upi--2020-09-09--Three-quarters of Americans plan to save rather than spend, Gallup poll shows

Sept. 9 ( UPI ) -- The vast majority of Americans say they plan to save money rather than spend it in the near future , and that finding a COVID-19 vaccine will have an impact on their fiscal plans , a Gallup survey showed Wednesday .
The survey , part of the Franklin Templeton-Gallup Economics of Recovery Study , showed seven in 10 respondents said a vaccine will impact their willingness to return to normal spending .
The poll also showed that 76 % said they plan to continue saving money over the next six months .
A little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spend savings on basic goods or services ; 13 % plan to spend it on a vacation or travel ; and one in 10 said they will pay off existing debt .
`` With consumer spending traditionally driving approximately 70 % of the U.S. economy , it appears that a broad and consistent economic recovery may depend primarily on the development of an effective vaccine , '' Gallup wrote .
When asked how they are saving , 79 % of respondents said they 're keeping the money in a bank account and about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a retirement account .
Seventeen percent have invested savings in fiscal markets and 5 % in real estate .
`` A majority of Americans plan to moderate their overall spending compared with pre-pandemic levels , which means unemployment and underemployment are likely to persist at elevated levels for the foreseeable future , '' Gallup added .
The survey showed that 45 % said development of a coronavirus vaccine will have a `` major '' impact on their spending , and 26 % said it would have a `` minor '' impact .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ web surveys of 5,000 U.S. adults taken from Aug. 3-11 .

$100 bills are seen fanned out on a table in New York City on June 17. Nearly 80% of those in Wednesday's survey said they plan to keep their savings in a bank account. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 9 (UPI) -- The vast majority of Americans say they plan to save money rather than spend it in the near future, and that finding a COVID-19 vaccine will have an impact on their fiscal plans, a Gallup survey showed Wednesday. The survey, part of the Franklin Templeton-Gallup Economics of Recovery Study, showed seven in 10 respondents said a vaccine will impact their willingness to return to normal spending. Advertisement
The poll also showed that 76% said they plan to continue saving money over the next six months. A little less than a third said they will spend savings on basic goods or services; 13% plan to spend it on a vacation or travel; and one in 10 said they will pay off existing debt.
"With consumer spending traditionally driving approximately 70% of the U.S. economy, it appears that a broad and consistent economic recovery may depend primarily on the development of an effective vaccine," Gallup wrote.
When asked how they are saving, 79% of respondents said they're keeping the money in a bank account and about a quarter said they added the savings to a retirement account. Seventeen percent have invested savings in fiscal markets and 5% in real estate.
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"A majority of Americans plan to moderate their overall spending compared with pre-pandemic levels, which means unemployment and underemployment are likely to persist at elevated levels for the foreseeable future," Gallup added.
The survey showed that 45% said development of a coronavirus vaccine will have a "major" impact on their spending, and 26% said it would have a "minor" impact.
Gallup said the data is based on web surveys of 5,000 U.S. adults taken from Aug. 3-11.


upi--2020-09-09--'Frozen' to explore Olaf's origins in short 'Once Upon a Snowman'

Sept. 9 ( UPI ) -- Disney announced on Wednesday a new Frozen animated short that will dive into the origins of Olaf titled Once Upon a Snowman .
The short will premiere exclusively on Disney+ on Oct. 23 .
Once Upon a Snowman will follow Olaf as he is brought to life and searches for his identity in the snowy mountains outside Arendelle .
Fans will see what happened to Olaf the moments after Elsa created him and how he grew to love summer .
Josh Gad , who voiced Olaf in 2013 's Frozen and 2019 's Frozen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ snowman .
Trent Correy , who was the animation supervisor on Olaf in Frozen 2 and Dan Abraham , a veteran story artist who worked on Olaf 's `` When I Am Older '' musical sequence in Frozen 2 , are serving as directors .
`` This is an idea that started to form when I was an animator on the first Frozen .
Dan Abraham and I are so grateful and excited to have had the opportunity to direct this short , working with our incredible colleagues at Walt Disney Animation Studios @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Josh Gad gives one of the great animated performances as Olaf through the Frozen films .
To have the opportunity to work with him in the recording booth was such a privilege and career highlight , '' Abraham said in a statement .
Disney+ released in June a documentary series that chronicled the making of Frozen 2 titled Into the Unknown .

Josh Gad will voice Olaf once again in an upcoming Frozen animated short, "Once Upon a Snowman." File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 9 (UPI) -- Disney announced on Wednesday a new Frozen animated short that will dive into the origins of Olaf titled Once Upon a Snowman. The short will premiere exclusively on Disney+ on Oct. 23. Advertisement
Once Upon a Snowman will follow Olaf as he is brought to life and searches for his identity in the snowy mountains outside Arendelle. Fans will see what happened to Olaf the moments after Elsa created him and how he grew to love summer.
Josh Gad, who voiced Olaf in 2013's Frozen and 2019's Frozen 2, is returning to portray the snowman.
Trent Correy, who was the animation supervisor on Olaf in Frozen 2 and Dan Abraham, a veteran story artist who worked on Olaf's "When I Am Older" musical sequence in Frozen 2, are serving as directors.
"This is an idea that started to form when I was an animator on the first Frozen. Dan Abraham and I are so grateful and excited to have had the opportunity to direct this short, working with our incredible colleagues at Walt Disney Animation Studios," Correy said in a statement.
"Josh Gad gives one of the great animated performances as Olaf through the Frozen films. To have the opportunity to work with him in the recording booth was such a privilege and career highlight," Abraham said in a statement.
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Disney+ released in June a documentary series that chronicled the making of Frozen 2 titled Into the Unknown.


upi--2020-09-09--Peacock orders two seasons of 'Fresh Prince' drama 'Bel-Air'

Sept. 9 ( UPI ) -- Actor and producer Will Smith has announced on Facebook that the Peacock streaming service ordered two seasons of Bel-Air , a drama based on his 1990s sitcom , The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air .
`` 18 months ago , a young filmmaker from Kansas City Morgan Cooper uploaded a video on YouTube reimagining The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air for present day as a DRAMA ! ''
Smith , an executive producer on the project , wrote in Tuesday 's post .
`` Everybody sent it to me , '' he added .
`` It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revisiting the Banks family in this way .
We knew this was special , so we called Chris Collins and asked him to lead the team ( he wrote on The Wire ) and he said YES !
Months of writing , developing and pitching ... and now it 's happening .
Bel-Air got a TWO SEASON order , debuting in 2021 on NBC 's streaming service Peacock TV .
Morgan Cooper and Chris Collins , you are THE TRUTH !
! ''
Peacock also confirmed in a tweet that it green-lit the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aired for six seasons on Peacock 's sister station NBC from 1990 to 1996 .
The show is currently available to stream on HBO Max .
It starred Smith as a Philadelphia youth sent to live with his wealthy aunt and uncle inside their Bel-Air mansion .
A Fresh Prince reunion special is set to tape on Thursday and is expected to air on HBO Max closer to Thanksgiving in November .
Cast members Smith , Tatyana Ali , Karyn Parsons , Joseph Marcell , Daphne Maxwell Reid , Alfonso Ribeiro and DJ @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Sept. 9 (UPI) -- Actor and producer Will Smith has announced on Facebook that the Peacock streaming service ordered two seasons of Bel-Air, a drama based on his 1990s sitcom, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
"18 months ago, a young filmmaker from Kansas City Morgan Cooper uploaded a video on YouTube reimagining The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air for present day as a DRAMA!" Smith, an executive producer on the project, wrote in Tuesday's post.
Advertisement In West Philadelphia born and raised...Will Smith announced today that the beloved comedy series #FreshPrince of Bel-Air will come to #PeacockTV reimagined as the highly anticipated dramatic adaptation of Morgan Cooper's lauded fan film, #BELAIR. pic.twitter.com/iNteDiXsmY— Peacock (@peacockTV) September 8, 2020
"Everybody sent it to me," he added. "It was outstanding. I had NEVER envisioned revisiting the Banks family in this way. We knew this was special, so we called Chris Collins and asked him to lead the team (he wrote on The Wire) and he said YES! Months of writing, developing and pitching... and now it's happening. Bel-Air got a TWO SEASON order, debuting in 2021 on NBC's streaming service Peacock TV. Morgan Cooper and Chris Collins, you are THE TRUTH!!"
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Peacock also confirmed in a tweet that it green-lit the series.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air aired for six seasons on Peacock's sister station NBC from 1990 to 1996. The show is currently available to stream on HBO Max.
It starred Smith as a Philadelphia youth sent to live with his wealthy aunt and uncle inside their Bel-Air mansion.
A Fresh Prince reunion special is set to tape on Thursday and is expected to air on HBO Max closer to Thanksgiving in November.
Cast members Smith, Tatyana Ali, Karyn Parsons, Joseph Marcell, Daphne Maxwell Reid, Alfonso Ribeiro and DJ Jazzy Jeff are scheduled to participate.
Moments from Will Smith's career


upi--2020-09-09--LeBron James leads Lakers past Rockets, wins NBA-record 162nd playoff game

Sept. 9 ( UPI ) -- LeBron James scored 36 points in 37 minutes Tuesday night to lead the top-seeded Los Angeles Lakers to a win over the Houston Rockets and a 2-1 lead in their Western Conference semifinal series .
James scored 29 of his points in the first half of the 112-102 triumph at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando , Fla .
The four-time NBA MVP also had seven rebounds , five assists and four blocks .
`` I am where I 'd like to be from a rhythm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' James told reporters .
`` It 's all about just playing efficiently and doing whatever it takes to try and help our team win . ''
The game was tied 15 times and featured 16 lead changes .
James Harden had 33 points , nine assists and nine rebounds while Russell Westbrook chipped in 30 points , eight rebounds and six assists for Houston in the loss .
`` They did a good job of trapping us [ in the second half ] and we did n't make them pay for it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 13 points in the first quarter to lead the Rockets to an early 33-32 edge .
James responded with a 17-point effort in the next quarter , but the Lakers still trailed 64-61 at the break .
The Lakers tightened up their defense in the second half and held the Rockets to just 38 points over the final 24 minutes to secure the victory .
`` We just were n't ourselves defensively in the first half , '' said Lakers forward Anthony Davis , who had 26 points , 15 rebounds and six @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just tried to impose our will on the defensive end in the second half .
We were able to do that , because that 's a great team that can get hot at any time . ''
Rajon Rondo had 21 points and nine assists off the Lakers bench and Kyle Kuzma chipped in 14 points in the win .
Jeff Green scored 16 points off the Rockets bench .
Robert Covington and Eric Gordon chipped in 10 points apiece for Houston .
The win gave James an NBA-record 162nd playoff victory , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lakers ' guard Derek Fisher .
`` The lift [ James ] gives us with superhero plays , you ca n't really put it into words , '' Lakers coach Frank Vogel said .
`` But he was doing it on both ends .
`` This easily could have been a blowout if he was n't hitting big shot after big shot . ''
Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals series is scheduled for 7 p.m. EDT Thursday .

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James set the NBA record for playoff wins at 162 with a victory over the Houston Rockets Tuesday in Orlando, Fla. Photo by Erik S. Lesser/EPA-EFE
Sept. 9 (UPI) -- LeBron James scored 36 points in 37 minutes Tuesday night to lead the top-seeded Los Angeles Lakers to a win over the Houston Rockets and a 2-1 lead in their Western Conference semifinal series. James scored 29 of his points in the first half of the 112-102 triumph at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla. The four-time NBA MVP also had seven rebounds, five assists and four blocks. Advertisement
"I am where I'd like to be from a rhythm standpoint and want to continue that," James told reporters. "It's all about just playing efficiently and doing whatever it takes to try and help our team win."
The game was tied 15 times and featured 16 lead changes. James Harden had 33 points, nine assists and nine rebounds while Russell Westbrook chipped in 30 points, eight rebounds and six assists for Houston in the loss.
"They did a good job of trapping us [in the second half] and we didn't make them pay for it," Harden said.
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Westbrook scored 13 points in the first quarter to lead the Rockets to an early 33-32 edge. James responded with a 17-point effort in the next quarter, but the Lakers still trailed 64-61 at the break.
The Lakers tightened up their defense in the second half and held the Rockets to just 38 points over the final 24 minutes to secure the victory.
"We just weren't ourselves defensively in the first half," said Lakers forward Anthony Davis, who had 26 points, 15 rebounds and six assists in the win.
"We just tried to impose our will on the defensive end in the second half. We were able to do that, because that's a great team that can get hot at any time."
Rajon Rondo had 21 points and nine assists off the Lakers bench and Kyle Kuzma chipped in 14 points in the win. Jeff Green scored 16 points off the Rockets bench. Robert Covington and Eric Gordon chipped in 10 points apiece for Houston.
The win gave James an NBA-record 162nd playoff victory, which passed a mark set by former Lakers' guard Derek Fisher.
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"The lift [James] gives us with superhero plays, you can't really put it into words," Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. "But he was doing it on both ends.
"This easily could have been a blowout if he wasn't hitting big shot after big shot."
Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals series is scheduled for 7 p.m. EDT Thursday.
Moments from LeBron James' career


upi--2020-09-09--WWE NXT: Finn Balor becomes NXT Champion

Sept. 9 ( UPI ) -- Finn Balor and Adam Cole battled each other to determine the new NXT Champion on a special Tuesday edition of WWE NXT .
Balor and Cole kicked things off on WWE NXT Wednesday with their championship match .
The show was titled NXT Super Tuesday II .
The two grapplers tied each other in the 60 minute Iron Man match last week that also included Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa .
Balor and Cole delivered a fast-paced , highly competitive match where both men pulled off all the stops to become champion .
Cole @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knee by applying the Figure-Four Leglock multiple times .
The Prince struggled to deliver the Coup de Grace which uses his legs , allowing Cole to kick out of the finishing maneuver .
Balor was also able to somehow kick out of Cole 's Last Shot .
Balor won the match after he performed a Super 1916 DDT from the top rope to become a two-time NXT Champion .
The NXT Championship was left vacant after Karrion Kross relinquished the title due to injury in August .
Also on WWE NXT , Rhea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cage match in the main event .
Martinez , who was accompanied to the ring by her manager Robert Stone , brought a kendo stick and steel chairs into the ring before the bout started .
Ripley attacked Martinez from behind and brought in a table as the match got underway .
Ripley and Martinez were not interested in escaping the cage to win and instead stayed within the steel structure to punish each other .
Stone also got involved as he tried to distract Ripley who nailed him with a kendo stick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ performed a Riptide to Martinez from the second rope and into a table .
Stone , who has also had issues with Shotzi Blackheart in recent weeks , was caught getting ready to destroy Blackheart 's miniature tank backstage that she rides to the ring .
Stone 's client Aliyah attacked Blackheart which inadvertently disturbed NXT Women 's Champion Io Shirai who was in the middle of a photo shoot .
Shirai and Blackheart teamed up on Aliyah and Stone inside the ring , both delivering attacks from the top rope .
Blackheart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ title but quickly pulled it away , hinting at a future confrontation between the two .
Other moments from WWE NXT included The Velveteen Dream getting attacked by Kushida after he defeated Ashantee 'Thee ' Adonis ; Bronson Reed defeating Austin Theory ; Roderick Strong defeating Killian Dain ; and Tegan Nox trying to reconcile with her friend Candice LeRae and her husband Gargano over dinner before a food fight broke out .

Sept. 9 (UPI) -- Finn Balor and Adam Cole battled each other to determine the new NXT Champion on a special Tuesday edition of WWE NXT.
Balor and Cole kicked things off on WWE NXT Wednesday with their championship match. The show was titled NXT Super Tuesday II.
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The two grapplers tied each other in the 60 minute Iron Man match last week that also included Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa. Balor and Cole delivered a fast-paced, highly competitive match where both men pulled off all the stops to become champion.
Cole spent the bout working on Balor's knee by applying the Figure-Four Leglock multiple times. The Prince struggled to deliver the Coup de Grace which uses his legs, allowing Cole to kick out of the finishing maneuver.
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Balor was also able to somehow kick out of Cole's Last Shot. Balor won the match after he performed a Super 1916 DDT from the top rope to become a two-time NXT Champion.
The NXT Championship was left vacant after Karrion Kross relinquished the title due to injury in August.
Also on WWE NXT, Rhea Ripley faced Mercedes Martinez in a Steel Cage match in the main event.
Martinez, who was accompanied to the ring by her manager Robert Stone, brought a kendo stick and steel chairs into the ring before the bout started. Ripley attacked Martinez from behind and brought in a table as the match got underway.
Ripley and Martinez were not interested in escaping the cage to win and instead stayed within the steel structure to punish each other. Stone also got involved as he tried to distract Ripley who nailed him with a kendo stick.
Ripley won the match after he performed a Riptide to Martinez from the second rope and into a table.
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Stone, who has also had issues with Shotzi Blackheart in recent weeks, was caught getting ready to destroy Blackheart's miniature tank backstage that she rides to the ring. Stone's client Aliyah attacked Blackheart which inadvertently disturbed NXT Women's Champion Io Shirai who was in the middle of a photo shoot.
Shirai and Blackheart teamed up on Aliyah and Stone inside the ring, both delivering attacks from the top rope. Blackheart then went to hand Shirai her championship title but quickly pulled it away, hinting at a future confrontation between the two.
Other moments from WWE NXT included The Velveteen Dream getting attacked by Kushida after he defeated Ashantee 'Thee' Adonis; Bronson Reed defeating Austin Theory; Roderick Strong defeating Killian Dain; and Tegan Nox trying to reconcile with her friend Candice LeRae and her husband Gargano over dinner before a food fight broke out.


upi--2020-09-09--Blackpink documentary to debut on Netflix Oct. 14

Sept. 9 ( UPI ) -- A film about K-pop superstars Blackpink is set to debut on Netflix on Oct. @ @ @ @ @ Light Up the Sky -- an all-access documentary about one of the world 's most @ @ @ @ @ your area on October 14 !
Oh and that 's not all ... on October @ @ @ @ @ will also become Netflix profile icons , '' the streaming service tweeted Tuesday .
The @ @ @ @ @ icons of Blackpink members Jisoo , Jennie , Rosé and Lisa .
The group recently @ @ @ @ @ '' the music video for its collaboration with Selena Gomez .
The song will appear @ @ @ @ @ first full-length album , Blackpink : The Album , which is set for release on @ @ @ @ @ last record was the EP , Kill This Love , in April 2019 .

Sept. 9 (UPI) -- A film about K-pop superstars Blackpink is set to debut on Netflix on Oct. 14.
"BLACKPINK: Light Up the Sky -- an all-access documentary about one of the world's most popular groups -- premieres in your area on October 14! Oh and that's not all ... on October 14, these music icons will also become Netflix profile icons," the streaming service tweeted Tuesday.
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The post also included the profile icons of Blackpink members Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé and Lisa.
The group recently released "Ice Cream," the music video for its collaboration with Selena Gomez.
The song will appear on Blackpink's upcoming, first full-length album, Blackpink: The Album, which is set for release on Oct. 2.
Blackpink's last record was the EP, Kill This Love, in April 2019.


upi--2020-09-09--Watch live: NIH Director Francis Collins, Surgeon General Jerome Adams to testify on vaccines

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Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, appears Wednesday before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing on the safety of vaccines. Photo by Michael Reynolds/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 9 (UPI) -- National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins and U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams on Wednesday told the Senate that approval of a COVID-19 vaccine will be based on science alone. Appearing before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions, Collins and Adams each responded to a question by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., by stating that political pressure will not play a role in any decision on when or whether to approve a COVID-19 vaccine for use by the public. Advertisement
"I can't say strongly enough that the decisions about how this vaccine is going to be evaluated and assessed are going to be based on science," Collins said. "That can be the only basis upon which this decision is made. Otherwise the public would not be expected to trust us.
"Science and science alone will be the way this decision is made, or I will have no part of it," he said.
"There will be no shortcut," Adams said. "This vaccine will be safe, it will be effective, or it won't get moved along. And when a vaccine is approved or authorized by [U.S. regulators], I and my family will be in line to get it."
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Their testimony came after Sanders urged the two health officials to join him in telling President Donald Trump to "get out of science and let the scientists do their job."
Trump has repeatedly pushed for a quick vaccine timeline, which has alarmed some health experts who worry he's pressuring regulators for premature approval to gain a political advantage before the Nov. 3 election.
"We'll have the vaccine soon, maybe before a special date," Trump said Monday. "You know what date I'm talking about."
The hearing, titled "Vaccines: Saving lives, ensuring confidence and protecting public health," came as scientists across the globe race to develop and test a vaccine to battle the novel coronavirus.
The pandemic has sickened at least 6.3 million people in the United States and killed nearly 190,000, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Earlier in the hearing, Collins noted that as drugmakers such as AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Moderna and Pfizer race to conclude late-stage clinical trials, safety is not being sacrificed for speed.
"Efforts to shorten the timeline from bench to bedside, but still achieve a safe and effective vaccine, have been accomplished by eliminating down times and assuming the costs of at-risk manufacturing," he said.
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Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious diseases expert, said Tuesday a vaccine likely won't be available until late this year at the soonest. AstraZeneca said Tuesday it had paused a late-stage clinical trial of its vaccine candidate after one of the human test subjects developed an unknown illness.
COVID-19 pandemic alters life in New York City


upi--2020-09-09--Today's crises parallel those of 1914, 1939 and 2001

This week marks 19 years since the attacks of Sept. 11 destroyed New York City 's Twin Towers and a portion of the Pentagon , killing 3,000 Americans .
Despite possessing an extraordinarily complex national security organization and infrastructure with 1.5 million active duty military personnel and hundreds of billions of dollars spent on intelligence over the years , the nation was unprepared to prevent and defend against the threat of al-Qaida and Osama bin Laden .
In 1914 , great power rivalries in Europe led to competing alliances between Britain , France and Russia , with the promise to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Austro-Hungary , Italy and Turkey .
The world was shocked when Austro-Hungary 's Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his pregnant wife , Sophie , were shot to death in Sarajevo by Joseph Princips , a 19-year-old self-described anarchist who lit the fuse that metastasized great power rivalries into World War I with an estimated 20 million people perishing .
In 1939 , the West had ignored Nazi Germany 's rearmament and land grabs .
The blood and treasure that was shed in the first war made appeasement a more attractive option than conflict @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And the Soviet Union thought itself safe signing the Ribbentrop-Molotov non-aggression pact with Germany prior to the attack on Poland .
Using a staged crisis to retaliate , Nazi Germany stormed into Poland on Sept. 1 , occupying it four weeks later .
World War II had begun .
Do 1914 , 1939 and 2001 have any common links with today ?
In 1914 , great power rivalry dominated the geostrategic politics of Europe .
Current U.S. national security strategy is based on winning a global competition against two peer or near @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this is a great power rivalry , one of the causes of World War I .
The question is what differentiates today from 1914 ?
In 1939 , Germany 's militarization made war virtually inevitable .
Today , China has expanded its military power and control over proximate seas .
Unlike 1939 , the United States has recognized and reacted to China 's actions .
U.S. strategy is to deter and defeat , if war comes , a series of potential rivals with China atop the list .
The question is what are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ territorial ambitions and will both lead to a clash of interests that could entail the use of force ?
In 2001 , the nation was unprepared , not properly organized and completely surprised by Sept. 11 .
In 2020 , aside from a handful of Asian states , the United States was not alone in being totally unprepared for the arrival of the coronavirus despite years of studying and war-gaming potential pandemic scenarios .
What has been learned ?
Three conclusions are apparent .
First , 2020 is not 1914 , 1939 or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allies in Europe and Asia .
And unlike the 1918-20 Spanish flu that struck during a world war , global cooperation today ultimately will prevail over this pandemic .
Second , however , the arrival of this pandemic is perhaps a final warning that the greatest danger and threat to mankind is a new version of the old Cold War MAD ( Mutual Assured Destruction ) -- namely Massive Attacks of Disruption .
Disruption whether from environmental catastrophes arising from climate change ; cyber and social media attacks against people and governments ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that could break the collective bank ; or failed and failing government that can not fill the public 's needs that must become a central foundation to national security thinking and planning .
And as the nation was unready for Sept. 11 , it is perhaps even more unready for the wave of future MAD scenarios that will strike unexpectedly and at times not of our choosing .
Third , we can not forget that great power rivalries over a century ago were largely responsible for World War I .
That suggests that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ based on a closely related cousin of great power rivalry , namely a global power competition with peers .
Left unchecked , a naval arms race between the United States and China as China 's naval power grows and America demands 355 ships could resemble what happened between Great Britain and the Kaiser 's Germany to outpace the other in building super-dreadnoughts .
To ensure 2020 or 2021 is not 1914 , 1939 or 2001 , the next administration must undertake a fundamental re-examination of the assumptions on which national security strategy rests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- Massive Acts of Disruption .
Should the president be re-elected , this will be an immense challenge to consider a course change .
But if not done , 1914 or 1939 may prove frighteningly relevant .
Harlan Ullman is UPI 's Arnaud de Borchgrave Distinguished Columnist , a senior adviser at the Atlantic Council and author of the upcoming book , `` The Fifth Horseman : To Be Feared , Friended or Fought in a MAD-Driven Age . ''

Unlike the 1918-20 Spanish flu that struck during a world war, global cooperation today ultimately will prevail over this pandemic. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
This week marks 19 years since the attacks of Sept. 11 destroyed New York City's Twin Towers and a portion of the Pentagon, killing 3,000 Americans. Despite possessing an extraordinarily complex national security organization and infrastructure with 1.5 million active duty military personnel and hundreds of billions of dollars spent on intelligence over the years, the nation was unprepared to prevent and defend against the threat of al-Qaida and Osama bin Laden. Advertisement
In 1914, great power rivalries in Europe led to competing alliances between Britain, France and Russia, with the promise to guarantee Belgium's neutrality, and Germany, Austro-Hungary, Italy and Turkey. The world was shocked when Austro-Hungary's Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his pregnant wife, Sophie, were shot to death in Sarajevo by Joseph Princips, a 19-year-old self-described anarchist who lit the fuse that metastasized great power rivalries into World War I with an estimated 20 million people perishing.
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In 1939, the West had ignored Nazi Germany's rearmament and land grabs. The blood and treasure that was shed in the first war made appeasement a more attractive option than conflict for the other major powers in Europe. And the Soviet Union thought itself safe signing the Ribbentrop-Molotov non-aggression pact with Germany prior to the attack on Poland.
Using a staged crisis to retaliate, Nazi Germany stormed into Poland on Sept. 1, occupying it four weeks later. World War II had begun.
Do 1914, 1939 and 2001 have any common links with today? In 1914, great power rivalry dominated the geostrategic politics of Europe. Current U.S. national security strategy is based on winning a global competition against two peer or near peer powers. In simple terms, this is a great power rivalry, one of the causes of World War I. The question is what differentiates today from 1914?
In 1939, Germany's militarization made war virtually inevitable. Today, China has expanded its military power and control over proximate seas. Unlike 1939, the United States has recognized and reacted to China's actions. U.S. strategy is to deter and defeat, if war comes, a series of potential rivals with China atop the list. The question is what are the limits of China's military and territorial ambitions and will both lead to a clash of interests that could entail the use of force?
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In 2001, the nation was unprepared, not properly organized and completely surprised by Sept. 11. In 2020, aside from a handful of Asian states, the United States was not alone in being totally unprepared for the arrival of the coronavirus despite years of studying and war-gaming potential pandemic scenarios. What has been learned?
Three conclusions are apparent. First, 2020 is not 1914, 1939 or even 2001. The United States has allies in Europe and Asia. And unlike the 1918-20 Spanish flu that struck during a world war, global cooperation today ultimately will prevail over this pandemic.
Second, however, the arrival of this pandemic is perhaps a final warning that the greatest danger and threat to mankind is a new version of the old Cold War MAD (Mutual Assured Destruction) -- namely Massive Attacks of Disruption. Disruption whether from environmental catastrophes arising from climate change; cyber and social media attacks against people and governments; terror worse that Sept. 11; debt that could break the collective bank; or failed and failing government that cannot fill the public's needs that must become a central foundation to national security thinking and planning.
And as the nation was unready for Sept. 11, it is perhaps even more unready for the wave of future MAD scenarios that will strike unexpectedly and at times not of our choosing.
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Third, we cannot forget that great power rivalries over a century ago were largely responsible for World War I. That suggests that the nation should carefully re-examine a strategy based on a closely related cousin of great power rivalry, namely a global power competition with peers. Left unchecked, a naval arms race between the United States and China as China's naval power grows and America demands 355 ships could resemble what happened between Great Britain and the Kaiser's Germany to outpace the other in building super-dreadnoughts.
To ensure 2020 or 2021 is not 1914, 1939 or 2001, the next administration must undertake a fundamental re-examination of the assumptions on which national security strategy rests, emphasizing the arrival of new MAD -- Massive Acts of Disruption. Should the president be re-elected, this will be an immense challenge to consider a course change. But if not done, 1914 or 1939 may prove frighteningly relevant.
Harlan Ullman is UPI's Arnaud de Borchgrave Distinguished Columnist, a senior adviser at the Atlantic Council and author of the upcoming book, "The Fifth Horseman: To Be Feared, Friended or Fought in a MAD-Driven Age."


upi--2020-09-09--Tropical Storm Paulette strengthens in central Atlantic

Sept. 9 ( UPI ) -- Tropical Storm Paulette has strengthened as it moved westward across the central Atlantic Ocean , forecasters said Wednesday .
In its 5 a.m. AST advisory , the National Hurricane Center said Paulette was about 1,145 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands and 1,440 miles west-northwest of the Cabo Verde Islands .
It had maximum sustained winds of 60 mph and was moving to the west at 8 mph .
It picked up speed Tuesday morning and became `` noticeably '' more organized since Monday night .
The storm is forecast to continue strengthening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weaken Thursday evening and into Friday , the NHC said .
Forecasters warned , though , it 's possible the storm could briefly strengthen to a hurricane .
Paulette , which formed early Monday , is projected to turn west-northwestward or westward Tuesday night and Wednesday .
The 16th named storm of the 2020 season , Paulette set another record for the basin .
This is the earliest on record that a `` P '' named storm has developed , according to Colorado State University meteorologist Phil Klotzbach .
The previous record was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system will track generally to the west-northwest across the Atlantic and should pass well north of the Lesser Antilles late in the week .
`` All residents and interests of the Lesser Antilles , especially the Leeward Islands , should closely monitor the progression of this evolving tropical system , '' Accuweather meteorologist Dan Kottlowski said .
Another strong tropical wave is projected to emerge from the African Coast late in the week .
Farther west , a weak tropical wave over the Caribbean Sea has a low chance of development but could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across southern Hispaniola and Jamaica over the next few days .
Another area being monitored is a bit closer to the United States .
`` An area of low pressure currently to the southeast of Bermuda will track to the west early this week , '' Douty said .
`` Atmospheric conditions are only marginally favorable for development through this time and there is only a low chance for development . ''
However , if the storm 's forward progression slows down , the wind shear in the area could decrease and allow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Interests along the Southeast coast should pay close attention to this feature , regardless of development , as it could bring an uptick in drenching showers and thunderstorms , as well as rough surf and rip currents , toward the middle and latter part of the week .
The next tropical storm name on the list for 2020 in the Atlantic is Sally .
As was the case with Paulette , there is a significant chance more early formation records will fall and join Cristobal , Edouard , Fay , Gonzalo , Hanna @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Laura , Marco , Nana and Omar as top of the list for early formation for their respective letters .
Before Rene , Rita , which formed on Sept. 18 , 2005 , was the record holder for the earliest `` R '' named storm on record .
Early this summer , AccuWeather meteorologists predicted a hyperactive peak hurricane season .
Meteorologists are calling for up to 24 tropical storms and up to 11 hurricanes in total this season .
These numbers mean that the Greek alphabet will have to be utilized for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done in one other season : 2005 .

Hurricane Paulette is expected to come dangerously close to Bermuda, and may even make landfall Sunday, bringing hurricane conditions as it nears the islands early this week. Photo courtesy of NOAA
Sept. 10 (UPI) -- Hurricane Paulette is expected to come dangerously close to Bermuda, and may even make landfall, bringing hurricane conditions as it nears the islands early this week. Paulette became a Category 1 hurricane Saturday night. As of 5 p.m. EDT Sunday, maximum sustained winds were 85 mph and the hurricane was located about 155 miles southeast of Bermuda. The storm was moving northwest at 14 mph. Advertisement
Interests in Bermuda are urged to be prepared for the incoming hurricane that could be capable of bringing sustained winds above 100 mph, the strength of a Category 2 hurricane.
Paulette is expected to take a more northerly jog on Sunday, towards the islands.
"Paulette will be moving over warmer water and within a more moist and unstable environment with lowering wind shear into early week," AccuWeather's top hurricane expert Dan Kottlowski said.
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Wind shear is associated with strong winds aloft or the rapid change in wind direction across an area above the ocean. Strong wind shear can prevent tropical cyclones from forming or cause established tropical cyclones to weaken.
"We are expecting Paulette to intensify further through the rest of Sunday and Monday," Kottlowski said.
While current forecasts have Paulette topping out as a Category 2 hurricane, if the wind shear drops off even more than currently expected, Paulette could strengthen into a major, Category 3 hurricane with winds of over 110 mph as it approaches Bermuda.
The current track points Paulette at or just to the west of Bermuda, which increases the chances for significant impacts across the islands.
If Paulette were to make landfall in Bermuda, it would be the territory's first landfall since 2014, when hurricanes Fay and Gonzalo made back-to-back landfalls on the island in mid-October.
Conditions are expected to deteriorate quickly over the islands during Sunday night with the worst conditions possible during Monday.
The Bermuda Weather Service has issued a hurricane warning for the islands.
Seas and surf will build in the waters around Bermuda into Monday, especially south and east of the islands.
Increasing winds, showers and gusty thunderstorms are likely during Sunday night in Bermuda. There will be the risk of high winds, coastal flooding and torrential rain during Monday to Monday night.
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Despite Bermuda's strict building codes, property damage and power outages are likely even if Paulette brushes the islands, and more widespread damage and power outages are expected if the storm makes a direct hit as a Category 2 hurricane or higher.
A this time, Paulette is not expected to bring any impact to the eastern coast of the United States, other than perhaps some rougher surf.
There is a somewhat higher chance for Paulette to track close enough to Newfoundland with some wind and rain late this week. A period of rough seas is likely around the Canada province later in the week, even if Paulette remains to the east.
Paulette is occurring around the traditional peak of the Atlantic hurricane season, which is Sept. 10-11.
Several systems are being monitored over the basin in a season that has already produced 18 named systems and could go on to rival the historic 2005 season. During 2005, 28 named storms set a record for the most ever in a season, and the Greek alphabet was used to name systems for the first time.
Developing tropical storms are likely to continue the 2020 trend of systems setting new early-formation records in the coming days, with the development of Teddy likely on the near horizon.


upi--2020-09-09--AstraZeneca halts COVID-19 vaccine trials after mystery illness

Sept. 9 ( UPI ) -- Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca said it has paused global trials of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate after it caused an unexplained illness in one of its volunteers .
The Britain-based drug company said the pause of randomized , controlled trials of its coronavirus vaccine candidate developed with Oxford University was led by a standard review process to allow an independent committee to look over safety data .
`` This is a routine action , which has to happen whenever there is a potentially unexplained illness in one of the trials , '' an AstraZeneca spokesman said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Illnesses during large trials `` will happen , '' the company said , adding that they must undergo a careful and independent review , a process the drugmaker is working to expedite to minimize any potential impact on the trial 's projected timeline .
`` We are committed to the safety of our participants and the highest standards of conduct in our trials , '' the spokesman said .
Matt Hancock , Britain 's health secretary , told Sky News on Wednesday that the pause is n't a cause for concern and should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` It depends on what they find when they do the investigation , '' he said .
`` There was a pause earlier in the summer and that was resolved without a problem . ''
The pause came a week after the multinational said it started Phase III clinical trials in the United States of its AZD1222 candidate .
The trial consists of participants receiving two doses of either the vaccine or a placebo saline control separated by four weeks .
Some 30,000 adults in the United States were to be recruited for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to some 50,000 globally .
On Tuesday , AstraZeneca and eight other drugmakers pledged to `` uphold the integrity of the scientific process '' amid pressure to produce a vaccine quickly .
The World Health Organization has repeatedly warned against so-called vaccine nationalism , saying that authorizing a vaccine prematurely could hamper research and introduce a drug to the public that not only does n't prevent COVID-19 but could be unsafe .
AstraZeneca is one of several companies developing potential COVID-19 vaccines .
Click here for our COVID-19 vaccine tracker .

The pause came a week after the multinational said it started Phase III clinical trials in the United States of its AZD1222 candidate. File Photo by Drago Prvulovic/EPA
Sept. 9 (UPI) -- Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca said it has paused global trials of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate after it caused an unexplained illness in one of its volunteers. The Britain-based drug company said the pause of randomized, controlled trials of its coronavirus vaccine candidate developed with Oxford University was led by a standard review process to allow an independent committee to look over safety data. Advertisement
"This is a routine action, which has to happen whenever there is a potentially unexplained illness in one of the trials," an AstraZeneca spokesman said in a statement emailed to UPI.
Illnesses during large trials "will happen," the company said, adding that they must undergo a careful and independent review, a process the drugmaker is working to expedite to minimize any potential impact on the trial's projected timeline.
"We are committed to the safety of our participants and the highest standards of conduct in our trials," the spokesman said.
Matt Hancock, Britain's health secretary, told Sky News on Wednesday that the pause isn't a cause for concern and shouldn't yet be considered a setback.
"It depends on what they find when they do the investigation," he said. "There was a pause earlier in the summer and that was resolved without a problem."
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The pause came a week after the multinational said it started Phase III clinical trials in the United States of its AZD1222 candidate.
The trial consists of participants receiving two doses of either the vaccine or a placebo saline control separated by four weeks.
Some 30,000 adults in the United States were to be recruited for the trial, increasing its total volunteers to some 50,000 globally.
On Tuesday, AstraZeneca and eight other drugmakers pledged to "uphold the integrity of the scientific process" amid pressure to produce a vaccine quickly.
The World Health Organization has repeatedly warned against so-called vaccine nationalism, saying that authorizing a vaccine prematurely could hamper research and introduce a drug to the public that not only doesn't prevent COVID-19 but could be unsafe.
AstraZeneca is one of several companies developing potential COVID-19 vaccines. Click here for our COVID-19 vaccine tracker.


upi--2020-09-09--G7 condemns 'confirmed poisoning' of Alexei Navalny

Sept. 9 ( UPI ) -- The Group of Seven foreign ministers have denounced the `` confirmed poisoning '' of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny .
The foreign ministers in a statement Tuesday said they are united in condemning the poisoning of Navalny `` in the strongest possible terms . ''
Navalny , a vocal critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin , is in serious condition at a Berlin hospital receiving treatment after falling ill on a flight from Tomsk , Russia , to Moscow late last month .
The plane was forced to make an emergency landing in Omsk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where doctors confirmed he had been poisoned .
The G7 foreign ministers said Germany briefed them on its findings that the Russian activist was `` the victim of an attack with a chemical nerve agent . ''
Doctors determined the chemical used was of the Novichok group , a Soviet-era nerve agent that killed former spy Sergei Skripal and his adult daughter in 2018 .
Russia has denied being behind Navalny 's attack .
In the strongly worded statement , the foreign ministers rebuked the use of chemical weapons and told Russia to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We , the G7 foreign ministers , call on Russia to urgently and fully establish transparency on who is responsible for this abhorrent poisoning attack , and bearing in mind Russia 's commitments under the Chemical Weapons Convention , to bring the perpetrators to justice , '' they said .
The foreign ministers described the attack as a blow to democracy and political plurality and called it a threat to those who fight for freedom in Russia .
`` We will continue to monitor closely how Russia responds to international calls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Mr. Navalny , '' they said .
`` We remain strongly committed to our support for democracy , the rule of law and human rights in Russia and to bolster our support to the Russian civil society .
The foreign ministers of Canada , France , Germany Italy , Japan , Britain , the United States and the European Union endorsed the letter , which was issued by the U.S. State Department .
The letter was sent on the same day Michelle Bachelet , the United Nations High Commissioner of Human Rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incident .
The human rights leader said the number of targeted assassinations or poisonings of current or former Russian citizens on domestic and foreign soil over the last two decades is `` profoundly disturbing '' and warrants a `` thorough , transparent , independent investigation . ''
House Democrats also urged President Donald Trump on Tuesday to open a U.S. investigation into the poising of Navalny .
In a letter , Reps. Eliot Engel , D-NY , chairman of the House committee on foreign affairs , and Michael McCaul , R-Texas , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the investigation is required under U.S. law .
`` If the Russian government is once again determined to have used a chemical weapon against one of its own nationals , additional sanctions should be imposed , '' the lawmakers wrote .
`` Those responsible for this despicable attack must be held accountable , and Russian President Vladimir Putin must know that he and his cronies will not be allowed to violate international law and impunity . ''
Last week after Germany confirmed that Navalny had been poisoned , Trump told reporters that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would look into the incident .
`` I do n't know exactly what happened , '' he said from the White House on Friday .
`` I think it 's tragic .
It 's terrible .
It should n't happen .
We have n't had any proof yet , but I will take a look . ''

Russian opposition leader is in serious condition in Germany due to being poisoned with a chemical nerve agent. Photo by Yuri Kochetkov/EPA-EFE
Sept. 9 (UPI) -- The Group of Seven foreign ministers have denounced the "confirmed poisoning" of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. The foreign ministers in a statement Tuesday said they are united in condemning the poisoning of Navalny "in the strongest possible terms." Advertisement
Navalny, a vocal critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, is in serious condition at a Berlin hospital receiving treatment after falling ill on a flight from Tomsk, Russia, to Moscow late last month.
The plane was forced to make an emergency landing in Omsk before Navalny was moved to Germany, where doctors confirmed he had been poisoned.
The G7 foreign ministers said Germany briefed them on its findings that the Russian activist was "the victim of an attack with a chemical nerve agent."
Doctors determined the chemical used was of the Novichok group, a Soviet-era nerve agent that killed former spy Sergei Skripal and his adult daughter in 2018.
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Russia has denied being behind Navalny's attack.
In the strongly worded statement, the foreign ministers rebuked the use of chemical weapons and told Russia to hold those responsible for poisoning Navalny accountable.
"We, the G7 foreign ministers, call on Russia to urgently and fully establish transparency on who is responsible for this abhorrent poisoning attack, and bearing in mind Russia's commitments under the Chemical Weapons Convention, to bring the perpetrators to justice," they said.
The foreign ministers described the attack as a blow to democracy and political plurality and called it a threat to those who fight for freedom in Russia.
"We will continue to monitor closely how Russia responds to international calls for an explanation of the hideous poisoning of Mr. Navalny," they said. "We remain strongly committed to our support for democracy, the rule of law and human rights in Russia and to bolster our support to the Russian civil society.
The foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany Italy, Japan, Britain, the United States and the European Union endorsed the letter, which was issued by the U.S. State Department.
The letter was sent on the same day Michelle Bachelet, the United Nations High Commissioner of Human Rights, called on Russia to investigate the incident.
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The human rights leader said the number of targeted assassinations or poisonings of current or former Russian citizens on domestic and foreign soil over the last two decades is "profoundly disturbing" and warrants a "thorough, transparent, independent investigation."
House Democrats also urged President Donald Trump on Tuesday to open a U.S. investigation into the poising of Navalny.
In a letter, Reps. Eliot Engel, D-NY, chairman of the House committee on foreign affairs, and Michael McCaul, R-Texas, a ranking member in the committee, said the investigation is required under U.S. law.
"If the Russian government is once again determined to have used a chemical weapon against one of its own nationals, additional sanctions should be imposed," the lawmakers wrote. "Those responsible for this despicable attack must be held accountable, and Russian President Vladimir Putin must know that he and his cronies will not be allowed to violate international law and impunity."
Last week after Germany confirmed that Navalny had been poisoned, Trump told reporters that he hadn't seen "proof" but would look into the incident.
"I don't know exactly what happened," he said from the White House on Friday. "I think it's tragic. It's terrible. It shouldn't happen. We haven't had any proof yet, but I will take a look."


upi--2020-09-09--96 large fires burn more than 3.4M acres in western United States

Sept. 9 ( UPI ) -- Nearly 100 fires are burning throughout the western United States on Wednesday , destroying hundreds of homes and prompting waves of evacuations .
The National Interagency Fire Center said that 96 large fires have burned more than 3.4 million acres on Wednesday , up from 79 the day prior , including blazes that have burned tens of thousands of acres in Oregon , California and Washington .
Oregon Gov .
Kate Brown declared during a press conference Wednesday that the communities of Detroit , Blue River , Vida Phoenix and Talent have been `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lost as more than 300,000 acres in the state have burned .
`` I want to be upfront in saying that we expect to see a great deal of loss both in structures and in human lives , '' she said .
`` This could be the greatest loss of human lives and property due to wildfire in our state 's history . ''
Brown added that Oregonians must be `` on high alert '' for fire conditions such as dry air , dry bush and hot wind even in areas of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the wildfires .
In response to the blazes , Brown invoked a fire conflagration act for the entire state and directed the Office of Emergency Management to request a federal emergency declaration .
`` These free up resources for response efforts : power generation , search and rescue and more , '' she said .
Nancy Bush , director of Clackamas County 's disaster management department , said the county has issued 35 evacuation orders since Tuesday in response to four wildfires in the area .
The California Department of Forestry and Fire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ burning throughout as more than 2.5 million acres have been scorched this year , resulting in eight deaths and destroying 3,700 structures .
One of the newest blazes in California , the Creek Fire , has burned 136,138 acres and destroyed 360 structures in Fresno County , Cal Fire said .
Fresno County sheriff 's Lt. Brandon Pursell said Tuesday that at least 30,000 people in the county have been evacuated .
The U.S. Forest Service announced the closure of all 18 national forests in the state on Wednesday , citing the `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of large fires and extreme fire behavior we are seeing across the state is historic , '' said Regional Forester Randy Moore .
`` These temporary closures are necessary to protect the public and our firefighters and we will keep them in place until conditions improve and we are confident that National Forest visitors can recreate safely . ''
Washington Gov .
Jay Inslee on Wednesday visited the site of the Sumner Grade Fire where he said Eastside Fire Chief Bud Backer told him he had `` never seen a fire explode @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of service . ''
The Sumner Grade Fire has burned 800 acres , destroying four homes and causing thousands of people to evacuate .
Inslee also said that 330,000 acres have been burned throughout the state in total so far .
`` I just ca n't reiterate , '' he said .
`` We think almost all of these fires were human-caused , in some dimension .
If you can avoid being outside for anything that would even cause a spark , I hope people can avoid those conditions . ''
The Whitman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that 80 % of homes and structures including the fire station , post office and city hall in the town of Malden were destroyed by flames .

1/4
A mixture of fog and smoke casts an orange glow around the Bay Bridge on Wednesday morning, as seen from the Embarcadero in San Francisco, Calif. Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 9 (UPI) -- At least 15 people have died in California, Oregon and Washington as a result of wildfires burning throughout the western United States, which have destroyed hundreds of homes and prompted waves of evacuations. The National Interagency Fire Center said Wednesday that 96 large fires have so far burned more than 3.4 million acres. Fires in Oregon, California and Washington have burned tens of thousands of acres. Advertisement
Oregon
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown declared during a press conference Wednesday that the communities of Detroit, Blue River, Vida Phoenix and Talent have been "substantially destroyed," with hundreds of homes lost and more than 300,000 acres charred.
"I want to be upfront in saying that we expect to see a great deal of loss both in structures and in human lives," she said. "This could be the greatest loss of human lives and property due to wildfire in our state's history."
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Brown added that Oregonians must be "on high alert" for fire conditions such as dry air, dry bush and hot wind even in areas of the state that are not immediately threatened by the wildfires.
Two people were found dead in a vehicle east of Salem, the Marion County Sheriff Joe Kast said, adding that they died while trying to flee the Santiam Fire.
Jackson County Sheriff Nathan Sickler said at least one person died in the Almeida Fire.
In response to the blazes, Brown invoked a fire conflagration act for the entire state and directed the Office of Emergency Management to request a federal emergency declaration.
"These free up resources for response efforts: power generation, search and rescue and more," she said.
Nancy Bush, director of Clackamas County's disaster management department, said the county has issued 35 evacuation orders since Tuesday in response to four wildfires in the area.
California
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said 28 major wildfires are burning throughout the state have resulted in eight deaths, burned more than 2.5 million acres and destroyed 3,700 structures.
One of the newest fires in California, the Creek Fire, has burned 136,000 acres and destroyed 360 structures in Fresno County, Cal Fire said.
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Fresno County Sheriff's Lt. Brandon Pursell said Tuesday at least 30,000 people in the county have been evacuated.
In Butte County, Sheriff Kory Honea said Wednesday three people died in the Bear Fire and a dozen are missing.
The U.S. Forest Service announced the closure of all 18 national forests in California, citing "unprecedented" fire conditions.
"The number of large fires and extreme fire behavior we are seeing across the state is historic," said Regional Forester Randy Moore. "These temporary closures are necessary to protect the public and our firefighters and we will keep them in place until conditions improve and we are confident that National Forest visitors can recreate safely."
Washington
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday visited the site of the Sumner Grade Fire, where he said Eastside Fire Chief Bud Backer told him he'd "never seen a fire explode like this one in his 33 years of service."
The fire has burned hundreds of acres, destroyed multiple homes and caused thousands to evacuate.
Inslee also said 330,000 acres have burned statewide.
"We think almost all of these fires were human-caused, in some dimension," he said. "If you can avoid being outside for anything that would even cause a spark, I hope people can avoid those conditions."
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The Whitman's County Sheriff's Office said Tuesday 80% of homes and structures, including the fire station, post office and city hall in the town of Malden, were destroyed by flames.
A 1-year-old boy died in the Cold Springs Fire, the Okanogan County Sheriff's Office said. He added that the boy's parents were hospitalized in critical condition.


upi--2020-09-09--U.S. Open tennis: Serena Williams, Daniil Medvedev reach semifinals

Sept. 9 ( UPI ) -- No .
3 seed Serena Williams dropped the first set but rallied for a 4-6 , 6-3 , 6-2 win over Tsvetana Pironkova on Wednesday in the U.S. Open quarterfinals at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens , N.Y. With the victory , Williams advanced to the semifinals at Flushing Meadows for the 11th consecutive time .
She is now two wins away from claiming a record-tying 24th Grand Slam singles title .
`` I never give up , '' Williams , who had 20 aces , said .
`` I 've just got to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I was a little fatigued , for whatever reason .
Obviously I ca n't do that if I want to keep winning , so I need to figure that out . ''
Williams , who turns 39 in less than three weeks , has captured six championships at the U.S. Open and has been the runner-up at the event four times -- including in 2018 and 2019 .
She will face unseeded Victoria Azarenka in the semifinals .
Later Wednesday , Azarenka beat No .
16 Elise Mertens 6-1 , 6-0 to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On the men 's side , No .
3 seed Daniil Medvedev punched his ticket to the semifinals at Flushing Meadows for the second straight year .
Medvedev , the 2019 U.S. Open men 's runner-up , beat fellow Russian and 10th-seeded Andrey Rublev 7-6 ( 6 ) , 6-3 , 7-6 ( 5 ) Wednesday to advance .
Medvedev has n't dropped a set in the tournament to this point and never faced a break point against Rublev .
Medvedev will play either No .
2 seed Dominic Thiem or No @ @ @ @ @ @ @ semifinals .
The other semifinal match will be fifth-seeded Alexander Zverev versus No .
20 Pablo Carreno Busta .

Serena Williams advanced to the semifinals at Flushing Meadows for the 11th consecutive time. File Photo by Corey Sipkin/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 9 (UPI) -- No. 3 seed Serena Williams dropped the first set but rallied for a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 win over Tsvetana Pironkova on Wednesday in the U.S. Open quarterfinals at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens, N.Y. With the victory, Williams advanced to the semifinals at Flushing Meadows for the 11th consecutive time. She is now two wins away from claiming a record-tying 24th Grand Slam singles title. Advertisement
"I never give up," Williams, who had 20 aces, said. "I've just got to keep going. ... In the beginning, I was a little fatigued, for whatever reason. Obviously I can't do that if I want to keep winning, so I need to figure that out."
Williams, who turns 39 in less than three weeks, has captured six championships at the U.S. Open and has been the runner-up at the event four times -- including in 2018 and 2019. She will face unseeded Victoria Azarenka in the semifinals.
Later Wednesday, Azarenka beat No. 16 Elise Mertens 6-1, 6-0 to set up the semifinal meeting against Williams.
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On the men's side, No. 3 seed Daniil Medvedev punched his ticket to the semifinals at Flushing Meadows for the second straight year.
Medvedev, the 2019 U.S. Open men's runner-up, beat fellow Russian and 10th-seeded Andrey Rublev 7-6 (6), 6-3, 7-6 (5) Wednesday to advance. Medvedev hasn't dropped a set in the tournament to this point and never faced a break point against Rublev.
Medvedev will play either No. 2 seed Dominic Thiem or No. 21 Alex De Minaur in the semifinals. The other semifinal match will be fifth-seeded Alexander Zverev versus No. 20 Pablo Carreno Busta.
Serena Williams' tennis career: a look back


upi--2020-09-09--IOC, Tokyo officials say Olympics must go on in 2021 'at any cost'

Sept. 9 ( UPI ) -- International Olympic Committee officials and Japan 's Olympic Minister Seiko Hashimoto pledged that the Games in Tokyo will take place next summer despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic .
Hashimoto said the Tokyo Games must be held `` at any cost '' starting July 23 .
The 2020 Tokyo Games were initially set to begin this July but were delayed until next year because of the COVID-19 outbreak -- a decision that cost the IOC about $ 800 million .
`` Everyone involved with the Games is working together to prepare , and the athletes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year , '' Hashimoto told reporters Tuesday .
`` I think we have to hold the Games at any cost . ''
Hashimoto 's comments came one day after IOC vice president John Coates said next year 's Games will happen `` with or without '' the virus .
`` The Games were going to be their theme , the Reconstruction Games , after the devastation of the tsunami , '' Coates told reporters Monday , referring to the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan .
`` Now very much these will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ light at the end of the tunnel . ''
IOC president Thomas Bach said his organization is committed to having a safe Games in 2021 but lots of planning lies ahead before the competitions can be staged .
Bach told reporters Wednesday that progress with vaccines and the development of rapid testing for the coronavirus would n't be the complete answer for holding the rescheduled Games next summer .
`` They will not be the silver bullet , but they can greatly facilitate the organization of the Games , '' Bach said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ you will see important and intensive discussions taking place with regard to different scenarios to COVID-19 countermeasures .
We remain focused on delivering a safe and successful Games next year .
`` We do n't know how the world looks like tomorrow , so how can you expect us to know how the world looks in 320 days from today ? ''

People gather to take photos July 24 at the National Stadium in Tokyo. The Opening Ceremony of the 2020 Olympics was set for July but was postponed until next summer due to the coronavirus. File Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 9 (UPI) -- International Olympic Committee officials and Japan's Olympic Minister Seiko Hashimoto pledged that the Games in Tokyo will take place next summer despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Hashimoto said the Tokyo Games must be held "at any cost" starting July 23. The 2020 Tokyo Games were initially set to begin this July but were delayed until next year because of the COVID-19 outbreak -- a decision that cost the IOC about $800 million. Advertisement
"Everyone involved with the Games is working together to prepare, and the athletes are also making considerable efforts toward next year," Hashimoto told reporters Tuesday. "I think we have to hold the Games at any cost."
Hashimoto's comments came one day after IOC vice president John Coates said next year's Games will happen "with or without" the virus.
"The Games were going to be their theme, the Reconstruction Games, after the devastation of the tsunami," Coates told reporters Monday, referring to the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan. "Now very much these will be the Games that conquered COVID-19 -- the light at the end of the tunnel."
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IOC president Thomas Bach said his organization is committed to having a safe Games in 2021 but lots of planning lies ahead before the competitions can be staged.
Bach told reporters Wednesday that progress with vaccines and the development of rapid testing for the coronavirus wouldn't be the complete answer for holding the rescheduled Games next summer.
"They will not be the silver bullet, but they can greatly facilitate the organization of the Games," Bach said. "... In the coming weeks, you will see important and intensive discussions taking place with regard to different scenarios to COVID-19 countermeasures. We remain focused on delivering a safe and successful Games next year.
"We don't know how the world looks like tomorrow, so how can you expect us to know how the world looks in 320 days from today?"


upi--2020-09-09--Norwegian politician nominates Trump for Nobel Peace Prize, again

Sept. 9 ( UPI ) -- For the second time , a Norwegian lawmaker has nominated U.S. President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize , this time for brokering a deal normalizing relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates .
Christian Tybring-Gjedde , a member of Norway 's conservative Progress Party , told Fox News on Wednesday that although he is not a big supporter of the U.S. president he deserves recognition for his work on the deal .
`` For [ Trump 's ] merit , I think he has done more trying to create peace between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Tybring-Gjedde said .
`` The [ Nobel ] committee should look at the facts and judge him on the facts - not on the way he behaves sometimes . ''
Kayleigh McEnany , the White House press secretary , described the nomination as `` a hard-earned and well-deserved honor for this president . ''
`` Career politicians merely talk about the kind of results that this president has achieved on the world stage , '' she said .
About 320 people were nominated for the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was nominated for the 2021 prize .
Tybring-Gjedde and another member of the far-right party nominated Trump for the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize for the president 's role in bringing reconciliation to North and South Korea .
The White House is scheduled on Tuesday to host the Israeli and Emirati delegations for a signing ceremony of the Abraham Accords , which commemorates the normalization of relations between the two countries .
In August , during a phone call , Trump finalized a deal with Israeli Prime Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ; and Sheikh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Abu Dhabi and deputy supreme commander of the United Arab Emirates .
As part of the deal , Israel agreed to suspend efforts to annex parts of the West Bank .
The two countries agreed to collaborate on stem cell therapies to treat COVID-19 , the two countries announced in August .
On Aug. 31 , the first commercial airline flight between Israel and UAE flew over Saudi Arabian air space .
Four U.S. presidents have won the Nobel Peace Prize : President Barack Obama in 2009 , President Jimmy Carter in 2002 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906 .
Trump has said that he deserves the Nobel Prize .
`` I think I 'm going to get a Nobel Prize for a lot of things , if they gave it out fairly , which they do n't , '' Trump said in December .
Before being elected president , Trump criticized the Nobel Committee 's choice of President Obama multiple times , including tweeting that the prize should be revoked .

Christian Tybring-Gjedde, a member of Norway's conservative Progress Party, nominated U.S. President Donald Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize for brokering a deal normalizing relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. Pool Photo by Doug Mills/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 9 (UPI) -- For the second time, a Norwegian lawmaker has nominated U.S. President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, this time for brokering a deal normalizing relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. Christian Tybring-Gjedde, a member of Norway's conservative Progress Party, told Fox News on Wednesday that although he is not a big supporter of the U.S. president he deserves recognition for his work on the deal. Advertisement
"For [Trump's] merit, I think he has done more trying to create peace between nations than most other peace prize nominees," Tybring-Gjedde said. "The [Nobel] committee should look at the facts and judge him on the facts - not on the way he behaves sometimes."
Kayleigh McEnany, the White House press secretary, described the nomination as "a hard-earned and well-deserved honor for this president."
"Career politicians merely talk about the kind of results that this president has achieved on the world stage," she said.
About 320 people were nominated for the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize, which will be announced in October. Trump was nominated for the 2021 prize.
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Tybring-Gjedde and another member of the far-right party nominated Trump for the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize for the president's role in bringing reconciliation to North and South Korea.
The White House is scheduled on Tuesday to host the Israeli and Emirati delegations for a signing ceremony of the Abraham Accords, which commemorates the normalization of relations between the two countries.
In August, during a phone call, Trump finalized a deal with Israeli Prime Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and deputy supreme commander of the United Arab Emirates.
As part of the deal, Israel agreed to suspend efforts to annex parts of the West Bank.
The two countries agreed to collaborate on stem cell therapies to treat COVID-19, the two countries announced in August. On Aug. 31, the first commercial airline flight between Israel and UAE flew over Saudi Arabian air space.
Four U.S. presidents have won the Nobel Peace Prize: President Barack Obama in 2009, President Jimmy Carter in 2002, President Woodrow Wilson in 1920 and President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906.
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Trump has said that he deserves the Nobel Prize.
"I think I'm going to get a Nobel Prize for a lot of things, if they gave it out fairly, which they don't," Trump said in December.
Before being elected president, Trump criticized the Nobel Committee's choice of President Obama multiple times, including tweeting that the prize should be revoked.


upi--2020-09-09--Santa Fe art dealer, treasure-hider Forrest Fenn dies at 90

Sept. 9 ( UPI ) -- Forrest Fenn , the millionaire Santa Fe , N.M. , art dealer , combat pilot and concealer of a $ 1 million treasure chest , has died at age 90 , Santa Fe police said .
Albuquerque treasure hunter Cynthia Meachum , who ran a Facebook group for treasure hunters , told the Santa Fe New Mexican that Fenn gave the hunters inspiration .
`` But he gave us so much more than that , '' she wrote in an email .
`` The never-ending desire to continue to explore new places ... follow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yearning to discover that new adventure ahead . ''
Fenn started a decade-long treasure-hunting craze through the Rocky Mountains when he announced in 2010 that he had hidden a trove of trove of gold coins , nuggets and jewels somewhere between 5,000 and 10,200 feet in New Mexico , Colorado , Wyoming or Montana .
Fenn told UPI he believed hundreds of thousands of treasure hunters followed the cryptic clues in a poem Fenn published in his book , The Thrill of the Chase .
But an email this June convinced Fenn that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grew up in Temple , Texas , the son of a school principal and his wife .
The family vacationed in Yellowstone National Park yearly where Fenn and his siblings fished and explored .
Fenn flew combat aircraft in the Vietnam War and retired with his family to Santa Fe , where he opened an art gallery in the 1970s that featured Native American artifacts .
Fenn owned property on which an ancient Anasazi Pueblo site had been in existence for 400 years .
He hosted informal archeology camps at the site for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sometimes criticized for not taking a more professional approach .
In 2009 , Fenn was investigated by federal authorities probing an undercover ring of Anasazi Indian antiquities thieves , but was never charged .
After a cancer diagnosis , Fenn hatched his plan to leave a legacy treasure chest behind somewhere in the high country .
Some believed the treasure hunt was a hoax , while others said they 'd seen it with their own eyes .
`` There were big gold nuggets from Alaska the size of your fist and gold coins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statues , including a little frog , '' Santa Fe author Doug Preston told UPI in February .
He said he also saw `` loose gems .
It was like a pirate chest . ''
But although Fenn repeatedly said that the chest was in a spot easily reached by a 79-year-old man and urged caution , the hunt turned deadly for at least five people .
`` I tell people , if it 's dangerous , do n't do it , '' Fenn told UPI in February .
In March , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Utah while looking for the treasure .
In June 2017 , Illinois resident Jeff Murphy , 53 , fell to his death from a 500-foot cliff in Yellowstone while searching for treasure .
That same month , Eric Ashby , 31 , drowned in the Arkansas River in Colorado while on the hunt .
Retired Florida mechanic Randy Bilyeu drowned in January 2016 , and Grand Junction , Colo. , pastor Paris Wallace drowned in July 2017 in the Rio Grande River while searching for the treasure .
In June , Fenn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ East '' had discovered the chest , and posted a photo on his blog .
Fenn later said the treasure was found `` in Wyoming . ''
The alleged finder has not come forward .
`` It was under a canopy of stars in the lush , forested vegetation of the Rocky Mountains and had not moved from the spot where I had it more than 10 years ago , '' Fenn wrote on his website .
`` I do not know the person who found it , but the poem in my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I congratulate the thousands of people who participated in the search and hope they will continue to be drawn by the promise of other discoveries , '' Fenn wrote .
Fenn is survived by his wife and two daughters .

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Forrest Fenn, 90, the millionaire Santa Fe art dealer who hid a treasure chest in the mountains has died, Santa Fe police said. Photo courtesy of Dal Neitzel.
Sept. 9 (UPI) -- Forrest Fenn, the millionaire Santa Fe, N.M., art dealer, combat pilot and concealer of a $1 million treasure chest, has died at age 90, Santa Fe police said. Albuquerque treasure hunter Cynthia Meachum, who ran a Facebook group for treasure hunters, told the Santa Fe New Mexican that Fenn gave the hunters inspiration. Advertisement
"But he gave us so much more than that," she wrote in an email. "The never-ending desire to continue to explore new places ... follow our dreams ... and to never stop yearning to discover that new adventure ahead."
Fenn started a decade-long treasure-hunting craze through the Rocky Mountains when he announced in 2010 that he had hidden a trove of trove of gold coins, nuggets and jewels somewhere between 5,000 and 10,200 feet in New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming or Montana.
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Fenn told UPI he believed hundreds of thousands of treasure hunters followed the cryptic clues in a poem Fenn published in his book, The Thrill of the Chase.
But an email this June convinced Fenn that the treasure had been found.
Fenn grew up in Temple, Texas, the son of a school principal and his wife. The family vacationed in Yellowstone National Park yearly where Fenn and his siblings fished and explored.
Fenn flew combat aircraft in the Vietnam War and retired with his family to Santa Fe, where he opened an art gallery in the 1970s that featured Native American artifacts.
Fenn owned property on which an ancient Anasazi Pueblo site had been in existence for 400 years. He hosted informal archeology camps at the site for local youths and visitors, and was sometimes criticized for not taking a more professional approach.
In 2009, Fenn was investigated by federal authorities probing an undercover ring of Anasazi Indian antiquities thieves, but was never charged.
After a cancer diagnosis, Fenn hatched his plan to leave a legacy treasure chest behind somewhere in the high country.
Some believed the treasure hunt was a hoax, while others said they'd seen it with their own eyes.
Advertisement
"There were big gold nuggets from Alaska the size of your fist and gold coins, Krugerrands, and some little pre-Columbian statues, including a little frog," Santa Fe author Doug Preston told UPI in February. He said he also saw "loose gems. It was like a pirate chest."
But although Fenn repeatedly said that the chest was in a spot easily reached by a 79-year-old man and urged caution, the hunt turned deadly for at least five people.
"I tell people, if it's dangerous, don't do it," Fenn told UPI in February.
In March, a 58-year-old snowmobiler died near Dinosaur National Monument in Utah while looking for the treasure.
In June 2017, Illinois resident Jeff Murphy, 53, fell to his death from a 500-foot cliff in Yellowstone while searching for treasure. That same month, Eric Ashby, 31, drowned in the Arkansas River in Colorado while on the hunt.
Retired Florida mechanic Randy Bilyeu drowned in January 2016, and Grand Junction, Colo., pastor Paris Wallace drowned in July 2017 in the Rio Grande River while searching for the treasure.
In June, Fenn announced that "a man from back East" had discovered the chest, and posted a photo on his blog. Fenn later said the treasure was found "in Wyoming." The alleged finder has not come forward.
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"It was under a canopy of stars in the lush, forested vegetation of the Rocky Mountains and had not moved from the spot where I had it more than 10 years ago," Fenn wrote on his website. "I do not know the person who found it, but the poem in my book led him to the precise spot.
"I congratulate the thousands of people who participated in the search and hope they will continue to be drawn by the promise of other discoveries," Fenn wrote.
Fenn is survived by his wife and two daughters.


upi--2020-09-09--Minnesota Vikings place star DE Danielle Hunter on injured reserve

Sept. 9 ( UPI ) -- The Minnesota Vikings placed Pro Bowl defensive end Danielle Hunter on injured reserve , the team announced Wednesday .
The Vikings did n't disclose the injury that is forcing Hunter to begin the season on IR , where he must remain for at least three weeks .
According to ESPN , the star pass rusher has been dealing with a neck injury over the past month .
Hunter has n't practiced with the team since Aug. 14 .
He has been sidelined for almost four weeks with what Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Eddie Yarbrough took reps at left defensive end throughout training camp while Hunter was out , but the Vikings could decide to start Ifeadi Odenigbo in place of Hunter against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday .
Odenigbo played on the right side of the defensive line throughout camp and appeared to be the starter until the Vikings traded for ex-Jacksonville Jaguars star edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue on Aug. 30 .
`` There 's going to be a lot of in-game adjustments that we have to go through and things like that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guys , '' Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks said Wednesday .
`` A guy like Danielle , he brings a whole other type of game in and it 's going to be hard to replace a guy like that .
But we have guys who are hungry and want to step up , too . ''
In 16 regular-season games in 2019 , Hunter notched 70 total tackles , 14.5 sacks , three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery .
In December , the two-time Pro Bowler became the fastest player in NFL history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ age 25 .
Hunter can return to practice as early as Sept. 28 .
He will be eligible to play Oct. 4 against the Houston Texans .

Minnesota Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter (99) was placed on IR with a neck injury. He hasn't practiced since Aug. 14. File Photo by Kamil Krzaczynski/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 9 (UPI) -- The Minnesota Vikings placed Pro Bowl defensive end Danielle Hunter on injured reserve, the team announced Wednesday. The Vikings didn't disclose the injury that is forcing Hunter to begin the season on IR, where he must remain for at least three weeks. According to ESPN, the star pass rusher has been dealing with a neck injury over the past month. Advertisement
Hunter hasn't practiced with the team since Aug. 14. He has been sidelined for almost four weeks with what Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer called a "tweak."
#Vikings DE Danielle Hunter has been placed on IR and practice squad K Chase McLaughlin has been protected. pic.twitter.com/eNmJUAT2PP— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 9, 2020
Jalyn Holmes and Eddie Yarbrough took reps at left defensive end throughout training camp while Hunter was out, but the Vikings could decide to start Ifeadi Odenigbo in place of Hunter against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.
Odenigbo played on the right side of the defensive line throughout camp and appeared to be the starter until the Vikings traded for ex-Jacksonville Jaguars star edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue on Aug. 30.
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"There's going to be a lot of in-game adjustments that we have to go through and things like that, but we have trust in our guys," Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks said Wednesday. "A guy like Danielle, he brings a whole other type of game in and it's going to be hard to replace a guy like that. But we have guys who are hungry and want to step up, too."
In 16 regular-season games in 2019, Hunter notched 70 total tackles, 14.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. In December, the two-time Pro Bowler became the fastest player in NFL history to reach 50 career sacks -- at age 25.
Hunter can return to practice as early as Sept. 28. He will be eligible to play Oct. 4 against the Houston Texans.


upi--2020-09-09--Senate Democrats find prescription deliveries delayed by USPS changes

Sept. 9 ( UPI ) -- Policy changes implemented by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy have resulted in `` significant delays '' in delivering prescriptions through the mail , two Senate Democrats said in a report released Wednesday .
Sens .
Elizabeth Warren , D-Mass.
, and Bob Casey , D-Pa. , released a report based on their inquiry to the Postal Service 's board of governors that found the average delivery times for mail order prescription drugs have increased 18 % to 32 % during DeJoy 's tenure .
`` In general , this meant that deliveries that would typically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days .
Some of these delays appear to be even longer '' the senators wrote in a letter accompanying the report .
As part of the investigation , Warren and Casey said they sent letters to Cigna/Express Scripts , CVS Health , Walgreens Boots Alliance , UnitedHealth/Optum and Humana seeking data about their experience with mail-order prescriptions filled in 2020 .
Of the five companies , only one said it had not experienced any unusual delays in deliveries , but the senators noted it was `` the one respondent that reported being more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Warren and Casey also said the delays present risks to patients , particularly the elderly , as the report noted that more than 170 million prescriptions were filled by mail in the United States in 2019 and there has been a 205 % increase through July 2020 .
`` For the nearly half of adults in the United States with a chronic condition , timely delivery of prescription medication can have a direct impact on their health outcomes , '' one company said , according to the report .
The senators wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under any circumstances '' and called on the USPS Board of Governors to intervene .
`` It is critical that you act immediately to address the delay in delivery of prescription drugs and reverse any and all actions taken during Postmaster General DeJoy 's tenure that degrade our delay postal operations and delivery of the mail , '' they wrote .
`` The findings of our investigation reveal that your failure to fix the service delays caused by Postmaster General DeJoy represent an ongoing public health threat and a dereliction of your responsibility @ @ @ @ @ @

Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bob Casey on Wednesday released a report finding that changes instituted by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy have resulted in "significant delays" in prescription drug deliveries. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 9 (UPI) -- Policy changes implemented by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy have resulted in "significant delays" in delivering prescriptions through the mail, two Senate Democrats said in a report released Wednesday. Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Bob Casey, D-Pa., released a report based on their inquiry to the Postal Service's board of governors that found the average delivery times for mail order prescription drugs have increased 18% to 32% during DeJoy's tenure. Advertisement
"In general, this meant that deliveries that would typically take 2-3 days were instead taking 3-4 days. Some of these delays appear to be even longer" the senators wrote in a letter accompanying the report.
As part of the investigation, Warren and Casey said they sent letters to Cigna/Express Scripts, CVS Health, Walgreens Boots Alliance, UnitedHealth/Optum and Humana seeking data about their experience with mail-order prescriptions filled in 2020.
Of the five companies, only one said it had not experienced any unusual delays in deliveries, but the senators noted it was "the one respondent that reported being more reliant on private-sector carriers than on USPS.
Warren and Casey also said the delays present risks to patients, particularly the elderly, as the report noted that more than 170 million prescriptions were filled by mail in the United States in 2019 and there has been a 205% increase through July 2020.
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"For the nearly half of adults in the United States with a chronic condition, timely delivery of prescription medication can have a direct impact on their health outcomes," one company said, according to the report.
The senators wrote that the delays are "unacceptable outcomes under any circumstances" and called on the USPS Board of Governors to intervene.
"It is critical that you act immediately to address the delay in delivery of prescription drugs and reverse any and all actions taken during Postmaster General DeJoy's tenure that degrade our delay postal operations and delivery of the mail," they wrote.
"The findings of our investigation reveal that your failure to fix the service delays caused by Postmaster General DeJoy represent an ongoing public health threat and a dereliction of your responsibility to the American people."


upi--2020-09-09--Study predicts increase in mosquito-borne diseases as planet warms

Sept. 9 ( UPI ) -- According to a new model , urbanization and rising global temperatures will expand the range of the mosquito species , Aedes aegypti , responsible for spreading a number of debilitating diseases , including yellow fever , Zika , chikungunya and dengue fever .
In a new paper , published Wednesday in the journal Lancet Planetary Health , scientists suggest infectious disease experts and public health policy makers must be ready to adapt as malaria becomes less prevalent and new threats emerge .
`` Climate change is going to rearrange the landscape of infectious disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a news release .
`` Chikungunya and dengue outbreaks like we 've recently seen in East Africa are only becoming more likely across much of the continent .
We need to be ready for this emerging threat , '' said Mordecai , a biologist at Stanford University .
Studies suggest malaria , which is transmitted by the nighttime-biting Anopheles gambiae mosquito spreads most quickly when temperatures average 25 degrees Celsius , or 78 degrees Fahrenheit .
In 2018 , malaria killed more than 400,000 peoples in Subsaharan Africa , sickening millions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a variety of efforts to curb the spread of the disease , but control efforts like insecticide-laced bed nets are unlikely to deter the daytime-biting Aedes aegypti mosquito .
Unlike the species of mosquito that transmits malaria , which breeds in natural water structures , the Aedes aegypti mosquito likes to breed in human-made containers , such as discarded tires and buckets .
The species responsible for Zika , chikungunya and other harmful diseases also likes warmer weather .
As urban centers grow across Africa , the Aedes aegypti mosquito will be welcomed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pronounced heat island effects .
For the new study , scientists modeled the effects of urbanization and climate change on the ranges of Anopheles gambiae and Aedes aegypti mosquitoes .
While most places will experience a decrease in the threat of malaria and an increase in the threat of other mosquito-borne diseases , a few places , including cities near Lake Victoria , in Uganda , Tanzania and Kenya , will experience a increase in the prevalence of both malaria and dengue fever .
Researchers hope their modeling efforts will help public health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of mosquito-borne diseases .
`` It 's vital to focus on controlling mosquitoes that spread diseases like dengue because there are no medical treatments for these diseases , '' said study senior author Desiree LaBeaud .
`` On top of that , a shift from malaria to dengue may overwhelm health systems because diseases introduced to new populations often lead to large outbreaks , '' said LeBeaud , a professor of pediatrics at the Stanford Medical School .

A car spraying for mosquitoes drives through the media village at dusk in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on July 29, 2016, during the 2016 Summer Olympics. One of the fears of the games was mosquito-bourne diseases such as zika and dengue fever. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 9 (UPI) -- According to a new model, urbanization and rising global temperatures will expand the range of the mosquito species, Aedes aegypti, responsible for spreading a number of debilitating diseases, including yellow fever, Zika, chikungunya and dengue fever. In a new paper, published Wednesday in the journal Lancet Planetary Health, scientists suggest infectious disease experts and public health policy makers must be ready to adapt as malaria becomes less prevalent and new threats emerge. Advertisement
"Climate change is going to rearrange the landscape of infectious disease," lead study author Erin Mordecai said in a news release.
"Chikungunya and dengue outbreaks like we've recently seen in East Africa are only becoming more likely across much of the continent. We need to be ready for this emerging threat," said Mordecai, a biologist at Stanford University.
Studies suggest malaria, which is transmitted by the nighttime-biting Anopheles gambiae mosquito spreads most quickly when temperatures average 25 degrees Celsius, or 78 degrees Fahrenheit.
In 2018, malaria killed more than 400,000 peoples in Subsaharan Africa, sickening millions more. Public health officials have spearheaded a variety of efforts to curb the spread of the disease, but control efforts like insecticide-laced bed nets are unlikely to deter the daytime-biting Aedes aegypti mosquito.
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Unlike the species of mosquito that transmits malaria, which breeds in natural water structures, the Aedes aegypti mosquito likes to breed in human-made containers, such as discarded tires and buckets. The species responsible for Zika, chikungunya and other harmful diseases also likes warmer weather.
As urban centers grow across Africa, the Aedes aegypti mosquito will be welcomed by a plethora of breeding habitat and pronounced heat island effects.
For the new study, scientists modeled the effects of urbanization and climate change on the ranges of Anopheles gambiae and Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.
While most places will experience a decrease in the threat of malaria and an increase in the threat of other mosquito-borne diseases, a few places, including cities near Lake Victoria, in Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya, will experience a increase in the prevalence of both malaria and dengue fever.
Researchers hope their modeling efforts will help public health officials prepare for shifts in the threat of mosquito-borne diseases.
"It's vital to focus on controlling mosquitoes that spread diseases like dengue because there are no medical treatments for these diseases," said study senior author Desiree LaBeaud.
"On top of that, a shift from malaria to dengue may overwhelm health systems because diseases introduced to new populations often lead to large outbreaks," said LeBeaud, a professor of pediatrics at the Stanford Medical School.