding in the city, there was coastal flooding and some vessels broke loose from barges, damaging bridges.
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Across the state, power outages posed a problem for polling places, and Gov. John Bel Edwards said restoring power there should be a priority.
A task force was assembled to ensure people have alternate polling places if those in the dark remain out of service.
Zeta was mainly a wind event, according to Edwards, who added that Grand Isle along the Louisiana coast suffered the most flooding damage, but it was due to storm surge, not rainfall.
Louisiana is still recovering from Hurricanes Laura and Delta. Edwards said Thursday that out of 3,394 residents being sheltered, only 76 of them evacuated because of Zeta.
Most evacuees have been displaced since August from Laura across six hotels in New Orleans, according to the governor's office.
Edwards added that more than 1,500 National Guard members have been activated and more than 5,000 linemen were staged to begin recovery and power restoration.
The National Weather Service in Mobile, Ala., said in a Facebook post that it had received reports from local officials of "significant to major damage" in Clarke County, about 80 miles north.
"Ambulance building destroyed. Windows blown in several homes and businesses. Numerous trees on homes and cars," the post read.


upi--2020-10-29--Watch: Bette Midler says 'Hocus Pocus' reunion will be 'memorable'

Oct. 29 ( UPI ) -- Hocus Pocus star Bette Midler says the film 's upcoming reunion will be memorable for fans .
The 74-year-old actress reflected on the 1993 movie and teased the In Search of the Sanderson Sisters : A Hocus Pocus Hulaween Takeover special during Wednesday 's episode of Late Night with Seth Meyers .
Hocus Pocus is a dark comedy fantasy starring Midler , Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker as the Sanderson sisters , a trio of witches who are resurrected in Salem , Mass.
, on Halloween night .
The film has become a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ played Winifred Sanderson in Hocus Pocus .
On Late Night , Midler celebrated the movie 's cultural impact .
`` It was a picture that started off a little bit sleepy , but somehow it found its niche and it became kind of a cult classic and now it 's everywhere , '' the star said .
`` I mean , I wish I had a nickel for every time person who turned out in a Winifred Sanderson costume . ''
`` But , now it 's a cult classic and now after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker -- and I have reunited for this one night only Hulaween extravaganza , '' she added .
Midler confirmed the Hocus Pocus Hulaween Takeover is `` more than just a Zoom call '' and will feature a new script .
The special will also feature Meryl Streep , Adam Lambert , Jennifer Hudson , John Stamos and other celebrity guests .
`` It was wrangling a lot of talent .
Wrangling in a lot of effects and a lot of excitement about building effects and what can we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surprise , '' Midler said .
`` I feel that we put a lot of creativity into it , because when people come to our in-person event they expect a real blowout , '' she added .
`` We wanted to give them something that would be memorable . ''
The Hocus Pocus Hulaween Takeover is a mockumentary-style special that will take place Friday at 8 p.m. EDT to benefit Midler 's New York Restoration Project .
Tickets to the virtual event cost $ 10 .
Midler shared a teaser photo of herself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month .

Oct. 29 (UPI) -- Hocus Pocus star Bette Midler says the film's upcoming reunion will be memorable for fans.
The 74-year-old actress reflected on the 1993 movie and teased the In Search of the Sanderson Sisters: A Hocus Pocus Hulaween Takeover special during Wednesday's episode of Late Night with Seth Meyers.
Advertisement
Hocus Pocus is a dark comedy fantasy starring Midler, Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker as the Sanderson sisters, a trio of witches who are resurrected in Salem, Mass., on Halloween night. The film has become a cult classic since its release.
Midler played Winifred Sanderson in Hocus Pocus. On Late Night, Midler celebrated the movie's cultural impact.
"It was a picture that started off a little bit sleepy, but somehow it found its niche and it became kind of a cult classic and now it's everywhere," the star said. "I mean, I wish I had a nickel for every time person who turned out in a Winifred Sanderson costume."
"But, now it's a cult classic and now after 27 years the two girls -- Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker -- and I have reunited for this one night only Hulaween extravaganza," she added.
Advertisement
Midler confirmed the Hocus Pocus Hulaween Takeover is "more than just a Zoom call" and will feature a new script. The special will also feature Meryl Streep, Adam Lambert, Jennifer Hudson, John Stamos and other celebrity guests.
"It was wrangling a lot of talent. Wrangling in a lot of effects and a lot of excitement about building effects and what can we do with it that would be a surprise," Midler said.
"I feel that we put a lot of creativity into it, because when people come to our in-person event they expect a real blowout," she added. "We wanted to give them something that would be memorable."
The Hocus Pocus Hulaween Takeover is a mockumentary-style special that will take place Friday at 8 p.m. EDT to benefit Midler's New York Restoration Project. Tickets to the virtual event cost $10.
Midler shared a teaser photo of herself, Najimy and Parker on set this month.


upi--2020-10-29--South Korea ex-president says charges false after order to return to prison

Oct. 29 ( UPI ) -- Former South Korean President Lee Myung-bak condemned a court ruling that requires him to serve the remainder of his 17-year prison sentence in jail , saying rule of law has `` collapsed '' in Asia 's fourth-largest economy .
Lee , 78 , was released on bail in 2019 after spending about a year in state custody , following his arrest and subsequent conviction on corruption charges .
On Thursday , Lee said through his attorney Kang Hoon that his rivals in government were seeking retribution , the Donga Ilbo reported .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lee said , according to the JoongAng Ilbo .
`` I worry about the future of this country . ''
Kang said Thursday the embezzlement allegations are false , and that his client did not take even a single penny .
Lee 's attorney also said the legal proceedings were rushed .
`` Is it normal to hold a trial for such severe punishment in six months ? ''
Kang said .
The former president , who was in office from 2008 to 2013 , was serving his sentence at home , on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boundaries of his private residence in Seoul and limit communication to a few people .
On Thursday , South Korea 's Supreme Court ruled Lee must also pay a $ 11.6 million fine and forfeit as much as $ 5 million in assets .
Lee , a former chief executive of Hyundai Engineering and Construction , was convicted of embezzling about $ 31 million from DAS , an auto parts company , between 1994 and 2006 .
DAS funded a Lee-backed enterprise , and Lee owned DAS through relatives , South Korea 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ polarizing politicians in South Korea 's ruling and main opposition parties .
Shin Young-dae , a spokesman for the ruling Democratic Party , said the main opposition conservatives of the People Power Party should issue an apology to the public for Lee 's misdeeds , and for the shortcomings of former President Park Geun-hye , another conservative , who is serving a 20-year prison term after being impeached in 2017 on corruption charges .

Journalists wait for former South Korean President Lee Myung-bak in front of the former president's residence in Seoul on Thursday. South Korea's Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling of a 17-year prison term for Lee, who was charged with embezzlement and bribery. Photo by Kim Chul-soo/EPA-EFE
Oct. 29 (UPI) -- Former South Korean President Lee Myung-bak condemned a court ruling that requires him to serve the remainder of his 17-year prison sentence in jail, saying rule of law has "collapsed" in Asia's fourth-largest economy. Lee, 78, was released on bail in 2019 after spending about a year in state custody, following his arrest and subsequent conviction on corruption charges. On Thursday, Lee said through his attorney Kang Hoon that his rivals in government were seeking retribution, the Donga Ilbo reported. Advertisement
"The rule of law has collapsed," Lee said, according to the JoongAng Ilbo. "I worry about the future of this country."
Kang said Thursday the embezzlement allegations are false, and that his client did not take even a single penny.
Lee's attorney also said the legal proceedings were rushed.
"Is it normal to hold a trial for such severe punishment in six months?" Kang said.
The former president, who was in office from 2008 to 2013, was serving his sentence at home, on the condition that he remain within the boundaries of his private residence in Seoul and limit communication to a few people.
On Thursday, South Korea's Supreme Court ruled Lee must also pay a $11.6 million fine and forfeit as much as $5 million in assets.
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Lee, a former chief executive of Hyundai Engineering and Construction, was convicted of embezzling about $31 million from DAS, an auto parts company, between 1994 and 2006. DAS funded a Lee-backed enterprise, and Lee owned DAS through relatives, South Korea's court has said.
The case is polarizing politicians in South Korea's ruling and main opposition parties. Shin Young-dae, a spokesman for the ruling Democratic Party, said the main opposition conservatives of the People Power Party should issue an apology to the public for Lee's misdeeds, and for the shortcomings of former President Park Geun-hye, another conservative, who is serving a 20-year prison term after being impeached in 2017 on corruption charges.


upi--2020-10-29--Champions League soccer: Messi leads Barcelona over Ronaldo-less Juventus

Oct. 29 ( UPI ) -- Lionel Messi led Barcelona to a shutout victory over Italian squad Juventus in the group stage of the 2020-2021 Champions League .
Juventus was forced to play without star striker Cristiano Ronaldo , who has COVID-19 .
Messi scored with a penalty kick in stoppage time of the 2-0 victory on Wednesday in Turin , Italy .
Ousmane Dembele scored Barcelona 's first goal in the 14th minute of the Group G match .
Barcelona now leads Group G with a 2-0 record at the prestigious European tournament .
Juventus ( 1-1 ) is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ronaldo has yet to play in the tournament after Juventus announced his positive test on Oct. 13 .
He has n't shared a field with Messi since Barcelona battled his former squad -- Real Madrid -- on May 6 , 2018 , in Spain 's La Liga .
`` We played against a great team , but we made too many mistakes on a technical level and Barcelona are unforgiving , '' Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci told reporters after Wednesday 's loss .
Messi sparked the game 's first goal when he smacked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the right flank and found Dembele .
The Barcelona striker brought down the long feed before he dribbled to the box with the ball on his left foot .
Dembele then faked a left-footed shot before he moved the ball to his right foot .
He then ripped a 19-yard shot , which deflected off Juventus ' Federico Chiesa and beat goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and fell into the left side of the net .
Juventus striker Alvaro Morata had two goals disallowed in the first 45 minutes due to offside calls and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found the net for a third time in the 55th minute , but that score also was disallowed due to an offside call .
Officials later ruled that Juventus ' Federico Bernardeschi fouled Barcelona striker Ansu Fati in the box in the 90th minute .
Messi then stepped up and netted his penalty kick attempt for the game 's final score .
Barcelona battles Alaves on Saturday in La Liga before they return to the Champions League with a group stage match against Dynamo Kyiv on Wednesday in Barcelona .
Juventus faces Spezia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ match against Ferencvaros on Wednesday in Budapest , Hungary .

Barcelona's Lionel Messi scored on a stoppage time penalty kick during a UEFA Champions League win over Juventus on Wednesday in Turin, Italy. Photo by Alessandro Di Marco/EPA-EFE
Oct. 29 (UPI) -- Lionel Messi led Barcelona to a shutout victory over Italian squad Juventus in the group stage of the 2020-2021 Champions League. Juventus was forced to play without star striker Cristiano Ronaldo, who has COVID-19. Messi scored with a penalty kick in stoppage time of the 2-0 victory on Wednesday in Turin, Italy. Ousmane Dembele scored Barcelona's first goal in the 14th minute of the Group G match. Advertisement
Barcelona now leads Group G with a 2-0 record at the prestigious European tournament. Juventus (1-1) is in second place in the group. Ronaldo has yet to play in the tournament after Juventus announced his positive test on Oct. 13.
He hasn't shared a field with Messi since Barcelona battled his former squad -- Real Madrid -- on May 6, 2018, in Spain's La Liga.
"We played against a great team, but we made too many mistakes on a technical level and Barcelona are unforgiving," Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci told reporters after Wednesday's loss.
Messi sparked the game's first goal when he smacked a cross from the left flank to the right flank and found Dembele. The Barcelona striker brought down the long feed before he dribbled to the box with the ball on his left foot. Dembele then faked a left-footed shot before he moved the ball to his right foot.
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He then ripped a 19-yard shot, which deflected off Juventus' Federico Chiesa and beat goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and fell into the left side of the net.
Juventus striker Alvaro Morata had two goals disallowed in the first 45 minutes due to offside calls and the score stayed 1-0 through halftime.
Morata found the net for a third time in the 55th minute, but that score also was disallowed due to an offside call. Officials later ruled that Juventus' Federico Bernardeschi fouled Barcelona striker Ansu Fati in the box in the 90th minute.
Messi then stepped up and netted his penalty kick attempt for the game's final score.
Barcelona battles Alaves on Saturday in La Liga before they return to the Champions League with a group stage match against Dynamo Kyiv on Wednesday in Barcelona. Juventus faces Spezia in Serie A before a group stage match against Ferencvaros on Wednesday in Budapest, Hungary.


upi--2020-10-29--Moderna says it's collected $1.1B for launch of potential COVID-19 vaccine

Oct. 29 ( UPI ) -- U.S. biotech firm Moderna said Thursday said it has received $ 1.1 billion in deposits as it prepares to distribute its COVID-19 vaccine , if it 's approved by health and federal regulators .
Moderna 's mRNA-1273 vaccine has attracted cash deposits from the U.S. government and `` several international government agencies '' for future supplies , the company said in its third quarter earnings report .
Moderna said last week its 30,000-volunteer stage-three clinical trial , being conducted in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health and Department of Health and Human Services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr. Stephen Hoge also said the vaccine is on schedule to request approval from the Food and Drug Administration to bring it to market , possibly as soon as December .
`` We are actively preparing for the launch of mRNA-1273 and we have signed a number of supply agreements with governments around the world , '' CEO Stephane Bancel said in a statement Thursday .
`` Moderna is committed to the highest data quality standards and rigorous scientific research as we continue to work with regulators to advance mRNA-1273 . ''
Bancel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safety monitoring board , which will determine whether the trial was successful , will perform its first analysis in November , CNBC reported .
Moderna said in August it had supply agreements with the U.S. government for an initial 100 million doses and the European Union for 80 million doses .
The company said Thursday that Japanese authorities and Takeda Pharmaceutical have agreed to buy and distribute 50 million doses , pending approval of the vaccine .
Moderna is one of four stage-three trials in the United States , with Pfizer , AstraZeneca @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first to start in late July .
Novavax said this week it has delayed the start of the third stage for its vaccine until late November .
A number of other potential coronavirus vaccines are also in various stages of development .
Click here for our COVID-19 vaccine tracker .

Moderna was the first U.S. pharma company to begin late-stage clinical trials for its coronavirus vaccine. File Photo by CJ Gunther/EPA-EFE
Oct. 29 (UPI) -- U.S. biotech firm Moderna said Thursday said it has received $1.1 billion in deposits as it prepares to distribute its COVID-19 vaccine, if it's approved by health and federal regulators. Moderna's mRNA-1273 vaccine has attracted cash deposits from the U.S. government and "several international government agencies" for future supplies, the company said in its third quarter earnings report. Advertisement
Moderna said last week its 30,000-volunteer stage-three clinical trial, being conducted in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health and Department of Health and Human Services, is fully enrolled.
Company President Dr. Stephen Hoge also said the vaccine is on schedule to request approval from the Food and Drug Administration to bring it to market, possibly as soon as December.
"We are actively preparing for the launch of mRNA-1273 and we have signed a number of supply agreements with governments around the world," CEO Stephane Bancel said in a statement Thursday.
"Moderna is committed to the highest data quality standards and rigorous scientific research as we continue to work with regulators to advance mRNA-1273."
Bancel said the company expects the data and safety monitoring board, which will determine whether the trial was successful, will perform its first analysis in November, CNBC reported.
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Moderna said in August it had supply agreements with the U.S. government for an initial 100 million doses and the European Union for 80 million doses. The company said Thursday that Japanese authorities and Takeda Pharmaceutical have agreed to buy and distribute 50 million doses, pending approval of the vaccine.
Moderna is one of four stage-three trials in the United States, with Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson. Moderna was the first to start in late July. Novavax said this week it has delayed the start of the third stage for its vaccine until late November.
A number of other potential coronavirus vaccines are also in various stages of development. Click here for our COVID-19 vaccine tracker.


upi--2020-10-29--Trump, Biden ignore how war on drugs fuels violence in Latin America

Oct. 29 ( UPI ) -- In the final presidential debate before the U.S. election , Democrat Joe Biden acknowledged the harmful effects of the war on drugs on racial minorities in the United States due to incarceration and police violence , and even suggested decriminalizing cocaine consumption .
But the immigration debate centered on familiar issues .
Biden focused on the innocent children who got separated from their families at the U.S.-Mexico border .
President Donald Trump focused on the `` coyotes '' -- someone paid by migrants to illegally guide or assist them across the border -- and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ link between immigration and the drug war , despite the substantial impact the U.S.-led war on drugs has had on the lives of people in Latin America .
Increasingly , people are crossing the U.S.-Mexico border to escape a cycle of violence to which the United States continues to contribute .
Immigration is just the tip of the iceberg .
Murder rates in Latin America have skyrocketed since the 1980s and are still among the highest in the world .
This is because Latin America became the battleground for the war on drugs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. government has pushed for increasingly restrictive international treaties on drugs , which paradoxically increased the profitability of cocaine .
In the 1980s , while Americans were locking up their fellow citizens for drug offenses , the U.S. government decided to eradicate the production of coca plants and the sale of cocaine abroad .
The United States provided political , military and financial support for Latin American governments to eradicate coca production , spraying the lands of peasant coca farmers , supporting police and militia violence against guerrilla movements and cracking down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The United States made foreign loans to Latin American countries conditional upon enforcing tough anti-drug policies .
These tough-on-crime measures disproportionately affected marginalized populations : Peruvian peasant farmers , Black Brazilian favela dwellers , Salvadorean youth sporting tattoos .
American support for violence in Latin America is not new .
During the Cold War , the United States supported military coups and civil wars in the region .
But with the end of the Cold War and the democratization of Latin American countries , the war on drugs became a legitimate excuse for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy fueled criminality .
These policies did not work .
Drug prohibition , combined with continued consumption , has shifted but not dismantled the drug business .
The largest consumer market is still the United States .
When Peruvian coca production was reduced , production shifted to Colombia .
When Colombian drug cartels were dismantled , Mexican cartels became stronger .
Weakened large cartels allowed smaller organizations to fill the void .
Brazil 's overcrowded , underfunded , violent and corrupt prisons became headquarters and training grounds for drug traffickers .
The war @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Latin America , and blurs the boundary between the two .
Drug businesses create their own justice systems .
There 's no point calling the police to help you resolve an illegal business transaction .
Drug dealers would rather act as the police than have someone else call the police into their neighborhoods .
Drug profits create opportunities for corruption , involving police officers , government bureaucrats and high-level politicians , and all sides create violence when these private-public partnerships go wrong .
Politicians often enlist drug dealers , militia and police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ generate societal drama for political gain .
Combined with the war on drugs , domestic tough-on-crime and restrictive immigration policies in the United States generate a vicious cycle of displacement and violence on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border .
Greater border enforcement means that more immigrants have to depend on human- smuggling organizations and pass through territories controlled by drug traffickers , to make the crossing .
But these relationships go deeper .
As the book Space of Detention by American cultural anthropologist Elana Zilberg explains , the first wave of Salvadorean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the American-backed civil war and political repression of the 1980s .
Some of these refugees ' adult children joined youth gangs and were imprisoned and deported from the United States due to toughening anti-drug and immigration policies .
As they arrived in their parents ' country , one they barely knew , they influenced local youth culture , symbols and gang affiliations , creating transnational youth gangs known as maras .
Maras were then violently repressed by Salvadorean policies that were modeled on U.S. drug/gang measures , including persecuting young adults if they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has generated more insecurity , leading some Salvadorean youth to seek refuge in Mexico and the United States .
U.S. conservatives cite criminal violence in Latin America to deny migrants fleeing that violence the right to asylum , and as an excuse to enforce draconian immigration , policing and deportation policies , which in turn exacerbate the same problems that they 're ostensibly aimed at solving .
Whether these immigrants are members of gangs , are carrying drugs , have learned how to be violent or are innocent victims is beside the point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public should no longer pretend that the United States has n't played a critical role in creating and fueling this violence .
The violence does n't only go in a south-north direction .
Luisa Farah Schwartzman is an associate professor in sociology at the University of Toronto .
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license .
Read the original article .

Increasingly, people are crossing the U.S.-Mexico border to escape a cycle of violence to which the United States continues to contribute. Immigration is just the tip of the iceberg. File Photo by Art Foxall/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 29 (UPI) -- In the final presidential debate before the U.S. election, Democrat Joe Biden acknowledged the harmful effects of the war on drugs on racial minorities in the United States due to incarceration and police violence, and even suggested decriminalizing cocaine consumption. But the immigration debate centered on familiar issues. Biden focused on the innocent children who got separated from their families at the U.S.-Mexico border. President Donald Trump focused on the "coyotes" -- someone paid by migrants to illegally guide or assist them across the border -- and drug cartels. Advertisement
But neither made the link between immigration and the drug war, despite the substantial impact the U.S.-led war on drugs has had on the lives of people in Latin America.
Increasingly, people are crossing the U.S.-Mexico border to escape a cycle of violence to which the United States continues to contribute. Immigration is just the tip of the iceberg.
Advertisement
Murder rates in Latin America have skyrocketed since the 1980s and are still among the highest in the world. This is because Latin America became the battleground for the war on drugs.
American crackdown
Over the last 50 years, the U.S. government has pushed for increasingly restrictive international treaties on drugs, which paradoxically increased the profitability of cocaine.
In the 1980s, while Americans were locking up their fellow citizens for drug offenses, the U.S. government decided to eradicate the production of coca plants and the sale of cocaine abroad. The United States provided political, military and financial support for Latin American governments to eradicate coca production, spraying the lands of peasant coca farmers, supporting police and militia violence against guerrilla movements and cracking down on drug businesses in urban centers.
The United States made foreign loans to Latin American countries conditional upon enforcing tough anti-drug policies. These tough-on-crime measures disproportionately affected marginalized populations: Peruvian peasant farmers, Black Brazilian favela dwellers, Salvadorean youth sporting tattoos.
American support for violence in Latin America is not new. During the Cold War, the United States supported military coups and civil wars in the region. But with the end of the Cold War and the democratization of Latin American countries, the war on drugs became a legitimate excuse for continued state violence as the illicit drug economy fueled criminality.
Advertisement
Unsuccessful policies
These policies did not work. Drug prohibition, combined with continued consumption, has shifted but not dismantled the drug business. The largest consumer market is still the United States.
When Peruvian coca production was reduced, production shifted to Colombia. When Colombian drug cartels were dismantled, Mexican cartels became stronger. Weakened large cartels allowed smaller organizations to fill the void. Brazil's overcrowded, underfunded, violent and corrupt prisons became headquarters and training grounds for drug traffickers.
The war on drugs generates criminal and police violence in Latin America, and blurs the boundary between the two. Drug businesses create their own justice systems.
There's no point calling the police to help you resolve an illegal business transaction. Drug dealers would rather act as the police than have someone else call the police into their neighborhoods.
Drug profits create opportunities for corruption, involving police officers, government bureaucrats and high-level politicians, and all sides create violence when these private-public partnerships go wrong.
Politicians often enlist drug dealers, militia and police officers to eliminate their opponents or to generate societal drama for political gain.
A vicious cycle
Combined with the war on drugs, domestic tough-on-crime and restrictive immigration policies in the United States generate a vicious cycle of displacement and violence on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.
Advertisement
Greater border enforcement means that more immigrants have to depend on human- smuggling organizations and pass through territories controlled by drug traffickers, to make the crossing. But these relationships go deeper.
As the book Space of Detention by American cultural anthropologist Elana Zilberg explains, the first wave of Salvadorean refugees to the United States were escaping the American-backed civil war and political repression of the 1980s.
Some of these refugees' adult children joined youth gangs and were imprisoned and deported from the United States due to toughening anti-drug and immigration policies. As they arrived in their parents' country, one they barely knew, they influenced local youth culture, symbols and gang affiliations, creating transnational youth gangs known as maras.
Maras were then violently repressed by Salvadorean policies that were modeled on U.S. drug/gang measures, including persecuting young adults if they had tattoos.
Police and criminal violence has generated more insecurity, leading some Salvadorean youth to seek refuge in Mexico and the United States.
U.S. conservatives cite criminal violence in Latin America to deny migrants fleeing that violence the right to asylum, and as an excuse to enforce draconian immigration, policing and deportation policies, which in turn exacerbate the same problems that they're ostensibly aimed at solving.
Advertisement
Whether these immigrants are members of gangs, are carrying drugs, have learned how to be violent or are innocent victims is beside the point. The point is that the American public should no longer pretend that the United States hasn't played a critical role in creating and fueling this violence. The violence doesn't only go in a south-north direction.
Luisa Farah Schwartzman is an associate professor in sociology at the University of Toronto.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.


upi--2020-10-29--Watch: Cody Calafiore wins 'Big Brother' Season 22

Oct. 29 ( UPI ) -- Cody Calafiore won Big Brother Season 22 , also known as Big Brother All-Stars , and took home the $ 500,000 grand prize .
Calafiore was joined in the final round by Enzo Palumbo on Wednesday , who took home $ 50,000 for getting in second place .
Nicole Franzel came in third .
The jury all voted unanimously for Calafiore who was congratulated by Palumbo .
`` He was awesome , '' Palumbo said after giving Calafiore a hug .
CBS announced on Wednesday that Big Brother has been renewed for Season 23 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` At Big Brother we always says 'expect the unexpected ' but 2020 gave us our biggest challenge to date !
We could not be prouder of the entire team who delivered a fantastic season under such extreme circumstances .
It feels fitting for this unprecedented season to conclude with an announcement of the show 's return next summer , '' Mitch Graham , senior vice president , alternative programming at CBS said in a statement .
Big Brother follows a group of people living together in the same house that is outfitted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order to track their every move .
A houseguest is voted out each week with first place earning $ 500,000 .

Oct. 29 (UPI) -- Cody Calafiore won Big Brother Season 22, also known as Big Brother All-Stars, and took home the $500,000 grand prize.
Calafiore was joined in the final round by Enzo Palumbo on Wednesday, who took home $50,000 for getting in second place.
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Nicole Franzel came in third. The jury all voted unanimously for Calafiore who was congratulated by Palumbo.
"He was awesome," Palumbo said after giving Calafiore a hug.
CBS announced on Wednesday that Big Brother has been renewed for Season 23 which will air in summer 2021.
"At Big Brother we always says 'expect the unexpected' but 2020 gave us our biggest challenge to date! We could not be prouder of the entire team who delivered a fantastic season under such extreme circumstances. It feels fitting for this unprecedented season to conclude with an announcement of the show's return next summer," Mitch Graham, senior vice president, alternative programming at CBS said in a statement.
Big Brother follows a group of people living together in the same house that is outfitted with 94 cameras and 113 microphones in order to track their every move. A houseguest is voted out each week with first place earning $500,000.


upi--2020-10-29--Another 750,000 U.S. workers file new unemployment claims, Labor Dept. says

Oct. 29 ( UPI ) -- More than three quarters of a million U.S. workers have filed for new unemployment @ @ @ @ @ said in its weekly report on Thursday .
The report listed 751,000 new claims for @ @ @ @ @ , a decrease of 40,000 from the previous week .
Thursday 's report also revised @ @ @ @ @ by 4,000 .
Most economists expected about 800,000 new claims .
The department said there @ @ @ @ @ , which lag initial claims by a week .
Thursday 's unemployment report and the @ @ @ @ @ are the final economic measures that will come before the presidential election on Tuesday .

Masked construction workers are seen paving 16th Street in downtown San Francisco, Calif. File Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 29 (UPI) -- More than three quarters of a million U.S. workers have filed for new unemployment benefits, the Labor Department said in its weekly report on Thursday. The report listed 751,000 new claims for the week ending Oct. 24, a decrease of 40,000 from the previous week. Advertisement
Thursday's report also revised up last week's claims by 4,000.
Most economists expected about 800,000 new claims.
The department said there are 7.6 million continuing claims, which lag initial claims by a week.
Thursday's unemployment report and the Commerce Department's third-quarter assessment are the final economic measures that will come before the presidential election on Tuesday.


upi--2020-10-29--U.S. economy grew by 33% during 3rd quarter, Commerce Dept. says

Oct. 29 ( UPI ) -- The U.S. economy expanded by 33 % in the period between July and October , the Commerce Department said in a quarterly report Thursday -- roughly in line with what experts predicted .
Most analysts expected the third-quarter gross domestic product to show growth of about 32 % , following a precipitous 31 % decline in the April to July period .
`` The increase in real GDP reflected increases in personal consumption expenditures , private inventory investment , exports , nonresidential fixed investment and residential fixed investment that were partly offset by decreases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ department said in a statement .
The second-quarter dip shattered the previous record for decline over a three-month quarterly period .
The U.S. economy declined by 5 % in the first quarter of 2020 -- a relatively small dip as the COVID-19 crisis did n't arrive in the United States until nearly the end of the quarter .
Many analysts expected the third quarter figures to show significant growth in GDP , which represents the total value of goods and services provided in the United States .
Thursday 's growth figure easily surpasses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % in 1950 .
The Commerce Department 's report and Thursday 's unemployment assessment are the final economic measures before the presidential election on Tuesday .
The final jobs report before the election showed an addition of about 660,000 payrolls during the month of September .

A bicyclist passes a closed restaurant in downtown Los Angeles, Calif., on August 10 after it was boarded up as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 29 (UPI) -- The U.S. economy expanded by 33% in the period between July and October, the Commerce Department said in a quarterly report Thursday -- roughly in line with what experts predicted. Most analysts expected the third-quarter gross domestic product to show growth of about 32%, following a precipitous 31% decline in the April to July period. Advertisement
"The increase in real GDP reflected increases in personal consumption expenditures, private inventory investment, exports, nonresidential fixed investment and residential fixed investment that were partly offset by decreases in federal government spending," the department said in a statement.
The second-quarter dip shattered the previous record for decline over a three-month quarterly period.
The U.S. economy declined by 5% in the first quarter of 2020 -- a relatively small dip as the COVID-19 crisis didn't arrive in the United States until nearly the end of the quarter.
Many analysts expected the third quarter figures to show significant growth in GDP, which represents the total value of goods and services provided in the United States.
Thursday's growth figure easily surpasses the all-time quarterly growth record of 16.7% in 1950. The Commerce Department's report and Thursday's unemployment assessment are the final economic measures before the presidential election on Tuesday.
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The final jobs report before the election showed an addition of about 660,000 payrolls during the month of September.


upi--2020-10-29--Philadelphia under curfew amid unrest over police killing of Walter Wallace

Oct. 29 ( UPI ) -- Philadelphia was under curfew overnight after two nights of unrest that opposed the police killing of Walter Wallace Jr. , a mentally ill Black man , on the city 's west side this week .
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney ordered the curfew and President Donald Trump has threatened to send in federal forces `` if requested . ''
The unrest led to clashes with police and dozens of arrests .
Officials said there has been some looting .
Wallace , 27 , was shot Monday after officers said he brandished a knife and refused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the shooting led to protests and outcry over police tactics that were used to control a man with a documented mental illness .
Kenney and Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said they want to preserve the right for demonstrators to protest , but promised to take action against looters and those who instigate violence .
`` Let me be perfectly clear : This behavior is not acceptable under any circumstance , nor will it ever be tolerated , '' Outlaw said .
Kenney said National Guard troops will arrive on Friday to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 80 arrests Tuesday and Wednesday and nearly two dozen police officers were injured in clashes .
Since Wallace 's death on Monday , police said they have made almost 200 arrests .
`` Have respect for my family and my son and stop this violence and chaos that 's going on in the city , '' Walter Wallace Sr. said .
Mother Cathy Wallace , who was present at Monday 's shooting , said she pleaded with officers not to shoot her son .
Family attorney Shaka Johnson said police had been called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but a final 911 call asked for medics .
`` [ Wallace ] was suffering , '' Johnson said .
`` He was on doctor 's care .
He was on a regiment of lithium , etc.
, and the police were here earlier that day . ''
John McNesby , president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5 , called on Outlaw to release more information about the shooting .
Trump 's campaign blamed the shooting on '' liberal Democrats '' and said the president is monitoring the situation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ call from Wallace 's father for calm and condemned the looting .

Oct. 29 (UPI) -- Philadelphia was under curfew overnight after two nights of unrest that opposed the police killing of Walter Wallace Jr., a mentally ill Black man, on the city's west side this week.
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney ordered the curfew and President Donald Trump has threatened to send in federal forces "if requested."
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The unrest led to clashes with police and dozens of arrests. Officials said there has been some looting.
Wallace, 27, was shot Monday after officers said he brandished a knife and refused orders to drop the weapon. Video of the shooting led to protests and outcry over police tactics that were used to control a man with a documented mental illness.
Kenney and Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said they want to preserve the right for demonstrators to protest, but promised to take action against looters and those who instigate violence.
"Let me be perfectly clear: This behavior is not acceptable under any circumstance, nor will it ever be tolerated," Outlaw said.
Kenney said National Guard troops will arrive on Friday to help police.
Police made more than 80 arrests Tuesday and Wednesday and nearly two dozen police officers were injured in clashes. Since Wallace's death on Monday, police said they have made almost 200 arrests.
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Wallace's family has asked for calm.
"Have respect for my family and my son and stop this violence and chaos that's going on in the city," Walter Wallace Sr. said.
Mother Cathy Wallace, who was present at Monday's shooting, said she pleaded with officers not to shoot her son. Family attorney Shaka Johnson said police had been called at least three times to the home, but a final 911 call asked for medics.
"[Wallace] was suffering," Johnson said. "He was on doctor's care. He was on a regiment of lithium, etc., and the police were here earlier that day."
John McNesby, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5, called on Outlaw to release more information about the shooting.
Trump's campaign blamed the shooting on"liberal Democrats" and said the president is monitoring the situation.
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden echoed the call from Wallace's father for calm and condemned the looting.


upi--2020-10-29--AEW Dynamite: Kenny Omega, Hangman Adam Page reach tournament final

Oct. 29 ( UPI ) -- The AEW World Title Eliminator Tournament continued on Dynamite with former partners Kenny Omega and Hangman Adam Page reaching the final round .
The tournament , which will end on Nov. 7 at the Full Gear pay-per-view event , will grant the winner a title match against the AEW World Champion .
Current AEW World Champion Jon Moxley will be defending the title against Eddie Kingston at Full Gear in an I Quit match .
Page kicked off Dynamite with his tournament match against Wardlow , the bodyguard of MJF .
Wardlow appeared upset @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the tournament and then later the AEW World Championship , it would go to him .
MJF then got into an argument with Sammy Guevara who said he would make sure that MJF never joins Chris Jericho 's Inner Circle .
Page was able to survive Wardlow 's impressive strength and smartly rolled out of the ring once Wardlow planted him with the F-10 .
Wardlow then placed Page on the turnbuckle but the cowboy fought back and brought the towering grappler down with a Fallaway Slam .
Page then won the match @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with two Buckshot Lariats to earn the three count .
Omega , in the main event , battled Penta El Zero Miedo in his tournament match .
Miedo took the place of his partner Rey Fenix who was unable to compete due to an injury .
Omega taunted Miedo and Fenix to start the match by taking off his t-shirt to reveal his AAA Mega World Championship , a title he won by defeating Fenix in Mexico 's Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide wrestling promotion .
Miedo fought hard against Omega and connected with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Miedo also concentrated on Omega 's arm in an attempt to keep him from using his One-Winged Angel attack .
Omega recovered , however , and performed the One-Winged Angel in the middle of the ring to earn a three count .
Omega and Page , who were once AEW World Tag Team Champions together , will now face off in the tournament final .
TNT Champion Cody defended his title against Orange Cassidy in a Lumberjack match .
The bout included multiple wrestlers , known as lumberjacks , placed at ringside who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them back into the ring .
The Dark Order , minus their leader Mr. Brodie Lee , were notably among the lumberjacks .
Cody slammed Cassidy and himself into all of the lumberjacks from the top turnbuckle .
Cody then landed a Cutter but Cassidy kicked out during a pinning attempt .
Cassidy responded with a Diving DDT and the Beach Break , but it was n't enough .
John Silver of The Dark Order , while the referee was distracted , then entered the ring and attacked Cassidy with a Pump Kick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and nailed Cassidy with the Cross Rhodes to remain TNT Champion .
Cody will next defend his title against Darby Allin at Full Gear .
Jericho and The Inner Circle held a town hall meeting to help decide if MJF should be allowed into the group .
The town hall consisted of performers and wrestling personalities such as Eric Bischoff asking MJF why he wants to become a part of the Inner Circle .
Jericho ended the segment by announcing that if MJF can beat him at Full Gear , he can join @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whatever it takes to win , '' MJF said .
Other moments from AEW Dynamite included Kingston defeating Matt Sydal ; The Young Bucks announcing that if they do n't defeat FTR for the AEW World Tag Team Championships at Full Gear , they will no longer be able to challenge for the titles ; newly crowned NWA World Women 's Champion Serena Deeb defeating Legit Leyla Hirsch ; and Shawn Spears defeating VSK before he was ambushed by Scorpio Sky .

Oct. 29 (UPI) -- The AEW World Title Eliminator Tournament continued on Dynamite with former partners Kenny Omega and Hangman Adam Page reaching the final round.
The tournament, which will end on Nov. 7 at the Full Gear pay-per-view event, will grant the winner a title match against the AEW World Champion. Current AEW World Champion Jon Moxley will be defending the title against Eddie Kingston at Full Gear in an I Quit match.
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Page kicked off Dynamite with his tournament match against Wardlow, the bodyguard of MJF. Wardlow appeared upset when MJF explained that if Wardlow won the tournament and then later the AEW World Championship, it would go to him. MJF then got into an argument with Sammy Guevara who said he would make sure that MJF never joins Chris Jericho's Inner Circle.
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Page was able to survive Wardlow's impressive strength and smartly rolled out of the ring once Wardlow planted him with the F-10. Wardlow then placed Page on the turnbuckle but the cowboy fought back and brought the towering grappler down with a Fallaway Slam.
Page then won the match and reached the finals after nailing Wardlow with two Buckshot Lariats to earn the three count.
Omega, in the main event, battled Penta El Zero Miedo in his tournament match. Miedo took the place of his partner Rey Fenix who was unable to compete due to an injury.
Omega taunted Miedo and Fenix to start the match by taking off his t-shirt to reveal his AAA Mega World Championship, a title he won by defeating Fenix in Mexico's Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide wrestling promotion.
Miedo fought hard against Omega and connected with a Destroyer on the entrance ramp. Miedo also concentrated on Omega's arm in an attempt to keep him from using his One-Winged Angel attack.
Omega recovered, however, and performed the One-Winged Angel in the middle of the ring to earn a three count. Omega and Page, who were once AEW World Tag Team Champions together, will now face off in the tournament final.
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TNT Champion Cody defended his title against Orange Cassidy in a Lumberjack match. The bout included multiple wrestlers, known as lumberjacks, placed at ringside who could attack Cody and Cassidy or throw them back into the ring. The Dark Order, minus their leader Mr. Brodie Lee, were notably among the lumberjacks.
Cody slammed Cassidy and himself into all of the lumberjacks from the top turnbuckle. Cody then landed a Cutter but Cassidy kicked out during a pinning attempt. Cassidy responded with a Diving DDT and the Beach Break, but it wasn't enough.
John Silver of The Dark Order, while the referee was distracted, then entered the ring and attacked Cassidy with a Pump Kick. Cody took advantage of the situation and nailed Cassidy with the Cross Rhodes to remain TNT Champion. Cody will next defend his title against Darby Allin at Full Gear.
Jericho and The Inner Circle held a town hall meeting to help decide if MJF should be allowed into the group. The town hall consisted of performers and wrestling personalities such as Eric Bischoff asking MJF why he wants to become a part of the Inner Circle.
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Jericho ended the segment by announcing that if MJF can beat him at Full Gear, he can join his group.
"I will do whatever it takes to win," MJF said.
Other moments from AEW Dynamite included Kingston defeating Matt Sydal; The Young Bucks announcing that if they don't defeat FTR for the AEW World Tag Team Championships at Full Gear, they will no longer be able to challenge for the titles; newly crowned NWA World Women's Champion Serena Deeb defeating Legit Leyla Hirsch; and Shawn Spears defeating VSK before he was ambushed by Scorpio Sky.


upi--2020-10-29--Fantasy football: A.J. Brown tops Week 8 wide receiver rankings

Oct. 28 ( UPI ) -- A.J .
Brown , Davante Adams , D.K .
Metcalf , Keenan Allen and Kenny Golladay top my Week 8 fantasy football wide receiver rankings for 2020 .
Adam Thielen , Tyreek Hill , Julio Jones , Mike Evans and Marquise Brown round out my Top 10 options for Week 8 .
Nelson Agholor and Jarvis Landry also are among my favorite starts this week .
You should target players who have a good chance to score a touchdown and get a lot of looks from their respective quarterbacks when considering who to start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for each of your players ' games this week as the coronavirus pandemic continues to impact the NFL schedule .
Washington Football Team , Arizona Cardinals , Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans players should be removed from all starting lineups , as those teams have Week 8 byes .
Check out my weekly waiver wire article for candidates to add to your roster before your Week 8 matchup .
Here are some of my favorite players in this week 's rankings : Tennessee Titans wide receiver A.J .
Brown has been fantastic in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a season-high 153 yards and a score in Week 7 .
I expect another big performance in Week 8 when the Titans battle the Cincinnati Bengals .
Brown has scored in three consecutive games .
He should eclipse 100 yards and score again in this matchup .
He is my top wide receiver for Week 8 .
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams is No .
2 in my Week 8 rankings .
Adams had a season-high 196 yards and two scores on 13 catches in Week 7 .
He also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 8 .
The Vikings have allowed the second-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers .
They are also tied for allowing a league-high 12 scores to the position .
Adams should help lead your team to a victory this week .
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be without Chris Godwin in Week 8 , which should lead to more targets for Mike Evans .
Evans lands at No .
9 in my rankings .
The Buccaneers pass catcher has n't scored since Week 5 , but already has six scores this season @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York Giants secondary that has allowed the seventh-most receiving yards to wide receivers .
Start Evans as a WR1 .
Marquise Brown has n't had a great season so far , but he should rebound in Week 8 when the Baltimore Ravens battle the Pittsburgh Steelers .
The Steelers defense has played very well overall , but has allowed the seventh-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers .
Brown should come close to 100 receiving yards and has a shot to score in this Monday Night Football matchup .
He is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 8 .
Nelson Agholor of the Las Vegas Raiders is my No .
23 option for the week .
Agholor can be used as a low-end WR2 or high-end WR3 in Week 8 as the Raiders battle a Cleveland Browns defense that has allowed the third-most fantasy points per game to the position .
The Browns should struggle to contain the Raiders speed at wide receiver .
Agholor has scored in three consecutive games and had a season-high nine targets for five catches and 107 yards in Week 7 .
Keep him in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ WR2 production .
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is out for the season .
That should open the door for Jarvis Landry to produce better fantasy football statistics down the stretch .
Landry has yet to score this season , but has a great shot to reach the end zone in Week 8 .
I also expect Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield to target Landry at least 10 times in a matchup against a Las Vegas Raiders defense that was just torched by Tom Brady for five touchdowns .
Landry is my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ started as a low-end WR2 or high-end WR3 , but is better in points-per-reception leagues .

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Tennessee Titans wide receiver A.J. Brown (11) had 153 yards and a score last week and is my No. 1 option for Week 8. File Photo by Kyle Rivas/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 28 (UPI) -- A.J. Brown, Davante Adams, D.K. Metcalf, Keenan Allen and Kenny Golladay top my Week 8 fantasy football wide receiver rankings for 2020. Adam Thielen, Tyreek Hill, Mike Evans, Marquise Brown and Stefon Diggs round out my Top 10 options for Week 8. Nelson Agholor and Jarvis Landry also are among my favorite starts this week. Advertisement
You should target players who have a good chance to score a touchdown and get a lot of looks from their respective quarterbacks when considering who to start at wide receiver.
Monitor the status for each of your players' games this week as the coronavirus pandemic continues to impact the NFL schedule. Washington Football Team, Arizona Cardinals, Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans players should be removed from all starting lineups, as those teams have Week 8 byes.
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Check out my weekly waiver wire article for candidates to add to your roster before your Week 8 matchup.
Here are some of my favorite players in this week's rankings:
TOP SHELF
Tennessee Titans wide receiver A.J. Brown has been fantastic in his last three starts and went off for a season-high 153 yards and a score in Week 7. I expect another big performance in Week 8 when the Titans battle the Cincinnati Bengals.
Brown has scored in three consecutive games. He should eclipse 100 yards and score again in this matchup. He is my top wide receiver for Week 8.
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams is No. 2 in my Week 8 rankings. Adams had a season-high 196 yards and two scores on 13 catches in Week 7. He also should dominate the Minnesota Vikings in Week 8.
The Vikings have allowed the second-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers. They are also tied for allowing a league-high 12 scores to the position. Adams should help lead your team to a victory this week.
SNEAKY PLAYS
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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be without Chris Godwin in Week 8, which should lead to more targets for Mike Evans. Evans lands at No. 8 in my rankings.
The Buccaneers pass catcher hasn't scored since Week 5, but already has six scores this season. This week he'll battle a New York Giants secondary that has allowed the seventh-most receiving yards to wide receivers. Start Evans as a WR1.
Marquise Brown hasn't had a great season so far, but he should rebound in Week 8 when the Baltimore Ravens battle the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers defense has played very well overall, but has allowed the seventh-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers.
Brown should come close to 100 receiving yards and has a shot to score in this Monday Night Football matchup. He is my No. 9 option for Week 8.
LONGSHOTS
Nelson Agholor of the Las Vegas Raiders is my No. 20 option for the week. Agholor can be used as a low-end WR2 or high-end WR3 in Week 8 as the Raiders battle a Cleveland Browns defense that has allowed the third-most fantasy points per game to the position.
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The Browns should struggle to contain the Raiders speed at wide receiver. Agholor has scored in three consecutive games and had a season-high nine targets for five catches and 107 yards in Week 7.
Keep him in your lineup for Week 8 and expect WR2 production.
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is out for the season. That should open the door for Jarvis Landry to produce better fantasy football statistics down the stretch.
Landry has yet to score this season, but has a great shot to reach the end zone in Week 8. I also expect Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield to target Landry at least 10 times in a matchup against a Las Vegas Raiders defense that was just torched by Tom Brady for five touchdowns.
Landry is my No. 21 option and can be started as a low-end WR2 or high-end WR3, but is better in points-per-reception leagues.
Week 8 fantasy football wide receiver rankings
1. A.J. Brown, Tennessee Titans at CIN
2. Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers vs. MIN
3. D.K. Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks vs. SF
4. Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers at DEN
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5. Kenny Golladay, Detroit Lions vs. IND
6. Adam Thielen, Minnesota Vikings at GB
7. Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs vs. NYJ
8. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers at NYG
9. Marquise Brown, Baltimore Ravens vs. PIT
10. Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills vs. NE
11. Tyler Boyd, Cincinnati Bengals vs. TEN
12. Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks vs. SF
13. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings at GB
14. Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams at MIA
15. Amari Cooper, Dallas Cowboys at PHI
16. Allen Robinson, Chicago Bears vs. NO
17. JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pittsburgh Steelers at BAL
18. Cole Beasley, Buffalo Bills vs. NE
19. Robert Woods, Los Angeles Rams at MIA
20. Nelson Agholor, Las Vegas Raiders at CLE
21. Jarvis Landry, Cleveland Browns vs. LV
22. Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals vs. TEN
23. Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers at SEA
24. Chase Claypool, Pittsburgh Steelers at BAL
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25. Travis Fulgham, Philadelphia Eagles vs. DAL
26. Preston Williams, Miami Dolphins vs. LAR
27. Scott Miller, Tampa Bay Buccaneers at NYG
28. Rashard Higgins, Cleveland Browns vs. LV
29. Darius Slayton, New York Giants vs. TB
30. Henry Ruggs III, Las Vegas Raiders at CLE
31. T.Y. Hilton, Indianapolis Colts at DET
32. Greg Ward, Philadelphia Eagles vs. DAL
33. Mike Williams, Los Angeles Chargers at DEN
34. Corey Davis, Tennessee Titans at CIN
35. DeVante Parker, Miami Dolphins vs. LAR
36. Mecole Hardman, Kansas City Chiefs vs. NYJ
37. Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers at BAL
38. Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Green Bay Packers vs. MIN
39. Sterling Shepard, New York Giants vs. TB
40. Marvin Jones, Detroit Lions vs. IND
41. Tre'Quan Smith, New Orleans Saints at CHI
42. Demarcus Robinson, Kansas City Chiefs vs. NYJ
43. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys at PHI
44. Denzel Mims, New York Jets at KC
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45. A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals vs. TEN
46. Michael Gallup, Dallas Cowboys at PHI
47. Anthony Miller, Chicago Bears vs. NO
48. Hunter Renfrow, Las Vegas Raiders at CLE
49. Braxton Berrios, New York Jets at KC
50. John Brown, Buffalo Bills vs. NE
This week in the National Football League


upi--2020-10-29--Antonio Brown 'looked fantastic' in Tampa Bay Buccaneers workout

Oct. 29 ( UPI ) -- Head coach Bruce Arians said veteran wide receiver Antonio Brown `` looked fantastic '' in his first workout session for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers .
The Buccaneers signed the four-time All-Pro on Tuesday after he spent the first seven weeks of the season under suspension from the NFL for violations of the league 's personal conduct policy .
He has one week remaining on the suspension , but was allowed to work out with the team 's strength and conditioning staff .
Brown is not yet allowed to practice with the team , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was required to test negative for COVID-19 for six consecutive days before he was allowed to enter the team facility .
Arians said Brown is in `` great shape '' and should be `` ready to go next week . ''
When healthy , the Buccaneers offense provides veteran quarterback Tom Brady with a well-stocked arsenal of pass catchers .
Brown will play alongside Mike Evans and Chris Godwin at wide receiver .
The Buccaneers also have Rob Gronkowski and Cameron Brate at tight end and running backs Ronald Jones and Leonard Fournette @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the team 's Week 8 game against the New York Giants due to a broken finger .
Arians said he is optimistic the wide receiver can return in Week 9 .
The Buccaneers coach referred to Brown as an `` insurance policy '' when asked about Godwin 's timeline for a return .
`` He wants to play , '' Arians said of Brown .
`` If you want to play , you 've got to do it . ''
Arians said he told Brown that he should `` go to football practice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and go back to work '' in their conversation on Wednesday .
`` He 's all in , '' Arians said .
`` I do n't think we 'll have any problems with those things . ''
Brown , 32 , had four catches for 56 yards and a touchdown in one game with Brady and the New England Patriots during the 2019 season .
The seven-time Pro Bowl selection had 104 catches for 1,297 yards and a league-high 15 touchdowns in 15 games in 2018 .
The Buccaneers ( 5-2 ) face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ p.m. EDT on Monday Night Football at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford , N.J .

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians said Antonio Brown (pictured) should be "ready to go next week" after the veteran wide receiver serves his suspension from the NFL and clears the league's COVID-19 protocol. File Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 29 (UPI) -- Head coach Bruce Arians said veteran wide receiver Antonio Brown "looked fantastic" in his first workout session for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Buccaneers signed the four-time All-Pro on Tuesday after he spent the first seven weeks of the season under suspension from the NFL for violations of the league's personal conduct policy. Advertisement
He has one week remaining on the suspension, but was allowed to work out with the team's strength and conditioning staff.
Brown is not yet allowed to practice with the team, but can participate in meetings. He also was required to test negative for COVID-19 for six consecutive days before he was allowed to enter the team facility.
Arians said Brown is in "great shape" and should be "ready to go next week."
When healthy, the Buccaneers offense provides veteran quarterback Tom Brady with a well-stocked arsenal of pass catchers. Brown will play alongside Mike Evans and Chris Godwin at wide receiver. The Buccaneers also have Rob Gronkowski and Cameron Brate at tight end and running backs Ronald Jones and Leonard Fournette on their roster.
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Godwin will miss the team's Week 8 game against the New York Giants due to a broken finger. Arians said he is optimistic the wide receiver can return in Week 9. The Buccaneers coach referred to Brown as an "insurance policy" when asked about Godwin's timeline for a return.
"He wants to play," Arians said of Brown. "If you want to play, you've got to do it."
Arians said he told Brown that he should "go to football practice, go to work, come home and go back to work" in their conversation on Wednesday.
"He's all in," Arians said. "I don't think we'll have any problems with those things."
Brown, 32, had four catches for 56 yards and a touchdown in one game with Brady and the New England Patriots during the 2019 season. The seven-time Pro Bowl selection had 104 catches for 1,297 yards and a league-high 15 touchdowns in 15 games in 2018.
Brown's 86 receiving yards per game rank fourth in NFL history.
The Buccaneers (5-2) face the Giants (1-6) at 8:15 p.m. EDT on Monday Night Football at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
This week in the National Football League
Dallas Cowboys' Ezekiel Elliott (L) is stopped by Washington's Landon Collins during their game at FedEx Field in Landover, Md., on Sunday, where the Cowboys lost to Washington 25-3. Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo