upi--2020-08-30--‘Top Gear’ host Chris Harris calls harrowing Nepal trek ‘life-affirming’

NEW YORK , Aug. 30 ( UPI ) -- Top Gear co-hosts Chris Harris and Paddy McGuinness said they might have refused a Season 28 challenge in Nepal if they knew ahead of time it would include driving on treacherous , unpaved roads with little room between their vehicles and sheer cliff drops .
Fortunately , they -- and co-star Freddie Flintoff -- lived to tell the tale , and U.S. viewers can watch the harrowing adventure when Top Gear kicks off its 28th season on BBC America on Sunday .
`` It was a fantastic , life-affirming adventure , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that , looking back , I probably would have refused to drive on , to be honest with you , '' Harris told UPI in a recent phone interview .
`` Bits of it are just parked in the back of my head , so that I do n't have to ever think of them or acknowledge that they happened , '' the famed motoring journalist said .
`` I 'm not that fond of heights , so when they said we are going to the Himalayas , I just sort of grinned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the potential for being scared . ''
Hours spent trudging along the muddy paths of the foothills of enormous mountains were particularly `` soul-destroying , '' Harris recalled .
`` You just could n't get anywhere .
We spent five hours doing a mile and a half and , at that point , every 10 minutes , you 're getting out of the car , digging it out , and you think : 'What are we doing this for ?
This is just bloody horrible .
Get me out of here , ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the roads were just crazy high , the vertical drop to the side of you , '' McGuinness said in a separate chat with UPI .
`` If they told you that before you got there , you 'd say , ' I 'm never going to do that . '
But because you are actually there , you are in the zone and you just push through that .
Some of the stuff we 'd seen over there was just amazing , '' the comedian said .
Harris said that snacks are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 15- to 16-hour days .
`` The snack game on Top Gear is the best in the world , '' he said .
`` We take with us a lot of British snacks because people like comfort food , do n't they ?
And we also buy indigineous snacks .
Without that , you ca n't keep going .
If you do n't have petrol in the tank , you ca n't operate . ''
But McGuinness was motivated by something else .
`` The thought of the other two having a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' McGuinness said of his co-hosts .
`` You think , ' I ca n't be the first to bail . '
I think that 's why we end up doing quite dangerous things -- because none of us wants to quit first . ''
It was also very important to maintain a sense of humor when in a situation like they found themselves in .
`` It 's very easy to kind of panic and lose it a little bit .
You have a laugh with it and you know how dangerous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you push on through , '' McGuinness said .
The hourlong episode reflected what they intended to do , but could n't possibly capture the guys ' entire experience .
`` The reality of television is what you go through to make it is never fully realized in the edit , '' Harris said , acknowledging some stories get left out in the interest of time .
The spontaneity and unscripted nature of the show make for riveting television .
For the road-trip portions , the producers think up ridiculous , secret challenges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their way , Harris said .
When they arrive at their destination , the cameras start rolling and the filmmaking team says : `` Off you go .
Just do it now . ''
`` The hyperbolical aspect of Top Gear is about taking cars where they really should n't be and that is always going to be difficult .
You know that before you go , '' Harris said .
`` I trust the people that I work with implicitly . ''
McGuinness , who did n't fly regularly until recently , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his comfort zone .
`` Just actually getting on planes and going to these exotic places and seeing parts of the world I would have never ever seen -- that is a big thing for me in itself , '' he said .
Getting the right team to front the show has been a labor of love for the BBC , but Top Gear seems to have found its groove again .
Top Gear began in 2002 and was hosted for most of its life by Jeremy Clarkson , James May and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2015 .
Since then , numerous hosts have come and gone , with Harris , McGuinness and Flintoff permanently taking over in 2019 for Season 27 .
After achieving its highest ratings since Season 22 , the program has moved from BBC Two to BBC One , which Harris sees as a vote of confidence from the network .
He credits the genuine chemistry with his co-hosts as the reason people are coming back to the show .
`` I work with two guys that I respect massively and enjoy spending time with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on with someone really well and you can take the mickey out of them .
That 's the basis of friendship , and we can do that , '' Harris said .
`` Our humor is different to our predecessors , but it is really working over here in the U.K. '' Harris first joined the show in 2016 with six other rotating hosts .
Seeing himself as a motoring journalist who could drive a car and talk to the camera at the same time , Harris left the humor and adventure to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funny people to go and do your big trips , if you want people to look ridiculous .
I 'm not a comedian , but I can do serious car issues .
And I told them never , ever will you make me do something stupid , '' Harris said , noting how his job has changed now that there are only three hosts .
`` My children watched me dressed up as a T-rex getting golf balls whacked at me , '' he said .
According to McGuinness , about 90 percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It is difficult to do scripted stuff with Chris and Fred because they ca n't read , '' McGuiness quipped .
Although they tease each other mercilessly , the three are great friends .
McGuinness thinks that is clear to viewers .
`` I 'll never get rid of them .
I am trying my damnedest , but they still keep turning up , '' he joked about Harris and Flintoff .
McGuinness said his strengths are as a television personality and car enthusiast , more than as an expert , while Fred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was dead honest about that , '' McGuinness said .
`` We love cars and we know about cars , but when you want to get really in depth , that is why Chris is on the show .
We all bring something a little bit different . ''
McGuinness is pleased to meet people who tell him they do n't care that much about cars , but watch Top Gear with their families because it is so much fun .
He also thinks Americans stuck in their homes for months due to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ receive fresh programming that does n't depend on Zoom-type , video-conferencing technology .
`` I think people are crying out for real TV -- TV before the pandemic kicked in , '' he said .
`` We 're lucky we got these episodes before all that happened .
Even in the studio , we 've got all the audience around us and we 're having a laugh , even things like that people sort of miss .
Fingers crossed , they 'll enjoy it . ''

1/3
"Top Gear" Season 28 kicks off Sunday on BBC America with a special that takes Paddy McGuinness (L,) Freddie Flintoff (C) and Chris Harris to Nepal. Photo courtesy of BBC America
NEW YORK, Aug. 30 (UPI) -- Top Gear co-hosts Chris Harris and Paddy McGuinness said they might have refused a Season 28 challenge in Nepal if they knew ahead of time it would include driving on treacherous, unpaved roads with little room between their vehicles and sheer cliff drops. Fortunately, they -- and co-star Freddie Flintoff -- lived to tell the tale, and U.S. viewers can watch the harrowing adventure when Top Gear kicks off its 28th season on BBC America on Sunday. Advertisement
"It was a fantastic, life-affirming adventure, but there are bits of the road that, looking back, I probably would have refused to drive on, to be honest with you," Harris told UPI in a recent phone interview.
"Bits of it are just parked in the back of my head, so that I don't have to ever think of them or acknowledge that they happened," the famed motoring journalist said. "I'm not that fond of heights, so when they said we are going to the Himalayas, I just sort of grinned and bore it and tried to ignore the potential for being scared."
Advertisement
Hours spent trudging along the muddy paths of the foothills of enormous mountains were particularly "soul-destroying," Harris recalled.
"You just couldn't get anywhere. We spent five hours doing a mile and a half and, at that point, every 10 minutes, you're getting out of the car, digging it out, and you think: 'What are we doing this for? This is just bloody horrible. Get me out of here,'" Harris said.
"Some of the roads were just crazy high, the vertical drop to the side of you," McGuinness said in a separate chat with UPI.
"If they told you that before you got there, you'd say, 'I'm never going to do that.' But because you are actually there, you are in the zone and you just push through that. Some of the stuff we'd seen over there was just amazing," the comedian said.
Harris said that snacks are what kept them going through the week of 15- to 16-hour days.
"The snack game on Top Gear is the best in the world," he said. "We take with us a lot of British snacks because people like comfort food, don't they? And we also buy indigineous snacks. Without that, you can't keep going. If you don't have petrol in the tank, you can't operate."
Advertisement
But McGuinness was motivated by something else.
"The thought of the other two having a go at you drives you on," McGuinness said of his co-hosts. "You think, 'I can't be the first to bail.' I think that's why we end up doing quite dangerous things -- because none of us wants to quit first."
It was also very important to maintain a sense of humor when in a situation like they found themselves in.
"It's very easy to kind of panic and lose it a little bit. You have a laugh with it and you know how dangerous it is, but it just helps you push on through," McGuinness said.
The hourlong episode reflected what they intended to do, but couldn't possibly capture the guys' entire experience.
"The reality of television is what you go through to make it is never fully realized in the edit," Harris said, acknowledging some stories get left out in the interest of time.
The spontaneity and unscripted nature of the show make for riveting television.
For the road-trip portions, the producers think up ridiculous, secret challenges for the guys and send them on their way, Harris said.
When they arrive at their destination, the cameras start rolling and the filmmaking team says: "Off you go. Just do it now."
Advertisement
"The hyperbolical aspect of Top Gear is about taking cars where they really shouldn't be and that is always going to be difficult. You know that before you go," Harris said. "I trust the people that I work with implicitly."
McGuinness, who didn't fly regularly until recently, likes that Top Gear forces him out of his comfort zone.
"Just actually getting on planes and going to these exotic places and seeing parts of the world I would have never ever seen -- that is a big thing for me in itself," he said.
Getting the right team to front the show has been a labor of love for the BBC, but Top Gear seems to have found its groove again.
Top Gear began in 2002 and was hosted for most of its life by Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond, who exited together in 2015.
Since then, numerous hosts have come and gone, with Harris, McGuinness and Flintoff permanently taking over in 2019 for Season 27.
After achieving its highest ratings since Season 22, the program has moved from BBC Two to BBC One, which Harris sees as a vote of confidence from the network.
He credits the genuine chemistry with his co-hosts as the reason people are coming back to the show.
Advertisement
"I work with two guys that I respect massively and enjoy spending time with, and you know when you get on with someone really well and you can take the mickey out of them. That's the basis of friendship, and we can do that," Harris said. "Our humor is different to our predecessors, but it is really working over here in the U.K."
Harris first joined the show in 2016 with six other rotating hosts.
Seeing himself as a motoring journalist who could drive a car and talk to the camera at the same time, Harris left the humor and adventure to his cohorts.
"I said get funny people to go and do your big trips, if you want people to look ridiculous. I'm not a comedian, but I can do serious car issues. And I told them never, ever will you make me do something stupid," Harris said, noting how his job has changed now that there are only three hosts.
"My children watched me dressed up as a T-rex getting golf balls whacked at me," he said.
According to McGuinness, about 90 percent of the show is ad-libbed.
"It is difficult to do scripted stuff with Chris and Fred because they can't read," McGuiness quipped.
Advertisement
Although they tease each other mercilessly, the three are great friends. McGuinness thinks that is clear to viewers.
"I'll never get rid of them. I am trying my damnedest, but they still keep turning up," he joked about Harris and Flintoff.
McGuinness said his strengths are as a television personality and car enthusiast, more than as an expert, while Fred is the resident daredevil.
"I was dead honest about that," McGuinness said. "We love cars and we know about cars, but when you want to get really in depth, that is why Chris is on the show. We all bring something a little bit different."
McGuinness is pleased to meet people who tell him they don't care that much about cars, but watch Top Gear with their families because it is so much fun.
He also thinks Americans stuck in their homes for months due to the coronavirus pandemic will be happy to receive fresh programming that doesn't depend on Zoom-type, video-conferencing technology.
"I think people are crying out for real TV -- TV before the pandemic kicked in," he said.
"We're lucky we got these episodes before all that happened. Even in the studio, we've got all the audience around us and we're having a laugh, even things like that people sort of miss. Fingers crossed, they'll enjoy it."


upi--2020-08-30--Famous birthdays for Aug. 30: Warren Buffett, Michael Chiklis

Aug. 30 ( UPI ) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Virgo .

1/2
Warren Buffett speaks at the White House United State of Women Summit in Washington, D.C., on June 14, 2016. The businessman turns 90 on August 30. File Photo by Molly Riley/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 30 (UPI) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Virgo. They include: Advertisement
-- English author Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley in 1797
-- Civil rights leader Roy Wilkins in 1901
-- Actor Fred MacMurray in 1908
-- Baseball Hall of Fame member Ted Williams in 1918
File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI
-- Businessman Warren Buffett in 1930 (age 90)
-- U.S. astronaut Jack Swigert in 1931
-- Musician John Phillips in 1935
-- Actor Elizabeth Ashley in 1939 (age 81)
-- French Olympic champion skier Jean-Claude Killy in 1943 (age 77)
-- Cartoonist Robert Crumb in 1943 (age 77)
-- Newspaper columnist Molly Ivins in 1944
-- Actor Peggy Lipton in 1946
-- Comedian Lewis Black in 1948 (age 72)
-- Actor Timothy Bottoms in 1951 (age 69)
-- Basketball Hall of Fame member Robert Parish in 1953 (age 67)
-- Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in 1954 (age 66)
-- Actor Michael Chiklis in 1963 (age 57)
File Photo by Phil McCarten/UPI
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-- Actor Michael Michele in 1966 (age 54)
-- Actor Cameron Diaz in 1972 (age 48)
-- Journalist Lisa Ling in 1973 (age 47)
-- Tennis player Andy Roddick in 1982 (age 38)
-- Actor Michael Grant Terry in 1984 (age 36)
-- Singer Bebe Rexha in 1989 (age 31)
-- Actor/singer Trevor Jackson in 1996 (age 24)
-- Actor Raffey Cassidy in 2001 (age 19)


upi--2020-08-30--On This Day, Aug. 30: MacArthur arrives in Japan for WWII surrender

Aug. 30 ( UPI ) -- On this date in history : In 30 B.C.
, Cleopatra , queen of Egypt and lover of Julius Caesar and Mark Antony , killed herself following the defeat of her forces by Octavian , the future first emperor of Rome .
In 1780 , Gen. Benedict Arnold betrayed the United States when he promised secretly to surrender the fort at West Point to the British army .
He fled to England and died in poverty .
In 1918 , Fanta Kaplan , a member of the Socialist Revolutionary Party , attempted to assassinate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him twice .
He survived wounds to each shoulder , one of which pierced his lung .
In 1945 , Gen. Douglas MacArthur landed in Japan to oversee the country 's formal surrender at the end of World War II .
MacArthur told United Press Japan 's `` punishment for her sins , which is just beginning , will be long and bitter . ''
In 1954 , Hurricane Carol prompted evacuations along the North Carolina coast .
The storm later battered states along the northern eastern seaboard and killed 72 people .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Marshall to the U.S. Supreme Court was confirmed .
Marshall was the first African American to sit on the court .
In 1983 , Guion Bluford became the first African-American astronaut in space .
In 1994 , the Lockheed and Martin Marietta corporations agreed to a merger that would create the largest U.S. defense contractor .
In 2003 , more than 120 people , including prominent Shiite cleric Ayatollah Mohammad Baqir al-Hakim , were killed in a bomb attack on Iraq 's Imam Ali Mosque .
In 2011 , two senior U.S. Justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government gun-smuggling `` sting '' operation dubbed `` Fast and Furious '' were replaced amid bitter congressional criticism of the mission .
The plan was to pass thousands of weapons to suspected Mexican gun smugglers and trace them to drug leaders , but hundreds of firearms were lost , some showing up at crime scenes , including the 2010 slaying of a U.S. Border Patrol agent .
In 2019 , conservationists downgraded the outlook for Australia 's Great Barrier Reef from `` poor '' to `` very poor . ''

1/4
Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu and Gen. Yoshijiro Umezu of Japan sign the "complete capitulation of Japan" on September 2, 1945, aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo. On August 30, 1945, Gen. Douglas MacArthur landed in Japan to oversee the country's formal surrender at the end of World War II. File Photo by Ed Hoffman/UPI
Aug. 30 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 30 B.C., Cleopatra, queen of Egypt and lover of Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, killed herself following the defeat of her forces by Octavian, the future first emperor of Rome. Advertisement
In 1780, Gen. Benedict Arnold betrayed the United States when he promised secretly to surrender the fort at West Point to the British army. He fled to England and died in poverty.
In 1918, Fanta Kaplan, a member of the Socialist Revolutionary Party, attempted to assassinate Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Lenin, shooting him twice. He survived wounds to each shoulder, one of which pierced his lung.
In 1945, Gen. Douglas MacArthur landed in Japan to oversee the country's formal surrender at the end of World War II. MacArthur told United Press Japan's "punishment for her sins, which is just beginning, will be long and bitter."
In 1954, Hurricane Carol prompted evacuations along the North Carolina coast. The storm later battered states along the northern eastern seaboard and killed 72 people.
In 1967, the nomination of Thurgood Marshall to the U.S. Supreme Court was confirmed. Marshall was the first African American to sit on the court.
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File Photo courtesy Library of Congress
In 1983, Guion Bluford became the first African-American astronaut in space.
In 1994, the Lockheed and Martin Marietta corporations agreed to a merger that would create the largest U.S. defense contractor.
In 2003, more than 120 people, including prominent Shiite cleric Ayatollah Mohammad Baqir al-Hakim, were killed in a bomb attack on Iraq's Imam Ali Mosque.
In 2011, two senior U.S. Justice Department officials charged with overseeing the failed government gun-smuggling "sting" operation dubbed "Fast and Furious" were replaced amid bitter congressional criticism of the mission. The plan was to pass thousands of weapons to suspected Mexican gun smugglers and trace them to drug leaders, but hundreds of firearms were lost, some showing up at crime scenes, including the 2010 slaying of a U.S. Border Patrol agent.
In 2019, conservationists downgraded the outlook for Australia's Great Barrier Reef from "poor" to "very poor."
File Photo by J. Roff


upi--2020-08-31--Watch: Marvel pays tribute to Chadwick Boseman: 'You will always be our king'

Aug. 31 ( UPI ) -- Marvel Studios and ABC paid tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman and his impact on the world .
ABC aired a special presentation of Marvel 's Black Panther starring Boseman in the lead role on Sunday along with retrospective segment A Tribute for a King , which was hosted by Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts .
The retrospective featured behind-the-scenes footage of Boseman working on Black Panther and interviews from his fellow Marvel castmates .
`` What does n't Chadwick bring to the character .
I mean he 's regal and grounded and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So all of this feeds his T'Challa and I think he wore the crown with dignity , '' Black Panther star Lupita Nyong ' o said about Boseman in the video .
The video ended with the message , `` You will always be our king . ''
Boseman died at the age of 43 on Friday following a four-year battle with colon cancer .
The actor also portrayed Black Panther in Captain America : Civil War , Avengers : Infinity War and Avengers : Endgame .
Boseman additionally starred as Jackie Robinson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Get On Up and has Thurgood Marshall in Marshall .
Danai Gurira , who portrayed Okoye in Black Panther , paid tribute to Boseman on Twitter Sunday .
`` He was the epitome of kindness , elegance , diligence and grace .
On many an occasion I would think how thankful I was that he was the leading man I was working closely with .
A true class act .
And so perfectly equipped to take on the responsibility of leading the franchise that changed everything for Black representation , '' Gurira said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made everyone feel loved heard and seen .
He played great iconic roles because he possessed inside of himself that connection to greatness to be able to so richly bring them to life .
He had a heroic spirit , and marched to the beat of his own drum ; hence his excellence as an artist and the incredible courage and determination as he faced life 's challenges ; while still guiding us all , '' she continued .
`` I am so thankful to have taken the Black Panther journey with him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time in his light and leadership and to call him forever a friend , '' she said .

Aug. 31 (UPI) -- Marvel Studios and ABC paid tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman and his impact on the world.
ABC aired a special presentation of Marvel's Black Panther starring Boseman in the lead role on Sunday along with retrospective segment A Tribute for a King, which was hosted by Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts.
Advertisement
The retrospective featured behind-the-scenes footage of Boseman working on Black Panther and interviews from his fellow Marvel castmates.
"What doesn't Chadwick bring to the character. I mean he's regal and grounded and he brings a gravitas to it. So all of this feeds his T'Challa and I think he wore the crown with dignity," Black Panther star Lupita Nyong'o said about Boseman in the video.
The video ended with the message, "You will always be our king."
Boseman died at the age of 43 on Friday following a four-year battle with colon cancer.
The actor also portrayed Black Panther in Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Boseman additionally starred as Jackie Robinson in 42, as James Brown in Get On Up and has Thurgood Marshall in Marshall.
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Danai Gurira, who portrayed Okoye in Black Panther, paid tribute to Boseman on Twitter Sunday.
"He was the epitome of kindness, elegance, diligence and grace. On many an occasion I would think how thankful I was that he was the leading man I was working closely with. A true class act. And so perfectly equipped to take on the responsibility of leading the franchise that changed everything for Black representation," Gurira said in a lengthy post.
"He made everyone feel loved heard and seen. He played great iconic roles because he possessed inside of himself that connection to greatness to be able to so richly bring them to life. He had a heroic spirit, and marched to the beat of his own drum; hence his excellence as an artist and the incredible courage and determination as he faced life's challenges; while still guiding us all," she continued.
"I am so thankful to have taken the Black Panther journey with him. To have known him, spent time in his light and leadership and to call him forever a friend," she said.


upi--2020-08-31--Look: Emma Roberts expecting son with Garrett Hedlund

Aug. 31 ( UPI ) -- Emma Roberts is going to be a mom .
The 29-year-old actress is expecting her first child , a son , with her boyfriend , actor Garrett Hedlund .
Roberts confirmed the news Sunday on Instagram alongside a slideshow of photos of herself with Hedlund .
The actress showed her baby bump in an off-shoulder white dress .
`` Me ... and my two favorite guys , '' she captioned the post .
Roberts ' aunt , actress Julia Roberts , and actresses Rumer Willis and Haley Bennett were among those to congratulate the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ angel , '' Willis added .
`` So excited for you . ''
`` Cuuuuuute alert .
This baby is gon na be so beautiful and funny and smart and Virginia wants to say hello , '' Bennett said , referencing her daughter , Virginia .
Roberts and Hedlund were first linked in March 2019 following Roberts ' split from her fiancé , actor Evan Peters .
Hedlund previously dated actress Kirsten Dunst .
Roberts is known for her roles on Scream Queens and American Horror Story .
Hedlund has starred in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Davis and Triple Frontier .

Aug. 31 (UPI) -- Emma Roberts is going to be a mom.
The 29-year-old actress is expecting her first child, a son, with her boyfriend, actor Garrett Hedlund.
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Roberts confirmed the news Sunday on Instagram alongside a slideshow of photos of herself with Hedlund. The actress showed her baby bump in an off-shoulder white dress.
"Me... and my two favorite guys," she captioned the post.
Roberts' aunt, actress Julia Roberts, and actresses Rumer Willis and Haley Bennett were among those to congratulate the couple in the comments.
"Love you," Julia Roberts wrote.
"Congratulations angel," Willis added. "So excited for you."
"Cuuuuuute alert. This baby is gonna be so beautiful and funny and smart and Virginia wants to say hello," Bennett said, referencing her daughter, Virginia.
Roberts and Hedlund were first linked in March 2019 following Roberts' split from her fiancé, actor Evan Peters. Hedlund previously dated actress Kirsten Dunst.
Roberts is known for her roles on Scream Queens and American Horror Story. Hedlund has starred in the films Tron: Legacy, Inside Llewyn Davis and Triple Frontier.


upi--2020-08-31--Gallup poll: COVID-19 has Americans working many more days from home

Aug. 31 ( UPI ) -- Americans are now working many more days remotely than they were before the COVID-19 pandemic arrived months ago , Gallup said in a new survey Monday .
The poll showed that there 's been a slight increase of the number of U.S. workers who say they have worked remotely before , but a substantial increase in the number of days they 're working away from the office .
The figures show those working remotely are doing so an average of nearly 6 days per week -- compared to an average of 2.4 days per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly half of all respondents said they 'd worked remotely before , an increase of 7 points .
That figure has been rising steadily since 2008 ( 30 % ) , the pollster said .
The survey showed 26 % said they 're working entirely from home and 8 % said they 're `` mostly '' working remotely .
However , 51 % said they 're not working remotely in any fashion .
`` Of course , not every job can be done remotely ; therefore , the growth of telecommuting has a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Half of U.S. workers currently say they do their job entirely at a location outside their home .
Given this , and that half of U.S. workers report they have never telecommuted , the growth in the proportion of the workforce that could telecommute may have reached that ceiling during the pandemic .
`` Further growth in remote work may thus come in the amount of time workers spend outside the office or work site , rather than in the number of workers who do so . ''
Those working remotely the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 9.2 days per month ) , women ( 7.9 days ) and persons over the age of 54 ( 7.2 days ) , the survey showed .
Gallup polled more than 1,000 U.S. adults for the survey , which has a margin of error of 4 points .

Second-grade teacher Imani Baucom instructs students remotely from her home in Bowie, Md., on May 4. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 31 (UPI) -- Americans are now working many more days remotely than they were before the COVID-19 pandemic arrived months ago, Gallup said in a new survey Monday. The poll showed that there's been a slight increase of the number of U.S. workers who say they have worked remotely before, but a substantial increase in the number of days they're working away from the office. Advertisement
The figures show those working remotely are doing so an average of nearly 6 days per week -- compared to an average of 2.4 days per week before the pandemic.
Gallup said nearly half of all respondents said they'd worked remotely before, an increase of 7 points. That figure has been rising steadily since 2008 (30%), the pollster said.
The survey showed 26% said they're working entirely from home and 8% said they're "mostly" working remotely.
However, 51% said they're not working remotely in any fashion.
"Of course, not every job can be done remotely; therefore, the growth of telecommuting has a ceiling," Gallup wrote. "Half of U.S. workers currently say they do their job entirely at a location outside their home. Given this, and that half of U.S. workers report they have never telecommuted, the growth in the proportion of the workforce that could telecommute may have reached that ceiling during the pandemic.
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"Further growth in remote work may thus come in the amount of time workers spend outside the office or work site, rather than in the number of workers who do so."
Those working remotely the most, on average, are college graduates (9.2 days per month), women (7.9 days) and persons over the age of 54 (7.2 days), the survey showed.
Gallup polled more than 1,000 U.S. adults for the survey, which has a margin of error of 4 points.


upi--2020-08-31--Jacksonville Jaguars release RB Leonard Fournette

Fournette , 25 , had a career-high 1,674 yards from scrimmage in 15 starts last season .
The No .
@ @ @ @ @ 2017 NFL Draft was on the final year of his rookie contract .
Any of @ @ @ @ @ teams can now claim Fournette off waivers .
Ryquell Armstead now sits atop the Jaguars @ @ @ @ @ back .
The fifth-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft had 35 carries for 108 @ @ @ @ @ also had 13 catches for 144 yards and two scores in 16 games in 2019 @ @ @ @ @ backs Chris Thompson , Devine Ozigbo , James Robinson and Nathan Cottrell on its depth @ @ @ @ @ rushing yards , 1,342 yards from scrimmage and scored 10 touchdowns in 13 games during @ @ @ @ @ The LSU product had 624 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns in eight starts in @ @ @ @ @ hamstring injury and a one-game suspension .
The Jaguars host the Indianapolis Colts in their @ @ @ @ @ 1 p.m. EDT Sept. 13 at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville , Fla .

Former Jacksonville Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette can be claimed by any of the NFL's 31 other teams after he was waived Monday morning. File Photo by Joe Marino/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 31 (UPI) -- The Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday waived veteran running back Leonard Fournette. Fournette, 25, had a career-high 1,674 yards from scrimmage in 15 starts last season. The No. 4 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft was on the final year of his rookie contract. Advertisement
Any of the NFL's 31 other teams can now claim Fournette off waivers.
Ryquell Armstead now sits atop the Jaguars' depth chart at running back. The fifth-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft had 35 carries for 108 yards last season. Armstead also had 13 catches for 144 yards and two scores in 16 games in 2019.
Jacksonville also has running backs Chris Thompson, Devine Ozigbo, James Robinson and Nathan Cottrell on its depth chart.
Fournette had 1,040 rushing yards, 1,342 yards from scrimmage and scored 10 touchdowns in 13 games during his 2017 rookie campaign. The LSU product had 624 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns in eight starts in 2018 while limited by a hamstring injury and a one-game suspension.
The Jaguars host the Indianapolis Colts in their first regular season game at 1 p.m. EDT Sept. 13 at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Fla.


upi--2020-08-31--In photos: COVID-19 pandemic alters life in New York City

New York City swiftly became the U.S. epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic , with cases perhaps starting to peak around @ @ @ @ @ The city , which was virtually shut down except for essential businesses , started a @ @ @ @ @ Here 's a collection of scenes from UPI photographer John Angelillo .

A woman wears a face mask while looking at clothing at Diane Von Furstenberg in New York City on September 8. The CFDA announced in June that New York Fashion Week shows will run for only three days in September due to the coronavirus pandemic. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI


upi--2020-08-31--Military jets intercept British flight after device found in lavatory

Aug. 31 ( UPI ) -- British authorities arrested two men after a Ryanair flight was intercepted by military jets following reports of a suspicious device on board , officials said .
The men , a 34-year old from Kuwait and 48-year old from Italy , were arrested at London Stansted Airport on suspicion of terrorism late Sunday .
Ryanair said the flight 's captain reported the suspicious object , found in the plane 's lavatory , to British authorities during the flight from Austria .
The flight landed and taxied to a remote area of the airport , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Force Typhoon fighter jets had intercepted the aircraft and escorted it to the airport , military officials said .
Investigators with Britain 's Eastern Region Special Operations Unit said the men were later released after the device was found to be harmless .
`` We understandably take any reports of suspicious objects or behavior on flights very seriously and thankfully on this occasion there was no cause for concern , '' Detective Superintendent Andy Waldie said in a statement .
London Stansted Airport is located about 40 miles northeast of downtown London .

Authorities said a suspicious device was found in one of the plane's lavatories. It later turned out to be a false alarm. File Photo by Aidan Crawley/EPA-EFE
Aug. 31 (UPI) -- British authorities arrested two men after a Ryanair flight was intercepted by military jets following reports of a suspicious device on board, officials said. The men, a 34-year old from Kuwait and 48-year old from Italy, were arrested at London Stansted Airport on suspicion of terrorism late Sunday. Advertisement
Ryanair said the flight's captain reported the suspicious object, found in the plane's lavatory, to British authorities during the flight from Austria. The flight landed and taxied to a remote area of the airport, where passengers left the plane.
Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets had intercepted the aircraft and escorted it to the airport, military officials said.
Investigators with Britain's Eastern Region Special Operations Unit said the men were later released after the device was found to be harmless.
"We understandably take any reports of suspicious objects or behavior on flights very seriously and thankfully on this occasion there was no cause for concern," Detective Superintendent Andy Waldie said in a statement.
London Stansted Airport is located about 40 miles northeast of downtown London.


upi--2020-08-31--In photos: Moments from Major League Baseball for the week of Aug. 30, 2020

St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina has a ball thrown to him against the Cleveland Indians in St. Louis on @ @ @ @ @ in his 2,000th game .
The Cardinals won 7-2 .
Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI

New York Yankees' Aroldis Chapman (R) has to be restrained from approaching the the Tampa Bay Rays players after the Yankees' 5-3 victory in New York City on Tuesday. Chapman in the ninth inning threw a fastball that came close to Mike Brosseau's head, which caused the benches to clear once the final out was recorded. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI


upi--2020-08-31--In photos: Moments from Major League Baseball for the week of Aug. 23, 2020

New York Mets Amed Rosario flips off his helmet while celebrating with his teammates after hitting a walk-off game-winning two-run @ @ @ @ @ York Yankees in New York City on Friday .
The Mets swept the double header @ @ @ @ @ a Mets home game at Yankee Stadium .
Photo by John Angelillo/UPI

The Indians' Franmil Reyes points to where the baseball landed in the stands after hitting a three-run homer against the Cardinals. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI


upi--2020-08-31--Chargers Pro Bowl S Derwin James to miss significant time after knee injury

Aug. 31 ( UPI ) -- Los Angeles Chargers Pro Bowl safety Derwin James will likely miss a significant amount of time after he sustained a meniscus injury at training camp .
James sustained the right leg injury at Sunday 's practice session .
Sources told NFL Network James could miss at least four weeks if he gets a meniscus trim , but would miss several months if he needs a full repair .
The injury is still under evaluation from the Chargers ' medical staff .
Sources told ESPN James is seeking a second opinion on the injury .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ battles to his strongest soldiers , '' James ' agent , David Mulugheta tweeted Sunday .
`` Prayers up on a full recovery for my guy Derwin James . ''
James , 24 , was the No .
17 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft .
He had 105 total tackles , 13 passes defensed , four tackles for a loss , 3.5 sacks and three interceptions in 16 starts to earn All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors as a rookie .
The Florida State product began last season on injured reserve due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He then returned to start the final five games of the season .
The Chargers have Desmond King , Nasir Adderley and Alohi Gilman on their roster as options to replace James at safety .
Los Angeles could opt to sign his replacement in free agency .
The Chargers face the Cincinnati Bengals in their first game of the season at 4:05 p.m. EDT Sept. 13 at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati .

The Los Angeles Chargers will need to find a replacement for safety Derwin James (R) after the Pro Bowler sustained a knee injury Sunday at training camp. File Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 31 (UPI) -- Los Angeles Chargers Pro Bowl safety Derwin James will need to undergo surgery on his injured right knee and will miss the entire 2020 season. League sources told ESPN and NFL Media on Monday that James will require meniscus surgery, a procedure that is expected to sideline him for at least six months. That timeline could reach as much as eight months, essentially ruling him out for the season. Advertisement
James sustained the right leg injury during Sunday's practice session. According to the outlets, the standout defensive back received a second opinion, which confirmed that surgery would be necessary.
"They say God gives his toughest battles to his strongest soldiers," James' agent, David Mulugheta, tweeted Sunday. "Prayers up on a full recovery for my guy Derwin James."
James, 24, was the No. 17 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft out of Florida State. He had 105 total tackles, 13 passes defensed, four tackles for a loss, 3 1/2 sacks and three interceptions in 16 starts to earn All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors as a rookie.
James began last season on injured reserve due to a stress fracture in his foot. He then returned to start the final five games of the season.
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The Chargers have Desmond King, Nasir Adderley, Rayshawn Jenkins and Alohi Gilman on their roster as potential options to replace James at safety. Los Angeles could opt to sign his replacement in free agency.
The Chargers face the Cincinnati Bengals in their first game of the season at 4:05 p.m. EDT Sept. 13 at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati.


upi--2020-08-31--Beirut disaster aid distribution reflects Lebanese societal divides

Aug. 31 ( UPI ) -- The Aug. 4 explosion in Beirut , Lebanon killed 181 people , injured thousands , caused $ 10 billion to $ 15 billion in damage and displaced 300,000 people .
Despite the strong show of social solidarity and humanitarian aid , these humanitarian actions remain fragmented and unequal : They did not equally reach affected individuals and neighborhoods .
They remain fragmented based mainly on citizenship and class status .
There are different groups providing support on the ground : Lebanese government agencies , local and international non-governmental organizations , foreign governments , religious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hundreds of Lebanese and non-Lebanese residents .
Beirut , like other major cities , is incredibly diverse -- among those killed , 46 were Syrian refugees and more than a dozen were migrant workers .
The losses affected Lebanese , Syrians , Palestinians and migrant workers such as Bangladeshis , Ethiopians , Sri Lankans , Kurds and Ghanaians .
As a researcher whose primary work is related to sustained solidarity , I offer my critical insights based on the observations that I and other volunteers have witnessed in the field in Beirut .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lebanon is facing multiple overlapping crises : financial , fiscal , political and health .
These ongoing challenges have pushed an estimated 55 % of Lebanese citizens into poverty .
In the absence of functional government support , citizens and residents have taken on some of the post-disaster recovery , including cleaning the streets of debris , cooking and distributing food to displaced people and volunteers , surveying damaged buildings , helping locate missing individuals and pets and donating material goods .
As millions of dollars are being donated and as thousands of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is essential to consider how different solidarity actions reproduce inequality in Lebanese society .
Beirut neighborhoods are shaped by a long history of forced displacements , civil and regional wars and post-war reconstructions .
For instance , Karantina , one of the neighborhoods in the vicinity of Beirut port , is a low-income working-class and multi-ethnic neighborhood , historically inhabited by forced displaced groups , such as Armenians , Palestinians , Bedouins and Lebanese from rural areas .
In recent years , Karantina became a destination for Syrian refugees and other migrant workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the west end of the Beirut port , is inhabited by Lebanese from rural areas who moved to Beirut in the 1960s to work at the port .
On the other hand , Ashrafieh , historically a middle-class neighborhood , has undergone gentrificationduring the post-war reconstruction to become a neighborhood for wealthy individuals and businesses .
Gemmayzeh and Mar Mikhayel were similarly reconstructed to become the hub of small businesses , trendy nightclubs and bars at the expense of affordable living .
Lebanon hosts the largest number of refugees per capita in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Syria , then Palestine , Iraq and Sudan .
Widad ( a pseudonym ) , a Syrian refugee in her 40s , lives in a working-class neighborhood in Beirut .
I met Widad while volunteering ; she showed me the wounds on her body from the explosion and told me : '' All my family was injured .
My apartment is destroyed and the whole building is about to collapse .
My husband is still hospitalized .
There is no one to help us because we are poor Syrians ... A group of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days , offering us sandwiches .
But what would a sandwich do ?
We have nothing .
We do not have drinking water nor a toothbrush .
I have not showered in days .
There is no soap , no shampoo , not even clean water .
We are still waiting for these associations that collect money on our behalf .
I am unable to go anywhere with my injuries .
I can not leave my daughters alone at home . ''
Various volunteers , including myself , remarked that in the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was concentrated in middle- and high-class neighborhoods such as Geitawi , Mar Mikhael and Ashrafieh , where residents are mainly Lebanese middle-high income class .
Simultaneously , there has been a deliberate neglect for the immediate relief of other equally affected and historically marginalized neighborhoods , such as Karantina and Khandaq al-Ghamiq .
Beirut 's neighborhoods are clearly identifiable based on many factors , mainly differences in class and citizenship .
Reports from the field documented many incidents of racism toward non-Lebanese , accusing Syrian and Palestinian refugees or Sri Lankan , Bengali @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , of exploiting the humanitarian aidrelief and denying them certain donations .
A worker at an international aid organization clearly identified in a televised interview broadcast on France24 that their organization received funding to help `` Christian families in Achrafieh , Beirut . ''
In a televised interview , an aid worked explicitly states that the supplies were to be distributed to Christian families in a well-off Beirut neighborhood .
A visit to the marginalized neighborhoods of Karantina and Khandaq al-Ghamiq show the relatively low presence of local and international NGO solidarity tents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small groups of volunteers .
One week after the explosion , another international NGO helping refugees in Lebanon has established a hotline to collect data about the immediate needs of people .
The hotline was operating for only eight hours a day .
Simultaneously , it sent its employees to survey in the middle-class neighborhoods , while most of the refugees live in the working-class area of Karantina .
Privileging certain groups ( Lebanese , middle- and upper-class ) above others ( refugees , migrant workers , working class ) further exacerbates the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further deepens poverty and marginalization and aggravates the racist attitudes toward refugees and migrant workers .
The humanitarian aid following the Beirut explosion is necessary and ongoing .
It is still surveying and distributing immediate relief to affected communities .
But this response is unequally distributed and reproduces racism and inequality .
At this critical time , it is imperative to build genuine and egalitarian humanitarism .
Rana Sukarieh is a Ph.D candidate in sociology at York University , Canada .
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license @ @ @ @ @ @

Damaged buildings are seen near the devastated harbor port following a massive explosion in Beirut, Lebanon. Photo by Mustafa Jamaleddine/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 31 (UPI) -- The Aug. 4 explosion in Beirut, Lebanon killed 181 people, injured thousands, caused $10 billion to $15 billion in damage and displaced 300,000 people. Despite the strong show of social solidarity and humanitarian aid, these humanitarian actions remain fragmented and unequal: They did not equally reach affected individuals and neighborhoods. They remain fragmented based mainly on citizenship and class status. Advertisement
There are different groups providing support on the ground: Lebanese government agencies, local and international non-governmental organizations, foreign governments, religious groups, international emergency field hospitals and hundreds of Lebanese and non-Lebanese residents.
Beirut, like other major cities, is incredibly diverse -- among those killed, 46 were Syrian refugees and more than a dozen were migrant workers. The losses affected Lebanese, Syrians, Palestinians and migrant workers such as Bangladeshis, Ethiopians, Sri Lankans, Kurds and Ghanaians.
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As a researcher whose primary work is related to sustained solidarity, I offer my critical insights based on the observations that I and other volunteers have witnessed in the field in Beirut.
Complicating crises
The blast occurred at a time when Lebanon is facing multiple overlapping crises: financial, fiscal, political and health. These ongoing challenges have pushed an estimated 55% of Lebanese citizens into poverty.
In the absence of functional government support, citizens and residents have taken on some of the post-disaster recovery, including cleaning the streets of debris, cooking and distributing food to displaced people and volunteers, surveying damaged buildings, helping locate missing individuals and pets and donating material goods.
As millions of dollars are being donated and as thousands of volunteers take on post-disaster recovery, it is essential to consider how different solidarity actions reproduce inequality in Lebanese society.
Beirut's urban history
Beirut neighborhoods are shaped by a long history of forced displacements, civil and regional wars and post-war reconstructions.
For instance, Karantina, one of the neighborhoods in the vicinity of Beirut port, is a low-income working-class and multi-ethnic neighborhood, historically inhabited by forced displaced groups, such as Armenians, Palestinians, Bedouins and Lebanese from rural areas. In recent years, Karantina became a destination for Syrian refugees and other migrant workers.
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Similarly, Khandaq al-Ghamiq, at the west end of the Beirut port, is inhabited by Lebanese from rural areas who moved to Beirut in the 1960s to work at the port.
On the other hand, Ashrafieh, historically a middle-class neighborhood, has undergone gentrificationduring the post-war reconstruction to become a neighborhood for wealthy individuals and businesses. Gemmayzeh and Mar Mikhayel were similarly reconstructed to become the hub of small businesses, trendy nightclubs and bars at the expense of affordable living.
Class privilege
Lebanon hosts the largest number of refugees per capita in the world, the vast majority originating from Syria, then Palestine, Iraq and Sudan.
Widad (a pseudonym), a Syrian refugee in her 40s, lives in a working-class neighborhood in Beirut. I met Widad while volunteering; she showed me the wounds on her body from the explosion and told me:
"All my family was injured. My apartment is destroyed and the whole building is about to collapse. My husband is still hospitalized. There is no one to help us because we are poor Syrians...A group of well-intentioned people visited us the first few days, offering us sandwiches. But what would a sandwich do? We have nothing. We do not have drinking water nor a toothbrush. I have not showered in days. There is no soap, no shampoo, not even clean water. We are still waiting for these associations that collect money on our behalf. I am unable to go anywhere with my injuries. I cannot leave my daughters alone at home."
Advertisement
Various volunteers, including myself, remarked that in the first week after the explosion, post-disaster recovery was concentrated in middle- and high-class neighborhoods such as Geitawi, Mar Mikhael and Ashrafieh, where residents are mainly Lebanese middle-high income class. Simultaneously, there has been a deliberate neglect for the immediate relief of other equally affected and historically marginalized neighborhoods, such as Karantina and Khandaq al-Ghamiq. Beirut's neighborhoods are clearly identifiable based on many factors, mainly differences in class and citizenship.
Racist responses
Reports from the field documented many incidents of racism toward non-Lebanese, accusing Syrian and Palestinian refugees or Sri Lankan, Bengali and Ethiopian migrant workers, for instance, of exploiting the humanitarian aidrelief and denying them certain donations.
A worker at an international aid organization clearly identified in a televised interview broadcast on France24 that their organization received funding to help "Christian families in Achrafieh, Beirut."
In a televised interview, an aid worked explicitly states that the supplies were to be distributed to Christian families in a well-off Beirut neighborhood.
A visit to the marginalized neighborhoods of Karantina and Khandaq al-Ghamiq show the relatively low presence of local and international NGO solidarity tents and the prevalence of unorganized and sporadic small groups of volunteers.
Advertisement
One week after the explosion, another international NGO helping refugees in Lebanon has established a hotline to collect data about the immediate needs of people. The hotline was operating for only eight hours a day. Simultaneously, it sent its employees to survey in the middle-class neighborhoods, while most of the refugees live in the working-class area of Karantina.
Aid values
Privileging certain groups (Lebanese, middle- and upper-class) above others (refugees, migrant workers, working class) further exacerbates the social divisions in Lebanese society. It further deepens poverty and marginalization and aggravates the racist attitudes toward refugees and migrant workers.
The humanitarian aid following the Beirut explosion is necessary and ongoing. It is still surveying and distributing immediate relief to affected communities. But this response is unequally distributed and reproduces racism and inequality. At this critical time, it is imperative to build genuine and egalitarian humanitarism.
Rana Sukarieh is a Ph.D candidate in sociology at York University, Canada. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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upi--2020-08-31--WWE Payback: Roman Reigns becomes Universal Champion

Aug. 31 ( UPI ) -- Roman Reigns became the new Universal Champion in controversial fashion at WWE Payback .
Reigns took part in the Triple Threat main event match along with defending champion The Fiend Bray Wyatt and Braun Strowman on Sunday .
Reigns , however , did not join the match until well after The Fiend and Strowman had already decimated each other.The Fiend had thrown Strowman through a table , battered him with steel steps and launched The Monster Among Men from the top rope which destroyed the ring and caused it to collapse .
Paul Heyman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who now manages Reigns , had the Big Dog sign the contract for the match as he made his way to the destroyed ring .
Reigns used a steel chair on Strowman and survived the Mandible Claw from The Fiend who had recovered .
Reigns kicked The Fiend below the belt to send him out of the ring and unleashed a Spear on Strowman to earn the three count and become the new , Universal Champion .
Alexa Bliss , who has had a number of encounters with The Fiend , was notably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the backstage area .
Also at Payback , Women 's Tag Team Champions Bayley and Sasha Banks defended their titles against the unlikely duo of Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax .
Bayley is also the SmackDown Women 's Champion .
Jax and Baszler do n't like each other , but agreed that they could defeat the dominant Banks and Bayley together .
Baszler and Jax worked well as a team and stayed in the match despite Banks and Bayley concentrating on Jax 's left knee .
Baszler tagged herself in after Banks and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a Double Suplex .
Baszler simultaneously locked in the Kirifuda Clutch on Bayley and the Half-Muta Lock on Banks .
Baszler then used Banks ' arm to apply more pressure to Bayley , causing her to tap out .
Baszler and Jax are the new Women 's Tag Team Champions .
The era of Bayley Dos Straps has come to a close .
Keith Lee was in action against Randy Orton after the former NXT Champion made his Raw debut last week .
The Limitless One made his way to the ring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ball Super .
Lee used his superior size and strength to manhandle Orton like no one has before .
The Viper did connect with his signature Draping DDT and attempted an RKO , but Lee blocked it .
Lee then took out Orton with a thunderous Spirit Bomb to win the match in convincing fashion .
Other moments from WWE Payback included The Riott Squad defeating The IIconics ; Bobby Lashley defeating Apollo Crews to become the new United States Champion ; Big E defeating Sheamus ; Matt Riddle defeating King Corbin ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rollins and his disciple Murphy .
Rey Mysterio and his son Dominik Mysterio finally got revenge on Rollins after Murphy accidentally kicked The Monday Night Messiah .
Dominik Mysterio took advantage of the situation and nailed Murphy with a 619 followed by a Frog Splash to win the match .

Aug. 31 (UPI) -- Roman Reigns became the new Universal Champion in controversial fashion at WWE Payback.
Reigns took part in the Triple Threat main event match along with defending champion The Fiend Bray Wyatt and Braun Strowman on Sunday.
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Reigns, however, did not join the match until well after The Fiend and Strowman had already decimated each other.The Fiend had thrown Strowman through a table, battered him with steel steps and launched The Monster Among Men from the top rope which destroyed the ring and caused it to collapse.
Paul Heyman, the former advocate for Brock Lesnar who now manages Reigns, had the Big Dog sign the contract for the match as he made his way to the destroyed ring.
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Reigns used a steel chair on Strowman and survived the Mandible Claw from The Fiend who had recovered. Reigns kicked The Fiend below the belt to send him out of the ring and unleashed a Spear on Strowman to earn the three count and become the new, Universal Champion.
Alexa Bliss, who has had a number of encounters with The Fiend, was notably watching the match and The Fiend from the backstage area.
Also at Payback, Women's Tag Team Champions Bayley and Sasha Banks defended their titles against the unlikely duo of Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax. Bayley is also the SmackDown Women's Champion.
Jax and Baszler don't like each other, but agreed that they could defeat the dominant Banks and Bayley together. Baszler and Jax worked well as a team and stayed in the match despite Banks and Bayley concentrating on Jax's left knee.
Baszler tagged herself in after Banks and Bayley were unable to lift up Jax for a Double Suplex. Baszler simultaneously locked in the Kirifuda Clutch on Bayley and the Half-Muta Lock on Banks.
Baszler then used Banks' arm to apply more pressure to Bayley, causing her to tap out. Baszler and Jax are the new Women's Tag Team Champions. The era of Bayley Dos Straps has come to a close.
Keith Lee was in action against Randy Orton after the former NXT Champion made his Raw debut last week. The Limitless One made his way to the ring while dressed up as Broly from Dragon Ball Super.
Lee used his superior size and strength to manhandle Orton like no one has before.
The Viper did connect with his signature Draping DDT and attempted an RKO, but Lee blocked it. Lee then took out Orton with a thunderous Spirit Bomb to win the match in convincing fashion.
Other moments from WWE Payback included The Riott Squad defeating The IIconics; Bobby Lashley defeating Apollo Crews to become the new United States Champion; Big E defeating Sheamus; Matt Riddle defeating King Corbin; and Rey and Dominik Mysterio defeating Seth Rollins and his disciple Murphy.
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Rey Mysterio and his son Dominik Mysterio finally got revenge on Rollins after Murphy accidentally kicked The Monday Night Messiah. Dominik Mysterio took advantage of the situation and nailed Murphy with a 619 followed by a Frog Splash to win the match.


upi--2020-08-31--In Photos: Notable deaths of 2020

In Photos: Notable deaths of 2020

Wilford Brimley arrives for the premiere of `` Did You Hear About the Morgans ? ''
in New York City @ @ @ @ @ .
The actor , best known for `` The Natural , '' and `` Cocoon @ @ @ @ @ 2 , 2020 , at the age of 85 .
Photo by Laura Cavanaugh/UPI

Dawn Wells
Dawn Wells poses with the original, fully restored S.S. Minnow from "Gilligan's Island" to meet and greet fans and visitors at the Vancouver International Boat Show in Vancouver on January 23, 2014. Best known for her role as Mary Ann from "Gilligan's Island," Wells died of COVID-19 on December 30 at the age of 82. Photo by Heinz Ruckemann/UPI


upi--2020-08-31--U.S. sees 35K new COVID cases; record surges in Midwest

Aug. 31 ( UPI ) -- New COVID-19 cases in the United States declined to about 35,000 on Sunday -- the lowest figure in more than a week , according to data Monday from Johns Hopkins University .
Research at the university 's Center for Systems Science and Engineering showed 35,300 new cases , a decline of about 12,000 from the previous day and the lowest one-day figure since Aug. 23 .
Officials , however , have previously noted that Sunday figures are typically lower due to some inactive reporting nationwide .
Since the start of the pandemic , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths in the United States , according to Johns Hopkins data .
The national death toll Sunday was less than 430 , the lowest single-day total in nearly a month .
In Minnesota , the rising positivity rates in several counties are alarming the White House Coronavirus Task Force .
New cases rose by nearly 2,000 over the weekend , and Saturday saw one of the state 's highest single-day totals to date .
On a visit Sunday , task force coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx told reporters the numbers showed a `` worrisome @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hamper efforts to control the virus .
`` Whether it 's a wedding , whether it 's a funeral , whether it 's a birthday party , whether it 's just a Sunday afternoon dinner where we brought together our family from across the city and we 're sitting in the backyard , if you do n't have a mask on and someone is within six feet , virus spread can and will occur , '' she said .
Apart from Minnesota , other states in the Midwest like Indiana , Kentucky , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have seen recent surges in cases -- and record deaths were recorded in Hawaii , Idaho and Oklahoma .
In Iowa , there were nearly 1,000 new cases , according to state health officials .
The state averaged more than 1,100 the previous week .
Iowa 's seven-day average was the highest in the nation per 100,000 residents , as measured by the Harvard Global Health Institute .
Gov .
Kim Reynolds said a factor in the higher figures is that the state has begun including results from rapid-response antigen tests , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dakota , health officials on Sunday raised the number of cases statewide to a record-high , almost 2,500 .
It has averaged nearly three dozen new cases per 100,000 residents over the past week , second only to Iowa .
Grand Forks , N.D. , Mayor Brandon Bochenski has ordered bars in the city to close at 11 p.m. , citing `` the exponential increase '' in cases among residents between the ages of 20 and 29 .
`` I 've always been and always will be a champion for business , individual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` However , the recent spike has gotten us to the point where limiting the opportunities for mass congregations of people in close quarters has become necessary . ''

A masked women walks on the grounds of Hudson Yards in New York City on Saturday. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 31 (UPI) -- New COVID-19 cases in the United States declined to about 35,000 on Sunday -- the lowest figure in more than a week -- and the national total surpassed 6 million on Monday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Research at the university's Center for Systems Science and Engineering showed 35,300 new cases, a decline of about 12,000 from the previous day and the lowest one-day figure since Aug. 23. Officials, however, have previously noted that Sunday figures are typically lower due to some inactive reporting nationwide. Advertisement
Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 6.002 million cases and 183,100 deaths in the United States, according to Johns Hopkins data.
The national death toll Sunday was less than 430, the lowest single-day total in nearly a month.
In Minnesota, the rising positivity rates in several counties are alarming the White House Coronavirus Task Force.
New cases rose by nearly 2,000 over the weekend, and Saturday saw one of the state's highest single-day totals to date.
On a visit Sunday, task force coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx told reporters the numbers showed a "worrisome trend" and cautioned that complacency could hamper efforts to control the virus.
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"Whether it's a wedding, whether it's a funeral, whether it's a birthday party, whether it's just a Sunday afternoon dinner where we brought together our family from across the city and we're sitting in the backyard, if you don't have a mask on and someone is within six feet, virus spread can and will occur," she said.
Apart from Minnesota, other states in the Midwest like Indiana, Kentucky, Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota have seen recent surges in cases -- and record deaths were recorded in Hawaii, Idaho and Oklahoma.
In Iowa, there were nearly 1,000 new cases, according to state health officials. The state averaged more than 1,100 the previous week.
Iowa's seven-day average was the highest in the nation per 100,000 residents, as measured by the Harvard Global Health Institute.
Gov. Kim Reynolds said a factor in the higher figures is that the state has begun including results from rapid-response antigen tests, which has identified more cases.
In North Dakota, health officials on Sunday raised the number of cases statewide to a record-high, almost 2,500. It has averaged nearly three dozen new cases per 100,000 residents over the past week, second only to Iowa.
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Grand Forks, N.D., Mayor Brandon Bochenski has ordered bars in the city to close at 11 p.m., citing "the exponential increase" in cases among residents between the ages of 20 and 29.
"I've always been and always will be a champion for business, individual freedom and personal responsibility," Bochenski said. "However, the recent spike has gotten us to the point where limiting the opportunities for mass congregations of people in close quarters has become necessary."


upi--2020-08-31--Cardinals' Adam Wainwright gets complete game win vs. Indians on birthday

Aug. 31 ( UPI ) -- Veteran pitcher Adam Wainwright allowed just four hits and two runs in a dominant complete game performance to lead the St. Louis over the Cleveland Indians in St. Louis .
Wainwright threw 122 pitches and had nine strikeouts in the 7-2 victory -- on his 39th birthday -- Sunday at Busch Stadium .
He is now 3-0 with a 2.65 ERA this season .
`` A lot of hard work from a lot of different people has gone into [ helping ] me to be able to pitch again this year , '' Wainwright @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crazy ] when you think you 're done three years ago and able to throw a complete game years later .
...
It 's a crazy game and I 'm so blessed . ''
Right fielder Dexter Fowler led the Cardinals at the plate with a 2 for 3 night , which included a home run , a double and three RBIs .
Cardinals shortstop Paul DeJong collected three hits in the victory .
`` I wish I could do that at the age of 40 , '' Fowler said of Wainwright .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying he 's over the hill .
I know he 's 39 , but I say he 's 40 . ''
Indians right fielder Tyler Naquin hit a 360-foot , two-run homer to get the scoring started in the top of the second inning before the Cardinals took control of the interleague clash .
Brad Miller grounded out for the Cardinals in the first at-bat in the bottom of the second frame .
DeJong and Yadier Molina followed with singles to right field before Matt Carpenter drew a walk to load the bases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's box to face Indians starter Aaron Civale .
The exchange lasted for just one pitch .
Civale tossed a 74.9-mph curveball in for Fowler , who sent the offspeed offering to right field for a two-run double to tie the score at 2-2 .
Cardinals outfielder Dylan Carlson then stepped to the plate and hit a 2-1 cutter to right field for a two-run single and gave St. Louis a 4-2 edge .
The Cardinals plated a fifth run on a balk in the bottom of the third inning .
Fowler then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lead in the bottom of the seventh frame .
Cam Hill entered the game in relief of Civale to start the half inning .
Fowler fouled off Hill 's first offering before he smacked an 0-1 fastball into the right field seats for a 383-foot homer .
The blast left the field at 4.7 seconds , according to Statcast .
DeJong doubled in the third at-bat in the bottom of the eighth inning before he scored on a Molina single in the next at-bat for the final run of the game .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ faced in order to secure the victory .
Naquin went 1 for 3 with two RBIs and a run scored in the loss .
Molina and Tommy Edman each went 2 for 4 for the Cardinals .
Civale allowed eight hits and five runs to move to 3-4 on the season .
The Cardinals face the Cincinnati Reds in the first game of a National League Central division series at 6:40 p.m. EDT Monday at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati .
The Indians battle the Kansas City Royals at 8:05 p.m. EDT @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mo .

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright threw 122 pitches and had nine strikeouts in nine innings in a win over the Cleveland Indians Sunday in St. Louis. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 31 (UPI) -- Veteran pitcher Adam Wainwright allowed just four hits and two runs in a dominant complete game performance to lead the St. Louis over the Cleveland Indians in St. Louis. Wainwright threw 122 pitches and had nine strikeouts in the 7-2 victory -- on his 39th birthday -- Sunday at Busch Stadium. He is now 3-0 with a 2.65 ERA this season. Advertisement
"A lot of hard work from a lot of different people has gone into [helping] me to be able to pitch again this year," Wainwright told reporters. "[It's crazy] when you think you're done three years ago and able to throw a complete game years later. ... It's a crazy game and I'm so blessed."
Right fielder Dexter Fowler led the Cardinals at the plate with a 2 for 3 night, which included a home run, a double and three RBIs. Cardinals shortstop Paul DeJong collected three hits in the victory.
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"I wish I could do that at the age of 40," Fowler said of Wainwright. "I've been teasing him and saying he's over the hill. I know he's 39, but I say he's 40."
The win helped St. Louis (12-13) end a four-game losing streak and prevent a Cleveland (21-13) series sweep.
Indians right fielder Tyler Naquin hit a 360-foot, two-run homer to get the scoring started in the top of the second inning before the Cardinals took control of the interleague clash.
Brad Miller grounded out for the Cardinals in the first at-bat in the bottom of the second frame. DeJong and Yadier Molina followed with singles to right field before Matt Carpenter drew a walk to load the bases.
Fowler then stepped into the batter's box to face Indians starter Aaron Civale. The exchange lasted for just one pitch. Civale tossed a 74.9-mph curveball in for Fowler, who sent the offspeed offering to right field for a two-run double to tie the score at 2-2.
Cardinals outfielder Dylan Carlson then stepped to the plate and hit a 2-1 cutter to right field for a two-run single and gave St. Louis a 4-2 edge.
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The Cardinals plated a fifth run on a balk in the bottom of the third inning. Fowler then returned to the plate to add to the lead in the bottom of the seventh frame.
Cam Hill entered the game in relief of Civale to start the half inning. Fowler fouled off Hill's first offering before he smacked an 0-1 fastball into the right field seats for a 383-foot homer. The blast left the field at 4.7 seconds, according to Statcast.
DeJong doubled in the third at-bat in the bottom of the eighth inning before he scored on a Molina single in the next at-bat for the final run of the game.
Wainwright retired the final 11 hitters he faced in order to secure the victory.
Naquin went 1 for 3 with two RBIs and a run scored in the loss. Molina and Tommy Edman each went 2 for 4 for the Cardinals.
Civale allowed eight hits and five runs to move to 3-4 on the season.
The Cardinals face the Cincinnati Reds in the first game of a National League Central division series at 6:40 p.m. EDT Monday at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. The Indians battle the Kansas City Royals at 8:05 p.m. EDT at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
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This week in Major League Baseball


upi--2020-08-31--Israel makes first-ever flight to UAE after historic agreement

Aug. 31 ( UPI ) -- The first-ever direct flight from Israel to the United Arab Emirates -- flying over Saudi Arabia -- took off Monday carrying Israeli and U.S. political delegations .
The flight took off from the airport in Tel Aviv and landed in Abu Dhabi .
The Boeing 737 was equipped with a special missile defense system .
Aboard El Al Flight LY971 were Israeli national security official Meir Ben-Shabbat and U.S. presidential adviser Jared Kushner .
The flight is a result of the historic normalization of relations between Israel and the UAE brokered this month by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I prayed yesterday at the [ Western ] Wall that Muslims and Arabs from throughout the world will be watching this flight recognizing that we are all children of God and that the future does not have to be predetermined by the past , '' Kushner said .
`` This is a very hopeful time and I believe that so much peace and prosperity is possible in this region and throughout the world . ''
The plane flew over Saudi Arabian airspace to get to Abu Dhabi .
The return trip , Flight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday .
The flight numbers of the two trips , 971 and 972 , are the international dialing codes of the UAE and Israel , respectively .
`` This is what 'peace for peace ' looks like , '' he tweeted .

1/4
An Israeli delegation led, from left to right, by Israeli national security adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat, U.S. presidential adviser Jared Kushner and U.S. national security adviser Robert O'Brien boards the El Al Flight 971 Monday bound for Abu Dhabi. Pool Photo by Nir Elias/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 31 (UPI) -- The first-ever direct flight from Israel to the United Arab Emirates -- flying over Saudi Arabia -- took off Monday carrying Israeli and U.S. political delegations. The flight took off from the airport in Tel Aviv and landed in Abu Dhabi. The Boeing 737 was equipped with a special missile defense system. Advertisement
Aboard El Al Flight LY971 were Israeli national security official Meir Ben-Shabbat and U.S. presidential adviser Jared Kushner.
The flight is a result of the historic normalization of relations between Israel and the UAE brokered this month by President Donald Trump's administration.
"I prayed yesterday at the [Western] Wall that Muslims and Arabs from throughout the world will be watching this flight recognizing that we are all children of God and that the future does not have to be predetermined by the past," Kushner said. "This is a very hopeful time and I believe that so much peace and prosperity is possible in this region and throughout the world."
The plane flew over Saudi Arabian airspace to get to Abu Dhabi. The return trip, Flight LY972, will return to Israel on Tuesday. The flight numbers of the two trips, 971 and 972, are the international dialing codes of the UAE and Israel, respectively.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the historic flight Monday.
"This is what 'peace for peace' looks like," he tweeted.


upi--2020-08-31--Nuggets' Jamal Murray scores 50 vs. Jazz to force Game 7

Aug. 31 ( UPI ) -- Jamal Murray erupted for nine 3-pointers and totaled 50 points to lead the Denver Nuggets to a win over the Utah Jazz and force a decisive Game 7 in the first round Western Conference playoff series .
Murray made 17 of 24 shot attempts in the 119-107 victory Sunday in Orlando , Fla. Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell also made nine 3 pointers and totalled 44 points in the affair .
`` I play with the will to win , '' said Murray , who also scored 50 points in Game 4 and 42 points @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the series strong with a win in Game 1 before the Jazz won three straight to take control of the series .
The Nuggets then stopped the bleeding with a Game 5 win on Tuesday before they tied the series Sunday .
Game 6 featured just one lead change , as the Jazz led for the first 21:43 before the Nuggets snatched momentum .
`` No one is down , '' Mitchell said of the Jazz 's demeanor after the lost .
`` We are just [ angry ] .
If we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lost Game 7 .
`` There were things we could have done to win that game .
We are motivated to win this [ next game ] .
Nobody said it was going to be easy . ''
Murray scored 11 points in the first quarter , but the Jazz held a 36-30 lead after the first 12 minutes .
Denver outscored Utah 7-0 at the start of the second quarter to take a 42-39 edge .
Murray scored 14 points in the frame to help the Nuggets hold onto a 61-56 lead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to within a point of the Nuggets in the third quarter , but were not able to close the gap .
Murray then outscored Mitchell 21-17 down the stretch to help Denver secure the victory .
Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic scored 22 points and had nine assists , four rebounds and three steals .
Jerami Grant chipped in 18 points for Denver .
Jazz center Rudy Gobert had 11 points and 11 rebounds .
Jazz guard Mike Conley had 21 points , six assists and five rebounds in the loss .
Murray @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the win .
`` I 've been blessed to be around some great players : LeBron , Chris Paul , Stephen Curry , Klay Thompson , but I 've never seen a guy go for 50 , 42 and 50 , '' Nuggets coach Mike Malone said .
`` That 's a young guy putting a team on his back . ''
The Jazz and Nuggets face off in Game 7 at 8:30 p.m. EDT Tuesday in Orlando .
The winner of the series will play the Los Angeles Clippers in the @ @ @ @

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray has now averaged 47.3 points per game in his last three playoff games after he scored 50 points in a Game 6 win over the Utah Jazz Sunday in Orlando, Fla. Photo by Steve Dipaola/EPA-EFE
Aug. 31 (UPI) -- Jamal Murray erupted for nine 3-pointers and totaled 50 points to lead the Denver Nuggets to a win over the Utah Jazz and force a decisive Game 7 in the first round Western Conference playoff series. Murray made 17 of 24 shot attempts in the 119-107 victory Sunday in Orlando, Fla. Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell also made nine 3 pointers and totalled 44 points in the affair. Advertisement
"I play with the will to win," said Murray, who also scored 50 points in Game 4 and 42 points in Game 5.
The Nuggets started the series strong with a win in Game 1 before the Jazz won three straight to take control of the series. The Nuggets then stopped the bleeding with a Game 5 win on Tuesday before they tied the series Sunday.
Game 6 featured just one lead change, as the Jazz led for the first 21:43 before the Nuggets snatched momentum.
"No one is down," Mitchell said of the Jazz's demeanor after the lost. "We are just [angry]. If we are down right now then we've already lost Game 7.
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"There were things we could have done to win that game. We are motivated to win this [next game]. Nobody said it was going to be easy."
Murray scored 11 points in the first quarter, but the Jazz held a 36-30 lead after the first 12 minutes. Denver outscored Utah 7-0 at the start of the second quarter to take a 42-39 edge. Murray scored 14 points in the frame to help the Nuggets hold onto a 61-56 lead at the half.
The Jazz got to within a point of the Nuggets in the third quarter, but were not able to close the gap. Murray then outscored Mitchell 21-17 down the stretch to help Denver secure the victory.
Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic scored 22 points and had nine assists, four rebounds and three steals. Jerami Grant chipped in 18 points for Denver.
Jazz center Rudy Gobert had 11 points and 11 rebounds. Jazz guard Mike Conley had 21 points, six assists and five rebounds in the loss.
Murray also had six assists and five rebounds in the win.
"I've been blessed to be around some great players: LeBron, Chris Paul, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, but I've never seen a guy go for 50, 42 and 50," Nuggets coach Mike Malone said. "That's a young guy putting a team on his back."
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The Jazz and Nuggets face off in Game 7 at 8:30 p.m. EDT Tuesday in Orlando. The winner of the series will play the Los Angeles Clippers in the Western Conference semifinals.


upi--2020-08-31--COVID-19 sacked clean energy jobs in U.S. and they haven't come back

Aug. 31 ( UPI ) -- Before the coronavirus pandemic arrived this year , clean energy was one of fastest-growing sectors in the U.S. economy .
But since moderate stages of recovery began , experts say the industry has struggled to find footing .
Just 3,200 jobs returned to the clean energy sector in July , Labor Department data shows .
That 0.1 % employment growth has left more than 500,000 workers in fields including energy efficiency , solar and wind energy and clean vehicles without a job , an industry-sponsored analysis by the BW Research Partnership shows .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reversal of fortune for a sector that grew 70 % faster than the entire economy between 2015 and 2019 and had been employing three times as many workers as real estate , banking or agriculture .
At July 's growth rate , industry leaders say , it will take 15 years to replace the jobs that were wiped away by the pandemic .
The slow rebound can be blamed , they add , on a slate of pandemic-related restrictions and consequences that have combined to affect the industry .
`` Out of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clean energy field -- or did up until this year -- the vast majority are in the energy efficiency field , '' Bob Keefe , executive director of the non-partisan advocacy group Environmental Entrepreneurs ( E2 ) , told UPI .
`` Those are people who go into buildings and do everything from installing insulation in the walls and ceilings to swapping out incandescent lighting for LED lighting .
`` When you have a situation where buildings are suddenly off-limits , whether they 're skyscrapers in Manhattan or single-family homes in Kansas , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers to get back on the job . ''
The sudden idling in the industry has brought into focus impressive growth it has experienced in recent years .
By late 2018 , more than 2.3 million Americans were working the field , and the growth rate was more than 5 % , according to last year 's U.S. Energy and Employment Report .
In July , however , just 2,100 energy efficiency jobs in the United States returned -- after 15 % of the workforce was lost due to COVID-19 .
Another reason @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decline in new solar energy panels -- the bread and butter of the solar industry .
Large utility-scale solar and wind power installations -- like a Florida utility 's plan to install 30 million new panels statewide by 2030 -- have continued at a diminished but steady pace throughout the pandemic .
Small-scale residential projects , though , have dried up .
`` People are n't very interested in having solar workers come to their houses ... and having construction workers come in at a time of COVID and quarantines , '' Keefe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the renewable electric power sector were still unemployed in July -- or about 82,000 workers .
Industry backers have called for $ 100 billion in federal funding to recharge the industry , arguing that it would produce $ 330 billion worth of new economic activity and 860,000 jobs over five years .
Under the proposal , the lion 's share of the funding , about $ 61 billion , would go to the energy efficiency sector to create 737,000 jobs .
Jobs in the fossil fuels industry also have been sacked by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a quicker pace .
The oil and gas industry lost an estimated 118,000 jobs -- 15 % of its U.S. workforce -- through July , but has received far more emergency funding from Congress , according to the Energy Policy Tracker database .
The database , which tracks energy funding commitments among G20 nations , says the United States has committed more than $ 72 billion in 2020 to fossil fuels .
Most has been financial assistance for U.S. airlines -- which experts say is a major source of planet-warming carbon emissions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion has gone to support clean energy , mainly in the form of grants for public transit agencies , the energy trackers say .
The Labor Department 's monthly job report for July showed that although nearly 2 million jobs were added to the U.S. economy , the clean energy sector was not part of the growth .
`` These new jobs primarily fall in industries unrelated to clean energy , such as government , food and accommodation and education and health services , '' the BW Research Partnership analysis said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive news for the economy , it also contains some alarming trends .
`` Weekly unemployment claims continue at an historic pace .
The most recent week 's claims data ... showed a slight decline in initial jobless claims , but is still at a level more than 50 % higher than any week in our history prior to March .
`` At the same time , the long-term unemployment rate -- defined as 27 weeks of consecutive unemployment -- has risen sharply since March . ''

Blades rotate on ene of six wind turbines near Somerset, Pa. Stagnant growth since the start of the pandemic has left 500,000 workers in the solar and wind energy sectors without a job. File Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 31 (UPI) -- Before the coronavirus pandemic arrived this year, clean energy was one of fastest-growing sectors in the U.S. economy. But since moderate stages of recovery began, experts say the industry has struggled to find footing. Just 3,200 jobs returned to the clean energy sector in July, Labor Department data shows. Advertisement
That 0.1% employment growth has left more than 500,000 workers in fields including energy efficiency, solar and wind energy and clean vehicles without a job, an industry-sponsored analysis by the BW Research Partnership shows.
The last few months have seen a major reversal of fortune for a sector that grew 70% faster than the entire economy between 2015 and 2019 and had been employing three times as many workers as real estate, banking or agriculture.
At July's growth rate, industry leaders say, it will take 15 years to replace the jobs that were wiped away by the pandemic.
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The slow rebound can be blamed, they add, on a slate of pandemic-related restrictions and consequences that have combined to affect the industry.
"Out of the 3.2 million people who work in the clean energy field -- or did up until this year -- the vast majority are in the energy efficiency field," Bob Keefe, executive director of the non-partisan advocacy group Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2), told UPI.
"Those are people who go into buildings and do everything from installing insulation in the walls and ceilings to swapping out incandescent lighting for LED lighting.
"When you have a situation where buildings are suddenly off-limits, whether they're skyscrapers in Manhattan or single-family homes in Kansas, it's hard for those energy efficiency workers to get back on the job."
The sudden idling in the industry has brought into focus impressive growth it has experienced in recent years. By late 2018, more than 2.3 million Americans were working the field, and the growth rate was more than 5%, according to last year's U.S. Energy and Employment Report.
In July, however, just 2,100 energy efficiency jobs in the United States returned -- after 15% of the workforce was lost due to COVID-19.
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Another reason for the slow rebound is a marked decline in new solar energy panels -- the bread and butter of the solar industry.
Large utility-scale solar and wind power installations -- like a Florida utility's plan to install 30 million new panels statewide by 2030 -- have continued at a diminished but steady pace throughout the pandemic. Small-scale residential projects, though, have dried up.
"People aren't very interested in having solar workers come to their houses ... and having construction workers come in at a time of COVID and quarantines," Keefe said.
Nearly 15% of workers in the renewable electric power sector were still unemployed in July -- or about 82,000 workers.
Industry backers have called for $100 billion in federal funding to recharge the industry, arguing that it would produce $330 billion worth of new economic activity and 860,000 jobs over five years.
Under the proposal, the lion's share of the funding, about $61 billion, would go to the energy efficiency sector to create 737,000 jobs.
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Jobs in the fossil fuels industry also have been sacked by COVID-19, but so far have returned at a quicker pace.
The oil and gas industry lost an estimated 118,000 jobs -- 15% of its U.S. workforce -- through July, but has received far more emergency funding from Congress, according to the Energy Policy Tracker database.
The database, which tracks energy funding commitments among G20 nations, says the United States has committed more than $72 billion in 2020 to fossil fuels. Most has been financial assistance for U.S. airlines -- which experts say is a major source of planet-warming carbon emissions.
Meanwhile, less than $30 billion has gone to support clean energy, mainly in the form of grants for public transit agencies, the energy trackers say.
The Labor Department's monthly job report for July showed that although nearly 2 million jobs were added to the U.S. economy, the clean energy sector was not part of the growth.
"These new jobs primarily fall in industries unrelated to clean energy, such as government, food and accommodation and education and health services," the BW Research Partnership analysis said. "While the recent jobs report has some positive news for the economy, it also contains some alarming trends.
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"Weekly unemployment claims continue at an historic pace. The most recent week's claims data...showed a slight decline in initial jobless claims, but is still at a level more than 50% higher than any week in our history prior to March.
"At the same time, the long-term unemployment rate -- defined as 27 weeks of consecutive unemployment -- has risen sharply since March."


upi--2020-08-31--India reports more than 78K COVID-19 cases; extends travel ban

Aug. 31 ( UPI ) -- India reported more than 78,500 cases of the coronavirus for the second day in a row on Monday , forcing it to extend a suspension on international commercial air travel until the end of September as the world 's second-most populous country struggles to contain COVID-19 .
India 's Office of the Director General of Civil Aviation announced the extension to the air travel suspension that was instituted in March , stating it will not affect international cargo operations .
The statement explained some scheduled flights may continue on a case by case basis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries , including the United States , Britain , France and Germany , to create so-called bubbles to allow for international travel , The Times of India reported .
The suspension , which will last until at least Sept. 30 , was announced hours after the Ministry of Health reported 78,512 new cases of COVID-19 .
The new daily figure for the country with 1.3 billion people was the most reported by any nation on Monday and came a day after it set a world record for most cases reported by a country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The previous record had been 77,255 set by the United States on July 16 .
India 's Monday tally is a continuation of an exponential growth in cases it has been facing since its first infections were diagnosed in late January .
Kumar Sanjay Krishna , chief secretary of the hard-hit northeastern state of Assam , gave three reasons for the climbing figures : increasing testing , reopening of the economy and complacency .
`` It has been noticed that people are not following precautionary steps and are violating the COVID protocols , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that there will be `` visible strict action '' taken against those who violate social distancing guidelines or fail to wear masks in public starting from Monday .
`` We request citizens to follow COVID-19 protocols , otherwise strict action will be taken against violators , '' the Assam Police Department confirmed in a statement .
The Ministry of Health explained in a statement that 70 % of the new cases were from the seven states of Maharashtra at 21 % , Andhra Pradesh at 13.5 % , Karnataka at 11.27 % , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pradesh at 8.27 % and West Bengal and Odisha each responsible for nearly 4 % .
The new figures increase its total infections to 3.62 million and push it toward surpassing Brazil for second in the world in cases .
The South American country quickly climbed the rankings over the past few months to second where it sits with 3.82 million infections , but Brazil has been experiencing a ragged decline in daily cases since the end of July and India may soon jump it .
The United States sits in first with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ministry of Health said 43 % of all cases were from the three states of Maharashtra , Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka .
Those three states were also responsible for 50 % of the 971 deaths , the ministry said , as the new figures increased its pandemic death toll to 64,469 -- which is also third worldwide behind Brazil and the United States .
Russia , which sits fourth in the world in infections , reported 4,993 new infections on Monday , lifting its total 995,319 .
Though the country has experienced a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 11,000 daily cases in May , Monday 's figure continues a daily increase in that began on Aug. 26 , when it recorded its lowest caseload since mid-April amid skyrocketing infections , according to data from Johns Hopkins University .
Those four countries accounted for roughly 58 % of the more than 25 million cases reported worldwide since the first infection was diagnosed in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late December before spreading the globe over .

People are seen weaking face masks as they ride on a busy road in Amritsar, India on August 21. Photo by Raminder Pal Singh/EPA-EFE
Aug. 31 (UPI) -- India reported more than 78,500 cases of the coronavirus for the second day in a row on Monday, forcing it to extend a suspension on international commercial air travel until the end of September as the world's second-most populous country struggles to contain COVID-19. India's Office of the Director General of Civil Aviation announced the extension to the air travel suspension that was instituted in March, stating it will not affect international cargo operations. Advertisement
The statement explained some scheduled flights may continue on a case by case basis as India has inked deals with several countries, including the United States, Britain, France and Germany, to create so-called bubbles to allow for international travel, The Times of India reported.
The suspension, which will last until at least Sept. 30, was announced hours after the Ministry of Health reported 78,512 new cases of COVID-19.
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The new daily figure for the country with 1.3 billion people was the most reported by any nation on Monday and came a day after it set a world record for most cases reported by a country in a 24-hour period with 78,761. The previous record had been 77,255 set by the United States on July 16.
India's Monday tally is a continuation of an exponential growth in cases it has been facing since its first infections were diagnosed in late January.
Kumar Sanjay Krishna, chief secretary of the hard-hit northeastern state of Assam, gave three reasons for the climbing figures: increasing testing, reopening of the economy and complacency.
"It has been noticed that people are not following precautionary steps and are violating the COVID protocols," he said on Twitter, warning that there will be "visible strict action" taken against those who violate social distancing guidelines or fail to wear masks in public starting from Monday.
"We request citizens to follow COVID-19 protocols, otherwise strict action will be taken against violators," the Assam Police Department confirmed in a statement.
The Ministry of Health explained in a statement that 70% of the new cases were from the seven states of Maharashtra at 21%, Andhra Pradesh at 13.5%, Karnataka at 11.27%, Tamil Nadu at 8.27%, Uttar Pradesh at 8.27% and West Bengal and Odisha each responsible for nearly 4%.
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The new figures increase its total infections to 3.62 million and push it toward surpassing Brazil for second in the world in cases. The South American country quickly climbed the rankings over the past few months to second where it sits with 3.82 million infections, but Brazil has been experiencing a ragged decline in daily cases since the end of July and India may soon jump it.
The United States sits in first with nearly 6 million infections.
India's Ministry of Health said 43% of all cases were from the three states of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
Those three states were also responsible for 50% of the 971 deaths, the ministry said, as the new figures increased its pandemic death toll to 64,469 -- which is also third worldwide behind Brazil and the United States.
Russia, which sits fourth in the world in infections, reported 4,993 new infections on Monday, lifting its total 995,319.
Though the country has experienced a consistent gradual decline since peaking at more than 11,000 daily cases in May, Monday's figure continues a daily increase in that began on Aug. 26, when it recorded its lowest caseload since mid-April amid skyrocketing infections, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
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Those four countries accounted for roughly 58% of the more than 25 million cases reported worldwide since the first infection was diagnosed in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late December before spreading the globe over.