upi--2020-09-04--Haishen becomes 1st super typhoon of 2020 on trek towards Japan, South Korea

Sept. 4 ( UPI ) -- Typhoon Haishen is strengthening and , according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center , has become the first super typhoon of the season in the western Pacific Ocean .
It comes right on the heels of Typhoon Maysak , which made landfall in South Korea early Thursday .
The Korean Peninsula is bracing for its third significant typhoon strike within a week 's time following Maysak and Typhoon Bavi , which made landfall in North Korea on Aug. 27 .
Residents still recovering from those two powerful storms will have little time to prepare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of light wind shear and very warm ocean waters , Haishen has surpassed Maysak as the strongest storm in the West Pacific so far this season .
The super typhoon was packing 10-minute sustained winds of 115 mph as of Friday night .
This is equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale .
`` Haishen could follow right behind Maysak and aim for southern Japan and the Korean Peninsula as early as this weekend , bringing a second dose of tropical impacts , '' explained AccuWeather lead international meteorologist Jason @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be particularly devastating for some parts of southern Japan and South Korea as two strong typhoons , both the equivalent of major hurricanes in the Atlantic , could strike in almost the same spot in less than a week , '' AccuWeather meteorologist Jake Sojda warned .
`` Any building or infrastructure that is weakened or sustained minor damage from Maysak could then be taken out by Haishen .
There simply will not be enough time to repair and reinforce things , '' Sojda added .
Areas expected to be at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the northern Ryukyu Islands and southern Kyushu in Japan into southern and eastern South Korea .
On Thursday , Japanese officials told residents to brace for impacts from the storm , urging many to evacuate their homes , reported the Japan Times .
`` People in affected areas should not hesitate to evacuate their homes and find shelter , even though they may be worried about becoming infected with the new coronavirus , '' the official said .
These areas could go through devastating impacts in terms of widespread power outages , flooding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Because of these anticipated impacts , Haishen is expected to be a 4 on the AccuWeather RealImpact Scale for Tropical Cyclones in Japan and a 4 in South Korea .
The RealImpact Scale is a six-point scale with ratings of less-than-1 and 1 to 5 .
In comparison to the Saffir-Simpson scale , which has been used by meteorologists for decades and classifies storms by wind speed only , the AccuWeather RealImpact Scale is based on a broad range of important factors .
The scale covers not only wind speed , but also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ damage and loss .
This communicates a more comprehensive representation of the potential impact of a storm to lives and livelihoods .
Meteorologist Robert Speta , a Western Pacific weather expert , stated that Typhoon Haishen could rival Hurricane Laura , a storm that made landfall along the Louisiana coast in August , as the strongest storm on the planet in 2020 .
Haishen is expected to be the equivalent strength to that of a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Wind Scale while crossing southern Japan and a Category 3 equivalent typhoon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wind gusts in excess of 100 mph are expected in both of these areas .
An AccuWeather Local StormMax wind gust of 150 mph is possible and most likely across the northern Ryukyu Islands or the southern coast of Kyushu , dependent on the final track of Haishen .
In addition to becoming the strongest typhoon so far this year , Haishen is forecast to become the fifth named tropical system to make landfall in South Korea in 2020 .
Should this happen , the five landfalls would break the record number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year .
According to Nicholls , Haishen would also be the fourth tropical system to impact the Korean Peninsula in the past 30 days .
Widespread heavy rain will also fall across southern Japan , the Korean Peninsula and northeastern China .
Rainfall from Haishen , in addition to the recent heavy rain from Maysak , could lead to significant and widespread flooding .
Many areas along the path of the storm are expected to receive 4 inches to 8 inches of rain .
An AccuWeather Local StormMax of 16 inches is possible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ North Korea and China could lead to significant agricultural impacts and crop loss .
North Korea is a country that relies heavily on agriculture , so the threat for widespread flooding may put a strain on the country 's food supply .

Typhoon Haishen is the strongest typhoon of the 2020 season. Photo courtesy of the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere
Sept. 5 (UPI) -- Typhoon Haishen, the season's first super typhoon, bore down on Japan and South Korea on Saturday. Haishen became the first super typhoon of the season in the western Pacific Ocean late this past week, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Despite losing some wind intensity and no longer holding that status, Haishen remains a powerful and dangerous typhoon as it nears land. Advertisement
The Korean Peninsula is bracing for its third significant typhoon strike within a week's time following Maysak and Typhoon Bavi, which made landfall in North Korea on Aug. 27. Residents still recovering from those two powerful storms will have little time to prepare for Haishen.
As of Saturday night, typhoon warnings were in place across the Ryukyu Islands and southwestern Kyushu as Haishen began to move over the region.
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Minamidaitojima, a small island in southern Japan, spent much of Saturday and Saturday night in the eye wall of Haishen and reported a wind gust of 115 mph.
As of Saturday evening, local time, thousands of residents are without power across mainland Japan ahead of the arrival of the main impacts from Haishen.
On Thursday, Japanese officials told residents to brace for impacts from the storm, urging many to evacuate their homes, reported the Japan Times.
"People in affected areas should not hesitate to evacuate their homes and find shelter, even though they may be worried about becoming infected with the new coronavirus," the official said.
Ahead of the arrival of Typhoon Haishen, the search and rescue mission for missing sailors in the East China Sea has been temporarily suspended. Dozens of sailors have been missing since the middle of last week after a cargo ship carrying cattle capsized in the rough surf from Typhoon Maysak.
Tracking in an area of light wind shear and very warm ocean waters, Haishen surpassed Maysak as the strongest storm in the West Pacific so far this season. The former super typhoon was packing 10-minute sustained winds of 115 mph as of Saturday afternoon. This is equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Wind Scale.
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Haishen is following right behind Maysak, bringing a second dose of tropical impacts to southern Japan and the Korean Peninsula," explained AccuWeather Lead International Meteorologist Jason Nicholls.
"This has the potential to be particularly devastating for some parts of southern Japan and South Korea as two strong typhoons, both the equivalent of major hurricanes in the Atlantic, could strike in almost the same spot in less than a week," AccuWeather meteorologist Jake Sojda warned.
"Any building or infrastructure that is weakened or sustained minor damage from Maysak could then be taken out by Haishen. There simply will not be enough time to repair and reinforce things," Sojda added.
Areas expected to be at the greatest risk from Haishen will be from the northern Ryukyu Islands and southern Kyushu in Japan into southern and eastern South Korea.
On Thursday, Japanese officials told residents to brace for impacts from the storm, urging many to evacuate their homes, reported the Japan Times.
"People in affected areas should not hesitate to evacuate their homes and find shelter, even though they may be worried about becoming infected with the new coronavirus," the official said.
These areas could go through devastating impacts in terms of widespread power outages, flooding, mudslides and extensive wind damage.
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Haishen is expected to remain a powerful typhoon as it continues to cross southern Japan and eventually makes landfall in South Korea. Wind gusts in excess of 160 km/h (100 mph) are expected in both of these areas.
An AccuWeather Local StormMax wind gust of 150 mph is possible and most likely across the northern Ryukyu Islands or the southern coast of Kyushu, dependent on the final track of Haishen.
Widespread heavy rain will also fall across southern Japan, the Korean Peninsula and northeastern China. Rainfall from Haishen, in addition to the recent heavy rain from Maysak, could lead to significant and widespread flooding.
Many areas along the path of the storm are expected to receive 4 inches to 8 inches of rain. An AccuWeather Local StormMax of 16 inches is possible across southern Japan.
Coastal surge will exacerbate flooding across parts of Japan and South Korea. Busan, a port city along the southern coast of the Korean Peninsula, has been hit hard by flooding this year. If the track of Haishen wobbles farther west, strong onshore winds and heavy rain can once help floodwaters inundate the city.
Because of these anticipated impacts, Haishen is expected to be a 4 on the AccuWeather RealImpact™ Scale for Tropical Cyclones in Japan and a 4 in South Korea. The RealImpact™ Scale is a six-point scale with ratings of less-than-1 and 1 to 5.
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In comparison to the Saffir-Simpson Wind Scale, which has been used by meteorologists for decades and classifies storms by wind speed only, the AccuWeather RealImpact™ Scale is based on a broad range of important factors. The scale covers not only wind speed, but also flooding rain, storm surge and economic damage and loss. This communicates a more comprehensive representation of the potential impact of a storm to lives and livelihoods.
Widespread flooding across North Korea and China could lead to significant agricultural impacts and crop loss as the storm eyes these regions into the beginning of the week.
North Korea is a country that relies heavily on agriculture, so the threat for widespread flooding may put a strain on the country's food supply.
The West Pacific tropical season was suspiciously quiet earlier this summer, but has turned active and even record breaking through August and the beginning of September.
Meteorologist Robert Speta, a Western Pacific weather expert, stated that Typhoon Haishen could rival Hurricane Laura, a storm that made landfall along the Louisiana coast in August, as the strongest storm on the planet in 2020 so far.
In addition to becoming the strongest typhoon so far this year, Haishen is forecast to become the fifth named tropical system to make landfall in South Korea in 2020. Should this happen, the five landfalls would break the record number of landfalls in the country in a single year.
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According to Nicholls, Haishen would also be the fourth tropical system to impact the Korean Peninsula in the past 30 days, with each system stronger than the last.


upi--2020-09-04--Clippers' Montrezl Harrell wins NBA's Sixth Man of the Year Award

Sept. 4 ( UPI ) -- Los Angeles Clippers reserve forward Montrezl Harrell has won the NBA 's 2019-20 Sixth Man of the Year Award .
Harrell garnered 58 first-place votes and a total of 397 points to edge Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dennis Schroder ( 328 points ) for the award .
Schroder received 35 first-place votes .
Clippers teammate Lou Williams received the remaining seven first-place votes and 127 points to finish third in voting .
Detroit Pistons big man Christian Wood ( fourth ) , Milwaukee Bucks guard George Hill ( fifth ) , Miami Heat guard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guard Derrick Rose ( seventh ) Washington Wizards power forward Davis Bertans ( eighth ) and Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard ( ninth ) also received votes .
It marks the third consecutive year that a Clippers player has captured the award .
Williams won the award in each of the past two seasons .
The Clippers now have had the Sixth Man of the Year winner in five of the last seven years .
Williams surprised Harrell by presenting him with the trophy at a team meeting Friday .
`` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ losing her this year , it 's still tough every day , '' Harrell told his teammates .
`` This is a tremendous honor .
I thank all you guys , especially [ Clippers ] coach [ Doc Rivers ] .
Since I came here -- giving me this opportunity -- I 've grown with you guys , especially Pat [ Beverley ] and Lou .
Been around you guys since coming into this league .
`` This is really for you guys .
I just want to say thank you . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 18.6 ) and rebounds ( 7.1 ) per game this season , his fifth with the Clippers .

Los Angeles Clippers forward Montrezl Harrell (R) averaged career highs of 18.6 points and 7.1 rebounds this season. File Photo by Jon SooHoo/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 4 (UPI) -- Los Angeles Clippers reserve forward Montrezl Harrell has won the NBA's 2019-20 Sixth Man of the Year Award. Harrell garnered 58 first-place votes and a total of 397 points to edge Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dennis Schroder (328 points) for the award. Schroder received 35 first-place votes. Advertisement
Clippers teammate Lou Williams received the remaining seven first-place votes and 127 points to finish third in voting. Detroit Pistons big man Christian Wood (fourth), Milwaukee Bucks guard George Hill (fifth), Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic (sixth), Pistons guard Derrick Rose (seventh) Washington Wizards power forward Davis Bertans (eighth) and Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard (ninth) also received votes.
It marks the third consecutive year that a Clippers player has captured the award. Williams won the award in each of the past two seasons. The Clippers now have had the Sixth Man of the Year winner in five of the last seven years.
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Williams surprised Harrell by presenting him with the trophy at a team meeting Friday.
"I had this talk with my grandmother and losing her this year, it's still tough every day," Harrell told his teammates. "This is a tremendous honor. I thank all you guys, especially [Clippers] coach [Doc Rivers]. Since I came here -- giving me this opportunity -- I've grown with you guys, especially Pat [Beverley] and Lou. Been around you guys since coming into this league.
"This is really for you guys. I just want to say thank you."
From one sixth man to another.@TeamLou23 surprises @MONSTATREZZ with the 2019-20 Sixth Man of the Year trophy. pic.twitter.com/waxEE0FtIe— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) September 4, 2020
Harrell averaged career highs in points (18.6) and rebounds (7.1) per game this season, his fifth with the Clippers.


upi--2020-09-04--Mississippi judge dismisses murder charges against Curtis Flowers

Sept. 4 ( UPI ) -- A Mississippi judge on Friday dropped charges against a man tried six times for the deaths of four people nearly a quarter century ago .
Curtis Flowers , 50 , spent nearly 23 years in prison for the slayings at a furniture store in Winona , Miss .
He was released on bail in December ahead of what was expected to be his seventh trial .
`` Today , I am finally free from the injustice that left me locked in a box for nearly 23 years , '' Flowers said in a statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ever thought this day would come .
I have been blessed with a family that never gave up on me and with them by my side , I knew it would . ''
District Attorney Doug Evans , lead prosecutor in his first six cases -- two of which resulted in hung juries and the rest overturned due to prosecutorial misconduct -- recused himself from the case in January .
The case was transferred to the Mississippi attorney general 's office .
Attorney General Lynn Fitch filed a motion to dismiss the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there was no one alive who could testify today without previous conflicting statements on the record .
`` As the court noted at the bail review hearing , the only witness who offered direct evidence of guilt recanted his prior testimony , admitting that he was lying when he said Mr .
Flowers made a jailhouse confession to the murders , '' the motion read .
She said there were also multiple alternative suspects who had violent criminal histories as well as other evidence not considered .
`` The case against Curtis Flowers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' attorney , Rob McDuff of the Mississippi Center for Justice .
`` He was 26 years old with no criminal record and nothing in his history to suggest he would commit a crime like this .
`` As time went by , even more evidence emerged to corroborate his innocence .
This prosecution was flawed from the beginning and was tainted throughout by racial discrimination .
It should never have occurred and lasted far too long , but we are glad it is finally over . ''
Bertha Tardy , the owner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Robert Golden , Carmen Rigby and Derrick `` Bobo '' Stewart , were found dead at the store July 16 , 1996 .
Flowers became a suspect after police learned he had been fired from the store two weeks earlier .

Curtis Flowers spend 23 years in prison for the slayings of four people, charges for which have been dropped. File Photo courtesy Mississippi Department of Corrections
Sept. 4 (UPI) -- A Mississippi judge on Friday dropped charges against a man tried six times for the deaths of four people nearly a quarter century ago. Curtis Flowers, 50, spent nearly 23 years in prison for the slayings at a furniture store in Winona, Miss. He was released on bail in December ahead of what was expected to be his seventh trial. Advertisement
"Today, I am finally free from the injustice that left me locked in a box for nearly 23 years," Flowers said in a statement. "I've been asked if I ever thought this day would come. I have been blessed with a family that never gave up on me and with them by my side, I knew it would."
District Attorney Doug Evans, lead prosecutor in his first six cases -- two of which resulted in hung juries and the rest overturned due to prosecutorial misconduct -- recused himself from the case in January. The case was transferred to the Mississippi attorney general's office.
Attorney General Lynn Fitch filed a motion to dismiss the charges after reviewing the case, saying there was no one alive who could testify today without previous conflicting statements on the record.
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"As the court noted at the bail review hearing, the only witness who offered direct evidence of guilt recanted his prior testimony, admitting that he was lying when he said Mr. Flowers made a jailhouse confession to the murders," the motion read.
She said there were also multiple alternative suspects who had violent criminal histories as well as other evidence not considered.
"The case against Curtis Flowers never made sense," said Flowers' attorney, Rob McDuff of the Mississippi Center for Justice. "He was 26 years old with no criminal record and nothing in his history to suggest he would commit a crime like this.
"As time went by, even more evidence emerged to corroborate his innocence. This prosecution was flawed from the beginning and was tainted throughout by racial discrimination. It should never have occurred and lasted far too long, but we are glad it is finally over."
Bertha Tardy, the owner of Tardy Furniture, and three employees, Robert Golden, Carmen Rigby and Derrick "Bobo" Stewart, were found dead at the store July 16, 1996. Flowers became a suspect after police learned he had been fired from the store two weeks earlier.


upi--2020-09-04--Lionel Messi says he will remain at Barcelona: 'It was a tough decision'

Sept. 4 ( UPI ) -- Barcelona star Lionel Messi , widely considered one of the top players in soccer history , said he will remain with the La Liga club after failing to void his contract .
Messi 's decision -- announced in a video interview published Friday by Goal.com -- comes after days of speculation triggered by the Argentine star 's attempt to rescind his contract Aug. 25 .
Messi and his representatives believed a clause in his pact should have allowed him to leave Barcelona for free this summer .
Barcelona believed that clause had expired and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a standoff between the two sides .
La Liga heavily supported Barca 's position , saying it would not process Messi 's transfer unless his release clause was paid .
`` I would never take the club I have played my entire life for to court , and that is why I am staying in Barcelona , '' Messi said .
`` It was a tough decision .
I always said I wanted to end my career here and I do .
`` ...
I thought and was sure that I was free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ Josep Maria Bartomeu ] always said that at the end of the season I could decide if I stayed or not .
Now they cling to the fact that I did not say it before June 10 , when it turns out that on June 10 we were competing for La Liga in the middle of this awful coronavirus and this disease altered all the season .
`` And this is the reason why I am going to continue in the club .
Now I am going to continue in the club @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only way to leave was to pay the [ about $ 823 million ] clause , which is impossible . ''
The 33-year-old Messi , whose contract expires in 2021 , could still decide to backtrack and leave the club , but other teams would have to pay his expensive release clause .
For now , Messi will rejoin his teammates as they try to rebound from a trophy-less 2019-20 season that saw them finish second in La Liga behind Real Madrid .
Barcelona also suffered an 8-2 blowout loss to Bayern Munich @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It does n't come from the Bayern result , it comes from many things , '' Messi said about why he initially wanted to leave .
`` I always said I wanted to end my career here , and I always said I wanted to stay here .
I wanted a winning project and to win trophies with the club .
`` ...
The truth is that for a while there has n't been a project or anything , they 've been juggling things and plugging holes as things happen .
I 've @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family and the club . ''
Messi reportedly attracted interest from several major clubs , including Manchester City , Paris Saint-Germain , Inter Milan and Juventus after speculation emerged about his future .
Those teams now must wait until the expiration of his contract next year or pay Messi 's expensive transfer fee .
Messi , a six-time Ballon d'Or winner , made his league debut for Barcelona in 2004 .
During his time with the club , he has helped Barca win 10 league titles and four Champions League trophies .

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi, a six-time Ballon d'Or winner, made his league debut for Barcelona in 2004. File Photo by Alberto Estevez/EPA-EFE
Sept. 4 (UPI) -- Barcelona star Lionel Messi, widely considered one of the top players in soccer history, said he will remain with the La Liga club after failing to void his contract. Messi's decision -- announced in a video interview published Friday by Goal.com -- comes after days of speculation triggered by the Argentine star's attempt to rescind his contract Aug. 25. Messi and his representatives believed a clause in his pact should have allowed him to leave Barcelona for free this summer. Advertisement
Barcelona believed that clause had expired and could no longer be exercised, sparking a standoff between the two sides. La Liga heavily supported Barca's position, saying it would not process Messi's transfer unless his release clause was paid.
"I would never take the club I have played my entire life for to court, and that is why I am staying in Barcelona," Messi said. "It was a tough decision. I always said I wanted to end my career here and I do.
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"... I thought and was sure that I was free to leave. [Barcelona] President [Josep Maria Bartomeu] always said that at the end of the season I could decide if I stayed or not. Now they cling to the fact that I did not say it before June 10, when it turns out that on June 10 we were competing for La Liga in the middle of this awful coronavirus and this disease altered all the season.
"And this is the reason why I am going to continue in the club. Now I am going to continue in the club because the President told me that the only way to leave was to pay the [about $823 million] clause, which is impossible."
 Leo #Messi: "I will give it my all. My love for Barça will never change." pic.twitter.com/xBh29dTqpr— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) September 4, 2020
The 33-year-old Messi, whose contract expires in 2021, could still decide to backtrack and leave the club, but other teams would have to pay his expensive release clause.
For now, Messi will rejoin his teammates as they try to rebound from a trophy-less 2019-20 season that saw them finish second in La Liga behind Real Madrid. Barcelona also suffered an 8-2 blowout loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinals.
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"It doesn't come from the Bayern result, it comes from many things," Messi said about why he initially wanted to leave. "I always said I wanted to end my career here, and I always said I wanted to stay here. I wanted a winning project and to win trophies with the club.
"... The truth is that for a while there hasn't been a project or anything, they've been juggling things and plugging holes as things happen. I've always thought about the well-being of my family and the club."
Messi reportedly attracted interest from several major clubs, including Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan and Juventus after speculation emerged about his future. Those teams now must wait until the expiration of his contract next year or pay Messi's expensive transfer fee.
Messi, a six-time Ballon d'Or winner, made his league debut for Barcelona in 2004. During his time with the club, he has helped Barca win 10 league titles and four Champions League trophies.


upi--2020-09-04--Jacob Blake pleads not guilty in May domestic incident

Sept. 4 ( UPI ) -- Jacob Blake , a 29-year-old man shot and paralyzed by Kenosha , Wis. , police last month , pleaded not guilty Friday to charges related to an alleged domestic assault in May .
It was his first court appearance since he was hospitalized with several gunshot wounds Aug. 23 .
He entered the plea from his bed at Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee .
The charges included third-degree sexual assault , criminal trespass and disorderly conduct .
A judge set a signature bond of $ 10,000 and scheduled a Nov. 9 trial .
Blake 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of protests in the southeastern Wisconsin city , resulting , at times , in vandalism and violence , including the shooting deaths of two protesters by a self-described militia member .
Kenosha police shot Blake after they were called to a residence for what they described as a domestic incident on Aug. 23 .
Officials said the female caller described Blake as her boyfriend and that he 'd taken her keys and refused to return them .
She also allegedly said he was n't allowed at the residence .
Witnesses said Blake tried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who were arguing outside the residence when police arrived .
Police then used Tasers on him , but he allegedly fought with police , causing them to draw their guns .
On a bystander video , Blake can be seen attempting to enter the driver 's side of his vehicle when officer Rusten Sheskey grabbed the back of his shirt , firing seven times .
Blake 's three children were in the vehicle at the time of the shooting .
Officials said a knife was found on the floorboard of Blake 's vehicle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the encounter said he heard officers repeatedly yell `` Drop the knife ! ''

Sept. 4 (UPI) -- Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old man shot and paralyzed by Kenosha, Wis., police last month, pleaded not guilty Friday to charges related to an alleged domestic assault in May.
It was his first court appearance since he was hospitalized with several gunshot wounds Aug. 23. He entered the plea from his bed at Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee.
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The charges included third-degree sexual assault, criminal trespass and disorderly conduct. A judge set a signature bond of $10,000 and scheduled a Nov. 9 trial.
Blake's Aug. 23 arrest and shooting prompted weeks of protests in the southeastern Wisconsin city, resulting, at times, in vandalism and violence, including the shooting deaths of two protesters by a self-described militia member.
Kenosha police shot Blake after they were called to a residence for what they described as a domestic incident on Aug. 23. Officials said the female caller described Blake as her boyfriend and that he'd taken her keys and refused to return them. She also allegedly said he wasn't allowed at the residence.
Witnesses said Blake tried to intervene with a group of women who were arguing outside the residence when police arrived.
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Police then used Tasers on him, but he allegedly fought with police, causing them to draw their guns. On a bystander video, Blake can be seen attempting to enter the driver's side of his vehicle when officer Rusten Sheskey grabbed the back of his shirt, firing seven times.
Blake's three children were in the vehicle at the time of the shooting.
Officials said a knife was found on the floorboard of Blake's vehicle and one of the bystanders who filmed the encounter said he heard officers repeatedly yell "Drop the knife!"


upi--2020-09-04--Study: Common cold may help prevent flu, perhaps COVID-19

Sept. 4 ( UPI ) -- The virus most often behind the common cold is capable of preventing the flu virus from infecting airways by jump-starting the body 's immune defenses , a study published Friday by The Lancet Microbe found .
Now , the researchers from Yale University , want to determine if rhinovirus , the most common cold-causing virus , offers similar protective effects against COVID-19 .
In an analysis of more than 13,000 patients with symptoms of a respiratory infection , those who had rhinovirus were not simultaneously infected with the flu virus -- even during months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finding may help explain why an expected surge in cases of H1N1 swine flu , predicted for Europe in fall 2009 , never occurred , the researchers said .
It 's possible that the H1N1 virus was unable to infect those who already had the common cold , which was widespread at the time , they said .
`` Infection with the common cold virus protected cells from infection with a more dangerous virus , the influenza virus , and [ this ] occurred because the common cold activated the body 's general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ellen F. Foxman told UPI .
`` This may explain why the flu season , in winter , generally occurs after the common cold season , in autumn , and why very few people have both viruses at the same time , '' said Foxman , an assistant professor of laboratory medicine at Yale School of Medicine .
Concern has risen over the potential overlap of the COVID-19 pandemic with the annual flu season in the United States .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new cases of the coronavirus across the country is `` too high . ''
If cases continue to rise as flu season approaches , Fauci said , people infected with either of the two viruses , or both , could overwhelm the U.S. healthcare system .
`` There [ have been ] a few reports of influenza-COVID-19 co-infections earlier in the year , and many of us are quite concerned what an influenza epidemic added to the COVID-19 pandemic could do , '' Dr. Tony Moody , an associate professor of pediatric infectious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Center , told UPI '' At this point , we do n't really know what the two diseases will look like , or if other respiratory viruses will help or hurt during the current pandemic , '' said Moody , who was not part of the Yale research .
For this study , Foxman and her colleagues analyzed nasal and throat specimens collected from 13,707 people with evidence of a respiratory infection .
Just over 7 % of the specimens tested positive for the rhinovirus , while just under 7 % had confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the study population had evidence of both viruses simultaneously , the researchers found .
To test how the rhinovirus and the influenza virus interact , Foxman and her colleagues created human airway tissue with epithelial cells , which line the airways of the lung and are a chief target of respiratory viruses , grown from stem cells .
After the tissue had been exposed to rhinovirus , the influenza virus was unable to infect the tissue because the cells ' antiviral defenses were already turned on before the flu virus arrived , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the natural antiviral interferon in the cells .
Interferon is part of the early immune system response to the invasion of pathogens , Foxman said .
The protective effect offered by this new interferon lasts for at least five days , she said .
The findings may allow researchers to better predict how respiratory viruses spread and find new ways to combat them in the absence of vaccines , the researchers said .
They emphasized , however , that whether the annual seasonal spread of the common cold virus will have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Our results show that interactions between viruses can be an important driving force dictating how and when viruses spread through a population , '' Foxman said .
`` Since every virus is different , we still do not know how the common cold season will impact the spread of COVID-19 , but we now know we should be looking out for these interactions . ''

Researchers say the common cold may offer clues into better treatments for the flu -- and could have implications for COVID-19 treatment, as well. Photo by nastya_gepp/Pixabay
Sept. 4 (UPI) -- The virus most often behind the common cold is capable of preventing the flu virus from infecting airways by jump-starting the body's immune defenses, a study published Friday by The Lancet Microbe found. Now, the researchers from Yale University, want to determine if rhinovirus, the most common cold-causing virus, offers similar protective effects against COVID-19. Advertisement
In an analysis of more than 13,000 patients with symptoms of a respiratory infection, those who had rhinovirus were not simultaneously infected with the flu virus -- even during months when both viruses were active.
The finding may help explain why an expected surge in cases of H1N1 swine flu, predicted for Europe in fall 2009, never occurred, the researchers said.
It's possible that the H1N1 virus was unable to infect those who already had the common cold, which was widespread at the time, they said.
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"Infection with the common cold virus protected cells from infection with a more dangerous virus, the influenza virus, and [this] occurred because the common cold activated the body's general antiviral defenses," study co-author Dr. Ellen F. Foxman told UPI.
"This may explain why the flu season, in winter, generally occurs after the common cold season, in autumn, and why very few people have both viruses at the same time," said Foxman, an assistant professor of laboratory medicine at Yale School of Medicine.
Concern has risen over the potential overlap of the COVID-19 pandemic with the annual flu season in the United States.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, recently said that the level of new cases of the coronavirus across the country is "too high."
If cases continue to rise as flu season approaches, Fauci said, people infected with either of the two viruses, or both, could overwhelm the U.S. healthcare system.
"There [have been] a few reports of influenza-COVID-19 co-infections earlier in the year, and many of us are quite concerned what an influenza epidemic added to the COVID-19 pandemic could do," Dr. Tony Moody, an associate professor of pediatric infectious diseases and immunology at Duke University Medical Center, told UPI
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"At this point, we don't really know what the two diseases will look like, or if other respiratory viruses will help or hurt during the current pandemic," said Moody, who was not part of the Yale research.
For this study, Foxman and her colleagues analyzed nasal and throat specimens collected from 13,707 people with evidence of a respiratory infection. Just over 7% of the specimens tested positive for the rhinovirus, while just under 7% had confirmed influenza A infection.
Only 12 people in the study population had evidence of both viruses simultaneously, the researchers found.
To test how the rhinovirus and the influenza virus interact, Foxman and her colleagues created human airway tissue with epithelial cells, which line the airways of the lung and are a chief target of respiratory viruses, grown from stem cells.
After the tissue had been exposed to rhinovirus, the influenza virus was unable to infect the tissue because the cells' antiviral defenses were already turned on before the flu virus arrived, Foxman said.
The rhinovirus triggered production of the natural antiviral interferon in the cells. Interferon is part of the early immune system response to the invasion of pathogens, Foxman said.
The protective effect offered by this new interferon lasts for at least five days, she said.
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The findings may allow researchers to better predict how respiratory viruses spread and find new ways to combat them in the absence of vaccines, the researchers said.
They emphasized, however, that whether the annual seasonal spread of the common cold virus will have a similar impact on COVID-19 remains unknown.
"Our results show that interactions between viruses can be an important driving force dictating how and when viruses spread through a population," Foxman said.
"Since every virus is different, we still do not know how the common cold season will impact the spread of COVID-19, but we now know we should be looking out for these interactions."


upi--2020-09-04--Kosovo, Serbia normalize economic relations in White House ceremony

Sept. 4 ( UPI ) -- Kosovo and Serbia agreed to normalize economic relations Friday during a signing ceremony at the White House .
Serbia also plans to open an embassy in Jerusalem as part of the talks .
Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić signed a brokered agreement which will see the construction of a rail line and highway between the two Balkan countries .
U.S. President Donald Trump oversaw the signing ceremony after two days of brokered meetings in Washington , D.C. '' After a violent and tragic history and years of failed negotiations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of bridging the divide , '' Trump said in a statement .
`` By focusing on job creation and economic growth , the two countries were able to reach a real breakthrough on economic cooperation across a broad range of issues . ''
As part of the agreement , Serbia plans to open an office in Jerusalem later this month and move its embassy there in July .
Israel claims Jerusalem as its capital but most of the international community has embassies in Tel Aviv .
Trump moved the U.S Embassy to Jerusalem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Palestinians , who consider the land to be theirs .

President Donald Trump participates in a signing ceremony and trilateral meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic (L) and Kovovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti on Friday in the Oval Office. Pool Photo by Anna Moneymaker/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 4 (UPI) -- Kosovo and Serbia agreed to normalize economic relations Friday during a signing ceremony at the White House. Serbia also plans to open an embassy in Jerusalem as part of the talks. Advertisement
Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić signed a brokered agreement which will see the construction of a rail line and highway between the two Balkan countries.
U.S. President Donald Trump oversaw the signing ceremony after two days of brokered meetings in Washington, D.C.
"After a violent and tragic history and years of failed negotiations, my administration proposed a new way of bridging the divide," Trump said in a statement. "By focusing on job creation and economic growth, the two countries were able to reach a real breakthrough on economic cooperation across a broad range of issues."
As part of the agreement, Serbia plans to open an office in Jerusalem later this month and move its embassy there in July.
Israel claims Jerusalem as its capital but most of the international community has embassies in Tel Aviv. Trump moved the U.S Embassy to Jerusalem in May 2018 over the objections of Palestinians, who consider the land to be theirs.
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upi--2020-09-04--Plants might be able to help forensic scientists find dead bodies

Sept. 4 ( UPI ) -- Most people pass away with friends and family not too far away , but a small minority of fatalities happen far from civilization .
Often , trees and other types of vegetation obscure the search for missing bodies .
But in a new paper , published this week in the journal Trends in Plant Science , scientists considered the possibility that plants could help forensic scientists track down dead bodies .
`` In smaller , open landscapes foot patrols could be effective to find someone missing , but in more forested or treacherous parts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that 's not going to be possible at all , '' senior author Neal Stewart Jr. , professor of plant sciences at the University of Tennessee , said in a news release .
`` This led us to look into plants as indicators of human decomposition , which could lead to faster , and possibly safer body recovery , '' he said .
At the University of Tennessee 's `` body farm , '' forensic scientists study how different environmental factors influence decomposition of the human body .
Now , in a new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how human body decay influences the biochemistry of plants .
More specifically , scientists will measure the effects of human body decomposition on the nutrient concentrations of the surrounding soil and observe the effects on plant physiology .
`` The most obvious result of the islands would be a large release of nitrogen into the soil , especially in the summertime when decomposition is happening so fast , '' Stewart said .
`` Depending on how quickly the plants respond to the influx of nitrogen , it may cause changes in leaf color @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large deer , bear or other mammals die and decompose in the woods more often than humans .
Through their experiments , scientists hope to identify detectable metabolites that are released by decomposing humans , but not other animals .
Scientists suggest it 's possible that metabolites from drugs or food preservatives consumed by humans could influence plant growth or appearance .
`` One thought is if we had a specific person who went missing who was , let 's say , a heavy smoker , they could have a chemical profile that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response making them easier to locate , '' Stewart said .
`` Though at this stage this idea is still farfetched . ''
Once researchers identify biochemical signatures triggered by body decomposition , researchers could scan for fluorescence or reflectance signals to pinpoint the location of a dead body .
`` We 've actually built a whole plant imager that can analyze fluorescence signatures , '' said Stewart .
Even if such technology proved moderately effective , it could reduce the amount of time and energy required to locate human remains .
When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigators can find a body , the more likely they are to catch the perpetrator .
`` When you start to think about deploying drones to look for specific emissions , now we can think of the signals more like a check engine light -- if we can quickly fly where someone may have gone missing and collect data over tens or even hundreds of square kilometers , then we 'd know the best spots to send in a search team , '' Stewart said .

Sept. 4 (UPI) -- Most people pass away with friends and family not too far away, but a small minority of fatalities happen far from civilization.
Often, trees and other types of vegetation obscure the search for missing bodies. But in a new paper, published this week in the journal Trends in Plant Science, scientists considered the possibility that plants could help forensic scientists track down dead bodies.
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"In smaller, open landscapes foot patrols could be effective to find someone missing, but in more forested or treacherous parts of the world like the Amazon, that's not going to be possible at all," senior author Neal Stewart Jr., professor of plant sciences at the University of Tennessee, said in a news release.
"This led us to look into plants as indicators of human decomposition, which could lead to faster, and possibly safer body recovery," he said.
At the University of Tennessee's "body farm," forensic scientists study how different environmental factors influence decomposition of the human body. Now, in a new series of experiments, researchers will study how human body decay influences the biochemistry of plants.
More specifically, scientists will measure the effects of human body decomposition on the nutrient concentrations of the surrounding soil and observe the effects on plant physiology.
Advertisement
"The most obvious result of the islands would be a large release of nitrogen into the soil, especially in the summertime when decomposition is happening so fast," Stewart said. "Depending on how quickly the plants respond to the influx of nitrogen, it may cause changes in leaf color and reflectance."
Of course, large deer, bear or other mammals die and decompose in the woods more often than humans. Through their experiments, scientists hope to identify detectable metabolites that are released by decomposing humans, but not other animals. Scientists suggest it's possible that metabolites from drugs or food preservatives consumed by humans could influence plant growth or appearance.
"One thought is if we had a specific person who went missing who was, let's say, a heavy smoker, they could have a chemical profile that could trigger some sort of unique plant response making them easier to locate," Stewart said. "Though at this stage this idea is still farfetched."
Once researchers identify biochemical signatures triggered by body decomposition, researchers could scan for fluorescence or reflectance signals to pinpoint the location of a dead body.
"We've actually built a whole plant imager that can analyze fluorescence signatures," said Stewart.
Even if such technology proved moderately effective, it could reduce the amount of time and energy required to locate human remains. When foul play is involved, the faster investigators can find a body, the more likely they are to catch the perpetrator.
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"When you start to think about deploying drones to look for specific emissions, now we can think of the signals more like a check engine light -- if we can quickly fly where someone may have gone missing and collect data over tens or even hundreds of square kilometers, then we'd know the best spots to send in a search team," Stewart said.


upi--2020-09-04--Best friends try more expensive scratch-off for the first time, win big

Sept. 4 ( UPI ) -- A pair of best friends in Australia tried their luck on a more expensive scratch-off lottery ticket for the first time and scored a jackpot of more than $ 180,000 .
One-half of the winning duo from Narre Warren , Victoria , told The Lott officials that he and his best friend have a weekly tradition of pooling their money to buy a Powerball ticket , and they use the remaining money to buy a scratch-off ticket .
The man said the pair usually have just enough left over for a $ 3.64 scratch-off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Narre Warren Newsagency & Lotto they found that for the first time they had enough left over for a $ 7.29 ticket .
The man said it was their first time buying one of the more expensive tickets , and they won $ 182,240 .
`` We scratched it right there in the store , and we could n't believe it .
We 've never won anything like this before , '' the man said .
`` I had only said to my friend a few weeks ago 'You hear about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stories are true ' and now we know they are because we have won ! ''
The man said his half of the jackpot will allow him to pay off his debts .
`` I 'll use my half to pay off some bills and my personal loan , '' he said .
`` Then I will be debt-free !
I 'll use the rest towards saving for a house deposit . ''

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Sept. 4 (UPI) -- A pair of best friends in Australia tried their luck on a more expensive scratch-off lottery ticket for the first time and scored a jackpot of more than $180,000.
One-half of the winning duo from Narre Warren, Victoria, told The Lott officials that he and his best friend have a weekly tradition of pooling their money to buy a Powerball ticket, and they use the remaining money to buy a scratch-off ticket.
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The man said the pair usually have just enough left over for a $3.64 scratch-off ticket, but on a recent visit to the Narre Warren Newsagency & Lotto they found that for the first time they had enough left over for a $7.29 ticket.
The man said it was their first time buying one of the more expensive tickets, and they won $182,240.
"We scratched it right there in the store, and we couldn't believe it. We've never won anything like this before," the man said. "I had only said to my friend a few weeks ago 'You hear about these winners, I wonder if the stories are true' and now we know they are because we have won!"
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The man said his half of the jackpot will allow him to pay off his debts.
"I'll use my half to pay off some bills and my personal loan," he said. "Then I will be debt-free! I'll use the rest towards saving for a house deposit."


upi--2020-09-04--Stocks overcome free fall, finish the week in decline

Sept. 4 ( UPI ) -- U.S. blue chip stocks overcame a free fall at close Friday , but all three major stock indexes finished the week in decline .
The Dow Jones Industrial Average opened with new losses and was down 628 points at one point .
It came back to finish the day down 159 points or 0.56 % .
The index tumbled by more than 800 points Thursday , its worst daily performance since June .
The S & P 500 closed down 28 points or 0.8 % Friday and was down 1.8 % for the week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or 1.27 % percent Friday and was down 3.27 % for the week .
The downturn on Wall Street was led by mass tech sell-offs on Thursday that lost billions of dollars for the world 's wealthiest 10 people , Bloomberg reported .
Apple stock fell 8 % Microsoft 's 6.2 % while Alphabet , Google 's parent company , shed 5.1 % .
Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer lost nearly $ 5 billion and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg $ 4.2 billion .
The losses came after one of the best Augusts on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to their combined net worth .
Both Musk and Zuckerberg last month became centibillionaires -- signifying hundreds of billions -- as they added several billion per day with growing values of Tesla and Facebook shares .
Even after Thursday 's rout , the world 's 500 richest people have so far added more than $ 800 billion to their fortunes this year amid the coronavirus pandemic .
Bezos , the world 's richest man , has added $ 83 billion to his wealth so far in 2020 .
Earlier Friday , the Labor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million jobs during the month of August , mostly in line with analysts ' expectations .

American flags are seen on Wall Street outside the New York Stock Exchange in New York City. The Dow continued losses on Friday after a major stock sell-off that began Thursday. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 4 (UPI) -- U.S. blue chip stocks overcame a free fall at close Friday, but all three major stock indexes finished the week in decline. The Dow Jones Industrial Average opened with new losses and was down 628 points at one point. It came back to finish the day down 159 points or 0.56%. The index tumbled by more than 800 points Thursday, its worst daily performance since June. Advertisement
The Dow declined 2.3% this week.
The S&P 500 closed down 28 points or 0.8% Friday and was down 1.8% for the week.
The Nasdaq Composite lost 145 points or 1.27% percent Friday and was down 3.27% for the week.
The downturn on Wall Street was led by mass tech sell-offs on Thursday that lost billions of dollars for the world's wealthiest 10 people, Bloomberg reported. Apple stock fell 8% Microsoft's 6.2% while Alphabet, Google's parent company, shed 5.1%.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos lost about $9 billion and Tesla CEO Elon Musk $8.5 billion.
Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer lost nearly $5 billion and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg $4.2 billion.
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The losses came after one of the best Augusts on Wall Street since the 1980s added billions to their combined net worth.
Both Musk and Zuckerberg last month became centibillionaires -- signifying hundreds of billions -- as they added several billion per day with growing values of Tesla and Facebook shares.
Even after Thursday's rout, the world's 500 richest people have so far added more than $800 billion to their fortunes this year amid the coronavirus pandemic. Bezos, the world's richest man, has added $83 billion to his wealth so far in 2020.
Earlier Friday, the Labor Department said the U.S. economy added 1.4 million jobs during the month of August, mostly in line with analysts' expectations.


upi--2020-09-04--Watch: Firefighters rescue kitten stuck inside 5-gallon water jug

Sept. 4 ( UPI ) -- Firefighters in Indonesia came to the rescue of a kitten found trapped inside a @ @ @ @ @ only its head sticking out from the opening .
The West Jakarta Fire and Rescue @ @ @ @ @ 5-gallon jug with the kitten inside and brought it to the fire station in Cengkareng @ @ @ @ @ squeezed into the jug and found itself unable to get back out , ending up @ @ @ @ @ from the narrow opening .
The firefighters carefully cut through the plastic jug to free @ @ @ @ @ took about 30 minutes , the rescuers said .
The residents who first discovered the @ @ @ @ @ home with them , the firefighters said .

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Sept. 4 (UPI) -- Firefighters in Indonesia came to the rescue of a kitten found trapped inside a large water jug, with only its head sticking out from the opening.
The West Jakarta Fire and Rescue Agency said residents found the 5-gallon jug with the kitten inside and brought it to the fire station in Cengkareng.
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The kitten had apparently squeezed into the jug and found itself unable to get back out, ending up with only its head protruding from the narrow opening.
The firefighters carefully cut through the plastic jug to free the kitten. The operation took about 30 minutes, the rescuers said.
The residents who first discovered the kitten decided to take it home with them, the firefighters said.


upi--2020-09-04--Joe Biden, veterans react to Trump's military remarks: 'disgusting'

Sept. 4 ( UPI ) -- Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and veterans lambasted President Donald Trump on Friday after a report saying Trump described dead or injured U.S. service members as `` losers '' and `` suckers . ''
Trump denied the allegations , published by The Atlantic on Thursday , citing people with firsthand knowledge of the president disparaging veterans and the war dead .
Other outlets later confirmed stories in the article .
`` If what is written in The Atlantic is true , it 's disgusting , '' Biden said Friday during an appearance near his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most of us believe to be true : that Donald Trump is not fit to be commander in chief . ''
`` To think that I would make statements negative to our military and fallen heroes when nobody has done what I 've done , '' Trump told reporters .
`` It 's a total lie ... it 's a disgrace . ''
Citing unnamed sources , The Atlantic reported Trump has repeatedly spoken negatively about U.S. service members who have been killed , injured or captured in action .
It described his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cemetery in Paris in 2018 , saying Trump chose not to make the trip because he did n't want his hair to be ruined by the rain .
Speaking to senior staffers , he said , `` Why should I go to that cemetery ?
It 's filled with losers , '' referring to U.S. troops killed during World War I .
A year earlier , during a trip to Arlington National Cemetery to visit the grave of John Kelly 's son , Robert Kelly , Trump asked his former chief of staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
What was in it for them ? ''
according to the article .
Kelly declined to comment for the article , but a friend of the four-star general told The Atlantic that Trump could n't understand why someone would join the military and risk their lives .
`` He ca n't fathom the idea of doing something for someone other than himself , '' the source said .
`` He just thinks that anyone who does anything when there 's no direct personal gain to be had is a sucker .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Beyond The Atlantic article , Trump has been on record disparaging U.S. service members for their decisions to serve .
He described the late Sen. John McCain as a `` loser '' because he was captured during the Vietnam War , and used the same language to talk about how the late President George H.W .
Bush was shot down as a Navy pilot during World War II .
He also got into a feud with Khizr and Ghazala Khan , the parents of U.S. Army Capt .
Humayum Khan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2004 .
Speaking Friday to reporters , Khizr Khan said Trump had the soul `` of a coward . ''
`` He is incapable of understanding service , valor and courage .
His soul can not conceive of integrity and honor . ''
U.S. Sen Tammy Duckworth , D-Ill. , a veteran who lost both her legs in Iraq , said The Atlantic article did n't shock her but she is `` appalled '' by the allegations .
`` I take my wheelchair and my titanium legs over Donald Trump 's supposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , referring to Trump 's waiver to not serve in the Vietnam War .
Some military veterans and their families reacted to The Atlantic article by posting posting photos of themselves and loved ones in uniform on social media , some changing their profile pictures .

President Donald Trump arrives at Walter Reed National Military Medical in Bethesda, Md., on October 4. Trump denied a report that he spoke disparagingly about U.S. service members and veterans. File Photo by Tasos Katopodis/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 4 (UPI) -- Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and veterans lambasted President Donald Trump on Friday after a report saying Trump described dead or injured U.S. service members as "losers" and "suckers." Trump denied the allegations, published by The Atlantic on Thursday, citing people with firsthand knowledge of the president disparaging veterans and the war dead. Other outlets later confirmed stories in the article. Advertisement
"If what is written in The Atlantic is true, it's disgusting," Biden said Friday during an appearance near his Delaware home. "It affirms what most of us believe to be true: that Donald Trump is not fit to be commander in chief."
Trump called the article "fake."
"To think that I would make statements negative to our military and fallen heroes when nobody has done what I've done," Trump told reporters. "It's a total lie ... it's a disgrace."
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Citing unnamed sources, The Atlantic reported Trump has repeatedly spoken negatively about U.S. service members who have been killed, injured or captured in action. It described his his canceled visit to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery in Paris in 2018, saying Trump chose not to make the trip because he didn't want his hair to be ruined by the rain.
Speaking to senior staffers, he said, "Why should I go to that cemetery? It's filled with losers," referring to U.S. troops killed during World War I.
A year earlier, during a trip to Arlington National Cemetery to visit the grave of John Kelly's son, Robert Kelly, Trump asked his former chief of staff, "I don't get it. What was in it for them?" according to the article.
Kelly declined to comment for the article, but a friend of the four-star general told The Atlantic that Trump couldn't understand why someone would join the military and risk their lives.
"He can't fathom the idea of doing something for someone other than himself," the source said. "He just thinks that anyone who does anything when there's no direct personal gain to be had is a sucker. There's no money in serving the nation."
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Beyond The Atlantic article, Trump has been on record disparaging U.S. service members for their decisions to serve. He described the late Sen. John McCain as a "loser" because he was captured during the Vietnam War, and used the same language to talk about how the late President George H.W. Bush was shot down as a Navy pilot during World War II.
He also got into a feud with Khizr and Ghazala Khan, the parents of U.S. Army Capt. Humayum Khan, who was killed in the Iraq War in 2004.
Speaking Friday to reporters, Khizr Khan said Trump had the soul "of a coward."
"He is incapable of understanding service, valor and courage. His soul cannot conceive of integrity and honor."
U.S. Sen Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., a veteran who lost both her legs in Iraq, said The Atlantic article didn't shock her but she is "appalled" by the allegations.
"I take my wheelchair and my titanium legs over Donald Trump's supposed bone spurs any day," she said, referring to Trump's waiver to not serve in the Vietnam War.
Some military veterans and their families reacted to The Atlantic article by posting posting photos of themselves and loved ones in uniform on social media, some changing their profile pictures.


upi--2020-09-04--Unfair playing fields, pay gaps drag down everyone's motivation

Sept. 4 ( UPI ) -- When people are rewarded unequally for the same work , everyone 's motivation suffers .
According to a new study , published Friday in the journal PLOS One , large disparities in compensation cause workers to feel less happy and , a result , it decreases their desire to work .
`` Here we have shown the psychological impacts of inequality of opportunity , and how it can hurt the productivity and well-being of everyone involved , '' lead study author Filip Gesiarz , doctoral student in experimental psychology at the University College London @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Our findings may shed light on how psychological mechanisms , apart from structural barriers , can contribute to higher unemployment and lower university application rates of people from disadvantaged backgrounds , '' Gesiarz said .
`` It 's more difficult to motivate yourself to work hard if you know that other people will be more generously rewarded for the same effort . ''
For the study , researchers recruited 810 participants to complete a straight-forward task in exchange for varying amounts money .
Researchers told some participants that they were being paid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same task .
Participants were given the opportunity to opt out of the task , and some participants were surveyed about their feelings during their performance of the task .
The experiments showed people were less inclined to work when they were informed of unequal compensation .
People who were told they were being paid less than others were predictably less motivated to work , but researchers were surprised to find that those advantaged by wide compensation disparities were also less motivated .
`` People who are economically disadvantaged might face a two-fold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to their lower relative position , and second due to their reaction to the unfair distribution of opportunities , '' Gesiarz said .
Survey results showed participants were more likely to report feelings of unhappiness as compensation disparities increased .
The effect may partially explain why disadvantaged people experience disproportionate levels of anxiety and depression .
`` This study documents yet another example of a 'poverty trap ' : a situation in which being put at a disadvantage by random circumstances decreases a person 's motivation to work , further worsening their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ De Neve , an associate professor of economics at Oxford University .

People are less motivated to work when they're aware of compensation disparities, according to a new study. Photo by Pxhere /CC
Sept. 4 (UPI) -- When people are rewarded unequally for the same work, everyone's motivation suffers. According to a new study, published Friday in the journal PLOS One, large disparities in compensation cause workers to feel less happy and, a result, it decreases their desire to work. Advertisement
"Here we have shown the psychological impacts of inequality of opportunity, and how it can hurt the productivity and well-being of everyone involved," lead study author Filip Gesiarz, doctoral student in experimental psychology at the University College London, said in a news release.
"Our findings may shed light on how psychological mechanisms, apart from structural barriers, can contribute to higher unemployment and lower university application rates of people from disadvantaged backgrounds," Gesiarz said. "It's more difficult to motivate yourself to work hard if you know that other people will be more generously rewarded for the same effort."
For the study, researchers recruited 810 participants to complete a straight-forward task in exchange for varying amounts money. Researchers told some participants that they were being paid more or less than others performing the same task.
Participants were given the opportunity to opt out of the task, and some participants were surveyed about their feelings during their performance of the task.
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The experiments showed people were less inclined to work when they were informed of unequal compensation. People who were told they were being paid less than others were predictably less motivated to work, but researchers were surprised to find that those advantaged by wide compensation disparities were also less motivated.
"People who are economically disadvantaged might face a two-fold reduction in motivation and well-being -- first due to their lower relative position, and second due to their reaction to the unfair distribution of opportunities," Gesiarz said.
Survey results showed participants were more likely to report feelings of unhappiness as compensation disparities increased.
The effect may partially explain why disadvantaged people experience disproportionate levels of anxiety and depression.
"This study documents yet another example of a 'poverty trap': a situation in which being put at a disadvantage by random circumstances decreases a person's motivation to work, further worsening their situation," said study co-author Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, an associate professor of economics at Oxford University.


upi--2020-09-04--Pentagon calls for an end to Stars and Stripes newspaper by Sept. 30

Sept. 4 ( UPI ) -- A Pentagon memo sent this week orders the dissolution of the military news source Stars and Stripes , calling for an end to publication by Sept. 30 .
The memo demanded a `` specific timeline for vacating government-owned/leased space '' by Sept. 15 , with the last day of September scheduled as the newspaper 's final issue .
Stars and Stripes is underwritten by the Defense Department , with annual funding of about $ 15.5 million , but is editorially an independent voice and meant to inform U.S. soldiers around the world of military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news source .
It has a circulation of about 7 million , with an online presence as well .
The funding was eliminated in the $ 704 billion military budget of Fiscal Year 2021 .
Defense Secretary Mark Esper noted that the money spent on the publication should be reallocated to higher priority issues .
A House appropriations bill restored the funding , but the Senate has not yet acted on it .
Hours after the funding shift was reported by several news organizations , President Donald Trump tweeted that funding for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my watch . ''
`` It will continue to be a wonderful source of information for our Great Military , '' Trump said .
Stars and Stripes ' ombudsman Ernie Gates called the effort to end the newspaper a `` fatal interference and permanent censorship of a unique First Amendment organization . ''
A letter , objecting to the closure of the newspaper , was signed by 10 bipartisan senators and sent to Esper on Wednesday .
`` Stars and Stripes is an essential part of our nation 's freedom of the press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ freedom , '' the letter says in part .
A separate letter by Sen. Lindsey Graham , R-S.C. , was sent to Esper on Aug. 28 .
`` As a veteran who has served overseas , I know the value that the Stars and Stripes brings to its readers , '' Graham , a retired Air Force colonel , wrote in part .
The newspaper was founded in 1861 during the Civil War .
Regular publication began during World War I , and ended with the armistice , but was restarted in 1942 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been published continuously since .

The military newspaper Stars and Stripes, first published in 1861, was ordered closed by the Pentagon this week, effective September 30, 2020. Photo courtesy of National Stars and Stripes Museum and library
Sept. 4 (UPI) -- A Pentagon memo sent this week orders the dissolution of the military news source Stars and Stripes, calling for an end to publication by Sept. 30. The memo demanded a "specific timeline for vacating government-owned/leased space" by Sept. 15, with the last day of September scheduled as the newspaper's final issue. Advertisement
Stars and Stripes is underwritten by the Defense Department, with annual funding of about $15.5 million, but is editorially an independent voice and meant to inform U.S. soldiers around the world of military matters, particularly those without a reliable news source. It has a circulation of about 7 million, with an online presence as well.
The funding was eliminated in the $704 billion military budget of Fiscal Year 2021. Defense Secretary Mark Esper noted that the money spent on the publication should be reallocated to higher priority issues. A House appropriations bill restored the funding, but the Senate has not yet acted on it.
Hours after the funding shift was reported by several news organizations, President Donald Trump tweeted that funding for the publication would not be cut "under my watch."
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"It will continue to be a wonderful source of information for our Great Military," Trump said.
Stars and Stripes' ombudsman Ernie Gates called the effort to end the newspaper a "fatal interference and permanent censorship of a unique First Amendment organization." A letter, objecting to the closure of the newspaper, was signed by 10 bipartisan senators and sent to Esper on Wednesday.
"Stars and Stripes is an essential part of our nation's freedom of the press that serves the very population defending that freedom," the letter says in part.
A separate letter by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., was sent to Esper on Aug. 28.
"As a veteran who has served overseas, I know the value that the Stars and Stripes brings to its readers," Graham, a retired Air Force colonel, wrote in part.
The newspaper was founded in 1861 during the Civil War. Regular publication began during World War I, and ended with the armistice, but was restarted in 1942, during World War II. It has been published continuously since.


upi--2020-09-04--Kids' 'green' time reduces adverse effects of 'screen' time on behavior, learning

Sept. 4 ( UPI ) -- More time spent outdoors -- and less in front of a screen -- leads to improved mental health in children and adolescents , according to an analysis of existing research published Friday by the journal PLOS ONE .
Based on data from 186 previously published studies , researchers determined that young people who spent more time on handheld games and devices , television and computers were more likely to have behavior and emotional problems and display symptoms of aggression and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder .
The young people also were more likely to have learning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who spent more time outdoors and who had increased access to `` green '' spaces for play and learning were less likely to have these undesirable traits .
`` Overall , the studies showed that high levels of screen time were associated with poorer psychological well-being , while more green time was associated with better psychological well-being , '' co-author Tassia Oswald told UPI .
`` While a lot more work needs to be done in this field to help us understand why this is the case , it is important that [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing young people do in their leisure time , '' said Oswald , a doctoral student in public health at the University of Adelaide in Australia .
The prevalence of mental health illness among children and adolescents is increasing globally , according to Oswald and her colleagues .
In the United States , roughly 7 % , or 4.5 million , of children ages 3 to 17 have been diagnosed with a behavioral problem , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates .
On average , American children and adolescents spent between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or uses devices with screens , and may be exposed to violence and misleading or inaccurate information , among other potentially problematic content , according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry .
A separate study of 1,239 8- to 9-year-olds in Melbourne , Australia , published earlier this week by PLOS ONE , found that watching two or more hours of television per day at that age was associated with lower reading performance compared to peers two years later .
In addition , using a computer for more than one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ similar reduction in their ability to understand and work with numbers .
However , no links were found between the use of video games and academic performance , the analysis showed .
Preliminary evidence suggests that green time potentially could limit the effects of high screen time , meaning nature may be an under-utilized public health resource to promote youth psychological well-being in a high-tech era , according to Oswald and her colleagues .
`` Monitoring screen time can be difficult for parents -- especially at the moment when many children have transitioned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Oswald said .
`` Trying to encourage a balance of activities is good -- so if a child spends an hour on a video game , encourage them to get outside for an hour . ''

Pixabay Studies show screen time can adversely affect behavior and learning in children, but the effects can be balanced with increased time outdoors. Photo by Andi Graf
Sept. 4 (UPI) -- More time spent outdoors -- and less in front of a screen -- leads to improved mental health in children and adolescents, according to an analysis of existing research published Friday by the journal PLOS ONE. Based on data from 186 previously published studies, researchers determined that young people who spent more time on handheld games and devices, television and computers were more likely to have behavior and emotional problems and display symptoms of aggression and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder. Advertisement
The young people also were more likely to have learning or social difficulties.
Conversely, children who spent more time outdoors and who had increased access to "green" spaces for play and learning were less likely to have these undesirable traits.
"Overall, the studies showed that high levels of screen time were associated with poorer psychological well-being, while more green time was associated with better psychological well-being," co-author Tassia Oswald told UPI.
"While a lot more work needs to be done in this field to help us understand why this is the case, it is important that [technology] doesn't become the only thing young people do in their leisure time," said Oswald, a doctoral student in public health at the University of Adelaide in Australia.
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The prevalence of mental health illness among children and adolescents is increasing globally, according to Oswald and her colleagues.
In the United States, roughly 7%, or 4.5 million, of children ages 3 to 17 have been diagnosed with a behavioral problem, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates.
On average, American children and adolescents spent between four and six hours per day watching or uses devices with screens, and may be exposed to violence and misleading or inaccurate information, among other potentially problematic content, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
A separate study of 1,239 8- to 9-year-olds in Melbourne, Australia, published earlier this week by PLOS ONE, found that watching two or more hours of television per day at that age was associated with lower reading performance compared to peers two years later.
In addition, using a computer for more than one hour per day was linked to a similar reduction in their ability to understand and work with numbers.
However, no links were found between the use of video games and academic performance, the analysis showed.
Preliminary evidence suggests that green time potentially could limit the effects of high screen time, meaning nature may be an under-utilized public health resource to promote youth psychological well-being in a high-tech era, according to Oswald and her colleagues.
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"Monitoring screen time can be difficult for parents -- especially at the moment when many children have transitioned to online learning due to COVID-19 lockdowns," Oswald said.
"Trying to encourage a balance of activities is good -- so if a child spends an hour on a video game, encourage them to get outside for an hour."


upi--2020-09-04--Look: Suspected casket in Maryland river was a floating dock

Sept. 4 ( UPI ) -- A suspected `` casket '' spotted floating in a Maryland river was fished out @ @ @ @ @ and revealed to be a floating dock .
A photo posted to Facebook by radio @ @ @ @ @ that appeared to be shaped like a coffin floating in the South River , sparking @ @ @ @ @ Resources Police .
The police elicited the help of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources @ @ @ @ @ the object was fished out of the water .
The department said the investigators determined @ @ @ @ @ '' was `` just part of a floating dock . ''

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Sept. 4 (UPI) -- A suspected "casket" spotted floating in a Maryland river was fished out of the water by authorities and revealed to be a floating dock.
A photo posted to Facebook by radio station WRNR-FM showed an object that appeared to be shaped like a coffin floating in the South River, sparking an investigation by Maryland Natural Resources Police.
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The police elicited the help of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources' hydrographic operations team and the object was fished out of the water.
The department said the investigators determined the suspected "burial vault" was "just part of a floating dock."


upi--2020-09-04--Watch: New Hampshire 16-year-old swims across the English Channel

Sept. 4 ( UPI ) -- A 16-year-old New Hampshire girl said her 33-mile swim across the English Channel was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream .
Vera Rivard , 16 , a Springfield resident and student at Kearsarge Regional High School , swam from Samphire Hoe beach in Dover , England , to Wissant , France .
The swim took Rivard a total time of 14 hours , 10 minutes .
Her support team said tides and marine traffic caused her to take an S-shaped route that encompassed about 33 miles of swimming .
`` That was a swim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Valley News .
`` I have dreamed of this for as long as I can remember .
It was better than I could have ever hoped .
I am so grateful for this adventure . ''
Rivard 's goal is to complete the so-called `` Triple Crown '' of long-distance swimming .
The English Channel was the second swim on her list , after previously taking on the `` 20 Bridges of Manhattan Island '' swim , which involves a 28.5-mile circumnavigation of the New York City island , in July .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the final `` Triple Crown '' swim , a 20-mile distance from the mainland to California 's Santa Catalina Island .

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Sept. 4 (UPI) -- A 16-year-old New Hampshire girl said her 33-mile swim across the English Channel was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream.
Vera Rivard, 16, a Springfield resident and student at Kearsarge Regional High School, swam from Samphire Hoe beach in Dover, England, to Wissant, France.
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The swim took Rivard a total time of 14 hours, 10 minutes. Her support team said tides and marine traffic caused her to take an S-shaped route that encompassed about 33 miles of swimming.
"That was a swim of a lifetime," Rivard told the Valley News. "I have dreamed of this for as long as I can remember. It was better than I could have ever hoped. I am so grateful for this adventure."
Rivard's goal is to complete the so-called "Triple Crown" of long-distance swimming. The English Channel was the second swim on her list, after previously taking on the "20 Bridges of Manhattan Island" swim, which involves a 28.5-mile circumnavigation of the New York City island, in July.
She now has her sights set on the final "Triple Crown" swim, a 20-mile distance from the mainland to California's Santa Catalina Island.


upi--2020-09-04--FBI arrests 2 armed men traveling to Kenosha, Wis., to possibly 'pick people off'

Sept. 4 ( UPI ) -- Two Missouri men face federal charges that they attempted to travel to Kenosha , Wis. , to `` pick people off '' with firearms they were n't legally allowed to possess , the Justice Department said .
The FBI arrested Michael Karmo , 40 , and Cody Smith , 33 , Tuesday at a hotel in Pleasant Prairie , just outside Kenosha .
Protests have been ongoing in the city for two weeks after police shot and paralyzed Jacob Blake in what activists say was an excessive use of force against a Black man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violent , with some armed counterprotesters attending with the stated aim of protecting local businesses and property .
The Kenosha Police Department said it received word from a law enforcement agency in Iowa that Karmo and Smith planned to travel from Missouri to Kenosha `` to loot and possibly 'pick people off , ' '' according to a criminal complaint Thursday .
Using cellphone data , the FBI tracked the two men to the hotel , where agents said they found an Armory AR-15 assault rifle , a Mossberg 500 AB 12-gauge shotgun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ammunition , body armor and a drone .
After questioning , agents determined that Karmo had a prior felony conviction , and Smith had a prior misdemeanor domestic battery conviction , making both prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition .
Both men were charged with unlawful possession of a firearm , and Smith faces additional charges of aiding and abetting a felon in possession of firearms .
Each of the charges carries up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $ 250,000 .
Last week , authorities charged 17-year-old Kyle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with two counts of homicide for the shooting deaths of two protesters in Kenosha .
He also faces one count of attempted homicide for shooting and injuring a third protester .
President Donald Trump has promised Kenosha millions of dollars to help rebuild after protests , but Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden accused the Republican of `` stoking violence in our cities . ''
Both leaders visited the city this week .

Downtown Kenosha, Wis., has seen residents make art out of boarded up buildings. On Thursday, the Justice Department charged two men accused of attempting to travel to the city with firearms they weren't allowed to possess. Photo by Alex Wroblewski/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 4 (UPI) -- Two Missouri men face federal charges that they attempted to travel to Kenosha, Wis., to "pick people off" with firearms they weren't legally allowed to possess, the Justice Department said. The FBI arrested Michael Karmo, 40, and Cody Smith, 33, Tuesday at a hotel in Pleasant Prairie, just outside Kenosha. Advertisement
Protests have been ongoing in the city for two weeks after police shot and paralyzed Jacob Blake in what activists say was an excessive use of force against a Black man. The demonstrations have at times turned violent, with some armed counterprotesters attending with the stated aim of protecting local businesses and property.
The Kenosha Police Department said it received word from a law enforcement agency in Iowa that Karmo and Smith planned to travel from Missouri to Kenosha "to loot and possibly 'pick people off,'" according to a criminal complaint Thursday.
Using cellphone data, the FBI tracked the two men to the hotel, where agents said they found an Armory AR-15 assault rifle, a Mossberg 500 AB 12-gauge shotgun, two handguns, a silencer, ammunition, body armor and a drone.
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After questioning, agents determined that Karmo had a prior felony conviction, and Smith had a prior misdemeanor domestic battery conviction, making both prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.
Both men were charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, and Smith faces additional charges of aiding and abetting a felon in possession of firearms. Each of the charges carries up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.
Last week, authorities charged 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse -- a self-described militia member -- with two counts of homicide for the shooting deaths of two protesters in Kenosha. He also faces one count of attempted homicide for shooting and injuring a third protester.
President Donald Trump has promised Kenosha millions of dollars to help rebuild after protests, but Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden accused the Republican of "stoking violence in our cities." Both leaders visited the city this week.


upi--2020-09-04--Morocco, Netherlands, India, UAE to buy Longbow Fire Control Radars

Sept. 4 ( UPI ) -- Longbow Limited , a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman , won a $ 164.6 million contract to equip foreign Apache helicopters with radar units .
The contract , announced on Thursday by the Defense Department , calls for AH-64E Apache helicopter AN/APG-78 Longbow Fire Control Radar units to be sold to the militaries of Morocco , the Netherlands , the United Arab Emirates and India .
The mast-mounted system provides Apache aircrews with automatic target detection , location and classification while `` enabling rapid , multi-target engagement in all weather conditions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ battlefield obscurants , '' Lockheed Martin has previously said of the system .
It allows aircrews the opportunity to scan large areas for threats , and if a target it identified , data can quickly be sent to a missile and launch system .
`` The LBL team is excited to bring Morocco , Netherlands and India army into the Longbow FCR user community , and to update UAE with new capabilities , as the ever-evolving missions of our U.S. allies will benefit from our precision engagement capabilities , '' Jim Messina of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday in a press release .
`` The Longbow radar remains a relevant and important system for the missions Apache aircrews fly , '' Messina added .
About 500 systems have been delivered to the U.S. Army and international customers since 1996 , according to Lockheed .

Lockheed Martin announced a $164.6 million contract on Friday to build Longbow Fire Control Radar units, pictured mounted above the routers of an AH-64E Apache, for the armies of four nations. Photo courtesy of Lockheed Martin
Sept. 4 (UPI) -- Longbow Limited, a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, won a $164.6 million contract to equip foreign Apache helicopters with radar units. The contract, announced on Thursday by the Defense Department, calls for AH-64E Apache helicopter AN/APG-78 Longbow Fire Control Radar units to be sold to the militaries of Morocco, the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates and India. Advertisement
The mast-mounted system provides Apache aircrews with automatic target detection, location and classification while "enabling rapid, multi-target engagement in all weather conditions over multiple types of terrain and through battlefield obscurants," Lockheed Martin has previously said of the system.
It allows aircrews the opportunity to scan large areas for threats, and if a target it identified, data can quickly be sent to a missile and launch system.
"The LBL team is excited to bring Morocco, Netherlands and India army into the Longbow FCR user community, and to update UAE with new capabilities, as the ever-evolving missions of our U.S. allies will benefit from our precision engagement capabilities," Jim Messina of Longbow program director at Lockheed, said Friday in a press release.
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"The Longbow radar remains a relevant and important system for the missions Apache aircrews fly," Messina added.
About 500 systems have been delivered to the U.S. Army and international customers since 1996, according to Lockheed.


upi--2020-09-04--Watch: British company cooks up world's largest puffed corn snack

Sept. 4 ( UPI ) -- The makers of Wotsits Giant snacks in Britain broke a Guinness world record by @ @ @ @ @ snack measuring 35 feet long .
A team of eight workers at the Walker factory @ @ @ @ @ hours , 29 minutes to cook up the extra-giant Wotsits Giant .
A Guinness adjudicator @ @ @ @ @ the massive snack , which ended up 35 feet long -- about as long as @ @ @ @ @ combined .
The creators of the snack said it had to be made by hand @ @ @ @ @ to fit inside the company 's ovens .

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Sept. 4 (UPI) -- The makers of Wotsits Giant snacks in Britain broke a Guinness world record by cooking up a puffed corn snack measuring 35 feet long.
A team of eight workers at the Walker factory in Leicester worked for 2 hours, 29 minutes to cook up the extra-giant Wotsits Giant.
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A Guinness adjudicator was on hand to measure the massive snack, which ended up 35 feet long -- about as long as 164 average Wotsits Giant snacks combined.
The creators of the snack said it had to be made by hand because it was too large to fit inside the company's ovens.


upi--2020-09-04--Dutch politician Geert Wilders guilty of group insult, cleared of inciting hatred

Sept. 4 ( UPI ) -- Dutch far-right legislator Geert Wilders won a partial victory Friday , when an appeal court reversed a lower court conviction of inciting hatred or discrimination , but concurred on a charge of group insult .
Wilders , leader of the Party for Freedom , or PVV Party , led an anti-Moroccan chant during an election rally in 2014 .
A lower court found him guilty of groepsbelediging , or group insult , along with inciting hatred or discrimination .
In the Netherlands , it is against the law to deliberately insult a group of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or conviction .
The appeals court ruled that Wilders ' comments were needlessly offensive to the Moroccan people , and that he knew they would cause controversy .
But in dropping the inciting hatred charge , the court said Wilders ' actions were `` not aimed at encouraging his public '' to act out in a discriminatory or hate-filled manner .
Wilders and his attorney had argued all charges should have been dropped because the legislator was legally expressing his feelings in regards to riots in The Hague and Utrecht and the prosecution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Dutch politician Geert Wilders, shown at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland at the Republican National Convention on July 19, 2016. A conviction of inciting hatred was reversed on appeal Friday but a group insult charge was upheld. Photo by Pete Marovich/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 4 (UPI) -- Dutch far-right legislator Geert Wilders won a partial victory Friday, when an appeal court reversed a lower court conviction of inciting hatred or discrimination, but concurred on a charge of group insult. Wilders, leader of the Party for Freedom, or PVV Party, led an anti-Moroccan chant during an election rally in 2014. Advertisement
A lower court found him guilty of groepsbelediging, or group insult, along with inciting hatred or discrimination. In the Netherlands, it is against the law to deliberately insult a group of people because of their race, religion or conviction.
The appeals court ruled that Wilders' comments were needlessly offensive to the Moroccan people, and that he knew they would cause controversy. But in dropping the inciting hatred charge, the court said Wilders' actions were "not aimed at encouraging his public" to act out in a discriminatory or hate-filled manner.
Wilders and his attorney had argued all charges should have been dropped because the legislator was legally expressing his feelings in regards to riots in The Hague and Utrecht and the prosecution of his comments amounted to political interference.
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