upi--2020-09-15--Humans have been degrading the American tropics for 500 years

Sept. 15 ( UPI ) -- New research suggests human activities have damaged ecosystems across the American tropics over the last 500 years , leading to significant declines in biodiversity .
For the study , scientists surveyed records of mammal assemblages at more than 1,000 different Neotropical dig sites published over the last 30 years .
Assemblages comprise fossil evidence of co-existing species in a particular location .
The data helped researchers establish a record of biodiversity dating back to the colonial era and stretching across 23 countries , from the Southern United States and Mexico to Argentina and Chile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showed human activities , including farming , logging , fires and overhunting , were the primary cause of local extinctions and assemblage downsizing , or reductions in mammal body sizes .
On average , researchers found 56 percent of the local wildlife within mammal assemblages were wiped out during the last 500 years .
Often , habitat degradation and biodiversity losses are thought of as a strictly post-industrial phenomenon , but the latest research -- published Tuesday in the journal Scientific Reports -- serves as a reminder that humans have been negatively impacting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ findings can be used to inform international conservation policies to prevent further erosion of , or restore , native biodiversity , '' lead study author Juliano André Bogoni said in a news release .
`` Further conservation efforts should be mobilized to prevent the most faunally-intact biomes , such as Amazonia and the Pantanal wetlands , '' said Bogoni , a postdoctoral researcher at the University of East Anglia in Britain .
Researchers hope their findings will inspire conservationists , the voting public and policy makers to ensure current wildlife protections and land @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Greater investment should be allocated to more effective control of illegal hunting , particularly commercial hunting , deforestation , and anthropogenic fires , as well as ensure that fully implemented protected areas are working , '' Bogoni said .
Researchers said environmental policy makers must be careful in the approach .
`` Sound resource management should be sensitive to the socioeconomic context , while recruiting rather than antagonizing potential local alliances who can effectively fill the institutional void in low-governance regions , '' said co-author Carlos Peres , a professor at UEA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activities have been harming Neotropical wildlife for 500 years , rates of extinction and habitat losses have accelerated since industrialization , especially over the last several decades .
Widespread degradation was n't always the reality in the Neotropics .
`` Hominins and other mammals have co-existed since the earliest Paleolithic hunters wielding stone tools some three million years ago .
Over this long timescale biodiversity losses have only recently accelerated to breakneck speeds since the industrial revolution , '' Peres said .
`` Let us make sure that this relentless wave of local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the prospects for Neotropical mammals and other vertebrates will look increasingly bleak , '' he said .

The Muriqui-do-sol is one of the primate species that has become locally extinction across much of its former range. Photo by Mariana Landis - Wildlife Ecology, Management, and Conservation Lab (LEMaC)
Sept. 15 (UPI) -- New research suggests human activities have damaged ecosystems across the American tropics over the last 500 years, leading to significant declines in biodiversity. For the study, scientists surveyed records of mammal assemblages at more than 1,000 different Neotropical dig sites published over the last 30 years. Assemblages comprise fossil evidence of co-existing species in a particular location. Advertisement
The data helped researchers establish a record of biodiversity dating back to the colonial era and stretching across 23 countries, from the Southern United States and Mexico to Argentina and Chile.
The makeup of assemblages over time showed human activities, including farming, logging, fires and overhunting, were the primary cause of local extinctions and assemblage downsizing, or reductions in mammal body sizes.
On average, researchers found 56 percent of the local wildlife within mammal assemblages were wiped out during the last 500 years.
Often, habitat degradation and biodiversity losses are thought of as a strictly post-industrial phenomenon, but the latest research -- published Tuesday in the journal Scientific Reports -- serves as a reminder that humans have been negatively impacting wildlife for several centuries.
"Our findings can be used to inform international conservation policies to prevent further erosion of, or restore, native biodiversity," lead study author Juliano André Bogoni said in a news release.
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"Further conservation efforts should be mobilized to prevent the most faunally-intact biomes, such as Amazonia and the Pantanal wetlands," said Bogoni, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of East Anglia in Britain.
Researchers hope their findings will inspire conservationists, the voting public and policy makers to ensure current wildlife protections and land preservation efforts are maintained and strengthened.
"Greater investment should be allocated to more effective control of illegal hunting, particularly commercial hunting, deforestation, and anthropogenic fires, as well as ensure that fully implemented protected areas are working," Bogoni said.
Researchers said environmental policy makers must be careful in the approach.
"Sound resource management should be sensitive to the socioeconomic context, while recruiting rather than antagonizing potential local alliances who can effectively fill the institutional void in low-governance regions," said co-author Carlos Peres, a professor at UEA.
While the latest research showed human activities have been harming Neotropical wildlife for 500 years, rates of extinction and habitat losses have accelerated since industrialization, especially over the last several decades. Widespread degradation wasn't always the reality in the Neotropics.
"Hominins and other mammals have co-existed since the earliest Paleolithic hunters wielding stone tools some three million years ago. Over this long timescale biodiversity losses have only recently accelerated to breakneck speeds since the industrial revolution," Peres said.
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"Let us make sure that this relentless wave of local extinctions is rapidly decelerated, or else the prospects for Neotropical mammals and other vertebrates will look increasingly bleak," he said.


upi--2020-09-15--U.S. calls on North Korea to fulfill Singapore joint statement

Sept. 15 ( UPI ) -- The U.S. diplomat on East Asian and Pacific Affairs called on North Korea to carry out its obligations in the 2018 Singapore agreement following a virtual meeting of the ASEAN Regional Security Forum that included the North Korean ambassador to Indonesia .
David Stilwell said at the debriefing on Tuesday the key to recovery for North Korea in the aftermath of bad weather was the execution of the joint statement of President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un , Yonhap reported .
`` Regarding the flooding , the typhoons , the situation in North @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be addressed if we had a follow-through on the Singapore agreement , to begin talks , sincere conversation on denuclearization , '' Stilwell said .
According to the statement signed in 2018 , Trump `` committed to provide security guarantees '' to North Korea .
Kim in turn `` reaffirmed his firm and unwavering commitment to complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula . ''
North Korea has refused to take steps toward complete dismantlement , however .
North Korean Ambassador to Indonesia An Kwang Il attended ARF on Saturday in place of Foreign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news service Newsis reported Tuesday .
An claimed during the virtual meeting North Korea has no confirmed cases of COVID-19 .
The ambassador credited the North Korean leadership with the country 's success in fighting the coronavirus .
An did not provide details on North Korea 's experience with pandemic prevention , according to the report .
The annual forum is one of the few regional meetings North Korea has attended on a regular basis .
On Saturday , An defended Chinese policy in Hong Kong and in the South China Sea .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ affairs , '' and `` outside forces '' are interfering with Chinese sovereignty and violating international law , An said .
China has blamed the West , including the United States , for encouraging pro-democracy protesters amid greater restrictions against freedom of expression in Hong Kong .

U.S. President Donald Trump (R) and Kim Jong Un (L) sign the U.S.-North Korea joint statement at their first summit in Singapore on June 12, 2018. On Tuesday, the United States called on Pyongyang to take steps toward denuclearization. File Photo by Kevin Lim/The Straits Times/EPA-EFE
Sept. 15 (UPI) -- The U.S. diplomat on East Asian and Pacific Affairs called on North Korea to carry out its obligations in the 2018 Singapore agreement following a virtual meeting of the ASEAN Regional Security Forum that included the North Korean ambassador to Indonesia. David Stilwell said at the debriefing on Tuesday the key to recovery for North Korea in the aftermath of bad weather was the execution of the joint statement of President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un, Yonhap reported. Advertisement
"Regarding the flooding, the typhoons, the situation in North Korea...all of these things could be addressed if we had a follow-through on the Singapore agreement, to begin talks, sincere conversation on denuclearization," Stilwell said.
According to the statement signed in 2018, Trump "committed to provide security guarantees" to North Korea. Kim in turn "reaffirmed his firm and unwavering commitment to complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." North Korea has refused to take steps toward complete dismantlement, however.
North Korean Ambassador to Indonesia An Kwang Il attended ARF on Saturday in place of Foreign Minister Ri Son Kwon, South Korean news service Newsis reported Tuesday.
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An claimed during the virtual meeting North Korea has no confirmed cases of COVID-19. The ambassador credited the North Korean leadership with the country's success in fighting the coronavirus.
An did not provide details on North Korea's experience with pandemic prevention, according to the report.
The annual forum is one of the few regional meetings North Korea has attended on a regular basis. On Saturday, An defended Chinese policy in Hong Kong and in the South China Sea.
Hong Kong is "China's internal affairs," and "outside forces" are interfering with Chinese sovereignty and violating international law, An said.
China has blamed the West, including the United States, for encouraging pro-democracy protesters amid greater restrictions against freedom of expression in Hong Kong.


upi--2020-09-15--Watch: Jude Law says it's 'odd' people are watching 'Contagion' during the pandemic

Sept. 15 ( UPI ) -- Jude Law appeared on The Tonight Show and discussed how it finds it weird that people have started watching his film Contagion again during the COVID-19 pandemic .
Contagion , from director Steven Soderbergh and released in 2011 , followed a global pandemic as the CDC worked to find a cure .
Matt Damon , Gwyneth Paltrow , Kate Winslet , Laurence Fishburne and Marion Cotillard also starred .
`` I found it a little odd that everyone went back to watch that in the middle of the real thing .
You just turn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to watch it , '' Law told host Jimmy Fallon on Monday .
`` I think I wrote immediately to Steven Soderbergh and just said , 'You got it .
You were there 10 years ago , ' '' he continued .
Law discussed his experience making the film and how doctors were used on set .
`` One of the most , kind of affecting memories or experiences on that film were the doctors and virologists who were advising us , all of whom were these extraordinary men .
And they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a matter of when , not if , ' '' Law said .
Law also talked about his new HBO limited series The Third Day and how the program will introduce a massive live stunt that will blur the lines of what 's real and not real .
`` We 're gon na have a single camera .
We 'll be there as actors , as performers , and the camera will follow us and the events for 12 hours live .
So it will be a kind of combination of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ piece of theater and a film but a film done in one take , '' Law said .

Sept. 15 (UPI) -- Jude Law appeared on The Tonight Show and discussed how it finds it weird that people have started watching his film Contagion again during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Contagion, from director Steven Soderbergh and released in 2011, followed a global pandemic as the CDC worked to find a cure. Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet, Laurence Fishburne and Marion Cotillard also starred.
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"I found it a little odd that everyone went back to watch that in the middle of the real thing. You just turn on the news. You don't need to watch it," Law told host Jimmy Fallon on Monday.
"I think I wrote immediately to Steven Soderbergh and just said, 'You got it. You were there 10 years ago,'" he continued.
Law discussed his experience making the film and how doctors were used on set.
"One of the most, kind of affecting memories or experiences on that film were the doctors and virologists who were advising us, all of whom were these extraordinary men. And they were all saying to us, 'This is a matter of when, not if,'" Law said.
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Law also talked about his new HBO limited series The Third Day and how the program will introduce a massive live stunt that will blur the lines of what's real and not real.
"We're gonna have a single camera. We'll be there as actors, as performers, and the camera will follow us and the events for 12 hours live. So it will be a kind of combination of a sort of live event, a live piece of theater and a film but a film done in one take," Law said.


upi--2020-09-15--In photos: Moments from Major League Baseball for the week of Sept. 13, 2020

St. Louis Cardinals ' Yadier Molina is tagged out near home plate by Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson in St. @ @ @ @ @ Reds defeated the Cardinals 10-5 .
Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI

The New York Mets' Steven Matz (C) walks back to the mound after Atlanta Braves Marcell Ozuna hits an RBI single in New York City on Friday. The Braves defeated the Mets 15-2. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI


upi--2020-09-15--Adam Engle, Tim Anderson lift White Sox over Twins

Sept. 15 ( UPI ) -- Adam Engel and Tim Anderson each had RBI hits in the eighth inning to help the Chicago White Sox edge the Minnesota Twins in the first clash of a four-game series in Chicago .
White Sox starter Dylan Cease also allowed five hits and one run in 4 2/3 innings in the 3-1 win Monday at Guaranteed Rate Field .
The White Sox are on a five-game winning streak and have won nine of their last 10 games .
Chicago ( 31-16 ) has the best record in the American League and a two-game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the American League Central division standings .
Twins starter Jose Berrios allowed six hits and one run in five innings , but was not on the record for a decision .
The White Sox bullpen combined to allow just three hits and no runs over the final 4 1/3 innings to secure the triumph .
White Sox second baseman Nick Madrigal plated Yoan Moncada with a second-inning RBI single for an early 1-0 lead .
Twins shortstop Jorge Polanco then tied the game with an RBI single in the fifth frame before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inning .
Twins relief pitcher Taylor Rogers entered the game for Tyler Duffey in the bottom of the eighth frame .
Rogers began his night with back-to-back walks issued to Moncada and Luis Robert .
Engel then entered the game as a pinch hitter for Nomar Mazara .
Engel fouled off a bunt attempt on the first offering of his exchange with Rogers .
He then slapped an 0-1 Rogers slider to center field to plate Moncada for a go-ahead run .
Nick Madrigal lined out in the next at-bat .
Anderson then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to plate Robert for an insurance run .
White Sox relief pitcher Alex Colome forced two pop outs to start the ninth frame .
He allowed a Byron Buxton double before he struck out Jake Cave to end the game and pick up his second win of 2020 .
Anderson went 3 for 5 with an RBI in the win .
White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu and left fielder Eloy Jimenez collected two hits apiece .
Twins right fielder Max Kepler went 2 for 4 with a walk in the loss .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the second game of the series at 8:10 p.m. EDT Tuesday at Guaranteed Rate Field .

Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson hit an RBI double for an insurance run in the eighth inning of a win over the Minnesota Twins on Monday in Chicago. Photo by Kamil Krzaczynski/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 15 (UPI) -- Adam Engel and Tim Anderson each had RBI hits in the eighth inning to help the Chicago White Sox edge the Minnesota Twins in the first clash of a four-game series in Chicago. White Sox starter Dylan Cease also allowed five hits and one run in 4 2/3 innings in the 3-1 win Monday at Guaranteed Rate Field. The White Sox are on a five-game winning streak and have won nine of their last 10 games. Advertisement
Chicago (31-16) has the best record in the American League and a two-game lead over the Twins (30-19) in the American League Central division standings.
Twins starter Jose Berrios allowed six hits and one run in five innings, but was not on the record for a decision. The White Sox bullpen combined to allow just three hits and no runs over the final 4 1/3 innings to secure the triumph.
White Sox second baseman Nick Madrigal plated Yoan Moncada with a second-inning RBI single for an early 1-0 lead. Twins shortstop Jorge Polanco then tied the game with an RBI single in the fifth frame before the White Sox rallied in the eighth inning.
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Twins relief pitcher Taylor Rogers entered the game for Tyler Duffey in the bottom of the eighth frame. Rogers began his night with back-to-back walks issued to Moncada and Luis Robert. Engel then entered the game as a pinch hitter for Nomar Mazara.
Engel fouled off a bunt attempt on the first offering of his exchange with Rogers. He then slapped an 0-1 Rogers slider to center field to plate Moncada for a go-ahead run.
Nick Madrigal lined out in the next at-bat. Anderson then followed with a double to left field to plate Robert for an insurance run.
White Sox relief pitcher Alex Colome forced two pop outs to start the ninth frame. He allowed a Byron Buxton double before he struck out Jake Cave to end the game and pick up his second win of 2020.
Anderson went 3 for 5 with an RBI in the win. White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu and left fielder Eloy Jimenez collected two hits apiece. Twins right fielder Max Kepler went 2 for 4 with a walk in the loss.
The White Sox host the Twins in the second game of the series at 8:10 p.m. EDT Tuesday at Guaranteed Rate Field.
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upi--2020-09-15--Titans overcome missed field goals to beat Broncos

Sept. 15 ( UPI ) -- Veteran kicker Stephen Gostkowski missed three field goals before he drilled a final attempt with 20 seconds remaining for a narrow win over the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football .
`` It 's definitely an opportunity I did n't deserve , but I 'm grateful I got it for my team and the guys that went out there and busted their butt , '' Gostkowski told reporters after the 16-14 win Monday in Denver .
`` I 'd rather we put them in a tough spot .
You do n't always get that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yourself . ''
Gostkowski missed wide right on a 47-yard attempt in the first quarter .
The Broncos answered with a 10-play , 50-yard scoring drive .
Broncos quarterback Drew Lock threw a nine-yard touchdown pass to tight end Noah Fant for that score with 33 seconds left in the quarter .
The Titans finally got on the scoreboard with a five-play , 19-yard scoring drive after the Tennessee defense recovered a fumble to give the offense stellar field position .
Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill threw a one-yard touchdown toss to MyCole Pruitt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and tie the score at 7-7 .
Gostkowski had another field goal blocked 12 seconds before the half .
The Broncos went three-and-out on the first drive of the second half .
The Titans then used a 13-play drive to march to the Denver 24-yard line .
Gostkowski capped off that drive by pushing a 42-yard attempt wide left .
The Titans defense forced another three-and-out on the Broncos next drive .
Tannehill then orchestrated a 15-play , 67-yard scoring drive .
The Titans quarterback threw a one-yard touchdown pass to Jonnu Smith @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the fourth quarter .
Denver responded with a nine-play , 75-yard touchdown drive .
Broncos running back Melvin Gordon ended that drive with a one-yard touchdown run to give Denver a 14-13 lead with 9:12 remaining .
The next four drives resulted in punts before the Titans got the ball back for their final drive of the game .
The Titans used short passes from Tannehill and bruising runs from Derrick Henry to get the ball to the Denver 7-yard line before Gostkowski kicked a 25-yard attempt right between the uprights .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Broncos for the final 17 seconds to secure the victory .
`` They [ the Broncos ] were banking on him missing , '' Titans coach Mike Vrabel said of Gostkowski .
`` We 've all got to do our job .
It 's not on just one player .
We 'll get this stuff fixed .
`` We 've got a lot of faith in our players .
We 're excited to get out of here with a win , this is a tough place to play . ''
Tannehill completed 29 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two touchdowns in the win .
Henry had 116 yards on 31 carries .
Corey Davis had a game-high 101 yards on seven catches for the Titans .
Titans safety Kevin Byard had eight tackles , a forced fumble and a pass defensed in the win .
Lock completed 22 of 33 passes for 216 yards and a touchdown in the loss .
Gordon had 78 yards , a score and lost a fumble on 15 carries .
Fant had 81 yards and a score on five receptions .
`` Obviously , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` Any win the NFL is a good win .
They do n't put any asterisks on them in the win column .
It 's a win , it 's a W and we 'll take it .
`` We 're 1-0 , but we do have a lot to work on and a lot to clean up .
I think we 're excited .
We did n't play the way we wanted to , but we 're excited to be able to come back next week and clean up some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ together . ''
The Titans host the Jacksonville Jaguars at 1 p.m. EDT Sunday at Nissan Stadium in Nashville .
The Broncos battle the Pittsburgh Steelers at 1 p.m. EDT Sunday at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh .
`` There 's just a lot of little things that we could have done better , '' Lock said .
`` I feel like it was promising .
Made some plays , but we want to be an elite offense .
[ Monday ] , with some of the things that we did , including some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it just was n't elite for us . ''

Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) completed 29 of 43 passes for 249 yards and two touchdowns in a win over the Denver Broncos Monday in Denver. File Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 15 (UPI) -- Veteran kicker Stephen Gostkowski missed three field goals before he drilled a final attempt with 20 seconds remaining for a narrow win over the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football. "It's definitely an opportunity I didn't deserve, but I'm grateful I got it for my team and the guys that went out there and busted their butt," Gostkowski told reporters after the 16-14 win Monday in Denver. Advertisement
"I'd rather we put them in a tough spot. You don't always get that lucky to have a chance to redeem yourself."
Gostkowski missed wide right on a 47-yard attempt in the first quarter. The Broncos answered with a 10-play, 50-yard scoring drive. Broncos quarterback Drew Lock threw a nine-yard touchdown pass to tight end Noah Fant for that score with 33 seconds left in the quarter.
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The Titans finally got on the scoreboard with a five-play, 19-yard scoring drive after the Tennessee defense recovered a fumble to give the offense stellar field position. Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill threw a one-yard touchdown toss to MyCole Pruitt 9:27 before halftime to end that drive and tie the score at 7-7.
Gostkowski had another field goal blocked 12 seconds before the half.
The Broncos went three-and-out on the first drive of the second half. The Titans then used a 13-play drive to march to the Denver 24-yard line. Gostkowski capped off that drive by pushing a 42-yard attempt wide left.
The Titans defense forced another three-and-out on the Broncos next drive. Tannehill then orchestrated a 15-play, 67-yard scoring drive. The Titans quarterback threw a one-yard touchdown pass to Jonnu Smith to end the drive about a minute into the fourth quarter.
Denver responded with a nine-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. Broncos running back Melvin Gordon ended that drive with a one-yard touchdown run to give Denver a 14-13 lead with 9:12 remaining.
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The next four drives resulted in punts before the Titans got the ball back for their final drive of the game. The Titans used short passes from Tannehill and bruising runs from Derrick Henry to get the ball to the Denver 7-yard line before Gostkowski kicked a 25-yard attempt right between the uprights.
The Titans defense then held off the Broncos for the final 17 seconds to secure the victory.
"They [the Broncos] were banking on him missing," Titans coach Mike Vrabel said of Gostkowski. "We've all got to do our job. It's not on just one player. We'll get this stuff fixed.
"We've got a lot of faith in our players. We're excited to get out of here with a win, this is a tough place to play."
Tannehill completed 29 of 43 passes for 249 yards and two touchdowns in the win. Henry had 116 yards on 31 carries. Corey Davis had a game-high 101 yards on seven catches for the Titans.
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Titans safety Kevin Byard had eight tackles, a forced fumble and a pass defensed in the win.
Lock completed 22 of 33 passes for 216 yards and a touchdown in the loss. Gordon had 78 yards, a score and lost a fumble on 15 carries. Fant had 81 yards and a score on five receptions.
"Obviously, we're happy to win," Tannehill said. "Any win the NFL is a good win. They don't put any asterisks on them in the win column. It's a win, it's a W and we'll take it.
"We're 1-0, but we do have a lot to work on and a lot to clean up. I think we're excited. We didn't play the way we wanted to, but we're excited to be able to come back next week and clean up some things and put a good football game together."
The Titans host the Jacksonville Jaguars at 1 p.m. EDT Sunday at Nissan Stadium in Nashville. The Broncos battle the Pittsburgh Steelers at 1 p.m. EDT Sunday at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh.
"There's just a lot of little things that we could have done better," Lock said. "I feel like it was promising. Made some plays, but we want to be an elite offense. [Monday], with some of the things that we did, including some of the things I did myself, it just wasn't elite for us."
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upi--2020-09-15--Women are fighting the misogyny of Iran's mullahs

Sept. 15 ( UPI ) -- There were expressions of outrage and disgust internationally in August when a court in Iran sentenced a man to only nine years jail for beheading his 14-year-old daughter in an honor killing .
Romina Ashrafi had fallen in love with a man twice her age .
Her father reported the affair to the police , who arrested the girl and made her appear before a judge .
She pleaded with the judge not to send her home , as she feared her father would harm her .
Her pleas were ignored .
In May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a scythe .
In the theocratic fascist dictatorship , the Iranian penal code is designed to enable men to discipline women and girls if they fail to conform to strict Islamic codes .
Fathers are regarded as the guardians of their daughters and in this case , even although Romina 's father was a severe drug addict and beat her mercilessly every day , when he argued that she had dishonored his family , he was given only the most lenient sentence for her murder .
His sentence was in sharp contrast to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women who fail to cover their hair or wear the hijab .
In certain Iranian provinces , 20 % of all murders are classified as `` honor killings . ''
There are about 40 million women in the Islamic Republic of Iran , over half under the age of 30 .
Women make up more than 50 % of university students , but , because of discrimination and blatant sexism creating obstacles to employment , they account for only 19 % of Iran 's workforce .
At a time when women in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personal and social equality , Iranian women are among the most repressed in the world , ruled by a regime dominated by elderly , bearded misogynists .
But young Iranian women are becoming increasingly engaged in the growing opposition to the mullahs ' corrupt regime .
In the nationwide uprising last November , tens of thousands of courageous female teachers , medical staff , students , factory workers and pensioners took to the streets to demand an end to corruption , an end to discrimination and repression and an end to the clerical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Middle East .
Hundreds were killed and thousands were arrested by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps , the regime 's Gestapo .
Now , resistance units of the People 's Mojahedin of Iran ( PMOI/MEK ) , who are active in every town and city in Iran , are receiving daily reports of brutality against women in jail .
In August , there were reports of female prisoners in Sepidar Prison , Ahvaz , being tortured and bullied by prison guards .
Even pregnant women were tortured under interrogation .
In the notorious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ human rights lawyer and political prisoner Nasrin Sotoudeh is on hunger strike and in a critical condition , protesting about the appalling sanitary conditions during the pandemic , which has raged unchecked through Iran 's prisons .
The theocratic dictatorship in Iran has a history of targeting women with oppressive laws that would not be tolerated in the West or indeed in most civilized countries in the world .
In Iran , women are considered the property of their closest male relative and have no legal rights .
Girls of 9 years old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A woman 's evidence in court is worth only half that of a man .
Women may not seek to have a man charged with rape unless they have four independent witnesses .
All family relationships are strictly controlled by Shariah law .
Homosexual behavior , adultery and sex outside marriage are prohibited .
Women accused of such behavior can incur severe punishments , including beatings and death , sometimes by stoning .
Women 's dress codes are also under constant scrutiny .
They must wear the hijab and `` morality police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the law .
Women , particularly young women , are singled out for brutal attacks for the `` crime '' of mal-veiling , or being inadequately covered .
Girls who were deemed to be improperly dressed in the street have suffered horrific acid attacks and stabbings in assaults openly condoned by the mullahs .
Teenage girls , arrested for the offense of posting videos of themselves dancing or singing on social media , have been publicly flogged .
Young female students attending end-of-term parties have been fined and beaten .
This is what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini , the first supreme leader of Iran after the 1979 revolution and the father of Islamic fundamentalism , stated that equality between women and men was `` in fundamental violation of some of the most crucial rulings of Islam and in defiance of some of the explicit commandments of the Koran . ''
Immediately following the revolution , Khomeini abolished the Family Protection Law that gave women family rights .
He also cancelled social services for women and abolished the role of female judges in Iran 's justice system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members of parliament in Iran are women .
During the seven-year reign of the allegedly `` reformist '' and `` moderate '' President Hassan Rouhani , 107 women have been executed .
In 1988 , based on a `` fatwa '' by the psychopathic Khomeini , the mullahs massacred over 30,000 political prisoners , most of whom were supporters of the MEK .
Thousands of those hanged from cranes , day after day , were grandmothers , mothers , pregnant women and even teenagers .
Senior members of Rouhani 's government have boasted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against humanity , which has been the subject of reports by Amnesty international and is actively being investigated by the United Nations .
Shockingly , Alireza Avaei , one of the key executioners during the 1988 genocide , is now Rouhani 's minister of justice .
Today , Iranian women are at the forefront of the resistance to the theocratic dictatorship .
Indeed , the main democratic opposition movement is led by a woman , Maryam Rajavi .
Brave women are now routinely joining their brothers to demand regime change and an end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has terrorized not only the Iranian people for the past four decades , but a vast part of the Middle East as well .
Struan Stevenson is the Coordinator of the Campaign for Iran Change .
He was a member of the European Parliament representing Scotland ( 1999-2014 ) , president of the Parliament 's Delegation for Relations with Iraq ( 2009-14 ) and chairman of the Friends of a Free Iran Intergroup ( 2004-14 ) .
He is an international lecturer on the Middle East and is also president of the European @ @ @ @

Iranian lawmakers walk past a screen displaying Mohamad Bagher Ghalibaf after being elected as parliament speaker at the Iranian parliament in Tehran. Only 6% of members of parliament are women. File Photo by Abedin Taherkenareh/EPA-EFE
Sept. 15 (UPI) -- There were expressions of outrage and disgust internationally in August when a court in Iran sentenced a man to only nine years jail for beheading his 14-year-old daughter in an honor killing. Romina Ashrafi had fallen in love with a man twice her age. Her father reported the affair to the police, who arrested the girl and made her appear before a judge. She pleaded with the judge not to send her home, as she feared her father would harm her. Her pleas were ignored. In May, Romina's father beheaded her with a scythe. Advertisement
In the theocratic fascist dictatorship, the Iranian penal code is designed to enable men to discipline women and girls if they fail to conform to strict Islamic codes. Fathers are regarded as the guardians of their daughters and in this case, even although Romina's father was a severe drug addict and beat her mercilessly every day, when he argued that she had dishonored his family, he was given only the most lenient sentence for her murder.
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His sentence was in sharp contrast to the heavy jail terms handed down to women who fail to cover their hair or wear the hijab. In certain Iranian provinces, 20% of all murders are classified as "honor killings."
There are about 40 million women in the Islamic Republic of Iran, over half under the age of 30. Women make up more than 50% of university students, but, because of discrimination and blatant sexism creating obstacles to employment, they account for only 19% of Iran's workforce. At a time when women in the West have achieved political, economic, personal and social equality, Iranian women are among the most repressed in the world, ruled by a regime dominated by elderly, bearded misogynists.
But young Iranian women are becoming increasingly engaged in the growing opposition to the mullahs' corrupt regime. In the nationwide uprising last November, tens of thousands of courageous female teachers, medical staff, students, factory workers and pensioners took to the streets to demand an end to corruption, an end to discrimination and repression and an end to the clerical regime's aggressive military adventurism across the Middle East. Hundreds were killed and thousands were arrested by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, the regime's Gestapo.
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Now, resistance units of the People's Mojahedin of Iran (PMOI/MEK), who are active in every town and city in Iran, are receiving daily reports of brutality against women in jail. In August, there were reports of female prisoners in Sepidar Prison, Ahvaz, being tortured and bullied by prison guards. Even pregnant women were tortured under interrogation. In the notorious Evin prison in Tehran, the leading human rights lawyer and political prisoner Nasrin Sotoudeh is on hunger strike and in a critical condition, protesting about the appalling sanitary conditions during the pandemic, which has raged unchecked through Iran's prisons.
The theocratic dictatorship in Iran has a history of targeting women with oppressive laws that would not be tolerated in the West or indeed in most civilized countries in the world. In Iran, women are considered the property of their closest male relative and have no legal rights. Girls of 9 years old can be married off by their parents. A woman's evidence in court is worth only half that of a man. Women may not seek to have a man charged with rape unless they have four independent witnesses. All family relationships are strictly controlled by Shariah law. Homosexual behavior, adultery and sex outside marriage are prohibited. Women accused of such behavior can incur severe punishments, including beatings and death, sometimes by stoning.
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Women's dress codes are also under constant scrutiny. They must wear the hijab and "morality police" are on relentless patrol to enforce the law. Women, particularly young women, are singled out for brutal attacks for the "crime" of mal-veiling, or being inadequately covered. Girls who were deemed to be improperly dressed in the street have suffered horrific acid attacks and stabbings in assaults openly condoned by the mullahs. Teenage girls, arrested for the offense of posting videos of themselves dancing or singing on social media, have been publicly flogged. Young female students attending end-of-term parties have been fined and beaten. This is what gender equality looks like in Iran today.
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the first supreme leader of Iran after the 1979 revolution and the father of Islamic fundamentalism, stated that equality between women and men was "in fundamental violation of some of the most crucial rulings of Islam and in defiance of some of the explicit commandments of the Koran." Immediately following the revolution, Khomeini abolished the Family Protection Law that gave women family rights. He also cancelled social services for women and abolished the role of female judges in Iran's justice system. Today, only 6% of members of parliament in Iran are women.
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During the seven-year reign of the allegedly "reformist" and "moderate" President Hassan Rouhani, 107 women have been executed. In 1988, based on a "fatwa" by the psychopathic Khomeini, the mullahs massacred over 30,000 political prisoners, most of whom were supporters of the MEK. Thousands of those hanged from cranes, day after day, were grandmothers, mothers, pregnant women and even teenagers. Senior members of Rouhani's government have boasted of their role in this appalling crime against humanity, which has been the subject of reports by Amnesty international and is actively being investigated by the United Nations. Shockingly, Alireza Avaei, one of the key executioners during the 1988 genocide, is now Rouhani's minister of justice.
Today, Iranian women are at the forefront of the resistance to the theocratic dictatorship. Indeed, the main democratic opposition movement is led by a woman, Maryam Rajavi. Brave women are now routinely joining their brothers to demand regime change and an end to the misogyny and repression, which has terrorized not only the Iranian people for the past four decades, but a vast part of the Middle East as well.
Struan Stevenson is the Coordinator of the Campaign for Iran Change. He was a member of the European Parliament representing Scotland (1999-2014), president of the Parliament's Delegation for Relations with Iraq (2009-14) and chairman of the Friends of a Free Iran Intergroup (2004-14). He is an international lecturer on the Middle East and is also president of the European Iraqi Freedom Association.


upi--2020-09-15--Whistle-blower complaint alleges neglect, hysterectomies at Georgia migrant facility

Sept. 15 ( UPI ) -- Human rights groups and a whistle-blower are condemning the Trump administration for the treatment of migrants at a holding facility in Georgia , where they say there 's been incidents of negligence and abuse -- like forced hysterectomies for women .
The Government Accountability Project and Project South filed complaints Monday against the Department of Homeland Security .
They 're based on concerns reported by Dawn Wooten , a nurse who worked at a private detention center in Ocilla , Ga. , that housed migrants for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement .
The complaint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alliance for Human Rights and South Georgia Immigration Support Network in a broader report that outlined their concerns to the Department of Homeland Security inspector general .
Wooten , who provided direct care for migrants at the center , said they were frequently and intentionally denied medical care -- including those who showed symptoms of COVID-19 .
Wooten said the facility failed to isolate possible coronavirus patients and did n't quarantine any migrants in close vicinity who may have been exposed to the disease .
The complaints also say the center failed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in exam rooms and declined to provide personal protective equipment to medical and correctional staff .
`` Ms. Wooten 's whistle-blowing disclosures reveal not only gross mismanagement from [ the facility 's ] leadership , but actions that deliberately put the health of detainees , workers , and the public at risk , '' Government Accountability Project attorney John Whitty said in a statement .
`` It is up to DHS to heed the warnings of employee whistle-blowers like Ms. Wooten and take action to enforce protective measures against the rampant spread of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Project South said some migrant women were given hysterectomies without their consent and had expressed confusion about the procedures .
The complaint said hysterectomies , a female sterilization procedure , appeared to be encouraged by at least one physician .
Project South said the Ocilla detention center has a history of hysterectomies that concerned staff there .
`` I 've had several inmates tell me that they 've been to see the doctor and they 've had hysterectomies and they do n't know why they went or why they 're going , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immigrants do understand what they 're getting done , some of them a lot of times wo n't even go , they say they 'll wait to get back to their country to go to the doctor . ''
The Homeland Security Department did not immediately respond to the complaints .

Activists in Los Angeles, Calif., attend a march on July 21, 2018, to protest the Trump administration's treatment of migrants at the southern border and inside federal facilities. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 15 (UPI) -- Human rights groups and a whistle-blower are condemning the Trump administration for the treatment of migrants at a holding facility in Georgia, where they say there's been incidents of negligence and abuse -- like forced hysterectomies for women. The Government Accountability Project and Project South filed complaints Monday against the Department of Homeland Security. They're based on concerns reported by Dawn Wooten, a nurse who worked at a private detention center in Ocilla, Ga., that housed migrants for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Advertisement
The complaint joined Georgia Detention Watch, Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights and South Georgia Immigration Support Network in a broader report that outlined their concerns to the Department of Homeland Security inspector general.
Wooten, who provided direct care for migrants at the center, said they were frequently and intentionally denied medical care -- including those who showed symptoms of COVID-19.
Wooten said the facility failed to isolate possible coronavirus patients and didn't quarantine any migrants in close vicinity who may have been exposed to the disease. The complaints also say the center failed to maintain acceptable levels of hygiene and sanitation in exam rooms and declined to provide personal protective equipment to medical and correctional staff.
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"Ms. Wooten's whistle-blowing disclosures reveal not only gross mismanagement from [the facility's] leadership, but actions that deliberately put the health of detainees, workers, and the public at risk," Government Accountability Project attorney John Whitty said in a statement.
"It is up to DHS to heed the warnings of employee whistle-blowers like Ms. Wooten and take action to enforce protective measures against the rampant spread of COVID-19."
In its complaint, Project South said some migrant women were given hysterectomies without their consent and had expressed confusion about the procedures. The complaint said hysterectomies, a female sterilization procedure, appeared to be encouraged by at least one physician.
Project South said the Ocilla detention center has a history of hysterectomies that concerned staff there.
"I've had several inmates tell me that they've been to see the doctor and they've had hysterectomies and they don't know why they went or why they're going," Wooten said.
"And if the immigrants do understand what they're getting done, some of them a lot of times won't even go, they say they'll wait to get back to their country to go to the doctor."
The Homeland Security Department did not immediately respond to the complaints.


upi--2020-09-15--WWE Raw: Drew McIntyre faces Keith Lee, Retribution attacks

Sept. 15 ( UPI ) -- WWE Champion Drew McIntyre faced one of this toughest challenges yet as he battled Keith Lee in the main event of Raw .
McIntyre kicked off Raw on Monday and said that it is unknown if Randy Orton can face him for the WWE Championship at Clash of Champions on Sept. 27 due to his injuries .
McIntyre had sent Orton to the hospital last week following three Claymores .
The champ said that if Orton is cleared for Clash of Champions , the rivals will compete in an ambulance match .
WWE official @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is able to defeat McIntyre on Raw and Orton is unable to compete , that Lee will be granted the championship match .
Lee , who holds a victory over Orton and who brawled with McIntyre backstage before the match , was dominant at first and was able to knock McIntyre out of the ring .
McIntyre would recover but missed with a Claymore while Lee was unable to deliver the Spirit Bomb .
The hard-hitting contest was cut short , however , by the arrival of Retribution .
Retribution is the mysterious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terrorizing both Raw and SmackDown in recent weeks .
Retribution beat down both McIntyre and Lee before The Hurt Business came down to the ring .
The Hurt Business , which consists of United States Champion Bobby Lashley , MVP , Shelton Benjamin and new member Cedric Alexander , had told Pearce earlier in the night that they would deal with Retribution .
The Hurt Business brawled with Retribution until McIntyre and Lee were able to recover .
McIntyre and Lee ended things by both leaping over the top rope to crash land @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the air .
Also on Raw , Dominik Mysterio took on Seth Rollins in a Steel Cage match .
Dominik Mysterio was joined at ringside by his family , including his father Rey Mysterio .
Rollins was joined by his disciple Murphy at ringside despite The Monday Night Messiah violently telling him to stay in the back .
Murphy slipped Rollins a kendo stick which he used until Dominik Mysterio turned the tables on his nemesis .
Murphy later stopped Rey Mysterio from his helping his son escape the cage but inadvertently attacked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eventually won the violent match after he put down Dominik Mysterio with two Curb Stomps .
Rollins also beat down Murphy and used the cage door against him .
The Mysterio family attended to Dominik Mysterio while his sister Aalyah Mysterio briefly checked on Murphy .
James put up a valiant effort and brought the fight to the Empress of Tomorrow .
Asuka applied her Asuka Lock submission hold which resulted in the referee calling for the bell after he ruled that James could no longer continue .
Asuka was then confronted by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of being a manager and proceeded to slap the champ .
Other moments from Raw included Raw Tag Team Champions The Street Profits defeating SmackDown Tag Team Champions Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura ; Alexander defeating Ricochet ; Lashley defeating Erik ; Braun Strowman dominating Raw Underground ; Kevin Owens defeating Aleister Black ; and The Riott Squad defeating Natalya and Lana .

Sept. 15 (UPI) -- WWE Champion Drew McIntyre faced one of this toughest challenges yet as he battled Keith Lee in the main event of Raw.
McIntyre kicked off Raw on Monday and said that it is unknown if Randy Orton can face him for the WWE Championship at Clash of Champions on Sept. 27 due to his injuries. McIntyre had sent Orton to the hospital last week following three Claymores.
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The champ said that if Orton is cleared for Clash of Champions, the rivals will compete in an ambulance match. WWE official Adam Pearce then announced that if Lee is able to defeat McIntyre on Raw and Orton is unable to compete, that Lee will be granted the championship match.
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Lee, who holds a victory over Orton and who brawled with McIntyre backstage before the match, was dominant at first and was able to knock McIntyre out of the ring.
McIntyre would recover but missed with a Claymore while Lee was unable to deliver the Spirit Bomb. The hard-hitting contest was cut short, however, by the arrival of Retribution.
Retribution is the mysterious group of masked individuals who have been terrorizing both Raw and SmackDown in recent weeks. Retribution beat down both McIntyre and Lee before The Hurt Business came down to the ring.
The Hurt Business, which consists of United States Champion Bobby Lashley, MVP, Shelton Benjamin and new member Cedric Alexander, had told Pearce earlier in the night that they would deal with Retribution.
The Hurt Business brawled with Retribution until McIntyre and Lee were able to recover. McIntyre and Lee ended things by both leaping over the top rope to crash land onto everyone fighting as Raw went off the air.
Also on Raw, Dominik Mysterio took on Seth Rollins in a Steel Cage match. Dominik Mysterio was joined at ringside by his family, including his father Rey Mysterio. Rollins was joined by his disciple Murphy at ringside despite The Monday Night Messiah violently telling him to stay in the back.
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Murphy slipped Rollins a kendo stick which he used until Dominik Mysterio turned the tables on his nemesis. Murphy later stopped Rey Mysterio from his helping his son escape the cage but inadvertently attacked Rollins with the cage door.
Rollins eventually won the violent match after he put down Dominik Mysterio with two Curb Stomps. Rollins also beat down Murphy and used the cage door against him. The Mysterio family attended to Dominik Mysterio while his sister Aalyah Mysterio briefly checked on Murphy.
Raw Women's Champion Asuka defended her title against ring veteran Mickie James.
James put up a valiant effort and brought the fight to the Empress of Tomorrow. Asuka applied her Asuka Lock submission hold which resulted in the referee calling for the bell after he ruled that James could no longer continue.
Asuka was then confronted by Zelina Vega who said she was tired of being a manager and proceeded to slap the champ.
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Other moments from Raw included Raw Tag Team Champions The Street Profits defeating SmackDown Tag Team Champions Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura; Alexander defeating Ricochet; Lashley defeating Erik; Braun Strowman dominating Raw Underground; Kevin Owens defeating Aleister Black; and The Riott Squad defeating Natalya and Lana.


upi--2020-09-15--Stars edge Golden Knights in OT, advance to Stanley Cup Final

Sept. 15 ( UPI ) -- The Dallas Stars will represent the Western Conference in the 2020 Stanley Cup Final after a dramatic Game 5 overtime win over the Vegas Golden Knights .
Dallas awaits its opponent from the Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Islanders series after the 3-2 victory Monday at Rogers Place in Edmonton , Alberta , Canada .
`` It 's a feeling you ca n't describe , '' Stars coach Rick Bowness told reporters .
`` You only get so many cracks at going to the Stanley Cup Final .
You have to take advantage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the players .
They have worked so hard .
They have come together and we 've been resilient all year . ''
Right wing Denis Gurianov played a role in the game-tying goal late in regulation before he scored a 110-mph game-winning one-timer in overtime to send his team to the NHL 's title series .
`` It does n't always go your way in the first couple periods , but we stuck with it , '' Stars left wing Jamie Benn said .
`` [ Goaltender Anton Khudobin ] kept us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and we found a way to get it done . ''
Golden Knights center Chandler Stephenson lit the lamp 8:14 into the first period to give Vegas an early one-goal edge .
Neither team scored in the second period .
Reilly Smith then pocketed a second goal for Vegas just 15 seconds into the third period .
The Stars rallied midway through the final stretch of regulation .
Benn beat Vegas netminder Robin Lehner 9:54 into the third period .
Joel Kiviranta then tied the score and forced overtime when he scored on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gurianov had the puck along the boards on the right side while in Golden Knights territory at the start of the play .
He then passed back to defenseman John Klingberg , who collected the puck near the Vegas blue line .
Klingberg then rifled a long shot on net .
The puck was batted around in a crowd of players front of the goal before Kiviranta flew toward the right post and tapped a shot in behind Lehner .
Gurianov played the hero 3:36 into the lone overtime period .
Stars left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flank at the start of the play .
He skated deep into Golden Knights territory before he passed back to Klingberg at the blue line .
The Stars defenseman skated forward before he faked a powerful slap shot and sent a slow pass to his right to Gurianov .
The Stars right wing then ripped a backhanded one-timer into a narrow gap between Lehner 's glove side and the right post .
Khudobin had 34 saves in the win .
Lehner had 23 saves for Vegas .
`` They played a simple , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` They threw a lot of pucks in front of the net and got a few bounces .
They just throw pucks in there and are good at battling in the front .
`` You wish you could have come up with the saves there . ''
The Lightning have a 3-1 lead on the Islanders in the Eastern Conference finals .
Game 5 of that series is at 8 p.m. EDT Tuesday in Edmonton .
`` We 've got a great team , '' Benn said .
`` Everyone has bought into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the best teams I 've played on .
We just gel as a group .
We are going to try to keep this thing going . ''

Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn scored in the third period of a 3-2 overtime win over the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals Monday in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 15 (UPI) -- The Dallas Stars will represent the Western Conference in the 2020 Stanley Cup Final after a dramatic Game 5 overtime win over the Vegas Golden Knights. Dallas awaits its opponent from the Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Islanders series after the 3-2 victory Monday at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Advertisement
"It's a feeling you can't describe," Stars coach Rick Bowness told reporters. "You only get so many cracks at going to the Stanley Cup Final. You have to take advantage of it.
"It's gratifying for the players. They have worked so hard. They have come together and we've been resilient all year."
Right wing Denis Gurianov played a role in the game-tying goal late in regulation before he scored a 110-mph game-winning one-timer in overtime to send his team to the NHL's title series.
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"It doesn't always go your way in the first couple periods, but we stuck with it," Stars left wing Jamie Benn said. "[Goaltender Anton Khudobin] kept us in it as long as we needed and we found a way to get it done."
Golden Knights center Chandler Stephenson lit the lamp 8:14 into the first period to give Vegas an early one-goal edge. Neither team scored in the second period. Reilly Smith then pocketed a second goal for Vegas just 15 seconds into the third period.
The Stars rallied midway through the final stretch of regulation.
Benn beat Vegas netminder Robin Lehner 9:54 into the third period. Joel Kiviranta then tied the score and forced overtime when he scored on a power play with 3:47 remaining.
Gurianov had the puck along the boards on the right side while in Golden Knights territory at the start of the play. He then passed back to defenseman John Klingberg, who collected the puck near the Vegas blue line.
Klingberg then rifled a long shot on net. The puck was batted around in a crowd of players front of the goal before Kiviranta flew toward the right post and tapped a shot in behind Lehner.
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Gurianov played the hero 3:36 into the lone overtime period.
Stars left winger Roope Hintz was on the left flank at the start of the play. He skated deep into Golden Knights territory before he passed back to Klingberg at the blue line. The Stars defenseman skated forward before he faked a powerful slap shot and sent a slow pass to his right to Gurianov.
The Stars right wing then ripped a backhanded one-timer into a narrow gap between Lehner's glove side and the right post.
Khudobin had 34 saves in the win. Lehner had 23 saves for Vegas.
"They played a simple, hard game," Lehner said. "They threw a lot of pucks in front of the net and got a few bounces. They just throw pucks in there and are good at battling in the front.
"You wish you could have come up with the saves there."
The Lightning have a 3-1 lead on the Islanders in the Eastern Conference finals. Game 5 of that series is at 8 p.m. EDT Tuesday in Edmonton.
"We've got a great team," Benn said. "Everyone has bought into their role. This is one of the best teams I've played on. We just gel as a group. We are going to try to keep this thing going."


upi--2020-09-15--Like OPEC, IEA cuts oil demand forecast by 300K barrels per day

Sept. 15 ( UPI ) -- Like OPEC a day earlier , the International Energy Agency said in a monthly report Tuesday that it expects global demand for oil to decline further for 2020 due to COVID-19 .
The IEA projected in its September report that demand for the overall year will be 91.7 million barrels per day , more than 8 million barrels fewer per day than 2019 and 300,000 fewer than the previous forecast anticipated .
The new outlook heavily cited the ongoing impact of the coronavirus pandemic on global travel and demand for oil .
`` In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has risen as the holiday season ends , though the rate of hospitalizations and deaths is lower than seen earlier this year , '' the IEA report states .
`` Case numbers in the United States are falling and the situation seems to be improving in Japan and Korea .
However , in various places , the situation is worrying and we are seeing localized lockdowns . ''
An initial recovery that began earlier this summer has `` flattened out , '' the report notes .
`` It is becoming increasingly apparent that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time . ''
The IEA said the outlook for oil demand will continue to be `` fragile '' as the Northern Hemisphere begins the winter months -- and noted `` uncharted territory regarding the virulence of COVID-19 '' with widespread telecommuting and depressed air travel .
In its outlook on Monday , OPEC similarly cited the pandemic as a major factor in its revised projection of 400,000 fewer barrels per day for all of 2020 .

A tanker unloads gasoline into the underground tanks at a station in South Florida. The IEA report Tuesday said less driving and depressed air travel are major factors in the revised outlook. File Photo by Gary I Rothstein/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 15 (UPI) -- Like OPEC a day earlier, the International Energy Agency said in a monthly report Tuesday that it expects global demand for oil to decline further for 2020 due to COVID-19. The IEA projected in its September report that demand for the overall year will be 91.7 million barrels per day, more than 8 million barrels fewer per day than 2019 and 300,000 fewer than the previous forecast anticipated. Advertisement
The new outlook heavily cited the ongoing impact of the coronavirus pandemic on global travel and demand for oil.
"In Europe, the number of new cases has risen as the holiday season ends, though the rate of hospitalizations and deaths is lower than seen earlier this year," the IEA report states. "Case numbers in the United States are falling and the situation seems to be improving in Japan and Korea. However, in various places, the situation is worrying and we are seeing localized lockdowns."
An initial recovery that began earlier this summer has "flattened out," the report notes.
"It is becoming increasingly apparent that COVID-19 will stay with us for some time."
The IEA said the outlook for oil demand will continue to be "fragile" as the Northern Hemisphere begins the winter months -- and noted "uncharted territory regarding the virulence of COVID-19" with widespread telecommuting and depressed air travel.
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In its outlook on Monday, OPEC similarly cited the pandemic as a major factor in its revised projection of 400,000 fewer barrels per day for all of 2020.


upi--2020-09-15--Google honors civil rights pioneer Felicitas Mendez with new Doodle

Sept. 15 ( UPI ) -- Google is celebrating civil rights pioneer Felicitas Mendez in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month .
Mendez was born in Juncos , Puerto Rico , in 1916 and later moved to the small town of Westminster , Calif. She married Mexican immigrant , Gonzalo Mendez , in 1935 and the couple opened a neighborhood cafe and later ran a successful farm .
The Mendez family 's three children were refused enrollment at a local public school based on their ethnicity in 1944 .
The family fought back with the lawsuit Mendez v. Westminster along with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spearhead and win the monumental lawsuit in 1946 , which resulted in the first U.S. federal court ruling against public school segregation nearly a decade before Brown v. Board of Education .
Mendez 's daughter , Sylvia , was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011 in recognition of her parents ' role in Westminster v. Mendez .
`` Thank you , Felicitas Mendez and family for helping to lead the way toward a more just future , '' Google said .
Google 's homepage features artwork of Mendez watching children of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company also released a behind-the-scenes video about the making of the Doodle and Mendez 's story .

Google is paying homage to civil rights pioneer Felicitas Mendez with a new Doodle. Image courtesy of Google
Sept. 15 (UPI) -- Google is celebrating civil rights pioneer Felicitas Mendez in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. Mendez was born in Juncos, Puerto Rico, in 1916 and later moved to the small town of Westminster, Calif. She married Mexican immigrant, Gonzalo Mendez, in 1935 and the couple opened a neighborhood cafe and later ran a successful farm. Advertisement
The Mendez family's three children were refused enrollment at a local public school based on their ethnicity in 1944. The family fought back with the lawsuit Mendez v. Westminster along with four other parents.
Mendez helped to spearhead and win the monumental lawsuit in 1946, which resulted in the first U.S. federal court ruling against public school segregation nearly a decade before Brown v. Board of Education.
Mendez's daughter, Sylvia, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011 in recognition of her parents' role in Westminster v. Mendez.
"Thank you, Felicitas Mendez and family for helping to lead the way toward a more just future," Google said.
Google's homepage features artwork of Mendez watching children of all races attend school together.
The company also released a behind-the-scenes video about the making of the Doodle and Mendez's story.
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upi--2020-09-15--Hurricane Paulette moving further away from U.S. coast

Sept. 15 ( UPI ) -- Hurricane Paulette has been moving to the northeast in the wide open Atlantic Ocean @ @ @ @ @ coast , since bringing severe weather to Bermuda over the weekend .
In its 5 @ @ @ @ @ National Hurricane Center said the storm was located 405 miles northeast of Bermuda .
It @ @ @ @ @ 105 mph and was moving northeast at 20 mph .
The NHC said in its @ @ @ @ @ strength as it moves northeast , away from the U.S. East Coast .
Paulette is @ @ @ @ @ Atlantic basin and is projected to take an extreme path to the northeast , out @ @ @ @ @ until turning to the south by the end of the week .
Forecasters do n't @ @ @ @ @ any other land .
Paulette became a hurricane last weekend and arrived over Bermuda on @ @ @ @ @ government buildings were closed Monday and Tuesday and the L. F. Wade International Airport was @ @ @ @

Hurricane Paulette was not expected to affect land in the coming days. Photo courtesy of NOAA
Sept. 15 (UPI) -- Paulette was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone for the second time on Tuesday night. Forecasters with the National Weather Service had previously forecast Paulette to make landfall as a "strong" post-tropical cyclone over the North Atlantic on Wednesday. Advertisement
In its 11 p.m. AST advisory, the National Hurricane Center said the storm was located 445 miles south-southeast of the Azores. It had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and was moving east at 12 mph.
Paulette is in the center of the Atlantic basin and is projected to take a southwestward path by the end of this week.
Forecasters don't expect the storm to impact any other land.
Paulette became a hurricane last weekend and arrived over Bermuda on Sunday.


upi--2020-09-15--Teddy expected to become 'large' and 'powerful' hurricane

Sept. 15 ( UPI ) -- Tropical Storm Teddy is expected to turn into a major hurricane in the coming days , forecasters said Tuesday .
The National Hurricane Center said in a 5 a.m. EDT advisory Teddy was located 1,030 miles east of the Lesser Antilles .
It had maximum sustained winds of 60 mph and was moving northwest at 12 mph .
The NHC said Teddy will strengthen into a `` large '' and `` powerful '' hurricane over the central Atlantic later this week .
A storm is considered a major hurricane at Category 3 strength , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mph .
`` Large swells generated by Tropical Storm Teddy are expected to reach the Lesser Antilles and the northeastern coast of South America on Wednesday , '' it said .
`` These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions . ''
The current track of the storm does n't appear as though it will approach the United States .
Teddy 's formation Monday was the latest in an extremely active weather map in the Atlantic basin .
Hurricane Sally is in the Gulf and is expected to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday or early Wednesday .
Hurricane Paulette is in the western Atlantic , but is not expected to impact the United States .
Tropical Storm Vicky formed Monday but is n't expected to last very long before dissipating .

The powerful Hurricane Teddy is forecast to hit Atlantic Canada later this week. Image courtesy of NOAA
Sept. 22 (UPI) -- After passing Bermuda a day prior, powerful Hurricane Teddy was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone as it was heading for Atlantic Canada on Tuesday. The storm is still expected to produce potentially life-threatening surf and rip current conditions along the way, forecasters said. Advertisement
As of 11 p.m. AST Tuesday, the storm was about 125 miles south of the Nova Scotian capital of Halifax, packing maximum sustained winds of 80 mph. It was traveling north at 18 mph.
Large swells generated by the system were affecting Bermuda, the Lesser Antilles, the Greater Antilles, the Bahamas, the eastern coast of the United States and Atlantic Canada, the advisory said.
"These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions," it said.
Teddy first developed in the central Atlantic on Saturday, Sept. 12. On Friday night, Teddy strengthened into a Category 4 major hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Laura is the only other Atlantic storm to achieve major hurricane status so far this season.
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According to Colorado State University Meteorologist Phil Klotzbach, the average date for the second major hurricane formation in the Atlantic is Oct. 3.
"Teddy will interact with an upper-level storm system moving across eastern Canada early in the week, and become an extratropical storm before making landfall in Nova Scotia Wednesday morning. However, this is really just a technicality, as the impacts will still match those of a hurricane," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Adam Douty explained.
The Canadian Hurricane Centre has issued a tropical storm warning for the southern coast of Nova Scotia and a tropical storm watch for the province's northern coast. The watch also extends westward into Prince Edward Island. Tropical storm watches were also issued for portions of the southwestern coast of Newfoundland.
One of those impressive aspects of Teddy will be its expansive wind field. Wind gusts of 40-60 mph will stretch all the way from the eastern shores of Labrador and Newfoundland to Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The strongest wind gusts, near where the center moves across Nova Scotia, are expected to reach 80-90 mph with an AccuWeather Local StormMax of 100 mph.
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"Teddy is already a large hurricane. When it undergoes extratropical transition, the wind field will expand even further," Douty explained. "Even the New England coast will be quite gusty for a time, despite the storm being around 300 miles east of Boston at its closest approach."
Power outages and tree damage could be widespread across Atlantic Canada. While powerful winter storms that can reach hurricane strength are not particularly uncommon across this region, a storm of this strength striking this time of year, when all the leaves are still on the trees, can lead to more damage.
Winds of this magnitude are also capable of some structural damage, especially to any weaker buildings. Loose objects like yard furniture, toys, planters and trash cans can easily become projectiles in the wind.
Dorian tracked across Atlantic Canada in early September of 2019 and brought widespread wind damage to Atlantic Canada. Teddy has the potential to bring similar results should it remain on its current forecast track.
Residents should begin to make appropriate preparations as this appears to be the most likely scenario.
On this track, 2-4 inches of rain would be widespread across Nova Scotia, with 1-2 inches stretching from eastern New Brunswick to the southeast coast of Labrador. Locally heavier rainfall could fall where the center of the storm tracks, with an AccuWeather Local StormMax of 6 inches.
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Heavy rain will also accompany the howling winds across Atlantic Canada. However, heavy rain will be in and out relatively quickly due to the fast-forward motion of the storm.
This can lead to some localized flooding, especially on streets and poor-drainage areas. Most leaves across the region are only just starting to change, but with such strong winds, it's also possible that enough leaves are blown down to clog some storm drains and cause more street flooding in urban areas.
Taking these impacts into consideration, Teddy is forecast to be a 1 on the AccuWeather RealImpact Scale for Hurricanes in Atlantic Canada.
In comparison to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, which has been used by meteorologists for decades and classifies storms by wind speed only, the AccuWeather RealImpact Scale is based on a broad range of important factors. The scale covers not only wind speed but flooding rain, storm surge as well as economic damage and loss. This communicates a more comprehensive representation of the potential impact of a storm to lives and livelihoods.
Meanwhile, Teddy has been kicking up some significant waves as the storm mowed its way across the Atlantic Ocean. Wave heights near Teddy's center of circulation have been in excess of 20 feet and, up and down the shores of the East Coast, wave heights have been in the 5-foot to 7-foot range.
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Even with Teddy several hundred miles off the coast, some coastal flooding and beach erosion was already being seen and will continue for the first part of the week along many portions of the East Coast, especially at times of high tide.
"During the weekend, an area of high pressure over the interior Northeast helped to increase northeasterly winds, which enraged seas along the immediate Atlantic coast, well away from Teddy," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.
According to the NCDOT, portions of Route 12 along the Outer Banks in North Carolina are closed until at least Tuesday afternoon due to overwash. Residents of the Outer Banks have been urged not to travel unless absolutely necessary. Flooding along the Outer Banks could get worse over the next couple of days as surf continues to build and more and more of the protective dunes get worn down or washed away.
Because of the exceptionally rough seas churned up by Teddy, coastal impacts will also be quite expansive. Nova Scotia and the southern coast of Newfoundland will bear the brunt of massive surf and dangerous storm surge.
Wave heights are forecast to reach an incredible 50-75 feet Tuesday on the open sea off the coasts of New England and Nova Scotia. This will have a major impact on shipping, as any sea-going vessels that dare to enter this region will face extreme danger.
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While the most fearsome seas will remain offshore, coastal areas will still have to be prepared for storm surge and significant wave action.
"The southern coast of Nova Scotia is no stranger to angry seas, and most of the towns sit in coves protected by rocky cliffs and barrier islands," explained AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist and Lead Canada Forecaster Brett Anderson.
"However, with 30 foot seas even right to the coast and a large storm surge, any locations that are exposed and not sitting well above normal sea level could quickly become very dangerous to anyone caught there once Teddy arrives."
The entire Eastern Seaboard of the United States will also see rough surf and large swells propagating out from Teddy into midweek. Persistent, gusty onshore flow along much of the East Coast will also add to the angry seas and rising water levels.
"As the area of high pressure weakens, and Teddy moves toward Nova Scotia on Tuesday and Wednesday, wave action along the immediate coast south of the Carolinas will ease, but there can still be occasional large swells that catch bathers and boaters by surprise through the latter part of this week," Sosnowski said.
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Teddy joins Beta currently spinning in the Atlantic, as well as Paulette, which regenerated into a tropical storm south of the Azores on Monday night.
With months still left in the Atlantic hurricane season, more Greek letters are likely to be used. Last week, AccuWeather meteorologists upped their 2020 season predictions for the number of total storms to 28, which would tie the record number of named storms in the basin set in the notorious 2005 season.


upi--2020-09-15--'Life-threatening' Hurricane Sally slowly nears U.S. Gulf Coast

Sept. 15 ( UPI ) -- Hurricane Sally was slowly moving toward the U.S. Gulf Coast early Tuesday and forecasters expect it to be a life-threatening storm when it arrives over land .
In its 4 a.m. CDT update , the NHC said Sally , a Category 1 hurricane , was 60 miles east-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River and 115 miles southeast of Biloxi , Miss .
It had maximum sustained winds of 85 mph and was moving northwest at 2 mph .
`` On the forecast track , the center of Sally will move near the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make landfall in the hurricane warning area tonight or Wednesday morning , '' the NHC said .
The NHC added in its advisory that the storm could bring `` historic flooding '' and `` extreme life-threatening flash flooding '' along portions of the northern Gulf Coast .
Sally is expected to make landfall between southeastern Louisiana and the Mississippi-Alabama border .
The NHC has issued a hurricane warning from east of the mouth of the Pearl River to Navarre , Fla. '' Although little change in strength is forecast until landfall occurs , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dangerous hurricane when it moves onshore along the north-central Gulf coast , '' the NHC added .
President Donald Trump said late Monday his administration is monitoring the storm .
`` We are fully engaged with state and local leaders to assist the great people of Alabama , Louisiana and Mississippi , '' he tweeted .
`` Be ready and listen to state and local leaders ! ''
The president has approved federal emergency declarations for Louisiana , Mississippi and Alabama .
New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell issued a mandatory evacuation order for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Sally is the earliest named `` S-Storm '' to ever form in the Atlantic Ocean basin , beating out Hurricane Stan , which was named on Oct. 2 , 2005 .
Downpours were expected across Louisiana , Mississippi and Alabama into the storm 's arrival .
Roads may become impassable due to flooding and some communities may become cut off from first responders and medical services for a time .
Between the potential threats closer to home and many others emerging from the depths of the basin , an unusual occurrence that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may unfold in the coming weeks .
As many five named tropical systems may spin across the ocean at the same time by the middle of September .
Tropical storms and hurricanes can form well beyond the statistical peak of hurricane season , which is Sept. 10-11 .
Hurricane season does not officially end until the end of November , and named systems could emerge into December this year .
Once the list based on the English alphabet is exhausted , Greek letters will be assigned as names , and that has only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2005 .

Tropical Depression Sally poured rain over Alabama and Georgia early Thursday. Photo courtesy of NOAA
Sept. 17 (UPI) -- Tropical Depression Sally was dumping torrential rains over eastern Alabama and western and central Georgia early Thursday after making landfall as a Category 2 hurricane the day before, leaving a trail of flooding and destruction in its wake. Sally had wind speeds of 105 mph, Category 2 strength, when it made landfall before dawn Wednesday, resulting in at least one death in Alabama and downing the Three Mile Bridge in Santa Rosa County, Fla., before losing strength and being downgraded to a tropical depression later in the day. Advertisement
The National Hurricane Center said in its 4 a.m. CDT Thursday advisory the storm was creating maximum sustained winds of 30 mph and was moving northeast at 12 mph.
The NHC added that the center of the storm was located about 50 miles southeast of Montgomery, Ala.
"On the forecast track, the center of Sally will move across southeastern Alabama this morning, over central Georgia this afternoon and move over South Carolina late tonight into Friday," the NHC said.
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Forecasters said Sally could produce as many as 30 inches of rain in some areas between Florida and western Alabama.Sally grew to Category 2 strength early Wednesday after spending most of Tuesday as a Category 1 storm.
Hurricane Ivan, in 2004, was the last hurricane to make landfall in Alabama, as a Category 3 storm. The state saw Hurricane Danny in 1997 and Hurricane Frederic in 1979.
Gulf Coast residents were rushing preparations to completion this week before Sally's arrival -- a little over two weeks after Hurricane Laura's devastating blow in western Louisiana and the upper Texas coast.
States of emergency have been issued by Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves and Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey and mandatory evacuations were ordered in low-lying areas of Mississippi and Louisiana.
Sally was the earliest named "S-Storm" to ever form in the Atlantic Ocean basin, beating out 2005's Hurricane Stan, which was named on Oct. 2.
In less than 24 hours, Sally went from being a mass of showers and thunderstorms east of the Bahamas on Friday to a tropical depression before growing into a tropical storm Saturday.
There is also the potential for brief tornadoes and waterspouts to spin up near and east of the center of the storm as it crawls inland. On Tuesday morning, tornado watches were issued by the National Weather Service for coastal Alabama and the western half of the Florida Panhandle.
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After moving inland, the storm will lose wind intensity, but continue to pull moisture northward into the Deep South.
AccuWeather meteorologists said that natural gas and oil production is expected to be shut down for one day to two days in the north-central Gulf as Sally moves through the region, but the majority of the rigs are located farther west, over the western Gulf of Mexico.
Sally isn't the only system meteorologists are monitoring. Hurricanes Paulette and Teddy are also in the Atlantic basin, along with Tropical Storm Vicky.
Hurricane season does not officially end until the end of November, and forecasters say that named systems could emerge into December this year.


upi--2020-09-15--Appeals court paves way for deportation of 300,000 immigrants

Sept. 15 ( UPI ) -- A divided appellate court ruled that the Trump administration can go forward with plans to terminate a humanitarian program that protects hundreds of thousands of immigrants living in the United States , clearing the way for their deportation .
The three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit Appeals Court ruled 2-1 on Monday in favor of the Trump administration 's plan to eliminate Temporary Protected Status designations for Sudan , Nicaragua , Haiti and El Salvador , opening up at least 300,000 immigrants and their families , many who have lived in the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country .
The TPS program permits immigrants into the country under `` extraordinary and temporary conditions , '' such as needing to flee their nations due to natural disasters , armed conflict and other serious social and economic factors .
The Trump administration has argued for those from the four countries to lose the TPS designations as they were granted the status long ago and that the crises that required humanitarian assistance have concluded .
Monday 's decision overturns a lower court 's ruling in favor of the plaintiffs -- who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who argued that the Department of Homeland Security 's move to terminate the program was based on a novel interpretation of the TPS statues and that the action was motivated by racism against `` non-white and non-European immigrants . ''
The two Republican-appointed judges of the panel ruled Monday that the Department of Homeland Security 's move to end the program was unreviewable and that the plaintiffs failed to show racial discrimination was a motivating factor in the federal department 's actions .
`` While the district court 's findings that President Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' immigrants , and that the White House influenced the TPS termination decision , were supported by record evidence , the district court cited no evidence linking the President 's animus to the TPS terminations , '' the ruling said .
President Donald Trump has made disparaging comments against the countries in question and the court said its ruling does not condone those `` offensive remarks '' but that they were made by the president not in specific reference to the TPS program .
`` Without evidence that the President 's statements played @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the statements alone do not demonstrate that the President 's purported racial animus was a motivating factor for the TPS terminations , '' the ruling said .
U.S .
Circuit Judge Morgan Christen , who was appointed by President Barack Obama , said the majority 's decision was `` deeply flawed '' while having `` monumental '' consequences for hundreds of thousands of immigrants .
`` The irreparable harm faced by plaintiffs ... could hardly be more compelling , '' she wrote in her dissent .
`` The court recognized that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it would suffer any concrete harm if TPS holders are allowed to remain in the United States pending resolution of this litigation because they have been lawfully present in the United States for many years . ''
`` The district court did not abuse its discretion when it granted preliminary injunctive relief to preserve the status quo , '' she concluded .
The decision will not go into effect for at least several months , as the Trump administration has said it will maintain TPS status until March 5 , 2021 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Haiti and until Nov. 5 , 2021 , for those status holders from El Salvador .
The Federation for American Immigration Reform cheered the decision as `` a victory for the American people and an unmistakable rebuke to activist judges . ''
`` This ruling represents a win for the idea that the American people should be able to provide needed and appropriate temporary humanitarian relief , with the full expectation that their generosity will not be taken advantage of when the emergency is over , '' Dan Stein , the president of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ However , activists and advocacy groups said they will keep fighting .
The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Southern California said it was `` disappointed '' by the decision but that there is still time before the program is dead .
`` The president 's vile statements about TPS holders made perfectly clear that his administration acted out of racial animus , '' Ahilan Arulanantham , senior counsel of the ACLU Foundation of Southern California , said in a statement .
`` The Constitution does not permit policy to be driven by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the court 's decision . ''
The National TPS Alliance also vowed to continue to fight to keep the program going .
`` We will continue to fight in the court system , in the streets , in the halls of Congress and in the court of opinion , '' National TPS Alliance Organizer William Martinez said .
`` We will exhaust every legal recourse at our disposal to protect our community and our loved ones . ''

A man participates in a National Temporary Protected Status Alliance press conference outside of the U.S. Capitol on June 24. Photo by Sarah Silbiger/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 15 (UPI) -- A divided appellate court ruled that the Trump administration can go forward with plans to terminate a humanitarian program that protects hundreds of thousands of immigrants living in the United States, clearing the way for their deportation. The three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit Appeals Court ruled 2-1 on Monday in favor of the Trump administration's plan to eliminate Temporary Protected Status designations for Sudan, Nicaragua, Haiti and El Salvador, opening up at least 300,000 immigrants and their families, many who have lived in the United States for decades, to be expelled from the country. Advertisement
The TPS program permits immigrants into the country under "extraordinary and temporary conditions," such as needing to flee their nations due to natural disasters, armed conflict and other serious social and economic factors.
The Trump administration has argued for those from the four countries to lose the TPS designations as they were granted the status long ago and that the crises that required humanitarian assistance have concluded.
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Monday's decision overturns a lower court's ruling in favor of the plaintiffs -- who are the beneficiaries of the TPS program -- who argued that the Department of Homeland Security's move to terminate the program was based on a novel interpretation of the TPS statues and that the action was motivated by racism against "non-white and non-European immigrants."
The two Republican-appointed judges of the panel ruled Monday that the Department of Homeland Security's move to end the program was unreviewable and that the plaintiffs failed to show racial discrimination was a motivating factor in the federal department's actions.
"While the district court's findings that President Trump expressed racial animus against 'non-white, non-European' immigrants, and that the White House influenced the TPS termination decision, were supported by record evidence, the district court cited no evidence linking the President's animus to the TPS terminations," the ruling said.
President Donald Trump has made disparaging comments against the countries in question and the court said its ruling does not condone those "offensive remarks" but that they were made by the president not in specific reference to the TPS program.
"Without evidence that the President's statements played any role in the TPS decision-making process, the statements alone do not demonstrate that the President's purported racial animus was a motivating factor for the TPS terminations," the ruling said.
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U.S. Circuit Judge Morgan Christen, who was appointed by President Barack Obama, said the majority's decision was "deeply flawed" while having "monumental" consequences for hundreds of thousands of immigrants.
"The irreparable harm faced by plaintiffs ... could hardly be more compelling," she wrote in her dissent. "The court recognized that the government could not in good faith argue that it would suffer any concrete harm if TPS holders are allowed to remain in the United States pending resolution of this litigation because they have been lawfully present in the United States for many years."
"The district court did not abuse its discretion when it granted preliminary injunctive relief to preserve the status quo," she concluded.
The decision will not go into effect for at least several months, as the Trump administration has said it will maintain TPS status until March 5, 2021, for those from Sudan, Nicaragua and Haiti and until Nov. 5, 2021, for those status holders from El Salvador.
The Federation for American Immigration Reform cheered the decision as "a victory for the American people and an unmistakable rebuke to activist judges."
"This ruling represents a win for the idea that the American people should be able to provide needed and appropriate temporary humanitarian relief, with the full expectation that their generosity will not be taken advantage of when the emergency is over," Dan Stein, the president of FAIR, said in a statement.
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However, activists and advocacy groups said they will keep fighting.
The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Southern California said it was "disappointed" by the decision but that there is still time before the program is dead.
"The president's vile statements about TPS holders made perfectly clear that his administration acted out of racial animus," Ahilan Arulanantham, senior counsel of the ACLU Foundation of Southern California, said in a statement. "The Constitution does not permit policy to be driven by racism. We will seek further review of the court's decision."
The National TPS Alliance also vowed to continue to fight to keep the program going.
"We will continue to fight in the court system, in the streets, in the halls of Congress and in the court of opinion," National TPS Alliance Organizer William Martinez said. "We will exhaust every legal recourse at our disposal to protect our community and our loved ones."


upi--2020-09-15--Tropical Storm Vicky forms off Africa; expected to be 'short-lived'

Sept. 14 ( UPI ) -- Tropical Storm Vicky in the Atlantic Ocean has grown stronger than expected , forecasters said early Tuesday while maintaining that the system is to weaken over the next few days .
In a 2 a.m. CVT advisory , the National Hurricane Center said Vicky was located 455 miles west-northwest of the Cabo Verde Islands .
It had maximum sustained winds of 50 mph and was moving northwest at 7 mph .
Vicky , which had previously been known as tropical depression 21 , is the 20th tropical storm of the 2020 season and set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ V '' named storm .
It was formed off the western coastline of Africa and strengthened into a tropical storm on Monday .
The NHC said it expects Vicky to dissipate by mid-week .
`` Weakening is forecast due to strong upper-level winds during the next 48 hours , and Vicky is likely to degenerate into remnant low by Wednesday , '' it said .
The NHC has said it expects Vicky to be `` short-lived . ''
Vicky is not expected to affect land .
The storm joins several others that are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sally and Teddy , Hurricane Paulette and Tropical Depression Rene .
There are also two other disturbances , one near the African coast and one in the Gulf of Mexico .

Vicky, downgraded to a remnant low, swirls to the east of the larger and well-defined Hurricane Teddy on Thursday evening. Photo courtesy of NOAA
Sept. 17 (UPI) -- Vicky weakened to a remnant low as it swirled over the Central Atlantic on Thursday. The National Hurricane Center said in its 5 p.m. AST advisory that Vicky was 1,050 miles west-northwest of the Cabo Verde Islands and had maximum sustained winds of 30 mph. It was moving west-northwest at 12 mph. Advertisement
The NHC said when Vicky formed as a tropical Monday that the storm would be "short-lived." It is not expected to impact land anywhere.
"Additional weakening is expected, and the remnant low is forecast to dissipate Friday night or early Saturday.," the NHC said in its outlook Thursday.
Vicky was the 20th tropical storm of the 2020 season and set a new early record for a "V" named storm.
VIcky was part of an extremely active Atlantic basin early this week, which also included storms Paulette, Rene, Sally and Teddy. Sally made landfall early Wednesday in Alabama, Mississippi and the Florida Panhandle.