upi--2020-10-26--Washington Football Team coach Ron Rivera completes cancer treatment

Oct. 26 ( UPI ) -- Two months after he was diagnosed with a form of skin cancer , Washington Football Team head coach Ron Rivera finished his final round of cancer treatment .
Rivera received his last round of chemotherapy and proton therapy Monday at a northern Virginia hospital , marking the end of his seven weeks of treatments .
The former Carolina Panthers coach still has a few more weeks of follow-up appointments and scans to monitor his progress , but Monday marked a key milestone for Rivera .
In a video released by the team , Rivera @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members as he left the hospital .
The staffers waved pom-poms , threw confetti and made noise with rattlers while wearing black `` Rivera Strong '' shirts .
Rivera then rang the bell and raised his left hand to acknowledge the staff members , signaling the end of his treatments .
The 58-year-old Rivera announced in late August that he had squamous cell cancer but doctors caught it in time and were optimistic about his prognosis .
On Friday , Rivera said he was informed that the cancer was `` headed in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ practices and had to leave early during a third session while undergoing treatments , but he never missed a game .
`` We all admire his toughness , '' said Washington defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio , who replaced Rivera during those practices .
`` He 's obviously in a big battle , a personal battle .
We all feel for him .
We pray for him a lot .
`` We seek to kind of carry on .
He 's laid out a great blueprint for us to follow .
I 'll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help him rest assured that he can take care of himself and we 're going to carry on the business here while he 's taking care of himself .
His toughness and his determination , it really stands out . ''
Rivera and the Washington Football Team earned a blowout win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday .
After a bye week , Washington ( 2-5 ) will play the New York Giants on Nov. 8 .

Washington Football Team head coach Ron Rivera (R) leaves the field after a 25-3 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday at FedEx Field in Landover, Md. Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 26 (UPI) -- Two months after he was diagnosed with a form of skin cancer, Washington Football Team head coach Ron Rivera finished his final round of cancer treatment. Rivera received his last round of chemotherapy and proton therapy Monday at a northern Virginia hospital, marking the end of his seven weeks of treatments. The former Carolina Panthers coach still has a few more weeks of follow-up appointments and scans to monitor his progress, but Monday marked a key milestone for Rivera. Advertisement
In a video released by the team, Rivera walked through a line of cheering staff members as he left the hospital. The staffers waved pom-poms, threw confetti and made noise with rattlers while wearing black "Rivera Strong" shirts.
Rivera then rang the bell and raised his left hand to acknowledge the staff members, signaling the end of his treatments.
It's a different kind of Victory Monday #RiveraStrong pic.twitter.com/tgiZgOpBGC— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) October 26, 2020
How it started. How it's going! pic.twitter.com/PbBMovYIel— Ron Rivera (@RiverboatRonHC) October 26, 2020
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The 58-year-old Rivera announced in late August that he had squamous cell cancer but doctors caught it in time and were optimistic about his prognosis. On Friday, Rivera said he was informed that the cancer was "headed in the right direction."
Rivera missed two practices and had to leave early during a third session while undergoing treatments, but he never missed a game.
"We all admire his toughness," said Washington defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio, who replaced Rivera during those practices. "He's obviously in a big battle, a personal battle. We all feel for him. We pray for him a lot.
"We seek to kind of carry on. He's laid out a great blueprint for us to follow. I'll step in and do my part to help him rest assured that he can take care of himself and we're going to carry on the business here while he's taking care of himself. His toughness and his determination, it really stands out."
Rivera and the Washington Football Team earned a blowout win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. After a bye week, Washington (2-5) will play the New York Giants on Nov. 8.
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upi--2020-10-26--Polish protesters block roads, storm churches over abortion ban

Oct. 26 ( UPI ) -- Protesters in Poland blocked roads and disrupted church services in response to a ruling that would institute a near-total ban on abortion in the country .
Demonstrations have carried on for four days after Poland 's constitutional tribunal issued a ruling that would ban abortions in instances where a fetus is diagnosed with a serious irreversible birth defect .
Under the ban , abortions would only be permitted under circumstances including rape , incest and threat to the mother 's life .
The demonstrations have spread to more than 150 cities and towns throughout @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where protesters poured red paint across the Lazienkowski Bridge .
Others used their cars to create a series of blockages in city centers as thousands of people marched against the ruling and hundreds gathered outside the Presidential Palace Sunday night .
A woman was taken away in an ambulance after allegedly being thrown down the steps of the Church of the Holy Cross in central Warsaw on Sunday as protesters clashed with far-right groups .
In western Poland , protesters stormed the Poznan Cathedral chanting slogans including `` Catholics need abortions too '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was canceled and 30 protesters were given citations by police .
Robert Bakiewicz , the leader of the far-right group that clashed with the protesters at the Church of the Holy Cross , said nationalist groups would create a `` national guard '' to defend churches from protesters .

Protesters blocked roads and stormed churches in Poland in response to a top court ruling that would ban abortions in instances where a fetus is diagnosed with a serious irreversible birth defect. Photo by Maciej Kulczynski/EPA-EFE
Oct. 26 (UPI) -- Protesters in Poland blocked roads and disrupted church services in response to a ruling that would institute a near-total ban on abortion in the country. Demonstrations have carried on for four days after Poland's constitutional tribunal issued a ruling that would ban abortions in instances where a fetus is diagnosed with a serious irreversible birth defect. Advertisement
Under the ban, abortions would only be permitted under circumstances including rape, incest and threat to the mother's life.
The demonstrations have spread to more than 150 cities and towns throughout Poland including the capital city of Warsaw where protesters poured red paint across the Lazienkowski Bridge.
Others used their cars to create a series of blockages in city centers as thousands of people marched against the ruling and hundreds gathered outside the Presidential Palace Sunday night.
A woman was taken away in an ambulance after allegedly being thrown down the steps of the Church of the Holy Cross in central Warsaw on Sunday as protesters clashed with far-right groups.
In western Poland, protesters stormed the Poznan Cathedral chanting slogans including "Catholics need abortions too" during service on Sunday.
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The mass was canceled and 30 protesters were given citations by police.
Robert Bakiewicz, the leader of the far-right group that clashed with the protesters at the Church of the Holy Cross, said nationalist groups would create a "national guard" to defend churches from protesters.


upi--2020-10-26--18% of COVID-19 deaths in U.S. linked to air pollution, study finds

Oct. 26 ( UPI ) -- Up to 15 % of all COVID-19 deaths globally , and 18 % of fatalities caused by the virus in the United States , may be linked to long-term exposure to air pollution , an analysis published Monday by the journal Cardiovascular Research estimated .
This means that air pollution may have played a role in roughly 40,000 of the more than 220,000 deaths attributed to the coronavirus nationally , the researchers said .
`` If both long-term exposure to air pollution and infection with the COVID-19 virus come together , then we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particularly with respect to the heart and blood vessels , which leads to greater vulnerability and less resilience to COVID-19 , '' study co-author Thomas Münzel said in a statement .
`` If you already have heart disease , then air pollution and coronavirus infection will cause trouble that can lead to heart attacks , heart failure and stroke , '' sad Münzel , a professor at the University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research .
The findings are based on an analysis of data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ air pollution , as well as COVID-19 case and death totals globally through the end of June , according to the researchers .
They combined this with satellite images that show global exposure to polluting fine particles known as particulate matter , or PM , the researchers said .
Specifically , researchers focused on exposure to PM2.5 , or particulate matter measuring 2.5 microns in diameter or less , they said .
These small particles are thought to have the most significant health effects and their presence is a widely used measure for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conditions and ground-based pollution monitoring networks , the researchers created a model to calculate the fraction of COVID-19 deaths that could be attributable to long-term exposure to PM2.5 .
Estimates for individual countries show that air pollution contributed to 29 % of coronavirus deaths in the Czech Republic ; 27 % in China ; 26 % in Germany ; 18 % in France ; 16 % in Sweden ; 15 % in Italy ; 14 % in Britain ; 12 % in Brazil ; 8 % in the Republic of Ireland ; 6 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Australia ; and 1 % in New Zealand .
These percentages are estimates of `` the fraction of COVID-19 deaths that could be avoided if the population were exposed to lower counterfactual air pollution levels without fossil fuel-related and other [ humans-caused ] emissions , '' according to the researchers .
However , the estimates do n't `` imply a direct cause-effect relationship between air pollution and COVID-19 '' death , only a possible relationship between two .
A more comprehensive evaluation of the role of air pollution in COVID-19 needs to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they said .
`` When people inhale polluted air , the very small polluting particles , the PM2.5 , migrate from the lungs to the blood and blood vessels , causing inflammation and severe oxidative stress , which is an imbalance between free radicals and oxidants in the body that normally repair damage to cells , '' Münzel said .
`` This causes damage to the inner lining of arteries and leads to the narrowing and stiffening of the arteries , '' he said .

A new study has linked air pollution exposure to death from COVID-19. File Photo by Etienne Laurent/EPA-EFE
Oct. 26 (UPI) -- Up to 15% of all COVID-19 deaths globally, and 18% of fatalities caused by the virus in the United States, may be linked to long-term exposure to air pollution, an analysis published Monday by the journal Cardiovascular Research estimated. This means that air pollution may have played a role in roughly 40,000 of the more than 220,000 deaths attributed to the coronavirus nationally, the researchers said. Advertisement
"If both long-term exposure to air pollution and infection with the COVID-19 virus come together, then we have an additive adverse effect on health, particularly with respect to the heart and blood vessels, which leads to greater vulnerability and less resilience to COVID-19," study co-author Thomas Münzel said in a statement.
"If you already have heart disease, then air pollution and coronavirus infection will cause trouble that can lead to heart attacks, heart failure and stroke," sad Münzel, a professor at the University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research.
The findings are based on an analysis of data from previous U.S. and Chinese studies of air pollution, as well as COVID-19 case and death totals globally through the end of June, according to the researchers.
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They combined this with satellite images that show global exposure to polluting fine particles known as particulate matter, or PM, the researchers said.
Specifically, researchers focused on exposure to PM2.5, or particulate matter measuring 2.5 microns in diameter or less, they said.
These small particles are thought to have the most significant health effects and their presence is a widely used measure for air pollution.
Using information on atmospheric conditions and ground-based pollution monitoring networks, the researchers created a model to calculate the fraction of COVID-19 deaths that could be attributable to long-term exposure to PM2.5.
Estimates for individual countries show that air pollution contributed to 29% of coronavirus deaths in the Czech Republic; 27% in China; 26% in Germany; 18% in France; 16% in Sweden; 15% in Italy; 14% in Britain; 12% in Brazil; 8% in the Republic of Ireland; 6% in Israel; 3% in Australia; and 1% in New Zealand.
These percentages are estimates of "the fraction of COVID-19 deaths that could be avoided if the population were exposed to lower counterfactual air pollution levels without fossil fuel-related and other [humans-caused] emissions," according to the researchers.
However, the estimates don't "imply a direct cause-effect relationship between air pollution and COVID-19" death, only a possible relationship between two. A more comprehensive evaluation of the role of air pollution in COVID-19 needs to be performed after the pandemic has subsided, they said.
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"When people inhale polluted air, the very small polluting particles, the PM2.5, migrate from the lungs to the blood and blood vessels, causing inflammation and severe oxidative stress, which is an imbalance between free radicals and oxidants in the body that normally repair damage to cells," Münzel said.
"This causes damage to the inner lining of arteries and leads to the narrowing and stiffening of the arteries," he said.


upi--2020-10-26--Cardinals RB Kenyan Drake to miss multiple weeks with ankle injury

Oct. 26 ( UPI ) -- Arizona Cardinals starting running back Kenyan Drake is expected to miss multiple games because of an ankle injury .
League sources told ESPN and NFL Media on Monday that Drake will miss a few weeks due to a slight tear in a ligament in his ankle .
According to the outlets , the team is treating Drake 's injury like a high ankle sprain .
Drake suffered the injury late in the fourth quarter of the Cardinals ' overtime win over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night and did n't return .
He was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ towel over his head .
Prior to his departure , Drake had 14 carries for 34 yards and one reception for seven yards .
Without Drake , the Cardinals will rely on backup tailback Chase Edmonds to be their primary ball carrier .
He recorded 58 rushing yards on five carries and seven catches for 87 yards in Arizona 's 37-34 win over Seattle .
Behind Edmonds , the Cardinals ' backfield group includes Eno Benjamin , D.J .
Foster and Jonathan Ward .
Drake , who is playing the 2020-21 season on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million , leads the Cardinals with 512 rushing yards .
He also has notched four rushing touchdowns this year .

Arizona Cardinals running back Kenyan Drake (41) suffered the ankle injury during the fourth quarter of Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks. File Photo by Jim Bryant/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 26 (UPI) -- Arizona Cardinals starting running back Kenyan Drake is expected to miss multiple games because of an ankle injury. League sources told ESPN and NFL Media on Monday that Drake will miss a few weeks due to a slight tear in a ligament in his ankle. According to the outlets, the team is treating Drake's injury like a high ankle sprain. Advertisement
Drake suffered the injury late in the fourth quarter of the Cardinals' overtime win over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night and didn't return. He was carted to the locker room with a towel over his head.
Prior to his departure, Drake had 14 carries for 34 yards and one reception for seven yards.
Without Drake, the Cardinals will rely on backup tailback Chase Edmonds to be their primary ball carrier. He recorded 58 rushing yards on five carries and seven catches for 87 yards in Arizona's 37-34 win over Seattle.
Behind Edmonds, the Cardinals' backfield group includes Eno Benjamin, D.J. Foster and Jonathan Ward.
Drake, who is playing the 2020-21 season on a transition tender worth about $8.5 million, leads the Cardinals with 512 rushing yards. He also has notched four rushing touchdowns this year.
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upi--2020-10-26--Fading sense of smell may signal higher death risk for older adults

If you 're a senior who ca n't smell onions , smoke , chocolate or natural gas , it 's time to see your doctor .
Seniors who lose their sense of smell -- which doctors call olfactory dysfunction -- have higher odds of dying from all causes within five years , new research shows .
Scientists had previously found a link between olfactory dysfunction and impaired thinking and memory .
`` We suspected there would be an association with olfactory dysfunction and mortality as well , considering that this is an early marker for a lot of neurodegenerative diseases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' said study author Dr. Janet Choi , a resident in otolaryngology at the University of Southern California .
Her team reviewed nationwide survey and death data from about 3,500 people age 40 and over .
The surveys included self-reported loss of smell as well an objective smell test .
Over the five-year study , researchers found no increased risk of death based on self-reported loss of smell .
But the risk of death rose 18 % for every 1-point decrease in scores on a `` pocket smell test . ''
On the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eight scents : onion , soap , leather , smoke , grape , strawberry , chocolate and natural gas .
They needed to identify at least six to be considered having a normal sense of smell .
The mortality link was significant for adults 65 and older , but not among those between 40 and 64 , researchers reported .
Sense of smell is mostly controlled by a nerve from the brain called the olfactory nerve .
Olfactory dysfunction leads to more than 200,000 doctor visits a year , according to the study @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smell can lead to malnutrition , because people may lose their appetite or enjoyment of food , according to the researchers .
It 's also linked to depression and a poorer quality of life .
The findings were published this month in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery .
`` We do know that , speaking to patients , they do lose their ability to enjoy life 's simple pleasures , like smelling flowers or enjoying a nice meal out with family or friends , '' said Dr .
Aria Jafari , an assistant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the University of Washington in Seattle .
`` Those things can severely impact their quality of life and that can result in depression and associated conditions that could result in a medical condition or death , '' said Jafari , who was n't part of the study .
Loss of smell may also prevent someone from noticing the smell from a gas leak or a fire , which can be life-threatening .
It can also be an early sign of Parkinson 's disease and Alzheimer 's .
New loss of smell and taste @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jafari said he screens patients for loss of smell and advises patients with olfactory dysfunction that they could be at a higher risk of injury .
Treatment varies depending on the reasons for the loss of smell , Jafari said .
In some cases , treating chronic sinus issues could fix the problem .
Swelling after an upper respiratory infection can also affect the sense of smell and that can be treated with steroids to decrease inflammation and speed nerve recovery , he said .
But the most effective treatment for a lost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sniffing certain scents twice a day over a few months .
Jafari said the repetitive stimulation of the olfactory tissue and nerve may trigger some nerve regeneration .
Choi said previous research has shown it can be helpful .
`` Studies have shown that olfactory training can improve the olfaction in patients with post-infection olfactory dysfunction , '' she said .
`` Whether the olfactory training itself will actually have an impact on the mortality or cognitive decline , that has not been studied . ''
How fast patients can recover may be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Choi said .
`` A lot of times , if it 's just a mild insult or injury , the body should be able to recover from it , but if your body is unable to recover fast or not able to recover at all , I think that 's actually an indicator of that person 's overall physical health , '' Choi said .
`` I think that 's probably in the long run why we 're seeing an association between smell loss and mortality . ''
The U.S. National Institute on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on smell disorders .

New research shows that seniors who lose their sense of smell may be at higher risk for death. File Photo by Petr Kratochvil/Public Domain Pictures
If you're a senior who can't smell onions, smoke, chocolate or natural gas, it's time to see your doctor. Seniors who lose their sense of smell -- which doctors call olfactory dysfunction -- have higher odds of dying from all causes within five years, new research shows. Scientists had previously found a link between olfactory dysfunction and impaired thinking and memory. Advertisement
"We suspected there would be an association with olfactory dysfunction and mortality as well, considering that this is an early marker for a lot of neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's and dementia," said study author Dr. Janet Choi, a resident in otolaryngology at the University of Southern California.
Her team reviewed nationwide survey and death data from about 3,500 people age 40 and over. The surveys included self-reported loss of smell as well an objective smell test.
Over the five-year study, researchers found no increased risk of death based on self-reported loss of smell.
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But the risk of death rose 18% for every 1-point decrease in scores on a "pocket smell test."
On the test, participants were asked to identify eight scents: onion, soap, leather, smoke, grape, strawberry, chocolate and natural gas. They needed to identify at least six to be considered having a normal sense of smell.
The mortality link was significant for adults 65 and older, but not among those between 40 and 64, researchers reported.
Sense of smell is mostly controlled by a nerve from the brain called the olfactory nerve. Olfactory dysfunction leads to more than 200,000 doctor visits a year, according to the study.
A diminished or lost sense of smell can lead to malnutrition, because people may lose their appetite or enjoyment of food, according to the researchers. It's also linked to depression and a poorer quality of life.
The findings were published this month in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.
"We do know that, speaking to patients, they do lose their ability to enjoy life's simple pleasures, like smelling flowers or enjoying a nice meal out with family or friends," said Dr. Aria Jafari, an assistant professor of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery at the University of Washington in Seattle.
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"Those things can severely impact their quality of life and that can result in depression and associated conditions that could result in a medical condition or death," said Jafari, who wasn't part of the study.
Loss of smell may also prevent someone from noticing the smell from a gas leak or a fire, which can be life-threatening. It can also be an early sign of Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's. New loss of smell and taste can be a symptom of COVID-19.
Jafari said he screens patients for loss of smell and advises patients with olfactory dysfunction that they could be at a higher risk of injury.
Treatment varies depending on the reasons for the loss of smell, Jafari said. In some cases, treating chronic sinus issues could fix the problem. Swelling after an upper respiratory infection can also affect the sense of smell and that can be treated with steroids to decrease inflammation and speed nerve recovery, he said.
But the most effective treatment for a lost sense of smell is olfactory training -- sniffing certain scents twice a day over a few months. Jafari said the repetitive stimulation of the olfactory tissue and nerve may trigger some nerve regeneration.
Advertisement
Choi said previous research has shown it can be helpful. "Studies have shown that olfactory training can improve the olfaction in patients with post-infection olfactory dysfunction," she said. "Whether the olfactory training itself will actually have an impact on the mortality or cognitive decline, that has not been studied."
How fast patients can recover may be dictated by their overall physical health, Choi said.
"A lot of times, if it's just a mild insult or injury, the body should be able to recover from it, but if your body is unable to recover fast or not able to recover at all, I think that's actually an indicator of that person's overall physical health," Choi said. "I think that's probably in the long run why we're seeing an association between smell loss and mortality."
More information
The U.S. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders has more on smell disorders.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-10-26--'Rapidly' growing Tropical Storm Zeta becomes hurricane on path toward U.S.

Oct. 26 ( UPI ) -- Tropical Storm Zeta achieved hurricane strength as it continues to gain steam in the western Caribbean and threatens the U.S. Gulf Coast with yet another serious storm .
The National Hurricane Center said in its 5 p.m. EDT advisory that Zeta was located 90 miles southeast of Cozumel , Mexico , and had maximum sustained winds of 80 mph .
It was moving northwest at 10 mph .
The NHC said the storm is `` rapidly strengthening '' and will bring hurricane conditions across parts of the Yucatan Peninsula on Monday .
`` On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zeta will move near or over the northern Yucatan Peninsula later today or tonight , move over the southern Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday , and approach the northern Gulf Coast on Wednesday , '' the NHC said in its update early Monday .
A hurricane warning has been issued for Cozumel and from Tulum to Dzilam in Mexico , the NHC said .
Zeta is heading for a portion of the Gulf Coast that has already had to deal with four named tropical systems this year -- Laura , Marco , Sally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Delta all made landfall along the Louisiana coast , while Sally struck just east along the Alabama coast .
Marco was the only storm that did not make landfall as a hurricane .
`` Between Tuesday night and Thursday , storm total rainfall of 2 to 4 inches with isolated amounts of 6 inches is expected across portions of the central U.S. Gulf Coast , Tennessee Valley , southern Appalachians , and Mid-Atlantic States near and in advance of Zeta , '' the NHC said .
`` The expected rainfall could lead to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flooding , along with minor river flooding . ''

Hurricane Zeta weakened to a Category 1 storm after making landfall. Photo courtesy of NOAA
Oct. 28 (UPI) -- Hurricane Zeta made landfall on New Orleans as a Category 2 storm Wednesday evening, bringing life-threatening storm surge, high winds and heavy rain, meteorologists said. Early Wednesday afternoon, Zeta strengthened into a Category 2 storm packing 110-mph winds as it bore down on the Gulf Coast. Advertisement
In its 10 p.m. CDT advisory, the National Hurricane Center said the eye had moved to about 70 miles northeast of Hattiesburg, Miss., and was moving northeast at 31 mph. The storm weakened slightly to a Category 1 with 80 mph winds.
Forecasters rated Zeta a 1 on the AccuWeather RealImpact Scale at the time of landfall. The company's hurricane scale takes into account a broad range of impacts, rather than just wind speed used in the Saffir-Simpson scale to assess the overall impact of a tropical system.
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As Zeta came crashing ashore, it became the fifth named storm to hit the Louisiana coast during what has been a relentless hurricane season, and the 11th to strike the country as a whole -- a national record. City officials in New Orleans called for residents who live outside the levee system to evacuate voluntarily as AccuWeather's futurecast shows that Zeta's eyewall could move right over the Big Easy.
Impacts along the coast began to occur late Wednesday morning. AccuWeather National Reporter Jonathan Petramala was stationed in Grand Isle, Louisiana, a barrier island about 100 miles south of New Orleans, and storm surge was already encroaching onto land.
In addition to New Orleans, hurricane warnings were in effect along the Gulf Coast from central Louisiana eastward to the Mississippi-Alabama border and tropical storm watches have been issued northward through Atlanta.
Dangerous and damaging storm surge, high winds and flooding rainfall will hammer the area from southeastern Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle. Several tornadoes could also touch down as the Zeta batters the U.S. Gulf Coast, especially near and east of where the storm comes onshore.
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The storm's projected path has the potential to bring the most significant impacts in southeastern Louisiana and the New Orleans area of any tropical system this season as the city managed to avoid the core of all tropical systems thus far this year. The Big Easy is at risk for power outages, flooding and property damage from Zeta -- and conditions will deteriorate quickly there late Wednesday afternoon and early Wednesday evening.
A storm surge of 3 feet to 6 feet is forecast along much of the southeastern Louisiana coast, including Lake Pontchartrain. But, a storm surge of 6 feet to 10 feet is forecast along portions of the Mississippi coast and Lake Borgne, and a surge of 1 foot to 3 feet can occur as far to the east as the northern Gulf coast of Florida and as far to the west as Intercoastal City, La.
Storm surge warnings have been issued from the mouth of the Atchafalaya River in Louisiana to Navarre, Fla. This includes the bays around Gulfport, Miss., and Mobile, Ala.
Significant power outages and tree damage are still anticipated in southeastern Louisiana to part of southern Mississippi and central and southern Alabama with gusts frequenting 60 mph to 80 mph. An AccuWeather Local StormMax of 100 mph is forecast in southeastern Louisiana.
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"Power outages could last for a few days to a week in some areas and minor structural damage is expected as well, especially to weak and poorly built buildings," Douty said.
Sporadic tree damage and power outages can occur with wind gusts of 40-60 mph as far to the north as the Piedmont areas of the interior South and perhaps to the mid-Atlantic coast. Major cities well inland, such as Montgomery, Ala.; Atlanta; Greenville, S.C., and Charlotte, N.C., could experience power outages and travel problems due to fallen trees and urban flooding.
The central and eastern Gulf is being warned to closely monitor the progress of Zeta as the area will bear the brunt of the tropical system's impacts, but effects will also reach far inland across the U.S.
Enough rain to cause flash and urban flooding is forecast as far to the north as the Ohio Valley, central and southern Appalachians and the mid-Atlantic coast. Torrential rainfall will be limited to several hours due to the fast forward motion of Zeta, but downpours and moderate rainfall will precede the storm many hours in advance.
"Heavy rain is by far going to be the most widespread impact from Zeta in the United States," warned AccuWeather meteorologist Niki LoBiondo.
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Rainfall on the order of 4 inches to 8 inches will occur along the path of Zeta as it interacts with a non-tropical storm, the same one bringing heavy snow and ice to the southern Plains and Rockies. An AccuWeather Local StormMax of 12 inches is forecast from southeastern Louisiana to part of western Alabama, which will be closest to the source of tropical moisture from the Gulf of Mexico.
"Flash flooding will be a threat across much of the area where the heaviest rain totals are expected, especially in places with steeper terrain," according to AccuWeather meteorologist Jake Sojda. "Ponding on roads and in poor drainage areas will likely be widespread, especially in communities where falling leaves clog storm drains."
Due to the widespread nature of heavy rain over the lower Mississippi and Ohio valleys, as well as the southern Appalachians, small stream flooding is expected and some minor river flooding may also develop along the tributaries of the major rivers by the end of the week.
Zeta's legacy may include tornado outbreak
Sometimes, when tropical storms or hurricanes make landfall, tornadoes and waterspouts can occur, and that will be a threat when Zeta comes ashore on the Gulf Coast.
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"Tornadoes to the east of Zeta's track can lead to localized areas of more intense damage," Douty said. "There is the concern that there could be a higher-than-usual number of tornadoes with this tropical system as extra energy from the non-tropical storm system over the southern Plains interacts with Zeta as it moves inland."
In the wake of Zeta, showers and thunderstorms will be left behind in the area from the western Caribbean to the southern Gulf of Mexico and the Florida Straits. "This area will have to be watched for the next potential tropical development zone next week," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dave Houk.
"We're doing everything we can to prepare for this storm"
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency on Monday ahead of Zeta's arrival. "[The] good thing and the bad thing is we've had a lot of practice" at weathering storms this season, Edwards said during a Monday afternoon update on the looming threat for his state. "We're doing everything we can to prepare for this storm," he added.
Nearly 3,600 people remain sheltered by the state after devastating back-to-back hurricane strikes. Laura struck the state as a devastating Category 4 storm in late August, and then just 43 days later, Category 2 Hurricane Delta made landfall only 13 miles to the east of where Laura hit.
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Zeta is predicted to be the fifth tropical system to make landfall in Louisiana at tropical storm strength or greater following hits from Tropical Storm Cristobal, Hurricane Laura, Tropical Storm Marco and Hurricane Delta. Once this occurs, it will break the record set in 2002, when four tropical systems made landfall in the state.
Edwards also noted that his state is dealing with dueling disasters amid the public health emergency of the pandemic. "We may be tired of COVID-19 and hurricanes, but neither the virus nor Mother Nature is going to take that into account," Edwards said.
The National Guard was mobilized and ready to respond to Zeta in 16 parishes of Louisiana. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey and Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves both issued emergency declarations in advance of the hurricane's effects.
Zeta made its first landfall as a Category 1 hurricane, packing 80-mph winds, along the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico just north of Tulum shortly after 11 p.m. CDT Monday. The storm lost some wind intensity once over land and weakened into a tropical storm as it spun northward unleashing storm surge, heavy rain and strong winds Monday night.
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Zeta became the 11th hurricane of the extremely busy Atlantic hurricane season over the northwestern Caribbean Sea on Monday afternoon. Only two other Atlantic hurricane seasons since 1851(1950 and 2005) spawned 11 or more hurricanes by Oct. 26, according to Colorado State University meteorologist Philip Klotzbach. An average season generates six hurricanes and 12 named storms.
It will become the eighth named storm to strike the Gulf Coast this season, and the 11th tropical system to make landfall in the U.S. in 2020. Hurricane Delta was number 10, which broke the record of nine storms to crash into the continental U.S. in one season, previously set in 1916.
Zeta is projected to be the sixth landfalling hurricane in the continental U.S. this season, which will tie another national record previously set in 1886 and 1985. Hanna, Isaias, Laura, Sally and Delta are the other hurricanes that hit U.S. soil in 2020.
Also notable is the calendar date that Zeta will impact the U.S. It's expected to be the latest hurricane landfall in the calendar year since Kate hit Mexico Beach, Florida, in 1985.
"For those counting, 2005 still holds the record for the most number of named storms in a season (28). NHC identified an 'unnamed' subtropical storm in its post-season analysis that year, which is included in the total," the National Hurricane Center said on Twitter. "With #Zeta, the number for 2020 currently stands at 27."


upi--2020-10-26--Silverado Fire: More than 60,000 evacuated in Irvine, Calif., schools closed

Oct. 26 ( UPI ) -- More than 60,000 residents of Irvine , Calif. , have been evacuated after the quick-burning Silverado Fire in Orange County scorched 2,000 acres Monday .
About 500 firefighters were working on the blaze according to the Orange County Fire Authority .
About 20,000 homes in Orchard Hills are in the evacuation zone and a number of schools have been evacuated or are asked to be ready to evacuate .
`` The wind is making it very difficult on us , fire authority Captain Greg Barta told KNX Radio .
Barta said high Santa Ana @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it impossible to use helicopters .
`` We do have crews on the ground that are attempting to construct what we call a line , which is to put hose lines and remove some of the fuel that is in the fire 's path .
But it is very difficult , '' Barta added .
The fire started as a brush fire about 6:45 a.m , in the Santiago Canyon Road and Silverado Canyon Road , Southwest of Silverado , according to CalFire .
The fire is 0 % contained .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evacuation orders for their safety and the safety of our first responders , '' Irvine Mayor Christina Shea said in a news release .
Most of the emergency shelters at community centers were reported to be full Monday afternoon .
California Edison , in southern California , said power was shut off for wildfire danger for 21,000 customers and that number could rise to more than 130,000 , or 1 % of the area 's 5 million customers .
Meanwhile , power was beginning to be restored Monday morning to about 355,000 customers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pacific Gas and Electric Co. preemptively shut off power in central California .
The company shut down power to about 1 million people in the Bay Area and surrounding counties as hurricane-force winds up to 89 mph swept through the region .
`` In many areas , high winds and fire-critical weather will continue through Tuesday morning , so power restoration efforts can not occur in those areas until the weather conditions improve and the fire danger subsides , '' PG & E said in a statement Monday afternoon .
The state of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through Tuesday with winds in some areas gusting above 70 mph and minimum daytime humidities as low as 4 % , according to the National Weather Service .

About 60,000 residents of Irvine , Calif., were evacuated Monday after the Silverado Fire scorched 2,000 acres amid high Santa Ana winds in Orange County. Photo courtesy Orange County Fire Authority
150 firefighting units are working the #SilveradoFire. 20-30 mph erratic winds that can reach up to 60-70 mph. Approximately 20,000 homes evacuated. Emergency information line only: 714-573-6210. pic.twitter.com/xUsRbBouv9— OCFA PIO (@OCFA_PIO) October 26, 2020 Oct. 26 (UPI) -- More than 60,000 residents of Irvine, Calif., have been evacuated after the quick-burning Silverado Fire in Orange County scorched 2,000 acres Monday. About 500 firefighters were working on the blaze according to the Orange County Fire Authority. About 20,000 homes in Orchard Hills are in the evacuation zone and a number of schools have been evacuated or are asked to be ready to evacuate. Advertisement
"The wind is making it very difficult on us, fire authority Captain Greg Barta told KNX Radio. Barta said high Santa Ana winds up to 70 mph were making it impossible to use helicopters.
"We do have crews on the ground that are attempting to construct what we call a line, which is to put hose lines and remove some of the fuel that is in the fire's path. But it is very difficult," Barta added.
The fire started as a brush fire about 6:45 a.m, in the Santiago Canyon Road and Silverado Canyon Road, Southwest of Silverado, according to CalFire. The fire is 0% contained.
"We are asking everyone to comply with the evacuation orders for their safety and the safety of our first responders," Irvine Mayor Christina Shea said in a news release.
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Most of the emergency shelters at community centers were reported to be full Monday afternoon.
California Edison, in southern California, said power was shut off for wildfire danger for 21,000 customers and that number could rise to more than 130,000, or 1% of the area's 5 million customers.
Meanwhile, power was beginning to be restored Monday morning to about 355,000 customers in portions of 34 California counties where Pacific Gas and Electric Co. preemptively shut off power in central California. The company shut down power to about 1 million people in the Bay Area and surrounding counties as hurricane-force winds up to 89 mph swept through the region.
"In many areas, high winds and fire-critical weather will continue through Tuesday morning, so power restoration efforts cannot occur in those areas until the weather conditions improve and the fire danger subsides," PG&E said in a statement Monday afternoon.
The state of California is under a red flag warning through Tuesday with winds in some areas gusting above 70 mph and minimum daytime humidities as low as 4%, according to the National Weather Service.


upi--2020-10-26--Accessible healthcare could help slow climate change, reverse biodiversity losses

Oct. 26 ( UPI ) -- To protect forests and vulnerable ecosystems , erect healthcare clinics .
That 's what nonprofit organizers did in Indonesia , where deforestation rates in neighboring Gunung Palung National Park declined dramatically during the first 10 years of the clinic 's operation .
The affordable healthcare clinic was set up in 2007 by a pair of nonprofits , Alam Sehat Lestari and Health In Harmony .
Prior to the arrival of the clinic , the forests of Gunung Palung were shrinking annually as a result of uncontrolled illegal logging .
To curb the losses , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that enacted community-wide logging reductions and other conservation-minded reforms .
Researchers described the clinic 's environmental and public health successes in a new paper , published Monday in the journal PNAS .
`` This innovative model has clear global health implications , '' study co-author Michele Barry , senior associate dean of global health at Stanford University and director of the Center for Innovation in Global Health , said in a news release .
`` Health and climate can and should be addressed in unison , and done in coordination with and respect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to offering community-wide discounts pegged to reductions in logging , the clinic also provided healthcare services for barter , allowing villagers to pay with tree seedlings , handicrafts and labor .
Health data collected by the clinic revealed a significant drop in infectious and non-communicable diseases between 2007 and 2017 .
Satellite data showed that deforestation rates in the forests surrounding the clinic and villages receiving service declined 70 percent compared to control plots far from the clinic .
`` We did n't know what to expect when we started evaluating the program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were continually amazed that the data suggested such a strong link between improvements in health care access and tropical forest conservation , '' said lead study author Isabel Jones , recent recipient of a doctoral degree in biology from Stanford .
Researchers found that the biggest reductions in logging occurred surrounding the villages that used the healthcare clinic the most .
More than a third of protected forests around the globe are either owned , managed , used or occupied by indigenous groups and local communities , but conservation planning and regulatory decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The opposite was true in West Kalimantan , Indonesia , where nonprofit leaders met regularly with local villages to come up with a strategy for protecting the environment while also meeting the region 's public health needs .
Researchers suggest the clinic 's success can serve as a model for conservation and public health initiatives all over the world .
`` The data support two important conclusions : human health is integral to the conservation of nature and vice versa , and we need to listen to the guidance of rainforest communities who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with their forests , '' said Monica Nirmala , the executive director of the clinic from 2014 to 2018 and current board member of Health In Harmony .

A healthcare clinic in Indonesia was able to curb illegal logging by offering service discounts to villagers who participated in community-wide conservation efforts. Photo by Stephanie Gee
Oct. 26 (UPI) -- To protect forests and vulnerable ecosystems, erect healthcare clinics. That's what nonprofit organizers did in Indonesia, where deforestation rates in neighboring Gunung Palung National Park declined dramatically during the first 10 years of the clinic's operation. The affordable healthcare clinic was set up in 2007 by a pair of nonprofits, Alam Sehat Lestari and Health In Harmony. Prior to the arrival of the clinic, the forests of Gunung Palung were shrinking annually as a result of uncontrolled illegal logging. Advertisement
To curb the losses, the clinic offered discounted services to villages that enacted community-wide logging reductions and other conservation-minded reforms.
Researchers described the clinic's environmental and public health successes in a new paper, published Monday in the journal PNAS.
"This innovative model has clear global health implications," study co-author Michele Barry, senior associate dean of global health at Stanford University and director of the Center for Innovation in Global Health, said in a news release. "Health and climate can and should be addressed in unison, and done in coordination with and respect for local communities."
In addition to offering community-wide discounts pegged to reductions in logging, the clinic also provided healthcare services for barter, allowing villagers to pay with tree seedlings, handicrafts and labor.
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Health data collected by the clinic revealed a significant drop in infectious and non-communicable diseases between 2007 and 2017. Satellite data showed that deforestation rates in the forests surrounding the clinic and villages receiving service declined 70 percent compared to control plots far from the clinic.
"We didn't know what to expect when we started evaluating the program's health and conservation impacts, but were continually amazed that the data suggested such a strong link between improvements in health care access and tropical forest conservation," said lead study author Isabel Jones, recent recipient of a doctoral degree in biology from Stanford.
Researchers found that the biggest reductions in logging occurred surrounding the villages that used the healthcare clinic the most.
More than a third of protected forests around the globe are either owned, managed, used or occupied by indigenous groups and local communities, but conservation planning and regulatory decision rarely involves input from these communities.
The opposite was true in West Kalimantan, Indonesia, where nonprofit leaders met regularly with local villages to come up with a strategy for protecting the environment while also meeting the region's public health needs.
Researchers suggest the clinic's success can serve as a model for conservation and public health initiatives all over the world.
Advertisement
"The data support two important conclusions: human health is integral to the conservation of nature and vice versa, and we need to listen to the guidance of rainforest communities who know best how to live in balance with their forests," said Monica Nirmala, the executive director of the clinic from 2014 to 2018 and current board member of Health In Harmony.


upi--2020-10-26--Air Force's 421st Fighter Squadron returns to U.S. base

Oct. 26 ( UPI ) -- Hundreds of the U.S. Air Force 's 421st Fighter Squadron Airmen returned home Monday after deployment since May at a United Arab Emirates base .
The 421st Fighter Squadron departed Utah 's Hill Air Force Base on May 20 to the Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE to support Central Command in the region , the Air Force said .
The deployment included Airmen from the active duty 388th and Reserve 419th Fighter Wings , flying F-35A aircraft , into combat to support the United States in the Middle East , the Air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 421st FS used the F-35A on close air support missions , performed offensive and defensive counter-air , and enabled regional deterrence through participating in joint exercises with national partners in the Middle East , according to the Air Force .
`` We 're all proud of the job that the 421st FS has done and we 're excited to have them back home , '' Col. Steven Behmer , 388th Fighter Wing Commander , said in a statement .
`` They picked up right where our previously deployed squadrons left off .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ remain focused on providing F-35A combat capability . ''
The deployment marked the the third time in 16 months that F-35As from Hill AFB were called into support a combat mission .
The Airmen will quarantine for 14 days as a precaution against any potential spread of COVID-19 .
`` We 're extremely happy to welcome everyone home in time for the holiday season and look forward to seeing our folks reunited with their loved ones , '' Col. Matthew Fritz , 419th FW commander , said in the statement .
`` Deployments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our return deployers and their families deserve a pat on the back for a job well done . ''
The F-35A , which reached full warfighting capability at Hill AFB earlier this year , combines advanced stealth capabilities with the latest weapons technology , and the 388th and 419th are the first combat capable F-35A units , according to the Air Force .
The first operational F-35As arrived at Hill AFB in October 2015 , and the base now has 78 F-35As .

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Airmen returned home for the holidays after deployment in the United Arab Emirates. Photo by Ronald Bradshaw/U.S. Air Force
Oct. 26 (UPI) -- Hundreds of the U.S. Air Force's 421st Fighter Squadron Airmen returned home Monday after deployment since May at a United Arab Emirates base. The 421st Fighter Squadron departed Utah's Hill Air Force Base on May 20 to the Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE to support Central Command in the region, the Air Force said. Advertisement
The deployment included Airmen from the active duty 388th and Reserve 419th Fighter Wings, flying F-35A aircraft, into combat to support the United States in the Middle East, the Air Force announced.
During the deployment, the 421st FS used the F-35A on close air support missions, performed offensive and defensive counter-air, and enabled regional deterrence through participating in joint exercises with national partners in the Middle East, according to the Air Force.
"We're all proud of the job that the 421st FS has done and we're excited to have them back home," Col. Steven Behmer, 388th Fighter Wing Commander, said in a statement. "They picked up right where our previously deployed squadrons left off. We'll continue to train here and remain focused on providing F-35A combat capability."
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The deployment marked the the third time in 16 months that F-35As from Hill AFB were called into support a combat mission.
The Airmen will quarantine for 14 days as a precaution against any potential spread of COVID-19.
"We're extremely happy to welcome everyone home in time for the holiday season and look forward to seeing our folks reunited with their loved ones," Col. Matthew Fritz, 419th FW commander, said in the statement. "Deployments are always a challenge and each of our return deployers and their families deserve a pat on the back for a job well done."
The F-35A, which reached full warfighting capability at Hill AFB earlier this year, combines advanced stealth capabilities with the latest weapons technology, and the 388th and 419th are the first combat capable F-35A units, according to the Air Force.
The first operational F-35As arrived at Hill AFB in October 2015, and the base now has 78 F-35As.


upi--2020-10-26--Woman wins $2 million lottery jackpot on way home from voting

Oct. 26 ( UPI ) -- A South Carolina woman found participating in democracy to be extra rewarding when a @ @ @ @ @ from voting led to a $ 2 million lottery jackpot .
The Beaufort woman told @ @ @ @ @ she was on her way home from casting her vote when she decided to stop @ @ @ @ @ Beaufort for a drink and some lottery tickets .
The woman said she checked her @ @ @ @ @ day and showed it to her husband , thinking she had won $ 1,000 .
@ @ @ @ @ it 's more than that , '' the woman 's husband told her .
The @ @ @ @ @ 5-11-25-27-64 , turned out to be a $ 2 million winner .
The winner said @ @ @ @ @ to spend her money yet .
`` I 'm keeping it low-key , '' she @ @

A Beaufort, S.C., woman stopped at a gas station on her way home from voting and bought a Mega Millions ticket that earned her a $2 million jackpot. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Oct. 26 (UPI) -- A South Carolina woman found participating in democracy to be extra rewarding when a stop on her way home from voting led to a $2 million lottery jackpot. The Beaufort woman told South Carolina Education Lottery officials she was on her way home from casting her vote when she decided to stop at the Parkers store in Beaufort for a drink and some lottery tickets. Advertisement
The woman said she checked her Mega Millions ticket the next day and showed it to her husband, thinking she had won $1,000.
"No, I think it's more than that," the woman's husband told her.
The ticket, which matched numbers 5-11-25-27-64, turned out to be a $2 million winner.
The winner said she hasn't decided how to spend her money yet.
"I'm keeping it low-key," she said.


upi--2020-10-26--In Photos: Press preview for "About Time: Fashion and Duration"

“ About Time : Fashion and Duration considers the ephemeral nature of fashion , employing flashbacks and fast-forwards to reveal @ @ @ @ @ linear and cyclical , ” said Max Hollein , Director of The Met .
“ @ @ @ @ @ that presents a nuanced continuum of fashion over the Museum ’ s 150-year history.
” @ @ @ @

Anna Wintour (L) walks through fashion on display at a press preview for "About Time: Fashion and Duration" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City on October 26. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI


upi--2020-10-26--Watch: Lights in Hawaii sky believed to be from 12-year-old rocket booster

Oct. 26 ( UPI ) -- Experts said bright lights spotted in the sky over Hawaii were likely the remnants @ @ @ @ @ rocket launched 12 years ago .
John O'Meara , chief scientist of the W. M. @ @ @ @ @ said the lights spotted in the sky Saturday night likely were from the booster of @ @ @ @ @ 2008 .
Mary Beth Laychak , strategic communications director for the Canada France Hawaii Telescope @ @ @ @ @ the lights lines up with projections of the booster 's re-entry path .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ certain because we do n't have any of the pieces of the debris , '' @ @ @ @ @ But the pattern of the lights that we saw in our time lapse combined with @ @ @ @ @ This flight path and the precision at which all of these companies are able to @ @ @ @ @ enter and how they 'll break up is what really leads us to believe that @ @ @ @ @ the atmosphere , '' she said .

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Oct. 26 (UPI) -- Experts said bright lights spotted in the sky over Hawaii were likely the remnants of a booster from a rocket launched 12 years ago.
John O'Meara, chief scientist of the W. M. Keck Observatory in Waimea, said the lights spotted in the sky Saturday night likely were from the booster of a Chinese rocket launched in 2008.
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Mary Beth Laychak, strategic communications director for the Canada France Hawaii Telescope, said the appearance of the lights lines up with projections of the booster's re-entry path.
"We can't be 100% certain because we don't have any of the pieces of the debris," Laychak told KHON-TV. "But the pattern of the lights that we saw in our time lapse combined with this map."
"This flight path and the precision at which all of these companies are able to estimate where their objects will enter and how they'll break up is what really leads us to believe that this was this Venesat-1 re-entering the atmosphere," she said.


upi--2020-10-26--Trump administration announces new sanctions on Iranian oil industry

Oct. 26 ( UPI ) -- The Trump administration on Monday released a new round of sanctions against the Iranian oil industry , in a campaign to further tighten the economic screws on Iran .
The Department of the Treasury announced measures against the Iranian Ministry of Petroleum , the National Iranian Oil Company and the National Iranian Tanker Company and several senior executives .
The companies and ministry are `` front operations '' raising funds for Iran 's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad 's regime , the department said .
`` The regime in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the destabilizing activities of the [ Revolutionary Guard ] , '' said Steven Mnuchin , treasury secretary , in a statement .
`` The Iranian regime continues to prioritize its support for terrorist entities and its nuclear program over the needs of the Iranian people . ''
The Trump administration has complained about sales of 10 million barrels of Iranian crude oil to Assad 's government in 2019 .
The U.S. imposed sanctions in June on five ship captains for transporting 1.5 million barrels of Iranian gasoline and oil to Venezuela .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and executives in the updated sanction list connected to sale of gasoline to Syria .
Sanctions were also announced for four people involved in the Venezuela gasoline sale to the Nicolas Maduro regime in Venezuela .
The Trump administration is tightening sanctions on Iran in the hopes of bringing stronger limits on the country 's nuclear and ballistic missile programs , after Trump withdrew in 2018 from the landmark Obama-era Iranian nuclear accord , saying it was `` defective at its core . ''
Relations between the United States and Iran deteriorated further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Qasem Soleimani in January .
The Trump administration is also helping to build a coalition of Iran 's adversaries by brokering deals between Iran 's strongest enemy , Israel , and the United Arab Emirates , Bahrain and Sudan .
A week ago , Secretary of State Mike Pompeo threatened economic sanctions on any entity that sells weapons to Iran , after a United Nations Security Council 10-year arms embargo expired Oct. 18 .
`` For the past 10 years , countries have refrained from selling weapons to Iran under various U.N. measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Any country that now challenges this prohibition will be very clearly choosing to fuel conflict and tension over promoting peace and security . ''
Pompeo also announced sanctions against Iran 's defense ministry last month .
Iran 's president Hassan Rouhani has refused to negotiate on nuclear arms while U.S. sanctions remain in force .

The U.S. Treasury Department on Monday announced new sanctions on the Iranian oil industry, saying that Iran's oil ministry and certain oil and shipping companies are fronts that fund Iran's Revolutionary Guard. Photo courtesy of Iranian government by EPA/EFE
Oct. 26 (UPI) -- The Trump administration on Monday released a new round of sanctions against the Iranian oil industry, in a campaign to further tighten the economic screws on Iran. The Department of the Treasury announced measures against the Iranian Ministry of Petroleum, the National Iranian Oil Company and the National Iranian Tanker Company and several senior executives. The companies and ministry are "front operations" raising funds for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime, the department said. Advertisement
"The regime in Iran uses the petroleum sector to fund the destabilizing activities of the [Revolutionary Guard]," said Steven Mnuchin, treasury secretary, in a statement. "The Iranian regime continues to prioritize its support for terrorist entities and its nuclear program over the needs of the Iranian people."
The Trump administration has complained about sales of 10 million barrels of Iranian crude oil to Assad's government in 2019. The U.S. imposed sanctions in June on five ship captains for transporting 1.5 million barrels of Iranian gasoline and oil to Venezuela.
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The department designated multiple front companies, subsidiaries and executives in the updated sanction list connected to sale of gasoline to Syria. Sanctions were also announced for four people involved in the Venezuela gasoline sale to the Nicolas Maduro regime in Venezuela.
The Trump administration is tightening sanctions on Iran in the hopes of bringing stronger limits on the country's nuclear and ballistic missile programs, after Trump withdrew in 2018 from the landmark Obama-era Iranian nuclear accord, saying it was "defective at its core."
Relations between the United States and Iran deteriorated further when U.S. airstrikes killed top Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in January.
The Trump administration is also helping to build a coalition of Iran's adversaries by brokering deals between Iran's strongest enemy, Israel, and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Sudan.
A week ago, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo threatened economic sanctions on any entity that sells weapons to Iran, after a United Nations Security Council 10-year arms embargo expired Oct. 18.
"For the past 10 years, countries have refrained from selling weapons to Iran under various U.N. measures," Pompeo said last week. "Any country that now challenges this prohibition will be very clearly choosing to fuel conflict and tension over promoting peace and security."
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Pompeo also announced sanctions against Iran's defense ministry last month.
Iran's president Hassan Rouhani has refused to negotiate on nuclear arms while U.S. sanctions remain in force.


upi--2020-10-26--U.S. Forces Korea reports 13 new COVID-19 cases

Oct. 26 ( UPI ) -- United States Forces Korea said Monday that 13 service members have tested positive for COVID-19 .
The 13 service members tested positive after arriving in South Korea between Oct. 9 and Oct. 22 , according to USFK .
Eight arrived at Osan Air Base on U.S government chartered flights from the United States and five of them arrived on international commercial flights at Incheon International Airport .
All USFK-affiliate individuals arriving in South Korea from overseas undergo COVID-19 testing , quarantine for 14 days and must pass a second test with negative results before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control measures .
USFK health professionals said that contract tracing for the 13 service members recently diagnosed was limited since the service members were tested upon arrival and immediately quarantined .
Five of the 13 service members tested positive prior to entering quarantine and eight tested positive on a subsequent test while in quarantine , according to USFK .
USFK said all of them have since been transferred to an isolation facility for confirmed COVID-19 cases at Camp Humphreys with thorough cleaning of all transportation assets and quarantine rooms completed .
`` Despite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at high level of readiness with less than 1 % of its active duty service members currently confirmed positive with COVID-19 , '' USFK said Monday in a statement .
The U.S. Department of Defense has reported 80,100 cases of COVID-19 among military , civilian , dependent and contractor employees , including 1,641 hospitalizations and 104 deaths .
According to the Defense Department figures , 53,667 of the 80,100 infected have since recovered from the coronavirus .
In the military alone , there have been 54,681 cases , 736 hospitalized , 36,868 recovered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the same figures show .

South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo (L) and United States Forces Korea Commander Gen. Robert Abrams (R, front), salute their national flags at the 6th Korea-U.S. alliance forum at the defense ministry's convention center in Seoul, South Korea. File Photo by Yonhap South Korea/EPA-EFE
Oct. 26 (UPI) -- United States Forces Korea said Monday that 13 service members have tested positive for COVID-19. The 13 service members tested positive after arriving in South Korea between Oct. 9 and Oct. 22, according to USFK. Advertisement
Eight arrived at Osan Air Base on U.S government chartered flights from the United States and five of them arrived on international commercial flights at Incheon International Airport.
All USFK-affiliate individuals arriving in South Korea from overseas undergo COVID-19 testing, quarantine for 14 days and must pass a second test with negative results before leaving quarantine under the USFK COVID-19 prevention control measures.
USFK health professionals said that contract tracing for the 13 service members recently diagnosed was limited since the service members were tested upon arrival and immediately quarantined.
Five of the 13 service members tested positive prior to entering quarantine and eight tested positive on a subsequent test while in quarantine, according to USFK.
USFK said all of them have since been transferred to an isolation facility for confirmed COVID-19 cases at Camp Humphreys with thorough cleaning of all transportation assets and quarantine rooms completed.
Earlier this month, USFK confirmed 22 service members COVID-19 diagnosis after recently arriving.
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"Despite the recent confirmed cases, USFK remains at high level of readiness with less than 1% of its active duty service members currently confirmed positive with COVID-19," USFK said Monday in a statement.
The U.S. Department of Defense has reported 80,100 cases of COVID-19 among military, civilian, dependent and contractor employees, including 1,641 hospitalizations and 104 deaths.
According to the Defense Department figures, 53,667 of the 80,100 infected have since recovered from the coronavirus.
In the military alone, there have been 54,681 cases, 736 hospitalized, 36,868 recovered and eight deaths to date from COVID-19, the same figures show.


upi--2020-10-26--Watch: Man uses mouth to bounce table tennis ball off wall for Guinness record

Oct. 26 ( UPI ) -- An Idaho man broke a mouthful of a Guinness World Record when he used @ @ @ @ @ table tennis ball off a wall 43 times in 30 seconds .
David Rush , @ @ @ @ @ 150 Guinness records to promote STEM education , said he practiced on and off for @ @ @ @ @ the record at his Boise home .
Rush said his total was initially measured at @ @ @ @ @ , but slow-motion video showed the last bounce came in just after the time limit @ @ @ @ @ .
The bounces were enough to beat the previous record of 34 bounces , which @ @ @ @ @ British man Ray Reynolds .

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Oct. 26 (UPI) -- An Idaho man broke a mouthful of a Guinness World Record when he used his mouth to bounce a table tennis ball off a wall 43 times in 30 seconds.
David Rush, who has broken more than 150 Guinness records to promote STEM education, said he practiced on and off for about a year before attempting the record at his Boise home.
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Rush said his total was initially measured at 44 bounces in 30 seconds, but slow-motion video showed the last bounce came in just after the time limit, making his total 43.
The bounces were enough to beat the previous record of 34 bounces, which was set in 2018 by British man Ray Reynolds.


upi--2020-10-26--Russian airstrikes kill 78 Turkish-backed military recruits in Syrian camp

Oct. 26 ( UPI ) -- Russian airstrikes killed at least 78 Turkish-backed recruits at a Syrian training camp and injured possibly 90 more , the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Monday .
Russian missiles targeted a camp of al-Sham Corps in the rebel-held region of Jabal al-Dawila in Harem , northwest of Idlib , the agency said .
Thousands of residents of the city of Idlib took to the streets to mourn the recruits , who were finishing military training this week .
The al-Sham Corps are a Sunni Islamist rebel military unit supported by Turkey .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ rise quickly due to the high number of injuries , '' Mustafa al-Haj Youssef , director of White Helmets civil defense group in Idlib told Al Jazeera .
A fragile Russia-Turkey truce in January in Syria based in rebel-backed Idlib has been marred by attacks on civilians .
Russia , allied with the Syrian government , has been criticized for civilian attacks in and around Idlib in disputed zones in the northwest part of the country , including at least 46 air and ground attacks that were determined to have damaged `` civilian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least 224 people , injuring more than 500 , according to Human Rights Watch .
More recently , Russia has criticized the Turkish government for sending 1,000 Syrian jihadist recruits , trained by a-Sham and working for a private Turkish security firm , to the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region between Russian supported Armenia and Turkish-backed Azerbaijan .

Russian airstrikes killed 78 al-Sham military recruits at a Turkish-supported training camp in the rebel-held region of northwest Syria near Idlib, human rights groups reported. File Photo by Yahya Nemah/ EPA-EFE
Oct. 26 (UPI) -- Russian airstrikes killed at least 78 Turkish-backed recruits at a Syrian training camp and injured possibly 90 more, the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Monday. Russian missiles targeted a camp of al-Sham Corps in the rebel-held region of Jabal al-Dawila in Harem, northwest of Idlib, the agency said. Advertisement
Thousands of residents of the city of Idlib took to the streets to mourn the recruits, who were finishing military training this week.
The al-Sham Corps are a Sunni Islamist rebel military unit supported by Turkey.
"The death toll is expected to rise quickly due to the high number of injuries," Mustafa al-Haj Youssef, director of White Helmets civil defense group in Idlib told Al Jazeera.
A fragile Russia-Turkey truce in January in Syria based in rebel-backed Idlib has been marred by attacks on civilians.
Russia, allied with the Syrian government, has been criticized for civilian attacks in and around Idlib in disputed zones in the northwest part of the country, including at least 46 air and ground attacks that were determined to have damaged "civilian objects and infrastructure," and killed at least 224 people, injuring more than 500, according to Human Rights Watch.
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More recently, Russia has criticized the Turkish government for sending 1,000 Syrian jihadist recruits, trained by a-Sham and working for a private Turkish security firm, to the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region between Russian supported Armenia and Turkish-backed Azerbaijan.


upi--2020-10-26--Study: 'Kid influencers' promoting food brands online tout unhealthy choices

Oct. 26 ( UPI ) -- Nearly half of all `` kid influencers '' on YouTube promote food and beverage products , and more than 90 % of them are for unhealthy or fast-food brands , according to an analysis published Monday by the journal Pediatrics .
Three percent of videos produced by these influencers featured `` healthy unbranded items , '' such as fruit , while 2 % promoted `` healthy branded items , '' including Yoplait yogurt , the researchers said .
Among the most promoted unhealthy food brands were fast-food chain McDonald 's , and candy manufacturers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found that kid influencers as young as age 3 years are promoting a lot of fast food , candy , sugary drinks and other unhealthy products in their YouTube videos , and that these videos ... were viewed more than 1 billion times , '' study co-author Marie Bragg told UPI .
`` So what we 're learning is that junk food is n't just being promoted to children on TV , [ and that ] kid influencers , like the ones in our study , are including hundreds of product placements for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' said Bragg , an assistant professor of public health nutrition at New York University 's School of Global Public Health .
The product placements in these videos may seem innocent , by depicting a kid influencer eating food from McDonald 's and playing with a toy from a Happy Meal or opening a Kinder egg to find a toy inside , according to Bragg .
Previous research has shown that exposure to food ads leads kids to overeat -- so this new form of advertising could be very problematic for children 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beverage companies spend $ 1.8 billion dollars annually marketing their products to young people .
Although television advertising is a major source of food marketing , companies have recently increased their online advertising in response to consumers ' growing social media use , the researchers said .
YouTube is the second-most-visited website in the world and research as shown it is a popular destination for kids seeking entertainment .
More than 80 % of parents with a child 12 or younger allow their youngsters to watch YouTube , and 35 % of parents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to Bragg and her colleagues .
When finding videos for young children to watch , millions of parents turn to videos of `` kid influencers , '' or children whose parents film them doing activities such as science experiments , playing with toys or celebrating their birthdays .
The growing popularity of these YouTube videos has caught the attention of advertisers that sponsor posts to promote their products before or during videos , researchers said .
In fact , the highest-paid YouTube influencer over the past two years was an 8-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For this study , the NYU-based researchers identified the five most popular kid influencers on YouTube in 2019 and analyzed their most-watched videos .
The kid influencers ranged in age from three to 14 years , the researchers said .
Focusing on a sample of 418 YouTube videos , Bragg and her colleagues recorded whether food or drinks were shown , what items and brands were featured and assessed their nutritional quality .
Just under 43 % of the most-popular videos from kid influencers promoted food and drinks , the researchers found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ products shown were `` unhealthy branded food , drinks or fast food toys , '' with fast food as the most frequently featured junk food , followed by candy and soda , they said .
In addition to McDonald 's and the candy brands , M & M , Skittles , Oreo cookies and Coca-Cola were among the most promoted products .
While the researchers do not know which food and drink product placements were paid endorsements , they said they consider these videos problematic for public health because they enable food companies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children .
The videos that featured junk food product placements were viewed more than 1 billion times , the researchers said .
Advertising regulations on the internet `` are way behind the times when compared to ad regulations that apply to school settings , outdoor areas or TV , '' Bragg told UPI .
Updated regulations should prohibit `` host-selling , '' where the main character of the YouTube video is the person selling the content , and require influencers to disclose paid sponsorships , she said .
`` Parents can limit screen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] parental control settings ... to block access to YouTube , '' Bragg said , `` but for the sake of children 's health , we have to find a way to prevent the onslaught of junk food that 's streaming online . ''

"Kid influencers" are touting unhealthy food brands online, a new analysis has found, and researchers are concerned about its effects on their fans -- other children. Photo by expresswriters/Pixabay
Oct. 26 (UPI) -- Nearly half of all "kid influencers" on YouTube promote food and beverage products, and more than 90% of them are for unhealthy or fast-food brands, according to an analysis published Monday by the journal Pediatrics. Three percent of videos produced by these influencers featured "healthy unbranded items," such as fruit, while 2% promoted "healthy branded items," including Yoplait yogurt, the researchers said. Advertisement
Among the most promoted unhealthy food brands were fast-food chain McDonald's, and candy manufacturers Hershey's and Kinder.
"We found that kid influencers as young as age 3 years are promoting a lot of fast food, candy, sugary drinks and other unhealthy products in their YouTube videos, and that these videos ... were viewed more than 1 billion times," study co-author Marie Bragg told UPI.
"So what we're learning is that junk food isn't just being promoted to children on TV, [and that] kid influencers, like the ones in our study, are including hundreds of product placements for junk food in their YouTube videos," said Bragg, an assistant professor of public health nutrition at New York University's School of Global Public Health.
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The product placements in these videos may seem innocent, by depicting a kid influencer eating food from McDonald's and playing with a toy from a Happy Meal or opening a Kinder egg to find a toy inside, according to Bragg.
Previous research has shown that exposure to food ads leads kids to overeat -- so this new form of advertising could be very problematic for children's health, she said.
Food and beverage companies spend $1.8 billion dollars annually marketing their products to young people. Although television advertising is a major source of food marketing, companies have recently increased their online advertising in response to consumers' growing social media use, the researchers said.
YouTube is the second-most-visited website in the world and research as shown it is a popular destination for kids seeking entertainment.
More than 80% of parents with a child 12 or younger allow their youngsters to watch YouTube, and 35% of parents report that their children watch YouTube regularly, according to Bragg and her colleagues.
When finding videos for young children to watch, millions of parents turn to videos of "kid influencers," or children whose parents film them doing activities such as science experiments, playing with toys or celebrating their birthdays.
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The growing popularity of these YouTube videos has caught the attention of advertisers that sponsor posts to promote their products before or during videos, researchers said.
In fact, the highest-paid YouTube influencer over the past two years was an 8-year-old who earned $26 million in 2019.
For this study, the NYU-based researchers identified the five most popular kid influencers on YouTube in 2019 and analyzed their most-watched videos.
The kid influencers ranged in age from three to 14 years, the researchers said.
Focusing on a sample of 418 YouTube videos, Bragg and her colleagues recorded whether food or drinks were shown, what items and brands were featured and assessed their nutritional quality.
Just under 43% of the most-popular videos from kid influencers promoted food and drinks, the researchers found.
More than 90% of the products shown were "unhealthy branded food, drinks or fast food toys," with fast food as the most frequently featured junk food, followed by candy and soda, they said.
In addition to McDonald's and the candy brands, M&M, Skittles, Oreo cookies and Coca-Cola were among the most promoted products.
While the researchers do not know which food and drink product placements were paid endorsements, they said they consider these videos problematic for public health because they enable food companies to directly promote unhealthy foods to young children.
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The videos that featured junk food product placements were viewed more than 1 billion times, the researchers said.
Advertising regulations on the internet "are way behind the times when compared to ad regulations that apply to school settings, outdoor areas or TV," Bragg told UPI.
Updated regulations should prohibit "host-selling," where the main character of the YouTube video is the person selling the content, and require influencers to disclose paid sponsorships, she said.
"Parents can limit screen time for their children [or use] parental control settings ... to block access to YouTube," Bragg said, "but for the sake of children's health, we have to find a way to prevent the onslaught of junk food that's streaming online."


upi--2020-10-26--Watch: Steam shovel retrieved after being submerged in lake for 95 years

Oct. 26 ( UPI ) -- A steam shovel that had been submerged in a Michigan lake for nearly a century has been returned to dry land and is being restored .
Mike Oberloier said he dreamed of removing the steam shovel from the bottom of Wixom Lake since his father first told him about the artifact about 50 years ago .
`` You know , I was 11 years old when we were in a boat looking for this .
So , it 's been 45 years for me , '' he told WNEM-TV .
Oberloier and a team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the steam shovel from the lake Saturday .
It had been used to construct the Edenville Dam in the 1920s and was submerged in the lake for 95 years .
Oberloier finally received his opportunity to see his dream fulfilled when the dam failed in May , causing the lake to drain .
He said the steam shovel 's engines are in good enough condition to restore , and he is beginning work on the project .
`` It 's going to the Midland Antique Engine Association , and it 'll be put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out and see it , '' he said .
`` My hopes and dreams are to make it dig again . ''

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Oct. 26 (UPI) -- A steam shovel that had been submerged in a Michigan lake for nearly a century has been returned to dry land and is being restored.
Mike Oberloier said he dreamed of removing the steam shovel from the bottom of Wixom Lake since his father first told him about the artifact about 50 years ago.
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"You know, I was 11 years old when we were in a boat looking for this. So, it's been 45 years for me," he told WNEM-TV.
Oberloier and a team of volunteers removed the last pieces of the steam shovel from the lake Saturday. It had been used to construct the Edenville Dam in the 1920s and was submerged in the lake for 95 years.
Oberloier finally received his opportunity to see his dream fulfilled when the dam failed in May, causing the lake to drain.
He said the steam shovel's engines are in good enough condition to restore, and he is beginning work on the project.
"It's going to the Midland Antique Engine Association, and it'll be put on display there where everybody can come out and see it," he said. "My hopes and dreams are to make it dig again."


upi--2020-10-26--China sanctions U.S. defense contractors over $1.8B in U.S.-Taiwan arms deals

Oct. 26 ( UPI ) -- China said Monday it will sanction three U.S. defense contractors over $ 1.8 billion in potential Taiwan arms sales , including missiles that can strike the mainland .
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said Monday that Beijing will impose sanctions against Boeing 's defense division , Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Technologies , along with other U.S. entities involved in the $ 1.8 billion arms deal .
Lijian added during a press conference that the three U.S. defense contractors and other individuals and entities that `` played a bad role '' in the arms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order to safeguard national interests , China decided to impose sanctions on the American companies that were involved in arms sales to Tawian , '' Zhao told reporters .
The U.S. State Department approved two arms deals last week to potentially sell 135 Boeing-made missiles , Lockheed Martin-made rocket launchers , and surveillance and reconnaissance sensors from Raytheon Technologies to Taiwan .
Taiwan has been governed independently from China since 1949 , but Beijing still views the island as part of its territory , according to the Council on Foreign Relations .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Taiwan over Chinese objections , escalating tensions with Beijing .
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency said the acquisition would serve Taiwan `` as a deterrent to regional threats and to strengthen homeland defense . ''
Beijing previously said it would sanction Lockheed Martin over its role in a $ 620 million deal in July that would allow Taiwan to upgrade its Patriot missile defenses .

China said Monday it will sanction three U.S. defense contractors for participating in a $1.8 billion sale of weapons -- including -- M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, pictured -- by the United States to Taiwan. File Photo by Charles Rosemond/U.S. Army
Oct. 26 (UPI) -- China said Monday it will sanction three U.S. defense contractors over $1.8 billion in potential Taiwan arms sales, including missiles that can strike the mainland. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said Monday that Beijing will impose sanctions against Boeing's defense division, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Technologies, along with other U.S. entities involved in the $1.8 billion arms deal. Advertisement
Lijian added during a press conference that the three U.S. defense contractors and other individuals and entities that "played a bad role" in the arms deal would be punished.
"In order to safeguard national interests, China decided to impose sanctions on the American companies that were involved in arms sales to Tawian," Zhao told reporters.
The U.S. State Department approved two arms deals last week to potentially sell 135 Boeing-made missiles, Lockheed Martin-made rocket launchers, and surveillance and reconnaissance sensors from Raytheon Technologies to Taiwan.
Taiwan has been governed independently from China since 1949, but Beijing still views the island as part of its territory, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. The Trump administration has boosted military support of Taiwan over Chinese objections, escalating tensions with Beijing.
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The Defense Security Cooperation Agency said the acquisition would serve Taiwan "as a deterrent to regional threats and to strengthen homeland defense."
Beijing previously said it would sanction Lockheed Martin over its role in a $620 million deal in July that would allow Taiwan to upgrade its Patriot missile defenses.