upi--2020-11-11--COVID-19: N.Y., Ohio add new restrictions as U.S. hits another case record

Nov. 11 ( UPI ) -- New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo and Ohio Gov .
Mike DeWine announced new restrictions as COVID-19 cases increased in their states and the United States set another daily record for new infections .
The data from researchers at Johns Hopkins University shows 136,300 new cases were added nationwide Tuesday , topping the previous mark by about 8,000 .
New daily records were set Nov. 3 , Thursday , Saturday and Tuesday .
Combined , the United States has added about 971,000 new cases in the past eight days , according to Johns Hopkins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nationwide , about 1,400 , since mid-August .
Since the start of the pandemic , there have been 10.26 million coronavirus cases and 239,700 deaths in the United States , according to Johns Hopkins data .
Hospitalizations reached a record high of about 62,000 Tuesday , according to the COVID Tracking Project .
Of those patients , about 12,000 were in intensive care -- a level exceeded only by the early days of the outbreak in April .
Cases have surged in New York , where Cuomo announced Wednesday that new restrictions would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gatherings will be limited to 10 people , and gyms , bars and restaurants must close each night at 10 p.m .
The curfew will apply only to restaurants licensed by the state liquor authority .
Others may provide take-out after 10 p.m. Cuomo told reporters the spread of the virus is mostly happening at bars , restaurants , gyms and house parties .
`` COVID is getting worse by the day .
All around the country .
The fall surge is here .
We are taking action but we need New Yorkers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mask .
Get tested .
Follow all health guidelines .
Take this seriously , '' he tweeted .
New York reported 4,820 positive tests and 21 deaths Tuesday and 1,628 hospitalizations .
The new data came on the same day Gallup said in a new survey that a growing number of Americans are concerned about the growing health crisis , but fewer are now willing to take steps to control the outbreak , such as isolation and proper distancing , compared to earlier in the pandemic .
DeWine announced Ohio will reinstitute its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported 50,000 new COVID-19 cases within 13 days .
Under the new order , retail businesses will be required to post a face covering requirement sign at all public entrances and ensure that employees and customers wear masks .
DeWine will also form a Retail Compliance Unit that will inspect businesses to ensure compliance .
A first violation will result in a written warning , while a second will result in the store being closed for 24 hours .
`` We know that masks work .
They are the easiest , most cost-effective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he said at an afternoon press conference Wednesday .
In Texas , the El Paso area has seen a surge in cases and deaths .
Officials say hundreds have died and funeral homes are struggling to keep up .
Some funeral home directors are now having to create impromptu body storage spaces to cope .
Christopher Lujan , director of the Sunset Funeral Homes in El Paso , told KDBC-TV he 's converted a music room into a walk-in cooler for storage .
`` Hopefully we get people to understand that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Area hospitals are also inundated with patients .
Some of the seriously ill have been airlifted to other locations in New Mexico and Texas .
In Illinois , Gov .
J.B. Pritzker said his state is dealing with the worst surge of the pandemic so far , with hospitalizations spiking to about 4,200 per day .
Pritzker urged residents to wear masks and advised against large holiday gatherings for the safety of front-line health workers .
`` They need your help , '' he told reporters .
`` The nation is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this pandemic . ''

A masked man passes the New York Stock Exchange on Wall Street in New York City on Monday. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 11 (UPI) -- New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced new restrictions as COVID-19 cases increased in their states and the United States set another daily record for new infections. The data from researchers at Johns Hopkins University shows 136,300 new cases were added nationwide Tuesday, topping the previous mark by about 8,000. New daily records were set Nov. 3, Thursday, Saturday and Tuesday. Advertisement
Combined, the United States has added about 971,000 new cases in the past eight days, according to Johns Hopkins.
Tuesday also saw the most deaths nationwide, about 1,400, since mid-August.
Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 10.26 million coronavirus cases and 239,700 deaths in the United States, according to Johns Hopkins data.
Hospitalizations reached a record high of about 62,000 Tuesday, according to the COVID Tracking Project. Of those patients, about 12,000 were in intensive care -- a level exceeded only by the early days of the outbreak in April.
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Cases have surged in New York, where Cuomo announced Wednesday that new restrictions would go into effect Friday. Private indoor gatherings will be limited to 10 people, and gyms, bars and restaurants must close each night at 10 p.m. The curfew will apply only to restaurants licensed by the state liquor authority. Others may provide take-out after 10 p.m.
Cuomo told reporters the spread of the virus is mostly happening at bars, restaurants, gyms and house parties.
"COVID is getting worse by the day. All around the country. The fall surge is here. We are taking action but we need New Yorkers to do their part. Wear a mask. Get tested. Follow all health guidelines. Take this seriously," he tweeted.
New York reported 4,820 positive tests and 21 deaths Tuesday and 1,628 hospitalizations.
The new data came on the same day Gallup said in a new survey that a growing number of Americans are concerned about the growing health crisis, but fewer are now willing to take steps to control the outbreak, such as isolation and proper distancing, compared to earlier in the pandemic.
DeWine announced Ohio will reinstitute its statewide mask mandate as the state has reported 50,000 new COVID-19 cases within 13 days.
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Under the new order, retail businesses will be required to post a face covering requirement sign at all public entrances and ensure that employees and customers wear masks.
DeWine will also form a Retail Compliance Unit that will inspect businesses to ensure compliance. A first violation will result in a written warning, while a second will result in the store being closed for 24 hours.
"We know that masks work. They are the easiest, most cost-effective way to limit the spread of COVID-19," he said at an afternoon press conference Wednesday.
In Texas, the El Paso area has seen a surge in cases and deaths. Officials say hundreds have died and funeral homes are struggling to keep up. Some funeral home directors are now having to create impromptu body storage spaces to cope.
Christopher Lujan, director of the Sunset Funeral Homes in El Paso, told KDBC-TV he's converted a music room into a walk-in cooler for storage.
"Hopefully we get people to understand that this pandemic is serious," he said.
Area hospitals are also inundated with patients. Some of the seriously ill have been airlifted to other locations in New Mexico and Texas.
In Illinois, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said his state is dealing with the worst surge of the pandemic so far, with hospitalizations spiking to about 4,200 per day.
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Pritzker urged residents to wear masks and advised against large holiday gatherings for the safety of front-line health workers.
"They need your help," he told reporters. "The nation is in a precarious place right now in this pandemic."


upi--2020-11-11--Ring recalls video doorbells after fires

Nov. 11 ( UPI ) -- Ring has recalled about 350,000 of its doorbell units after dozens of users reported @ @ @ @ @ The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said Tuesday that the video doorbell 's battery can @ @ @ @ @ used to install the device , potentially posing a fire or burn hazard .
Ring @ @ @ @ @ screws used , 23 of which ignited , causing `` minor property damage . ''
@ @ @ @ @ reports of `` minor burns . ''
The company , which is owned by Amazon @ @ @ @ @ the second-generation Ring Video Doorbell with the model number 5UM5E5 .
The device comes in @ @ @ @ @ silver , or black and bronze .
Customers who have a Ring doorbell can check @ @ @ @ @ is included in the recall by entering their device 's serial number at the Ring @ @ @ @ @ with doorbells under recall should immediately stop installing the devices and contact the company for @ @ @ @ @ instructions can also be found on the Ring website .

Ring recalled its second-generation video doorbell device. File Photo by James Atoa/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 11 (UPI) -- Ring has recalled about 350,000 of its doorbell units after dozens of users reported the devices caught fire. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said Tuesday that the video doorbell's battery can overheat when incorrect screws are used to install the device, potentially posing a fire or burn hazard. Advertisement
Ring received 85 reports of incorrect screws used, 23 of which ignited, causing "minor property damage." The company also received eight reports of "minor burns."
The company, which is owned by Amazon, said the recall includes the second-generation Ring Video Doorbell with the model number 5UM5E5. The device comes in two colors -- black and silver, or black and bronze.
Customers who have a Ring doorbell can check to see if their device is included in the recall by entering their device's serial number at the Ring website.
Ring said those with doorbells under recall should immediately stop installing the devices and contact the company for revised installation instructions. Those instructions can also be found on the Ring website.
"The safety of our customers is our top priority," a Ring spokesperson said in a statement to UPI. "We have and continue to work cooperatively with the CPSC on this issue, and have contacted customers who purchased a Ring Video Doorbell (2nd Gen) to ensure they received the updated user manual and follow the device installation instructions. Customers do not need to return their devices."
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upi--2020-11-11--UPS lifts restrictions on facial hair, natural Black hairstyles

Nov. 11 ( UPI ) -- UPS will lift restrictions on employee appearance by allowing facial hair and natural Black hairstyles , the company said Wednesday .
The shipping company shared the changes in an announcement on its internal website first reported by The Wall Street Journal , saying they are part of an effort to `` celebrate diversity rather than corporate restrictions . ''
Under the changes , the company will allow facial hair stating specifically that beards and mustaches `` are definitely acceptable as long as they are worn in a businesslike manner and do n't create a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allow hairstyles `` such as afros , braids , curls , coils , locs , twists and knots '' as well as eliminate any specific guidelines related to gender , such as length requirements for short .
`` These changes reflect our values and desires to have all UPS employees feel comfortable , genuine and authentic while providing service to our customers and interacting with the general public , '' UPS said in a statement , according to CNN .
Many of the existing restrictions applied primarily to employees who work in public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the changes were made after CEO Carol Tome , the first female head executive in the company 's history `` listened to feedback from employees and heard that changes in this area would make them more likely to recommend UPS as an employer . ''

UPS on Wednesday said it will loosen restrictions on employee appearance including allowing facial hair and natural Black hairstyles as well as removing gender-specific guidelines. File Photo by Roger L. Wollenberg | License Photo
Nov. 11 (UPI) -- UPS will lift restrictions on employee appearance by allowing facial hair and natural Black hairstyles, the company said Wednesday. The shipping company shared the changes in an announcement on its internal website first reported by The Wall Street Journal, saying they are part of an effort to "celebrate diversity rather than corporate restrictions." Advertisement
Under the changes, the company will allow facial hair stating specifically that beards and mustaches "are definitely acceptable as long as they are worn in a businesslike manner and don't create a safety concern."
UPS will also allow hairstyles "such as afros, braids, curls, coils, locs, twists and knots" as well as eliminate any specific guidelines related to gender, such as length requirements for short.
"These changes reflect our values and desires to have all UPS employees feel comfortable, genuine and authentic while providing service to our customers and interacting with the general public," UPS said in a statement, according to CNN.
Many of the existing restrictions applied primarily to employees who work in public such as delivery drivers.
The company said the changes were made after CEO Carol Tome, the first female head executive in the company's history "listened to feedback from employees and heard that changes in this area would make them more likely to recommend UPS as an employer."
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upi--2020-11-11--Dow snaps winning streak; tech propels S&P, Nasdaq higher

Nov. 11 ( UPI ) -- The Dow Jones Industrial Average snapped a two-day winning streak Wednesday , while the S & P 500 and Nasdaq Composite posted gains as tech stocks rebounded .
The blue-chip index closed down 23.29 points , or 0.079 % , after posting gains the first two days of the week .
The Dow has mostly climbed in the month of October , only dipping 0.2 % on Friday .
Disney stock dropped 3.02 % and JPMorgan Chase fell 1.49 % to drag the Dow lower .
The S & P 500 climbed 0.77 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tech stocks , which dragged them down earlier in the week , performed more favorably on Wednesday .
Amazon stock increased 3.37 % , Apple gained 3.04 % , Microsoft climbed 2.63 % , Netflix grew 2.19 % and Facebook ended the day up 1.49 % .
The S & P 500 's tech sector climbed more than 2 % overall to help lead the market higher .
U.S. markets have largely increased surrounding the U.S. presidential election but tech stocks suffered as investors moved away from so-called `` stay at home trade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dow climbed 0.9 % , while the S & P 500 dropped 0.14 % and the Nasdaq Composite fell 1.37 % .

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 23 points, snapping a two-day winning streak while a tech rebound propelled the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite higher. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 11 (UPI) -- The Dow Jones Industrial Average snapped a two-day winning streak Wednesday, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite posted gains as tech stocks rebounded. The blue-chip index closed down 23.29 points, or 0.079%, after posting gains the first two days of the week. The Dow has mostly climbed in the month of October, only dipping 0.2% on Friday. Advertisement
Disney stock dropped 3.02% and JPMorgan Chase fell 1.49% to drag the Dow lower.
The S&P 500 climbed 0.77% and the Nasdaq gained 2.01% as tech stocks, which dragged them down earlier in the week, performed more favorably on Wednesday.
Amazon stock increased 3.37%, Apple gained 3.04%, Microsoft climbed 2.63%, Netflix grew 2.19% and Facebook ended the day up 1.49%.
The S&P 500's tech sector climbed more than 2% overall to help lead the market higher.
U.S. markets have largely increased surrounding the U.S. presidential election but tech stocks suffered as investors moved away from so-called "stay at home trade" stocks.
On Tuesday, the Dow climbed 0.9%, while the S&P 500 dropped 0.14% and the Nasdaq Composite fell 1.37%.


upi--2020-11-11--Man wins $3.2M after using same lottery numbers for 35 years

Nov. 11 ( UPI ) -- A Maine man won a $ 3.2 million lottery jackpot using the same numbers @ @ @ @ @ the TriState Megabucks drawing for 35 years .
Gregory McAllister of Windsor told Maine Lottery @ @ @ @ @ Megabucks numbers on his 27th birthday and he has been using them now for 35 @ @ @ @ @ paid off in the Oct. 28 drawing , when the numbers came up 02-09-16-27-30 with @ @ @ @ @ I just ca n't believe I finally won , '' McAllister said .
`` I @ @ @ @ @ , who has worked as the bar manager at Sarah 's Cafe in Wiscasset for @ @ @ @ @ said he does n't plan to quit working .
`` I am planning to stay @ @ @ @ @ people and the place are like home to me , but I may drop a @ @ @ @ @ he said .

Gregory McAllister of Windsor, Maine, won a $3.2 million lottery jackpot after using the same set of numbers to play the Tri-State Megabucks drawing for 35 years. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Nov. 11 (UPI) -- A Maine man won a $3.2 million lottery jackpot using the same numbers he has been using in the TriState Megabucks drawing for 35 years. Gregory McAllister of Windsor told Maine Lottery officials he adopted his Tri-State Megabucks numbers on his 27th birthday and he has been using them now for 35 years. Advertisement
McAllister's persistence paid off in the Oct. 28 drawing, when the numbers came up 02-09-16-27-30 with the Megaball 05.
"I just can't believe I finally won," McAllister said. "I feel great!"
McAllister, who has worked as the bar manager at Sarah's Cafe in Wiscasset for the past 20 years, said he doesn't plan to quit working.
"I am planning to stay there for now as the people and the place are like home to me, but I may drop a couple of shifts," he said.


upi--2020-11-11--Watch: Bear relocated after repeated snack runs at California store

Nov. 11 ( UPI ) -- Wildlife officials in California said they have captured and relocated a black bear that @ @ @ @ @ repeated visits to a gas station convenience store .
The California Department of Fish and @ @ @ @ @ which became a viral celebrity after security cameras recorded it pilfering snacks from inside the @ @ @ @ @ Beach on multiple occasions , was safely captured and revealed to be a 16-year-old male @ @ @ @ @ has been relocated to `` a large expanse of wild , suitable bear habitat .
@ @ @ @ @ BEAR League said she is concerned the bear 's relocation could put its life at @ @ @ @ @ injury from a broken bone that did not heal correctly .
`` I think this @ @ @ @ @ bear , '' Bryant told KOVR-TV .
`` If he was taken to another bear @ @ @ @ @ bear is going to be territorial .
This bear is compromised .
It 's crippled @ @ @ @ @ ''

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Nov. 11 (UPI) -- Wildlife officials in California said they have captured and relocated a black bear that became famous online for its repeated visits to a gas station convenience store.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife said the bear, which became a viral celebrity after security cameras recorded it pilfering snacks from inside the Chevron gas station in Kings Beach on multiple occasions, was safely captured and revealed to be a 16-year-old male.
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Officials said the bear has been relocated to "a large expanse of wild, suitable bear habitat."
Anne Bryant with the BEAR League said she is concerned the bear's relocation could put its life at risk due to a leg injury from a broken bone that did not heal correctly.
"I think this was not good for the bear," Bryant told KOVR-TV. "If he was taken to another bear's habitat, that other bear is going to be territorial. This bear is compromised. It's crippled. He's crippled."


upi--2020-11-11--Prenatal exposure to thyroid hormones influences 'biological age' of newborn birds

Nov. 11 ( UPI ) -- New research suggests prenatal thyroid hormones influence the 'biological age ' of birds at birth .
The findings , published Wednesday in the journal Biology Letters , could have implications for aging in humans .
Numerous studies have shown environmental conditions , like exposure to maternal stress hormones , can influence embryo development -- triggering genetic changes that influence health , aging and lifespan .
One of the ways scientists study cellular aging is by measuring the length of telomeres , the protective ends of chromosomes that protect strands of DNA and promote cell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ telomeres get shorter -- but shorter than average telomeres at a given age can signify an increased risk of disease and mortality .
Studies have previously shown that exposure to maternal stress hormones and other environmental instabilities during embryonic development are associated with shorter telomeres .
For the new study , researchers used egg injections to expose collared flycatcher embryos to maternal thyroid hormones .
Scientists were surprised to find that baby birds that experienced prenatal exposure to thyroid hormones were born with longer telomeres than birds from the control group .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the telomere biology of birds than those of traditional laboratory models , '' lead study author Antoine Stier said in a news release .
`` In both humans and birds , telomere length is measured in a minimally-invasive way from small blood samples , '' said Stier , a researcher at the University of Turku in Finland .
Because scientists had previously found prenatal exposure to thyroid hormones was associated with accelerated early-life growth , researchers assumed exposed embryos from the more recent study would feature shortened telomeres .
`` Based on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with age in the same collared flycatcher population , we estimated that chicks hatching from thyroid hormones injected eggs were approximately four years younger at birth than chicks hatched from control eggs , '' said Turku researcher Suvi Ruuskanen .
The findings suggest thyroid hormones influence the establishment of a newborn bird 's biological age .
However , scientists suggest there could be evolutionary costs to this phenomenon .
The researchers also suggest the findings could have implications for the study of aging in humans .
`` Considering the interest and controversies surrounding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ telomeres as an anti-aging therapy , this discovery opens potential avenues to better understand the influence of telomere elongation in animal models , '' Stier said .

Researchers used egg injections to expose collared flycatcher embryos to thyroid hormones. Photo by Tom Sarraude
Nov. 11 (UPI) -- New research suggests prenatal thyroid hormones influence the 'biological age' of birds at birth. The findings, published Wednesday in the journal Biology Letters, could have implications for aging in humans. Advertisement
Numerous studies have shown environmental conditions, like exposure to maternal stress hormones, can influence embryo development -- triggering genetic changes that influence health, aging and lifespan.
One of the ways scientists study cellular aging is by measuring the length of telomeres, the protective ends of chromosomes that protect strands of DNA and promote cell replication.
As living organisms age, telomeres get shorter -- but shorter than average telomeres at a given age can signify an increased risk of disease and mortality.
Studies have previously shown that exposure to maternal stress hormones and other environmental instabilities during embryonic development are associated with shorter telomeres.
For the new study, researchers used egg injections to expose collared flycatcher embryos to maternal thyroid hormones.
Scientists were surprised to find that baby birds that experienced prenatal exposure to thyroid hormones were born with longer telomeres than birds from the control group.
"The telomere biology of humans is closer to the telomere biology of birds than those of traditional laboratory models," lead study author Antoine Stier said in a news release.
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"In both humans and birds, telomere length is measured in a minimally-invasive way from small blood samples," said Stier, a researcher at the University of Turku in Finland.
Because scientists had previously found prenatal exposure to thyroid hormones was associated with accelerated early-life growth, researchers assumed exposed embryos from the more recent study would feature shortened telomeres.
"Based on the natural decline of telomere length observed with age in the same collared flycatcher population, we estimated that chicks hatching from thyroid hormones injected eggs were approximately four years younger at birth than chicks hatched from control eggs," said Turku researcher Suvi Ruuskanen.
The findings suggest thyroid hormones influence the establishment of a newborn bird's biological age. However, scientists suggest there could be evolutionary costs to this phenomenon.
The researchers also suggest the findings could have implications for the study of aging in humans.
"Considering the interest and controversies surrounding gene therapy trials in humans to elongate telomeres as an anti-aging therapy, this discovery opens potential avenues to better understand the influence of telomere elongation in animal models," Stier said.


upi--2020-11-11--Watch: Sick swan takes a subway ride to wildlife center in New York

Nov. 11 ( UPI ) -- A woman taking a walk through a wildlife refuge in New York City ended up taking a sick swan for a 23-mile journey on foot , by car and on the subway .
Ariel Cordova-Rojas said she rode her bike to the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in Queens , where she went for a walk to do some bird watching .
Cordova-Rojas , who spent five years as an animal care manager at the Wild Bird Fund rehabilitation center in Manhattan , quickly noticed that a swan she spotted sitting by itself near the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seemed odd , but swans can be solitary .
As I got closer , she stayed stationary .
They 're usually aggressive and territorial , you ca n't get close without them trying to attack and I knew something was wrong , '' Cordova-Rojas told WPIX-TV .
Cordova-Rojas said she was unable to reach any wildlife rescuers who would be able to come out to meet her , so she ended up using her jacket to pick up the swan and carry the 17-pound bird about a mile back to where she had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through the refuge offered to drive her to the nearest subway station , and they summoned a friend to help transport her bike to the station .
Cordova-Rojas ended up riding the subway with the swan on the seat next to her .
`` Meanwhile , there 's a few people on the train and nobody seems to be fazed , '' she recalled to The New York Times .
Tristan Higginbotham , an animal care manager at the Wild Bird Fund , met Cordova-Rojas at the Nostrand Avenue station in Brooklyn and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the way to the Wild Bird Fund 's facility .
Wild Bird Fund officials said the swan appears to be suffering from lead poisoning , likely from swallowing the weight from a fishing line .
The bird is undergoing treatment and will likely be released in a few weeks , officials said .

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Nov. 11 (UPI) -- A woman taking a walk through a wildlife refuge in New York City ended up taking a sick swan for a 23-mile journey on foot, by car and on the subway.
Ariel Cordova-Rojas said she rode her bike to the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in Queens, where she went for a walk to do some bird watching.
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Cordova-Rojas, who spent five years as an animal care manager at the Wild Bird Fund rehabilitation center in Manhattan, quickly noticed that a swan she spotted sitting by itself near the shore was acting strangely.
"It seemed odd, but swans can be solitary. As I got closer, she stayed stationary. They're usually aggressive and territorial, you can't get close without them trying to attack and I knew something was wrong," Cordova-Rojas told WPIX-TV.
Cordova-Rojas said she was unable to reach any wildlife rescuers who would be able to come out to meet her, so she ended up using her jacket to pick up the swan and carry the 17-pound bird about a mile back to where she had parked her bicycle.
A couple walking through the refuge offered to drive her to the nearest subway station, and they summoned a friend to help transport her bike to the station.
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Cordova-Rojas ended up riding the subway with the swan on the seat next to her.
"Meanwhile, there's a few people on the train and nobody seems to be fazed," she recalled to The New York Times.
Tristan Higginbotham, an animal care manager at the Wild Bird Fund, met Cordova-Rojas at the Nostrand Avenue station in Brooklyn and drove her and the bird the rest of the way to the Wild Bird Fund's facility.
Wild Bird Fund officials said the swan appears to be suffering from lead poisoning, likely from swallowing the weight from a fishing line. The bird is undergoing treatment and will likely be released in a few weeks, officials said.


upi--2020-11-11--Sig Sauer Inc. announces $77M Army contract for M4 rifle scopes

Nov. 11 ( UPI ) -- Sig Sauer Inc. confirmed it was chosen by the U.S. Army Contract Command , in a $ 77 million deal , to produce a new scope for M4A1carbine rifles .
The company , headquartered in Newington , N.H. , will manufacture its TANGO6T optic for the branch .
The TANGO6T is a variable-magnification Direct View Optic riflescope that allows close quarter and long-range target sightings with the ability to quickly switch between one and six times magnification , according to the company .
The device is currently in use with the U.S. Army Squad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` The riflescope continues to prove it will with stand the rigors of U.S. military testing making it the choice for use with our soldiers , '' Ron Chen , Sig Sauer Inc. president said in a statement .
`` The further proliferation of the riflescope into the U.S. military 's M4A1 operating systems an exciting achievement for SIG SAUER Electro-Optics and further proof that the TANGO6T is the direction of the future , '' Chen said .
Army personnel currently use scopes capable of sighting and striking long-range targets at 1,640 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at ranges of nearly 2,000 feet .
The contract for a new DVO was announced in October , but neither the Army nor the company explained which device was chosen until this week .
It specifies a five-year delivery plan , but the number of purchased scopes was not revealed .
A similar rifle scope is available commercially .

Sig Sauer Inc. announced a $77 million contract with the U.S. Army on Tuesday to manufacture TANGO6T rifle scopes for M4 carbine rifles. Photo courtesy of Sig Sauer Inc.
Nov. 11 (UPI) -- Sig Sauer Inc. confirmed it was chosen by the U.S. Army Contract Command, in a $77 million deal, to produce a new scope for M4A1carbine rifles. The company, headquartered in Newington, N.H., will manufacture its TANGO6T optic for the branch. Advertisement
The TANGO6T is a variable-magnification Direct View Optic riflescope that allows close quarter and long-range target sightings with the ability to quickly switch between one and six times magnification, according to the company.
The device is currently in use with the U.S. Army Squad Designated Marksman and U.S. Military Special Forces.
"The riflescope continues to prove it will with stand the rigors of U.S. military testing making it the choice for use with our soldiers," Ron Chen, Sig Sauer Inc. president said in a statement.
"The further proliferation of the riflescope into the U.S. military's M4A1 operating systems an exciting achievement for SIG SAUER Electro-Optics and further proof that the TANGO6T is the direction of the future," Chen said.
Army personnel currently use scopes capable of sighting and striking long-range targets at 1,640 feet. The new devices offer accuracy at ranges of nearly 2,000 feet.
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The contract for a new DVO was announced in October, but neither the Army nor the company explained which device was chosen until this week.
It specifies a five-year delivery plan, but the number of purchased scopes was not revealed. A similar rifle scope is available commercially.


upi--2020-11-11--Study: 311 calls may predict opioid overdose hotspots

Nov. 11 ( UPI ) -- Call volumes to 311 -- used by many cities to report non-emergency issues -- for nuisance code violations accurately predicted future opioid overdose hotspots more than 90 % of the time , a study published Wednesday by Scientific Reports found .
Residents of neighborhoods with high rates of opioid-related overdoses make more calls to non-emergency hotlines reporting code violations , abandoned vehicles , darkened streetlights and other public nuisances , according to researchers .
Similarly , calls regarding public health problems -- including pest management and unsanitary conditions due to animals -- and streetlight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hotspots more than 80 % of the time , the data showed .
The findings are based on an analysis of 311 call volumes in Columbus , Ohio , over a 10-year period , they said .
`` Complaints to the city about issues like streetlight repair , abandoned vehicles and code violations reflect disorder and distress that are also linked to opioid use , '' study co-author Yuchen Li said in a statement .
These calls can `` help identify which parts of the community may be the next hotspot for opioid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doctoral candidate in geography at Ohio State University .
Although overdose deaths nationally have declined in recent years , more than 750,000 Americans died following opioid and heroin overdoses between 1999 and 2018 , according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
Ohio is among the states hit hardest by the `` opioid epidemic '' with the rise in the misuse and abuse of prescription opioid pain relievers like OxyContin and Fentanyl and non-prescription opioids like heroin .
For this study , Ohio State researchers analyzed 311 call data in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , between 2008 and 2017 against figures on emergency personnel responses to opioid overdoses in the city during the same period .
They then compared the location and time of each overdose with data they received on 311 calls received from residents in the same area near the same time , they said .
Although the 311 calls are not about drug use , they do indicate when areas are becoming a hotspot for opioid overdoses , according to the researchers .
In addition to public nuisance and streetlight problems , calls regarding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ predictors of future opioid overdose hotspots , the data showed .
Calls that were not related to overdoses included those about snow and ice removal , trees , and recreation and parks .
The results suggest that data from 311 calls can be an effective opioid overdose surveillance indicator to direct outreach and resources to where they are needed , study co-author Harvey Miller said in a statement .
`` 311 calls are in some ways a conversation between communities and the city about what is of immediate concern to residents ... [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social stressors that are associated with drug use , '' said Miller , director of Ohio State 's Center for Urban and Regional Analysis .
`` They are also the same indicators that suggest poverty and distress , '' he said , adding that they could `` provide a more dynamic and useful way to track the opioid crisis in American cities . ''

A study in Ohio suggests 311 non-emergency call data could be used to identify potential opioid overdose hotspots. Photo by Cindy Shebley /Flickr
Nov. 11 (UPI) -- Call volumes to 311 -- used by many cities to report non-emergency issues -- for nuisance code violations accurately predicted future opioid overdose hotspots more than 90% of the time, a study published Wednesday by Scientific Reports found. Residents of neighborhoods with high rates of opioid-related overdoses make more calls to non-emergency hotlines reporting code violations, abandoned vehicles, darkened streetlights and other public nuisances, according to researchers. Advertisement
Similarly, calls regarding public health problems -- including pest management and unsanitary conditions due to animals -- and streetlight outages were accurate predictors of future overdose hotspots more than 80% of the time, the data showed.
The findings are based on an analysis of 311 call volumes in Columbus, Ohio, over a 10-year period, they said.
"Complaints to the city about issues like streetlight repair, abandoned vehicles and code violations reflect disorder and distress that are also linked to opioid use," study co-author Yuchen Li said in a statement.
These calls can "help identify which parts of the community may be the next hotspot for opioid overdoses," said Li, a doctoral candidate in geography at Ohio State University.
Although overdose deaths nationally have declined in recent years, more than 750,000 Americans died following opioid and heroin overdoses between 1999 and 2018, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Ohio is among the states hit hardest by the "opioid epidemic" with the rise in the misuse and abuse of prescription opioid pain relievers like OxyContin and Fentanyl and non-prescription opioids like heroin.
For this study, Ohio State researchers analyzed 311 call data in Columbus, where the school is based, between 2008 and 2017 against figures on emergency personnel responses to opioid overdoses in the city during the same period.
They then compared the location and time of each overdose with data they received on 311 calls received from residents in the same area near the same time, they said.
Although the 311 calls are not about drug use, they do indicate when areas are becoming a hotspot for opioid overdoses, according to the researchers.
In addition to public nuisance and streetlight problems, calls regarding trash and street maintenance issues were also predictors of future opioid overdose hotspots, the data showed.
Calls that were not related to overdoses included those about snow and ice removal, trees, and recreation and parks.
The results suggest that data from 311 calls can be an effective opioid overdose surveillance indicator to direct outreach and resources to where they are needed, study co-author Harvey Miller said in a statement.
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"311 calls are in some ways a conversation between communities and the city about what is of immediate concern to residents ... [and] point to the environmental and social stressors that are associated with drug use," said Miller, director of Ohio State's Center for Urban and Regional Analysis.
"They are also the same indicators that suggest poverty and distress," he said, adding that they could "provide a more dynamic and useful way to track the opioid crisis in American cities."


upi--2020-11-11--Boeing awarded $9.8B contract for Saudi F-15 support

Nov. 11 ( UPI ) -- Boeing Co. was awarded a $ 9.8 billion contract to support F-15 fighter planes of the Royal Saudi Air Force , the U.S. Defense Department announced .
The deal covers modernization and sustainment of the Saudi fleet of nearly 130 aircraft over the next five years , the Pentagon said on Tuesday .
The package of upgrades includes hardware , software , interface design , development , integration , test , installation of future modifications and enhancements to the F-15 Saudi weapon system .
The contract also includes an option for an additional five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ period .
The F-15 was first put into service as a tactical fighter plane in 1978 , and is in use by the air forces of the United States , Japan , Israel , Singapore and Qatar .
The newest aircraft of the Royal Saudi Air Force are the F-15SA variant , which come with wing-mounted weapons-carrying packages allowing the plane to carry and launch a wider array of new weapons configurations .
The Advanced Missile and Bomb Ejection Racks , or AMBER , allow the plane to carry up to 22 AIM-120 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previous F-15s .
The F-15QA variant to be used by the Qatar Emiri Air Force , regarded as the most advanced current version of the plane , is based on the Saudi design .
Earlier this week , the Pentagon awarded two contracts totaling $ 734.8 million for infrastructure and equipment for the QEAF .
The larger of the two deals is a $ 657.2 million contract for parts and training for Qatar 's F-15 program , beginning with the arrival of the first F-15QAs in 2021 .

Boeing Co. received a $9.8 billion contract for support of Saudi Arabia's F-15 fleet, the Pentagon announced this week. Photo by Kevin Flynn/Boeing/U.S. Air force
Nov. 11 (UPI) -- Boeing Co. was awarded a $9.8 billion contract to support F-15 fighter planes of the Royal Saudi Air Force, the U.S. Defense Department announced. The deal covers modernization and sustainment of the Saudi fleet of nearly 130 aircraft over the next five years, the Pentagon said on Tuesday. Advertisement
The package of upgrades includes hardware, software, interface design, development, integration, test, installation of future modifications and enhancements to the F-15 Saudi weapon system.
The contract also includes an option for an additional five years beyond the inital November 2025 time period.
The F-15 was first put into service as a tactical fighter plane in 1978, and is in use by the air forces of the United States, Japan, Israel, Singapore and Qatar.
The newest aircraft of the Royal Saudi Air Force are the F-15SA variant, which come with wing-mounted weapons-carrying packages allowing the plane to carry and launch a wider array of new weapons configurations.
The Advanced Missile and Bomb Ejection Racks, or AMBER, allow the plane to carry up to 22 AIM-120 missiles, nearly double the capability of previous F-15s.
The F-15QA variant to be used by the Qatar Emiri Air Force, regarded as the most advanced current version of the plane, is based on the Saudi design.
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Earlier this week, the Pentagon awarded two contracts totaling $734.8 million for infrastructure and equipment for the QEAF.
The larger of the two deals is a $657.2 million contract for parts and training for Qatar's F-15 program, beginning with the arrival of the first F-15QAs in 2021.


upi--2020-11-11--Sen. Dan Sullivan projected to win re-election in Alaska

Sen, Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, won his second term in the U.S. Senate. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 11 (UPI) -- Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan won re-election to represent Alaska, multiple news outlets projected Wednesday. With about 69% of votes counted, The Washington Post, CNN and NBC News called the race in the incumbent's favor. Sullivan had 57.9% of the vote compared to Democratic challenger Al Gross' 37.1%. Advertisement
The news outlets also called the state for President Donald Trump, though the three electoral votes Alaska carries aren't enough to change President-elect Joe Biden's projected win.
Sullivan was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2015. Before that he was the commissioner of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources and Alaska attorney general. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps, and clerked for judges on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and the Alaska Supreme Court.
He's served on the armed services, commerce science and transportation, environment and public works, and veterans' affairs committees in the Senate.
Neither Sullivan nor Gross issued any statements Wednesday afternoon in response to the called race.
U.S. Election 2020


upi--2020-11-12--Rachel Reilly gives birth to son with Brendon Villegas

Nov. 12 ( UPI ) -- Big Brother alum Rachel Reilly is a mom of two .
The 36-year-old television personality welcomed her second child , a son , with her husband and former Big Brother co-star , Brendon Villegas , this week .
`` Thank you for all the well wishes for Rachel and the baby .
Rachel and our baby boy are both healthy and doing well .
They are recovering at UCLA , '' Villegas wrote .
`` I am sure it will not be too long until Rachel shares some pics , but I will leave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No name as of yet , '' he said .
Reilly and Villegas also have a 4-year-old daughter , Adora .
The couple announced on Mother 's Day in May that they were expecting again after `` trying for a while . ''
`` Happy Mother 's Day !
We have a lot to celebrate this year .
As a mom it 's my day to celebrate Adora & OMG baby # 2 !
! ''
Reilly wrote on Instagram .
Reilly shared new family photos in July from a family trip to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and started dating during Big Brother Season 12 , which aired in 2010 .
The couple returned for Big Brother Season 13 and later competed in The Amazing Race Seasons 20 and 24 .

Nov. 12 (UPI) -- Big Brother alum Rachel Reilly is a mom of two.
The 36-year-old television personality welcomed her second child, a son, with her husband and former Big Brother co-star, Brendon Villegas, this week.
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Villegas shared the news in a tweet Wednesday.
"Thank you for all the well wishes for Rachel and the baby. Rachel and our baby boy are both healthy and doing well. They are recovering at UCLA," Villegas wrote.
"I am sure it will not be too long until Rachel shares some pics, but I will leave that up to our momma warrior. No name as of yet," he said.
Reilly and Villegas also have a 4-year-old daughter, Adora. The couple announced on Mother's Day in May that they were expecting again after "trying for a while."
"Happy Mother's Day! We have a lot to celebrate this year. As a mom it's my day to celebrate Adora & OMG baby #2!!" Reilly wrote on Instagram.
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Reilly shared new family photos in July from a family trip to Big Sur.
Reilly and Villegas met and started dating during Big Brother Season 12, which aired in 2010. The couple returned for Big Brother Season 13 and later competed in The Amazing Race Seasons 20 and 24.
Reilly and Villegas married in September 2012.


upi--2020-11-12--In photos: Moments from the 2020 Masters Tournament

Course workers and members of the media leave the course in a rain delay during the first round of the @ @ @ @ @ National Golf Club in Augusta on Thursday .
Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI

Dustin Johnson, wearing the Green Jacket after winning the 54th Masters, embraces fiancee Paulina Gretzky at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga. on Sunday. Johnson shot a record 20-under par over four days, including a final-round 68. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI


upi--2020-11-12--New fish-free aquaculture feed to raise fish farming standards

Nov. 12 ( UPI ) -- Scientists have developed a new fish-free aquaculture feed that is cheaper , healthier and more eco-friendly than traditional feeds .
The new feed , which does n't use any fish meal or fish oil ingredients , helped fish gain weight faster and resulted in a more nutritional fish filet .
Researchers detailed the feed 's advantages in a new paper , published Thursday in the journal Scientific Reports .
`` This is a potential game-changer for shifting aquaculture to more sustainable practices , '' lead study author Pallab Sarker , a sustainable aquaculture scientist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cruz , said in a news release .
Farmed fish help reduce pressures on wild fish stocks , but the benefit is partially negated by aquaculture 's reliance on wild-caught forage fish for fish feed ingredients .
To build a healthier , more eco-friendly feed , Sarker and his colleagues turned to algae .
Scientists were able to replace the fish oil normally used to make fish feed by substituting whole cells from a marine microalga called Schizochytrium sp .
To replace fish meal , researchers used biomass from oil-extracted marine microalga called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from commercial omega-3 dietary supplement production process .
Researchers used the new feed to cultivate 480 Nile tilapia for six months .
Compared to tilapia from the control group , tilapia on the fish-free diet exhibited 58 percent greater weight gain percentages .
The tilapia raised on the fish-free feed also boasted greater levels of heart-healthy DHA omega-3 fatty acids .
`` You can develop fish-free feed using soy and corn and other ingredients , but the problem is , you compromise the fatty acid profile of the filet , '' Sarker explained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ omega-3 fatty acids , but from the combination of these microalgae , we found a higher amount of deposition from DHA into tilapia filets , which is good for human health . ''
Alternative fish feeds created using agricultural crops have previously succeeded in replacing fish meal and fish oil ingredients , but have failed to generate acceptable weight gains or nutritional values .
The latest feed bests agricultural-derived feeds without requiring the use of farmland , making it more sustainable .
The new feed 's use of waste material also makes it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alternatives .
While the new fish feed is a bit more expensive to produce than traditional fish-derived feeds , scientists hope the feed 's ability to generate better weight gains in tilapia will generate interest in the aquaculture industry .
`` Aquaculture is the fastest growing food sector in the world , but it 's still a young industry compared to agriculture , '' Sarker said .
`` We have an opportunity to not make the same mistakes .
This research could be a key leverage point for reforming aquaculture to ensure sustainable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terrestrial or aquatic ecosystems . ''

Researchers Pallab Sarker and Anne Kapuscinski at the University of California, Santa Cruz have developed a new fish-free feed for farm-raised tilapia. Photo by Devin Fitzgerald/UCSC
Nov. 12 (UPI) -- Scientists have developed a new fish-free aquaculture feed that is cheaper, healthier and more eco-friendly than traditional feeds. The new feed, which doesn't use any fish meal or fish oil ingredients, helped fish gain weight faster and resulted in a more nutritional fish filet. Advertisement
Researchers detailed the feed's advantages in a new paper, published Thursday in the journal Scientific Reports.
"This is a potential game-changer for shifting aquaculture to more sustainable practices," lead study author Pallab Sarker, a sustainable aquaculture scientist at the University of California, Santa Cruz, said in a news release.
Farmed fish help reduce pressures on wild fish stocks, but the benefit is partially negated by aquaculture's reliance on wild-caught forage fish for fish feed ingredients.
To build a healthier, more eco-friendly feed, Sarker and his colleagues turned to algae.
Scientists were able to replace the fish oil normally used to make fish feed by substituting whole cells from a marine microalga called Schizochytrium sp.
To replace fish meal, researchers used biomass from oil-extracted marine microalga called Nannochloropsis oculata, a waste material leftover from commercial omega-3 dietary supplement production process.
Researchers used the new feed to cultivate 480 Nile tilapia for six months.
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Compared to tilapia from the control group, tilapia on the fish-free diet exhibited 58 percent greater weight gain percentages. The tilapia raised on the fish-free feed also boasted greater levels of heart-healthy DHA omega-3 fatty acids.
"You can develop fish-free feed using soy and corn and other ingredients, but the problem is, you compromise the fatty acid profile of the filet," Sarker explained. "Terrestrial vegetable oils lack long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, but from the combination of these microalgae, we found a higher amount of deposition from DHA into tilapia filets, which is good for human health."
Alternative fish feeds created using agricultural crops have previously succeeded in replacing fish meal and fish oil ingredients, but have failed to generate acceptable weight gains or nutritional values.
The latest feed bests agricultural-derived feeds without requiring the use of farmland, making it more sustainable. The new feed's use of waste material also makes it more economically viable than crop-derived fish feed alternatives.
While the new fish feed is a bit more expensive to produce than traditional fish-derived feeds, scientists hope the feed's ability to generate better weight gains in tilapia will generate interest in the aquaculture industry.
"Aquaculture is the fastest growing food sector in the world, but it's still a young industry compared to agriculture," Sarker said. "We have an opportunity to not make the same mistakes. This research could be a key leverage point for reforming aquaculture to ensure sustainable growth in ways that don't damage terrestrial or aquatic ecosystems."


upi--2020-11-12--Another record: U.S. adds 143,000 COVID-19 cases as deaths spike

Nov. 12 ( UPI ) -- The explosive surge of COVID-19 cases in the United States is showing absolutely no signs of slowing , as the country has set another case record for the second straight day .
Updated data from researchers at Johns Hopkins University showed 143,200 cases were added on Wednesday , topping the record mark set one day earlier by almost 3,000 cases .
Wednesday was the fifth single-day case record in nine days .
There was also a major spike in deaths on Wednesday , about 2,000 nationwide , according to the data .
It 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least 2,000 deaths were added in a single day .
In the last nine days alone , the United States has added well over 1 million new coronavirus cases .
Since the start of the pandemic , there have been 10.4 million cases and 241,800 deaths nationally , according to Johns Hopkins .
The seven-day national average climbed to 125,000 new cases per day , a 40 % increase over last week .
There was a record number of hospitalizations Wednesday , as well -- 65,000 , including 12,500 in intensive care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Hospital administrators , especially those in the Midwest and Mountain West , warn that the present surge is taxing their capabilities .
`` We have legitimate reason to be very , very concerned about our health system at a national level , '' Lauren Sauer , an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Johns Hopkins University , told NPR .
In Texas , Dallas County reported 100 patients hospitalized in a single day this week and almost 600 emergency room visits related to the pandemic .
`` We saw the second biggest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 've experienced , '' said Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins .
`` We are at a very dangerous point in the fight .
... We are staring down the barrel of the largest spike that we have seen to date . ''
Jenkins urged residents to avoid crowds `` to the fullest extent possible '' and wear masks at all times when venturing outside the home .
In Illinois , health officials reported a record number of hospitalizations and some providers are reviving strategies they first laid out in the early days of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and more beds .
In Wisconsin , space in intensive care units is dwindling , the state 's hospital association reported .
`` We 're very close to a tipping point , '' Wisconsin Chief Medical Officer for Communicable Diseases Dr. Ryan Westergaard said in a webinar Wednesday .
`` All of the hospitals are strained and it 's causing a lot of stress on healthcare workers and leaders . ''
Westergaard said death rates in Wisconsin are n't yet as high as they were in New York during the pandemic 's initial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to better treat ICU patients .
He warned , however , that resources are becoming strained .
`` That tipping point is when we stop being able to save everyone who gets severely ill , '' he said .

A woman adjusts a face mask on a young child in New York City. The new wave of coronavirus cases nationwide is beginning to seriously strain some critical medical care providers, officials say. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 12 (UPI) -- The surge of COVID-19 cases in the United States is showing no signs of slowing, as the country set a case record for the second straight day. Updated data from researchers at Johns Hopkins University showed 143,200 cases were added on Wednesday, topping the record set the day before by almost 3,000 cases. Wednesday was the fifth single-day case record in nine days. Advertisement
There was also a major spike in deaths on Wednesday, about 2,000 nationwide, according to the data. It's the first time since early May that at least 2,000 deaths were added in a single day.
In the last nine days, the United States has added over 1 million new coronavirus cases. Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 10.4 million cases and 241,800 deaths nationally, according to Johns Hopkins.
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The seven-day national average climbed to 125,000 new cases per day, a 40% increase over last week.
There was a record number of hospitalizations Wednesday, as well -- 65,000, including 12,500 in intensive care, according to the COVID Tracking Project.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious diseases expert, said Thursday that while vaccines may be capable of ending the current pandemic, he warned that COVID-19 may never by completely eradicated.
"Certainly, it is not going to be a pandemic for a lot longer because I believe the vaccines are going to turn that around," he said during a webinar sponsored by the British think tank Chatham House.
His assessment came after pharma companies Pfizer and BioNTech reported that early results showed their vaccine candidate was more than 90% effective in preventing infections.
But, he added, "we have got to continue to double down on public health measures" in the meantime and warned that the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 become a permanent presence.
"I doubt we are going to eradicate this," Fauci said. "I think we need to plan that this is something we may need to maintain control over chronically. It may be something that becomes endemic, that we have to just be careful about."
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Hospital administrators, especially those in the Midwest and Mountain West, are warning that the surge is taxing their capabilities.
"We have legitimate reason to be very, very concerned about our health system at a national level," Lauren Sauer, an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Johns Hopkins University, told NPR.
In Texas, Dallas County reported 100 patients hospitalized in a single day this week and almost 600 emergency room visits related to the pandemic.
"We saw the second biggest jump in hospitalizations for COVID that we've experienced," said Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins. "We are at a very dangerous point in the fight. ... We are staring down the barrel of the largest spike that we have seen to date."
Jenkins urged residents to avoid crowds "to the fullest extent possible" and wear masks at all times when venturing outside the home.
In Illinois, health officials reported a record number of hospitalizations and some providers are reviving strategies they first laid out in the early days of the pandemic, including limited elective surgeries and more beds.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and City Commissioner of Health Dr. Allison Arwady have advised all residents to stay at home starting next Monday in response to the surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations citywide.
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They advised residents to only leave home to go to work or school or for other essential needs such as seeking medical care, going to the grocery store or pharmacy or picking up food or receiving deliveries.
The Stay at Home Advisory also strongly urged residents to cancel traditional Thanksgiving celebrations, avoid travel and not to have guests in their homes unless they are essential workers, such as healthcare providers or childcare workers.
The advisory is set to remain in place for 30 days or until the time the Commissioner of Health determines a change to the guidance is appropriate.
In Wisconsin, space in intensive care units is dwindling, the state's hospital association reported.
"We're very close to a tipping point," Wisconsin Chief Medical Officer for Communicable Diseases Dr. Ryan Westergaard said in a webinar Wednesday.
"All of the hospitals are strained and it's causing a lot of stress on healthcare workers and leaders."
Westergaard said death rates in Wisconsin aren't yet as high as they were in New York during the pandemic's initial wave because medics have since learned how to better treat ICU patients.
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He warned, however, that resources are becoming strained.
"That tipping point is when we stop being able to save everyone who gets severely ill," he said.


upi--2020-11-12--Russia: Joe Biden brings new U.S. challenge to Vladimir Putin's back yard

Nov. 12 ( UPI ) -- Russia 's reaction to the announcement of Joe Biden 's victory in the U.S. elections has been very muted .
Russian President Vladimir Putin has yet to officially congratulate the president-elect .
Putin 's political opponent Alexei Navalny , on the other hand , was quick to tweet his congratulations , wryly observing that the free and fair election was a `` privilege not available to all countries . ''
Russia 's silence stands in stark contrast to the visible enthusiasm that greeted President Donald Trump 's victory in 2016 .
Trump 's face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Army of Russia store offered a 10 % discount for U.S. citizens on the day of Trump 's inauguration .
Vladimir Zhirinovsky , the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia , a far-right party , was pictured drinking champagne with members of his party in celebration of Trump 's election victory .
Putin 's silence is unsurprising .
During the election campaign , Biden described Russia as the `` biggest threat '' to U.S. security and alliances .
He promised to convene a summit of democracies to join forces against the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Kremlin may not welcome the intended direction of travel of the Biden administration 's policies , but the predictability and clarity of intent is likely to be a welcome change after four years of Trump 's capriciousness .
There are two issues that stand out for Russia from the forthcoming change in the White House : Biden 's commitment to returning democracy to the center of U.S. foreign policy , and his desire to repair America 's relationship with NATO , strengthening the Euro-Atlantic alliance .
The Kremlin views both of these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Biden 's promise to return to a foreign policy grounded in Western democratic values will have prompted disquiet in the Kremlin .
It has been deeply suspicious of Washington 's efforts since the 1990s to promote democracy and support democratization efforts around the world .
My own research has looked at how Russia perceives anti-government protests and popular uprisings that seek to overthrow incumbent regimes to be part of a wider strategy of U.S.-sponsored regime change , deliberately designed to undermine rival states .
Such events , such as the so-called `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occurred across the post-Soviet space in the early to mid-2000s in countries such as Ukraine and Georgia , are seen as a fundamental threat to Russia 's national security and regime stability .
The Kremlin believes that Russia is vulnerable to foreign interference in its internal affairs via Western efforts to promote democratic forms of government .
In recent months , the post-Soviet space has been rocked by pro-democracy protests and popular uprisings in Belarus , Kyrgyzstan and , most recently , Georgia , as well as fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conflict in eastern Ukraine .
Belarus could become a flashpoint for confrontation between Washington and Moscow .
The country has experienced almost daily protests and violent police crackdowns since presidential elections in August in which the incumbent , Alexander Lukashenko , claimed victory amid widespread allegations of vote-rigging .
Biden has criticized Trump 's silence about the violence committed by Lukashenko 's regime against pro-democracy activists .
He promised to stand with the people of Belarus and support their democratic aspirations and to significantly expand sanctions against the Lukashenko regime .
Belarus is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pledge of financial and military support for Lukashenko places Russia at odds with the United States .
The Kremlin is unlikely to remain inactive if the Biden administration increases its support for opposition groups .
Minsk and Moscow may well work together in an attempt to bring a swift halt to the protests before Biden 's inauguration in January 2021 to forestall any U.S. assistance to the pro-democracy movement .
Ukraine is another potential flashpoint .
Biden has pledged to increase U.S. support for the country , including the supply of lethal weapons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end its `` aggression '' and `` occupation '' of Ukraine .
The second core challenge for Russian foreign policy involves NATO .
Moscow has consistently voiced its opposition to NATO 's global reach and enlargement .
It argues that the alliance is a relic of the Cold War , which threatens Russian national interests .
NATO 's enhanced capabilities , global scope and enlargement were identified as the principal risk to Russian national security in the Kremlin 's 2014 Military Doctrine .
Its 2015 National Security Strategy also makes several references to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ military infrastructure toward Russia 's borders .
Throughout his political career , Biden has been vocal in his support for NATO enlargement , including membership for Ukraine .
During the presidential election campaign he was also very clear about his wish to repair America 's relationship with NATO .
It 's thought that he intends to renew multilateralism and strengthen the alliance , which has been damaged by public spats during the Trump era .
Visible internal divisions over enlargement and funding have undermined NATO 's security and cohesion .
Adversaries such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lack of it -- is the alliance 's critical vulnerability .
A reinvigorated , unified Euro-Atlantic alliance poses a significant challenge to Moscow , which will counter any attempts to kick-start the enlargement process in states such as Georgia or Ukraine .
Russia and its post-Soviet neighbors are unlikely to constitute foreign policy priorities for the incoming Biden administration .
But several of the incoming administration 's priorities , such as bolstering NATO and promoting democracy , represent challenges for Moscow .
The inaction of the Trump regime across the post-Soviet region @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as either disinterest or tacit acquiescence , is likely to be replaced by a much more active approach .
This suggests that relations between Moscow and Washington are likely to become more antagonistic and confrontational , as the United States intensifies its engagement in Russia 's back yard .
Tracey German is a reader in conflict and security at King 's College London .
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license .
Read the original article .

A protester links President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in front of the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., on September 19. File Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 12 (UPI) -- Russia's reaction to the announcement of Joe Biden's victory in the U.S. elections has been very muted. Russian President Vladimir Putin has yet to officially congratulate the president-elect. Putin's political opponent Alexei Navalny, on the other hand, was quick to tweet his congratulations, wryly observing that the free and fair election was a "privilege not available to all countries." Russia's silence stands in stark contrast to the visible enthusiasm that greeted President Donald Trump's victory in 2016. Trump's face decorated boxes of sugar, while the Army of Russia store offered a 10% discount for U.S. citizens on the day of Trump's inauguration. Vladimir Zhirinovsky, the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, a far-right party, was pictured drinking champagne with members of his party in celebration of Trump's election victory. Advertisement Advertisement
Putin's silence is unsurprising. During the election campaign, Biden described Russia as the "biggest threat" to U.S. security and alliances. He promised to convene a summit of democracies to join forces against the rise in authoritarianism around the world.
The Kremlin may not welcome the intended direction of travel of the Biden administration's policies, but the predictability and clarity of intent is likely to be a welcome change after four years of Trump's capriciousness.
There are two issues that stand out for Russia from the forthcoming change in the White House: Biden's commitment to returning democracy to the center of U.S. foreign policy, and his desire to repair America's relationship with NATO, strengthening the Euro-Atlantic alliance. The Kremlin views both of these as potential challenges to its national security.
Unrest on doorstep
Biden's promise to return to a foreign policy grounded in Western democratic values will have prompted disquiet in the Kremlin. It has been deeply suspicious of Washington's efforts since the 1990s to promote democracy and support democratization efforts around the world.
My own research has looked at how Russia perceives anti-government protests and popular uprisings that seek to overthrow incumbent regimes to be part of a wider strategy of U.S.-sponsored regime change, deliberately designed to undermine rival states. Such events, such as the so-called "colored revolutions", popular uprisings that occurred across the post-Soviet space in the early to mid-2000s in countries such as Ukraine and Georgia, are seen as a fundamental threat to Russia's national security and regime stability. The Kremlin believes that Russia is vulnerable to foreign interference in its internal affairs via Western efforts to promote democratic forms of government.
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In recent months, the post-Soviet space has been rocked by pro-democracy protests and popular uprisings in Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and, most recently, Georgia, as well as fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the contested territory of Nagorno-Karabakh and protracted conflict in eastern Ukraine.
Belarus could become a flashpoint for confrontation between Washington and Moscow. The country has experienced almost daily protests and violent police crackdowns since presidential elections in August in which the incumbent, Alexander Lukashenko, claimed victory amid widespread allegations of vote-rigging. Biden has criticized Trump's silence about the violence committed by Lukashenko's regime against pro-democracy activists. He promised to stand with the people of Belarus and support their democratic aspirations and to significantly expand sanctions against the Lukashenko regime.
Belarus is a key Russian ally and Putin's pledge of financial and military support for Lukashenko places Russia at odds with the United States. The Kremlin is unlikely to remain inactive if the Biden administration increases its support for opposition groups. Minsk and Moscow may well work together in an attempt to bring a swift halt to the protests before Biden's inauguration in January 2021 to forestall any U.S. assistance to the pro-democracy movement.
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Ukraine is another potential flashpoint. Biden has pledged to increase U.S. support for the country, including the supply of lethal weapons, while also calling on Russia to end its "aggression" and "occupation" of Ukraine.
A boost to NATO
The second core challenge for Russian foreign policy involves NATO. Moscow has consistently voiced its opposition to NATO's global reach and enlargement. It argues that the alliance is a relic of the Cold War, which threatens Russian national interests.
NATO's enhanced capabilities, global scope and enlargement were identified as the principal risk to Russian national security in the Kremlin's 2014 Military Doctrine. Its 2015 National Security Strategy also makes several references to NATO, including the advance of its military infrastructure toward Russia's borders.
Throughout his political career, Biden has been vocal in his support for NATO enlargement, including membership for Ukraine. During the presidential election campaign he was also very clear about his wish to repair America's relationship with NATO. It's thought that he intends to renew multilateralism and strengthen the alliance, which has been damaged by public spats during the Trump era.
Visible internal divisions over enlargement and funding have undermined NATO's security and cohesion. Adversaries such as Russia are aware that cohesion -- or a lack of it -- is the alliance's critical vulnerability. A reinvigorated, unified Euro-Atlantic alliance poses a significant challenge to Moscow, which will counter any attempts to kick-start the enlargement process in states such as Georgia or Ukraine.
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Russia and its post-Soviet neighbors are unlikely to constitute foreign policy priorities for the incoming Biden administration. But several of the incoming administration's priorities, such as bolstering NATO and promoting democracy, represent challenges for Moscow. The inaction of the Trump regime across the post-Soviet region, which could be interpreted by Moscow as either disinterest or tacit acquiescence, is likely to be replaced by a much more active approach.
This suggests that relations between Moscow and Washington are likely to become more antagonistic and confrontational, as the United States intensifies its engagement in Russia's back yard.
Tracey German is a reader in conflict and security at King's College London.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
U.S. Election 2020


upi--2020-11-12--Watch: Niall Horan, Ashe felt like 'old friends' after meeting

Nov. 12 ( UPI ) -- Niall Horan and Ashe say they felt like `` old friends '' after meeting in person for the first time .
Horan , 27 , and Ashe , also 27 , discussed their `` immediate '' connection during Wednesday 's episode of The Late Late Show with James Corden .
Horan and Ashe released a remix of Ashe 's song `` Moral of the Story '' in June .
The pair collaborated on the song virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic and met in person for the first time this week .
On The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ described their first in-person interaction .
`` I feel like we were like immediate old friends .
We were like cursing each other within the first five minutes , '' Ashe said .
`` It was good fun , '' Horan agreed .
`` It was a good laugh , because we 'd spent so much time chatting over Zoom and FaceTime about the record and just getting to know each other and stuff .
Here we are . ''
`` I feel like I 'm on Love at First Sight or something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ashe said she 'd been a fan of Horan 's for `` forever '' when she reached out to the singer 's team to collaborate .
`` He jumped on , and it was so good , '' she said .
`` It was so weird .
I was like , 'Whoa , he 's so famous .
This is very strange . '
But then it was sort of like , as soon as we were on a FaceTime together , it was like , oh we 're normal humans and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ together . ''
Horan and Ashe then performed `` Moral of the Story '' on The Late Late Show .
`` Moral of the Story '' appears on Ashe 's EP Moral of the Story : Chapter 1 , released in April 2019 .
The song was featured in the Netflix movie To All the Boys : P.S .
I Still Love You , released in February .
Horan , a former member of the boy band One Direction , released his second studio album , Heartbreak Weather , in March .

Nov. 12 (UPI) -- Niall Horan and Ashe say they felt like "old friends" after meeting in person for the first time.
Horan, 27, and Ashe, also 27, discussed their "immediate" connection during Wednesday's episode of The Late Late Show with James Corden.
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Horan and Ashe released a remix of Ashe's song "Moral of the Story" in June. The pair collaborated on the song virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic and met in person for the first time this week.
On The Late Late Show, Horan and Ashe described their first in-person interaction.
"I feel like we were like immediate old friends. We were like cursing each other within the first five minutes," Ashe said.
"It was good fun," Horan agreed. "It was a good laugh, because we'd spent so much time chatting over Zoom and FaceTime about the record and just getting to know each other and stuff. Here we are."
"I feel like I'm on Love at First Sight or something," Horan added with a laugh.
Ashe said she'd been a fan of Horan's for "forever" when she reached out to the singer's team to collaborate.
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"He jumped on, and it was so good," she said. "It was so weird. I was like, 'Whoa, he's so famous. This is very strange.' But then it was sort of like, as soon as we were on a FaceTime together, it was like, oh we're normal humans and just hanging out and making a song together."
Horan and Ashe then performed "Moral of the Story" on The Late Late Show.
"Moral of the Story" appears on Ashe's EP Moral of the Story: Chapter 1, released in April 2019. The song was featured in the Netflix movie To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You, released in February.
Horan, a former member of the boy band One Direction, released his second studio album, Heartbreak Weather, in March.


upi--2020-11-12--In photos: U.S. honors military service on Veterans Day

Tattered American flags surround a marker next to the first Korean War Memorial in the United States in St. Louis @ @ @ @ @ Day .
Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI

The Washington Monument is seen in the background at Arlington National Cemetery on Veterans Day. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI


upi--2020-11-12--Rain, lightning delay first round of 2020 Masters Tournament

Nov. 12 ( UPI ) -- Rain poured down onto the fairways and lightning flashed Thursday at Augusta National Golf Club to delay the first round of the 2020 Masters Tournament .
The Masters runs through Sunday in Augusta , Ga .
The course was evacuated Thursday about a half-hour after Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player hit honorary tee shots .
The major championship had been scheduled for April 9 to 12 before being postponed to the fall due to the coronavirus pandemic .
Temperatures will be in the same range as the annual April date , but rain was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before the field left the course at 7:35 a.m. EST .
None of the active players carded birdies on their first hole .
The weather delay means some players will not be able to complete the first round on Thursday and will resume the round early on Friday .
The second round was scheduled to start at 7 a.m. EST on Friday , but that will likely change due to the weather delay .
Bryson DeChambeau is favored to win the 2020 Masters .
World No .
1 Dustin Johnson , No .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Justin Thomas and No .
5 Rory McIlroy also are among the top five favorites to win at Augusta .

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Golf legends Gary Player (L) and Jack Nicklaus (R) took ceremonial tee shots to launch the 2020 Masters Tournament before Augusta National Golf Course was evacuated due to lightning in the area on Thursday in Augusta, Ga. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 12 (UPI) -- Rain poured down onto the fairways and lightning flashed Thursday at Augusta National Golf Club to delay the first round of the 2020 Masters Tournament. The Masters runs through Sunday in Augusta, Ga. The course was evacuated Thursday about a half-hour after Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player hit honorary tee shots. Advertisement
The major championship had been scheduled for April 9 to 12 before being postponed to the fall due to the coronavirus pandemic. Temperatures will be in the same range as the annual April date, but rain was expected.
Nine players finished one hole before the field left the course at 7:35 a.m. EST. None of the active players carded birdies on their first hole.
The weather delay means some players will not be able to complete the first round on Thursday and will resume the round early on Friday.
The second round was scheduled to start at 7 a.m. EST on Friday, but that will likely change due to the weather delay.
Bryson DeChambeau is favored to win the 2020 Masters. World No. 1 Dustin Johnson, No. 2 Jon Rahm, No. 3 Justin Thomas and No. 5 Rory McIlroy also are among the top five favorites to win at Augusta.
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Moments from the 2020 Masters Tournament


upi--2020-11-12--Watch: Olivia Colman, Gillian Anderson discuss meeting royal family on 'Late Show'

Nov. 12 ( UPI ) -- Olivia Colman and Gillian Anderson of Netflix 's The Crown appeared on The Late Show to discuss the series and their experience meeting the real royal family .
`` The palace , what was hilarious , it turns out everything we 've done in The Crown was toned down compared to as it is in the actual palace , '' Colman , who portrays Queen Elizabeth II , said about her trip to Buckingham Palace where she met Princess Ann .
Anderson , who portrays Margaret Thatcher , said she has met Queen Elizabeth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has an aide who whispers to her who she 's about to meet .
`` You 're not meant to speak before you 're spoken to , you know it can be a little bit awkward .
She may ask you questions about yourself or how you 're enjoying the thing that she 's just been told that you do , '' Anderson said .
The pair also discussed portraying historical figures on The Crown and if the roles helped them see a more human side of Queen Elizabeth II and Thatcher .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ who has made a vow to do this job and is doing it very well to the best of her abilities and considering she was never meant to do it , I think she 's pretty bloody marvelous at it , '' Colman said about Queen Elizabeth II .
`` Thatcher , on the other hand is as iron as she seems , I think , '' Anderson said before noting that The Crown is good at showcasing three-dimensional characters that have different sides to them .
The Crown Season 4 is coming @ @ @ @ @ @

Nov. 12 (UPI) -- Olivia Colman and Gillian Anderson of Netflix's The Crown appeared on The Late Show to discuss the series and their experience meeting the real royal family.
"The palace, what was hilarious, it turns out everything we've done in The Crown was toned down compared to as it is in the actual palace," Colman, who portrays Queen Elizabeth II, said about her trip to Buckingham Palace where she met Princess Ann.
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Anderson, who portrays Margaret Thatcher, said she has met Queen Elizabeth II multiple times and that her majesty has an aide who whispers to her who she's about to meet.
"You're not meant to speak before you're spoken to, you know it can be a little bit awkward. She may ask you questions about yourself or how you're enjoying the thing that she's just been told that you do," Anderson said.
The pair also discussed portraying historical figures on The Crown and if the roles helped them see a more human side of Queen Elizabeth II and Thatcher.
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"She seems like a sweet woman who has made a vow to do this job and is doing it very well to the best of her abilities and considering she was never meant to do it, I think she's pretty bloody marvelous at it," Colman said about Queen Elizabeth II.
"Thatcher, on the other hand is as iron as she seems, I think," Anderson said before noting that The Crown is good at showcasing three-dimensional characters that have different sides to them.
The Crown Season 4 is coming to Netflix on Nov. 15.


upi--2020-11-12--U.N. report says global shipping trade hurting in COVID-19 era

Nov. 12 ( UPI ) -- A United Nations report on Thursday said the COVID-19 pandemic has put the global shipping trade in a grim position , with further dwindling revenues and interruptions in key supply chains possible if the crisis is n't controlled in the near future .
The U.N. Conference on Trade and Development said in its annual report , `` Review of Maritime Transport 2020 , '' that its forecast for maritime trade growth this year has been cut to 4.1 % .
The assessment emphasized that the shipping trade had already been `` pretty depressed '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sector is at a pivotal moment facing not only immediate concerns resulting from the pandemic but also longer-term considerations , '' the UNCTAD said , `` ranging from shifts in supply-chain design and globalization patterns to changes in consumption and spending habits . ''
The agency added that the pandemic is also negatively influencing `` global sustainability and low-carbon agenda . ''
`` [ COVID-19 ] has upended the landscape for maritime transport and trade and significantly affected growth prospects , '' the agency added .
`` The volume of international maritime trade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2020 .
Amid supply-chain disruptions , demand contractions and global economic uncertainty caused by the pandemic , the global economy was severely affected by a twin supply and demand shock .
`` These trends unfolded against the backdrop of an already weaker 2019 that saw international maritime trade lose further momentum . ''
UNCTAD said the shipping sector has been forced to make sacrifices amid weaker global oil demand and tariff wars between the United States , China and the European Union .
`` All in all , maritime transport and logistics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' said Shamika Sirimanne , UNCTAD Division on Technology and Logistics director .
`` Ships moved , ports kept open .
So we should be thankful to the maritime sector that people still could buy food and medicine and essential goods in our neighborhood shops , even though we were in a very strict lockdown . ''
UNCTAD said it expects maritime trade to return to a positive territory in 2021 and grow by almost 5 % -- but only if there is a minimum level of global economic recovery .
Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for long-term changes ushered in by the coronavirus crisis , as well as environmental concerns that have endured for years .
`` The momentum of current efforts to address carbon emissions from shipping and the ongoing energy transition away from fossil fuels should be maintained , '' Sirimanne said .

Containers are off-loaded from cargo ships at the Port of Oakland in Oakland, Calif. Thursday's report said maritime trade should rebound next year, if the global economy recovers from the impact of COVID-19. File Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 12 (UPI) -- A United Nations report on Thursday said the COVID-19 pandemic has put the global shipping trade in a grim position, with further dwindling revenues and interruptions in key supply chains possible if the crisis isn't controlled in the near future. The U.N. Conference on Trade and Development said in its annual report, "Review of Maritime Transport 2020," that its forecast for maritime trade growth this year has been cut to 4.1%. Advertisement
The assessment emphasized that the shipping trade had already been "pretty depressed" before the pandemic arrived.
"The sector is at a pivotal moment facing not only immediate concerns resulting from the pandemic but also longer-term considerations," the UNCTAD said, "ranging from shifts in supply-chain design and globalization patterns to changes in consumption and spending habits."
The agency added that the pandemic is also negatively influencing "global sustainability and low-carbon agenda."
"[COVID-19] has upended the landscape for maritime transport and trade and significantly affected growth prospects," the agency added. "The volume of international maritime trade [will] fall by 4.1% in 2020. Amid supply-chain disruptions, demand contractions and global economic uncertainty caused by the pandemic, the global economy was severely affected by a twin supply and demand shock.
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"These trends unfolded against the backdrop of an already weaker 2019 that saw international maritime trade lose further momentum."
UNCTAD said the shipping sector has been forced to make sacrifices amid weaker global oil demand and tariff wars between the United States, China and the European Union.
"All in all, maritime transport and logistics kept essential goods and trade flows moving," said Shamika Sirimanne, UNCTAD Division on Technology and Logistics director. "Ships moved, ports kept open. So we should be thankful to the maritime sector that people still could buy food and medicine and essential goods in our neighborhood shops, even though we were in a very strict lockdown."
UNCTAD said it expects maritime trade to return to a positive territory in 2021 and grow by almost 5% -- but only if there is a minimum level of global economic recovery.
Thursday's report recommends the shipping industry prepare for long-term changes ushered in by the coronavirus crisis, as well as environmental concerns that have endured for years.
"The momentum of current efforts to address carbon emissions from shipping and the ongoing energy transition away from fossil fuels should be maintained," Sirimanne said.


upi--2020-11-12--Fantasy football: Panthers' McCaffrey, 49ers' Mostert out for Week 10

Nov. 12 ( UPI ) -- Fantasy football teams will be without two key running backs in Week 10 , as Christian McCaffrey of the Carolina Panthers and Raheem Mostert of the San Francisco 49ers are both expected to miss their Sunday games .
McCaffrey -- the No .
1 overall pick in most fantasy football drafts -- made his return from a six-week ankle injury absence in Week 9 .
He sustained a shoulder injury on Sunday and Panthers coach Matt Rhule said he is now `` day-to-day . ''
Sources told ESPN and NFL Network that the Panthers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday in Charlotte , N.C. Rhule also told reporters Wednesday that McCaffrey `` probably wo n't play . ''
The Panthers will turn to backup running back Mike Davis in Week 10 .
Davis was a valuable waiver wire pickup in fantasy football leagues earlier this year during McCaffrey 's initial absence .
He scored six touchdowns and had 349 rushing yards and 170 receiving yards in six starts in place of the Panthers star running back .
Davis is an RB1 this week , despite his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had 2,392 yards from scrimmage and 19 touchdowns in 16 games last season .
He has 374 yards from scrimmage and six scores in three games in 2020 .
Mostert out until at least Week 12 San Francisco 49ers running back Raheem Mostert has been one of the team 's biggest offensive losses this season due to injury .
Mostert has 453 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns in four games this season , but remains on injured reserve due to a high ankle sprain he sustained in Week 6 .
Mostert also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4 games due to a knee sprain .
49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday that Mostert will miss the team 's Week 10 game against the New Orleans Saints .
The 49ers have a Week 11 bye , which means Mostert will now have two more weeks to get healthy and make a potential return for a Week 12 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams .
While Mostert wo n't help your fantasy football team much from your bench , he does have a chance to provide stellar value in the playoffs .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Week 13 and the Dallas Cowboys in Week 14 .
San Francisco will again turn to backup running backs Jerick McKinnon and JaMycal Hasty due to Mostert 's absence .
McKinnon looked like the better player in Week 9 , but I would stay away from this backfield in Week 10 as the 49ers face a dominant Saints run defense .

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Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey will not play in Week 10 after he injured his shoulder in Week 9. File Photo by Nell Redmond/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 12 (UPI) -- Fantasy football teams will be without two key running backs in Week 10, as Christian McCaffrey of the Carolina Panthers and Raheem Mostert of the San Francisco 49ers are both expected to miss their Sunday games. McCaffrey -- the No. 1 overall pick in most fantasy football drafts -- made his return from a six-week ankle injury absence in Week 9. He sustained a shoulder injury on Sunday and Panthers coach Matt Rhule said he is now "day-to-day." Advertisement
Sources told ESPN and NFL Network that the Panthers will play without McCaffrey again when they face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday in Charlotte, N.C.
Rhule also told reporters Wednesday that McCaffrey "probably won't play." The Panthers will turn to backup running back Mike Davis in Week 10.
Davis was a valuable waiver wire pickup in fantasy football leagues earlier this year during McCaffrey's initial absence. He scored six touchdowns and had 349 rushing yards and 170 receiving yards in six starts in place of the Panthers star running back.
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Davis is an RB1 this week, despite his tough matchup against the Buccaneers.
McCaffrey had 2,392 yards from scrimmage and 19 touchdowns in 16 games last season. He has 374 yards from scrimmage and six scores in three games in 2020.
Mostert out until at least Week 12
San Francisco 49ers running back Raheem Mostert has been one of the team's biggest offensive losses this season due to injury. Mostert has 453 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns in four games this season, but remains on injured reserve due to a high ankle sprain he sustained in Week 6.
Mostert also missed the 49ers Week 3 and Week 4 games due to a knee sprain. 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday that Mostert will miss the team's Week 10 game against the New Orleans Saints.
The 49ers have a Week 11 bye, which means Mostert will now have two more weeks to get healthy and make a potential return for a Week 12 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams.
While Mostert won't help your fantasy football team much from your bench, he does have a chance to provide stellar value in the playoffs. The 49ers face the Washington Football Team in Week 13 and the Dallas Cowboys in Week 14.
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San Francisco will again turn to backup running backs Jerick McKinnon and JaMycal Hasty due to Mostert's absence. McKinnon looked like the better player in Week 9, but I would stay away from this backfield in Week 10 as the 49ers face a dominant Saints run defense.
This week in the National Football League


upi--2020-11-12--IAEA: North Korea nuclear program a ‘serious concern’

Nov. 12 ( UPI ) -- North Korea 's nuclear activities continue to be an issue of `` serious concern '' and the country must comply with obligations under United Nations Security Council resolutions , the International Atomic Energy Agency says .
The IAEA statement has drawn rebuke from the North Korean ambassador to the U.N. IAEA Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi said Wednesday in a video message to the U.N. General Assembly that Pyongyang must suspend activities that violate international law .
`` The Democratic People 's Republic of Korea 's nuclear activities remain a cause for serious concern , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the country 's nuclear program is a clear violation of relevant Security Council resolutions and is deeply regrettable , '' he said .
Grossi , an Argentine national who was tapped to succeed the late Yukiya Amano in 2019 , also called on the Kim Jong Un regime to cooperate with the IAEA , which is ready to verify the status of the nuclear program and the `` effective implementation of its [ nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty ] Agreement . ''
North Korea joined the NPT in 1985 , but said in 2003 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the treaty .
Grossi 's comments come after analysts warned of continued nuclear development amid a lull in denuclearization talks .
North Korea has rejected almost all meetings with the United States and South Korea , citing lack of sanctions relief .
Researchers say North Korea may have as many as 60 nuclear bombs .
The IAEA chief said the agency , in the absence of access to the country , has been monitoring the North 's nuclear program using open source information , including satellite imagery .
The European Union supported the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ North Korea to take concrete steps toward a complete , verifiable and irreversible denuclearization , according to South Korean news agency Yonhap .
North Korea has issued a response condemning the IAEA .
North Korean Ambassador Kim Song said in a two-and-a-half minute speech at the U.N. on Wednesday the IAEA is nothing more than a political tool of the West , Radio Free Asia reported .

The U.N.'s nuclear watchdog said this week North Korea's nuclear program is a source of concern during a video speech before the United Nations General Assembly.File Photo by KCNA/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 12 (UPI) -- North Korea's nuclear activities continue to be an issue of "serious concern" and the country must comply with obligations under United Nations Security Council resolutions, the International Atomic Energy Agency says. The IAEA statement has drawn rebuke from the North Korean ambassador to the U.N. Advertisement
IAEA Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi said Wednesday in a video message to the U.N. General Assembly that Pyongyang must suspend activities that violate international law.
"The Democratic People's Republic of Korea's nuclear activities remain a cause for serious concern," Grossi said. "The continuation of the country's nuclear program is a clear violation of relevant Security Council resolutions and is deeply regrettable," he said.
Grossi, an Argentine national who was tapped to succeed the late Yukiya Amano in 2019, also called on the Kim Jong Un regime to cooperate with the IAEA, which is ready to verify the status of the nuclear program and the "effective implementation of its [nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty] Agreement." North Korea joined the NPT in 1985, but said in 2003 it would no longer be bound by the treaty.
Grossi's comments come after analysts warned of continued nuclear development amid a lull in denuclearization talks. North Korea has rejected almost all meetings with the United States and South Korea, citing lack of sanctions relief. Researchers say North Korea may have as many as 60 nuclear bombs.
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The IAEA chief said the agency, in the absence of access to the country, has been monitoring the North's nuclear program using open source information, including satellite imagery.
The European Union supported the IAEA statement, and also called on North Korea to take concrete steps toward a complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization, according to South Korean news agency Yonhap.
North Korea has issued a response condemning the IAEA. North Korean Ambassador Kim Song said in a two-and-a-half minute speech at the U.N. on Wednesday the IAEA is nothing more than a political tool of the West, Radio Free Asia reported.