upi--2020-12-22--WWE announces Raw Legends Night with Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair

Dec. 22 ( UPI ) -- WWE has announced a special Legends Night edition of Raw featuring appearances by Hall @ @ @ @ @ Ric Flair on Jan. 4 .
Hogan and Flair will be joined by fellow professional @ @ @ @ @ Famers on the special episode , which will air at 8 p.m. EST on the @ @ @ @ @ will mark the first Raw of 2021 .
WWE will honor the biggest stars of @ @ @ @ @ show .
Kurt Angle , Big Show , Mark Henry , Beth Phoenix , Carlito @ @ @ @ @ were also advertised for Legends Night during this past Monday 's broadcast of Raw .
@ @ @ @ @ of legends including Stone Cold Steve Austin in July 2019 for a special episode of @ @ @ @ @ Reunion .
WWE held it 's TLC : Tables , Ladders and Chairs pay-per-view event @ @ @ @ @ set The Fiend Bray Wyatt on fire , Roman Reigns retained his Universal Championship against @ @ @ @ @ a double champion .

Get ready to ring in 2021 with one legendary night.  https://t.co/rh1mO3upF9— WWE (@WWE) December 22, 2020
Dec. 22 (UPI) -- WWE has announced a special Legends Night edition of Raw featuring appearances by Hall of Famers Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair on Jan. 4.
Hogan and Flair will be joined by fellow professional wrestling legends and Hall of Famers on the special episode, which will air at 8 p.m. EST on the USA Network.
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The episode will mark the first Raw of 2021. WWE will honor the biggest stars of yesteryear once again during the show.
Kurt Angle, Big Show, Mark Henry, Beth Phoenix, Carlito, Torrie Wilson and more were also advertised for Legends Night during this past Monday's broadcast of Raw.
WWE last invited a group of legends including Stone Cold Steve Austin in July 2019 for a special episode of Raw that was titled Raw Reunion.
WWE held it's TLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs pay-per-view event on Sunday where Randy Orton set The Fiend Bray Wyatt on fire, Roman Reigns retained his Universal Championship against Kevin Owens and Asuka became a double champion.


upi--2020-12-22--College Football Playoff willing to delay semis, championship due to COVID-19

Dec. 22 ( UPI ) -- The College Football Playoff is willing to delay bowl games -- including semifinal and championship contests -- if teams are unable to play due to issues caused by COVID-19 , executive director Bill Hancock confirmed to UPI on Tuesday .
Hancock first told ESPN on Monday night of the College Football Playoff committee 's willingness to delay the games due to the pandemic , which already has caused 16 bowl game cancellations and nearly two dozen teams opting out of the postseason .
`` We are planning to play the games when they 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We 've said all along that we will be ready for any circumstance , and we will .
`` But if one or both teams are not available and have to postpone a bowl game or the championship game , we will do it . ''
The Dec. 30 Cotton Bowl , Jan. 1 Peach Bowl , Jan. 2 Fiesta Bowl , in addition to two Jan. 1 semifinal games and the Jan. 11 title game , are among games that could be impacted by postponements .
The committees ' potential postponements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the majority of the New Year 's Six bowl games .
Hancock did not yet include the Jan. 2 Orange Bowl among the group of New Year 's Six bowl games that could be postponed .
The first College Football Playoff Semifinal matchup features No .
1 Alabama vs. No .
4 Notre Dame in the Rose Bowl Game at 4 p.m. EST Jan. 1 at AT & T Stadium in Arlington , Texas .
That game initially had been scheduled to be held on the same day at Rose Bowl Stadium @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was moved Saturday to Texas so that families and guests will be allowed to attend .
The other College Football Playoff Semifinal matchup features No .
2 Clemson vs. No .
3 Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl at 8 p.m. EST on Jan. 1 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans .
The 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship game is scheduled for 8 p.m. EST Jan. 11 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens , Fla .

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The College Football Playoff Semifinal matchup between Clemson and Ohio State planned for Jan. 1 is among the New Year's Six games that could be postponed if one or both teams can't participate due to COVID-19 issues. File Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 22 (UPI) -- The College Football Playoff is willing to delay bowl games -- including semifinal and championship contests -- if teams are unable to play due to issues caused by COVID-19, executive director Bill Hancock confirmed to UPI on Tuesday. Hancock first told ESPN on Monday night of the College Football Playoff committee's willingness to delay the games due to the pandemic, which already has caused 16 bowl game cancellations and nearly two dozen teams opting out of the postseason. Advertisement
"We are planning to play the games when they're scheduled," Hancock told ESPN. "We've said all along that we will be ready for any circumstance, and we will.
"But if one or both teams are not available and have to postpone a bowl game or the championship game, we will do it."
The Dec. 30 Cotton Bowl, Jan. 1 Peach Bowl, Jan. 2 Fiesta Bowl, in addition to two Jan. 1 semifinal games and the Jan. 11 title game, are among games that could be impacted by postponements.
The committees' potential postponements only include the national semifinals, championship and the majority of the New Year's Six bowl games. Hancock did not yet include the Jan. 2 Orange Bowl among the group of New Year's Six bowl games that could be postponed.
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The first College Football Playoff Semifinal matchup features No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 Notre Dame in the Rose Bowl Game at 4 p.m. EST Jan. 1 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
That game initially had been scheduled to be held on the same day at Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif., but it was moved Saturday to Texas so that families and guests will be allowed to attend.
The other College Football Playoff Semifinal matchup features No. 2 Clemson vs. No. 3 Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl at 8 p.m. EST on Jan. 1 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.
The 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship game is scheduled for 8 p.m. EST Jan. 11 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.


upi--2020-12-22--President Donald Trump expected to sign COVID-19 relief package, funding bill Tuesday

Dec. 22 ( UPI ) -- President Donald Trump has signed a seven-day stopgap spending bill to prevent a government shutdown through Christmas , as Congress approved a $ 900 billion pandemic relief package he will sign on Tuesday .
Trump signed the stopgap on Monday night , which will ensure that government departments and agencies will stay open until the he can sign the $ 1.4 trillion omnibus spending bill and the attached COVID-19 relief package , which passed both houses of Congress late Monday .
The stopgap keeps the government funded through Dec. 28 .
Trump is expected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday , which includes aid for small businesses , enhanced unemployment payments and another round of direct stimulus payments to most Americans .
The White House said Trump will sign the bills when they reach his desk .
Monday night was the third time Trump had to sign a temporary stopgap measure to prevent a federal shutdown .
He signed a one-day measure on Sunday to cover Monday .
Federal funding from the last spending bill ran out on Friday .
Despite Congress signing the larger package Monday , the stopgap measure was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's signing the spending bill , which at nearly 5,600 pages is one of the largest pieces of legislation ever passed .
The computer digital files with the cumbersome bill was also slowed because of a computer glitch that slowed the process further on Monday .
The new omnibus spending bill will keep the federal government operating until at least October .
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Monday that the first stimulus payments , in the amount of $ 600 per person and $ 600 for dependents , should begin arriving in accounts @ @ @

Congress sent Trump the coronavirus relief bill after passing it late Monday, and the president was initially expected to sign it on Tuesday. Now it's possible it might undergo some changes after Trump criticized the measure late Tuesday. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 22 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump denounced Congress' $900 billion COVID-19 relief package on Tuesday night and asked lawmakers to change various things about it, including the size of stimulus payments to Americans, and hinted that he might not sign it. In a video message, Trump said Congress should raise the $600 per-person payments to $2,000 and $4,000 per couple and dismissed the bill as overly long and filled with unnecessary and "wasteful" spending. Advertisement
"I am also asking Congress to immediately get rid of the wasteful and unnecessary items from this legislation and to send me a suitable bill," he said.
Trump blamed Democrats for holding up the bill, but House Speaker Nancy Pelosi quickly responded that Republicans "repeatedly refused" to say how much money Trump sought to provide to Americans through direct payments and agreed to the increased amount.
"At last the president has agreed to $2,000 -- Democrats are ready to bring this to the floor this week by unanimous consent. Let's do it!" Pelosi tweeted.
Trump was initially expected to sign the relief bill on Tuesday, and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has said the first stimulus payments should begin arriving in accounts next week.
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The relief bill also includes billions in aid for small businesses and enhanced unemployment payments of $300 per week.
Attached to the relief bill is a $1.4 trillion omnibus spending bill to keep the federal government operating until next October. Trump's criticisms for the coronavirus relief bill on Tuesday night, such as appropriations for foreign governments, seemed to be aimed at things that were actually in the spending measure.
Government funding ran out last Friday and Trump and lawmakers have signed multiple stopgap measures since then to prevent a federal shutdown. Trump signed another stopgap on Monday night to ensure that government will stay open until he can sign the new omnibus bill and the attached COVID-19 relief package, which passed both houses of Congress late Monday.
The stopgap will keep the government funded through next Monday.
The computer digital files with the cumbersome bill was also slowed because of a computer glitch that slowed the process further on Monday.


upi--2020-12-22--In photos: Notable deaths of 2020

In photos: Notable deaths of 2020

Green Bay Packers coach Kevin Greene ( L ) cheers after the second interception and touchdown run in San Diego @ @ @ @ @ 6 , 2011 .
Greene , a Hall of Fame linebacker who is considered one @ @ @ @ @ NFL history , died on Tuesday at the age of 58 .
Photo by Jayne @

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


upi--2020-12-22--Plane used by Kim Jong Un seen leaving Pyongyang

Dec. 22 ( UPI ) -- An online aviation tracker is reporting an aircraft previously used by Kim Jong Un was seen traveling from Pyongyang to the eastern coast of North Korea .
No Callsign , a South Korea-based tracker , tweeted the movement of the plane , an Antonov An-148 , on Tuesday .
The tracker publishes images of real-time aircraft movements .
The Air Koryo aircraft , flight JS671 , left the North Korean capital at 10:05 a.m. and flew toward an unidentifiable location on the country 's eastern coast , according to South Korean news service News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has previously used the An-148 , with a maximum range of 1,300 to 2,700 miles , during field guidance visits .
In June , the same plane was spotted flying in the direction of the city of Hamhung on the eastern coast .
Data was unavailable for the plane 's location in eastern North Korea .
According to News 1 , the plane may have been flying toward Wonsan-Kalma Airfield , which is adjacent to a major resort town under construction .
Movements of North Korean planes and trains reserved exclusively for Kim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the leader 's health , and whether Kim was isolating during the coronavirus pandemic .
Kim 's 20-day absence in April triggered health rumors in the South , following unconfirmed reports he was in critical condition after receiving heart surgery .
There is no evidence Kim was on the Antonov An-148 on Monday , ahead of Pyongyang 's Eighth Party Congress in January .
Kim 's family members , including first lady Ri Sol Ju , may have been on the plane either with or without her husband , according to News 1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ productivity campaign to fulfill national goals in all sectors ahead of the January meeting .
Kim has pledged to develop North Korea 's economy , but has also declined assistance from the South .

An Antonov An-148 aircraft was seen leaving Pyongyang on Tuesday morning. The plane was previously used by Kim Jong Un during field guidance visits. File Photo by KCNA/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 22 (UPI) -- An online aviation tracker is reporting an aircraft previously used by Kim Jong Un was seen traveling from Pyongyang to the eastern coast of North Korea. No Callsign, a South Korea-based tracker, tweeted the movement of the plane, an Antonov An-148, on Tuesday. Advertisement
The tracker publishes images of real-time aircraft movements. The Air Koryo aircraft, flight JS671, left the North Korean capital at 10:05 a.m. and flew toward an unidentifiable location on the country's eastern coast, according to South Korean news service News 1 and Hankyoreh on Tuesday.
Kim has previously used the An-148, with a maximum range of 1,300 to 2,700 miles, during field guidance visits. In June, the same plane was spotted flying in the direction of the city of Hamhung on the eastern coast.
Data was unavailable for the plane's location in eastern North Korea. According to News 1, the plane may have been flying toward Wonsan-Kalma Airfield, which is adjacent to a major resort town under construction.
Movements of North Korean planes and trains reserved exclusively for Kim's use have previously raised speculation regarding the leader's health, and whether Kim was isolating during the coronavirus pandemic.
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Kim's 20-day absence in April triggered health rumors in the South, following unconfirmed reports he was in critical condition after receiving heart surgery.
There is no evidence Kim was on the Antonov An-148 on Monday, ahead of Pyongyang's Eighth Party Congress in January. Kim's family members, including first lady Ri Sol Ju, may have been on the plane either with or without her husband, according to News 1.
North Korea is waging an 80-day productivity campaign to fulfill national goals in all sectors ahead of the January meeting. Kim has pledged to develop North Korea's economy, but has also declined assistance from the South.


upi--2020-12-22--Federal judge in Texas to hear lawsuit seeking to dismantle DACA

Dec. 22 ( UPI ) -- A federal judge will hear arguments Tuesday about the legality of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program in what 's viewed as a serious challenge to the Obama-era law that protects nearly a million undocumented immigrants from deportation .
Judge Andrew Hanen of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas will hear arguments in a case led by the state of Texas weeks before President-elect Joe Biden , who has pledged to defend the program , is set to take office .
The program protects more than 650,000 undocumented immigrants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as children , known as Dreamers , as well as another 300,000 potential new applicants .
The suit brought by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and attorneys general from other Republican states challenges whether President Barack Obama had the authority to create DACA in 2012 and whether his administration properly implemented it .
Paxton , who has been under federal indictment since 2015 on felony securities fraud charges , recently failed in a bid to ask the Supreme Court to overturn the results of the presidential election that Trump lost .
The suit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of legal standing and for being replete with various clerical errors .
The high court unanimously rejected the effort .
`` If the nation truly wants to have a DACA program , it is up to Congress to say so , '' the lawsuit states .
`` Congress has not yet said so , so DACA remains just as unlawful today as it was when it was created through the 2012 DACA memorandum . ''
The attorneys general who are party to the suit are not asking Hanen to immediately terminate the DACA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to either bar new applicants or delay its termination for two years .
The suit is considered the most significant threat yet to the program , particularly as Hanen in the past has said DACA is probably illegal .
In 2015 , the judge blocked Obama 's bid to expand DACA eligibility and create a new program known as Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents -- and in 2018 he ruled in a 117-page opinion that opponents had `` clearly shown '' they were likely to prevail in their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be blocked .
Nina Perales , an attorney for the Mexican American Legal Defense representing DACA recipients , counters that states do not have legal standing to challenge DACA and have so far failed to demonstrate that they are harmed by the program .
`` This case is important because Texas and several other states want a judge to declare that DACA is unlawful and to block DACA into the next presidential administration , '' she told CBS News .
DACA has so far survived multiple legal challenges in the past few years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which U.S. District Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis ordered the Department of Homeland Security to explicitly state that it would again process applications for potential first-time DACA enrollees , after a memo from DHS Secretary Chad Wolf blocking applications was declared invalid .
Part of the issue was a determination that Wolf was not legally serving in his role as Homeland Security secretary when he wrote the memo .
The department said days later that it had reinstated DACA protections .
A ruling against DACA on Tuesday could be appealed in the 5th Circuit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Biden administration to create similar legislation that may better withstand legal challenges .
`` In a different way , it could bring about what needs to happen anyway , '' said Leon Rodriguez , former director of U.S .
Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Obama administration , `` which is that Congress and the executive branch in partnership need to take responsibility for the issue of Dreamers . ''

Immigration rights supporters protest the Trump administration's efforts to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, near the White House in Washington, D.C., on September 5, 2017. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 22 (UPI) -- A federal judge will hear arguments Tuesday about the legality of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program in what's viewed as a serious challenge to the Obama-era law that protects nearly a million undocumented immigrants from deportation. Judge Andrew Hanen of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas will hear arguments in a case led by the state of Texas weeks before President-elect Joe Biden, who has pledged to defend the program, is set to take office. Advertisement
The program protects more than 650,000 undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children, known as Dreamers, as well as another 300,000 potential new applicants.
The suit brought by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and attorneys general from other Republican states challenges whether President Barack Obama had the authority to create DACA in 2012 and whether his administration properly implemented it.
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Paxton, who has been under federal indictment since 2015 on felony securities fraud charges, recently failed in a bid to ask the Supreme Court to overturn the results of the presidential election that Trump lost. The suit was widely denounced as having a lack of legal standing and for being replete with various clerical errors. The high court unanimously rejected the effort.
"If the nation truly wants to have a DACA program, it is up to Congress to say so," the lawsuit states. "Congress has not yet said so, so DACA remains just as unlawful today as it was when it was created through the 2012 DACA memorandum."
The attorneys general who are party to the suit are not asking Hanen to immediately terminate the DACA program, but rather they want him to either bar new applicants or delay its termination for two years.
The suit is considered the most significant threat yet to the program, particularly as Hanen in the past has said DACA is probably illegal.
In 2015, the judge blocked Obama's bid to expand DACA eligibility and create a new program known as Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents -- and in 2018 he ruled in a 117-page opinion that opponents had "clearly shown" they were likely to prevail in their argument that DACA is unlawful and should be blocked.
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Nina Perales, an attorney for the Mexican American Legal Defense representing DACA recipients, counters that states do not have legal standing to challenge DACA and have so far failed to demonstrate that they are harmed by the program.
"This case is important because Texas and several other states want a judge to declare that DACA is unlawful and to block DACA into the next presidential administration," she told CBS News.
DACA has so far survived multiple legal challenges in the past few years, including one earlier this month in which U.S. District Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis ordered the Department of Homeland Security to explicitly state that it would again process applications for potential first-time DACA enrollees, after a memo from DHS Secretary Chad Wolf blocking applications was declared invalid.
Part of the issue was a determination that Wolf was not legally serving in his role as Homeland Security secretary when he wrote the memo. The department said days later that it had reinstated DACA protections.
A ruling against DACA on Tuesday could be appealed in the 5th Circuit Court or could lead to Congress or the Biden administration to create similar legislation that may better withstand legal challenges.
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"In a different way, it could bring about what needs to happen anyway," said Leon Rodriguez, former director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Obama administration, "which is that Congress and the executive branch in partnership need to take responsibility for the issue of Dreamers."


upi--2020-12-22--Reports: John Mulaney checks into rehab

Reports: John Mulaney checks into rehab

Dec. 22 ( UPI ) -- Comedian John Mulaney has checked into rehab , according to multiple reports .
Page Six reported the news on Monday that Mulaney has entered rehab for 60 days for alcohol and cocaine addiction .
A representative for the 38-year-old declined to comment .
People magazine confirmed the report , noting that Mulaney relapsed following years of battling addiction .
Vulture also confirmed that Mulaney checked into a rehab facility located in Pennsylvania .
Mulaney is best known for his stand-up comedy specials including 2012 's New in Town , 2015 's The Comeback Kid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has hosted Saturday Night Live four times with his last appearance coming on Halloween .
Mulaney voices Andrew Glouberman on Netflix 's Big Mouth , which recently released its fourth season .
Mulaney took up a job as a staff writer on Late Night with Seth Meyers in November and often appears on the talk show .
Mulaney has been open about his struggles with addiction and sobriety , telling Esquire in 2019 that he started drinking at the age of 13 .
`` I drank for attention .
I was really outgoing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was n't .
I did n't know how to act .
And then I was drinking , and I was hilarious again , '' Mulaney told Esquire .

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John Mulaney has entered into rehab, according to reports. File Photo by Christine Chew/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 22 (UPI) -- Comedian John Mulaney has checked into rehab, according to multiple reports. Page Six reported the news on Monday that Mulaney has entered rehab for 60 days for alcohol and cocaine addiction. Advertisement
A representative for the 38-year-old declined to comment.
People magazine confirmed the report, noting that Mulaney relapsed following years of battling addiction.
Vulture also confirmed that Mulaney checked into a rehab facility located in Pennsylvania.
Mulaney is best known for his stand-up comedy specials including 2012's New in Town, 2015's The Comeback Kid and 2018's Kid Gorgeous. He has hosted Saturday Night Live four times with his last appearance coming on Halloween.
Mulaney voices Andrew Glouberman on Netflix's Big Mouth, which recently released its fourth season. Mulaney took up a job as a staff writer on Late Night with Seth Meyers in November and often appears on the talk show.
Mulaney has been open about his struggles with addiction and sobriety, telling Esquire in 2019 that he started drinking at the age of 13.
"I drank for attention. I was really outgoing, and then at 12, I wasn't. I didn't know how to act. And then I was drinking, and I was hilarious again," Mulaney told Esquire.


upi--2020-12-22--Rams RB Cam Akers out vs. Seahawks after ankle sprain

Dec. 22 ( UPI ) -- Cam Akers will not play on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks after the rookie running back sustained a high-ankle sprain in Week 15 , Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay said .
Akers sustained the left ankle injury early in the second quarter of the Rams ' loss to the New York Jets on Sunday in Inglewood , Calif .
He later returned to the game after he had the ankle taped .
`` He is a war daddy , but he 's going to be out for at least the next week or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday .
`` He 's a tough kid , man , the way he battled through , but he does have a high-ankle sprain , which is usually a couple weeks . ''
Akers had 15 carries for 63 yards in Sunday 's loss .
The second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft had a season-high 171 yards on 29 carries in the Rams ' Dec. 10 win over the New England Patriots .
He scored touchdowns in three consecutive games before his stellar performance against the Patriots .
The Rams face the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Lumen Field in Seattle .
They then host the Arizona Cardinals in their final game of the regular season at 4:25 p.m. EST on Jan. 3 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood .

Los Angeles Rams running back Cam Akers sprained his ankle in Week 15 and will not play in Week 16. File Photo by Jon SooHoo/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 22 (UPI) -- Cam Akers will not play on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks after the rookie running back sustained a high-ankle sprain in Week 15, Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay said. Akers sustained the left ankle injury early in the second quarter of the Rams' loss to the New York Jets on Sunday in Inglewood, Calif. He later returned to the game after he had the ankle taped. Advertisement
"He is a war daddy, but he's going to be out for at least the next week or so," McVay told reporters on Monday. "He's a tough kid, man, the way he battled through, but he does have a high-ankle sprain, which is usually a couple weeks."
Akers had 15 carries for 63 yards in Sunday's loss. The second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft had a season-high 171 yards on 29 carries in the Rams' Dec. 10 win over the New England Patriots. He scored touchdowns in three consecutive games before his stellar performance against the Patriots.
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The Rams face the Seahawks at 4:25 p.m. EST on Sunday at Lumen Field in Seattle. They then host the Arizona Cardinals in their final game of the regular season at 4:25 p.m. EST on Jan. 3 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.
This week in the National Football League


upi--2020-12-22--Pictures of the Year: top U.S. news images for 2020

Pictures of the Year : top U.S. news images for 2020 It was a historic news year for the United @ @ @ @ @ causing global upheaval , a social justice movement gaining momentum after more killings of Black @ @ @ @ @ police , a deadly slate of wildfires and hurricanes and a presidential election that sowed @ @ @ @ @ Here 's how UPI 's photographers captured it all in pictures .

The casket containing the remains of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died on September 18 at age 87, is carried into the Supreme Court to lie in repose in Washington, D.C., on September 23. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI


upi--2020-12-22--Miami Heat stop trade pursuit of Houston Rockets' James Harden

Dec. 22 ( UPI ) -- The Miami Heat 's quest to acquire Houston Rockets star James Harden has screeched @ @ @ @ @ the start of the 2020-21 NBA season .
Sources told the Miami Herald , South @ @ @ @ @ on Monday that the Heat are no longer engaging with the Rockets in trade talks @ @ @ @ @ .
Harden has been linked to the Heat , Milwaukee Bucks , Brooklyn Nets , @ @ @ @ @ this off-season after he requested a trade from the Rockets .
He now appears unlikely @ @ @ @ @ start of the NBA season on Tuesday .
Harden was asked Monday if his feelings @ @ @ @ @ request , but the Rockets star declined to respond to the question .
The Rockets @ @ @ @ @ game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday in Houston .
Harden , 31 , @ @ @ @ @ per game ( 34.3 ) for a third-consecutive season in 2019-20 .
He is under @ @ @ @ @ has a player option in 2022-23 .

The Miami Heat are no longer in pursuit of James Harden, who requested a trade from the Houston Rockets earlier this off-season. File Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 22 (UPI) -- The Miami Heat's quest to acquire Houston Rockets star James Harden has screeched to a halt just before the start of the 2020-21 NBA season. Sources told the Miami Herald, South Florida Sun Sentinel and ESPN on Monday that the Heat are no longer engaging with the Rockets in trade talks for the 2017-18 NBA MVP. Advertisement
Harden has been linked to the Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers and Denver Nuggets this off-season after he requested a trade from the Rockets. He now appears unlikely to be traded before the start of the NBA season on Tuesday.
Harden was asked Monday if his feelings have changed regarding the trade request, but the Rockets star declined to respond to the question.
The Rockets start their campaign with a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday in Houston.
Harden, 31, led the NBA in points per game (34.3) for a third-consecutive season in 2019-20. He is under contract through 2021-22, but has a player option in 2022-23.


upi--2020-12-22--Secular 'values voters' are becoming an electoral force

Dec. 22 ( UPI ) -- The voting patterns of religious groups in the United States have been scrutinized since the presidential election for evidence of shifting allegiances among the faithful .
Many have wondered if a boost in Catholic support was behind Joe Biden 's win or if a dip in support among evangelicals helped doom President Donald Trump .
But much less attention has been paid to one of the largest growing demographics among the U.S. electorate , one that has increased from around 5 % of Americans to over 23 % in the last 50 years : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nonreligious .
I am a scholar of secularism in the United States , and my focus is on the social and cultural presence of secular people -- nonreligious people such as atheists , agnostics , humanists , freethinkers and those who simply do n't identify with any religion .
They are an increasingly significant presence in American society , one which inevitably spills into the political arena .
In this last election , the emerging influence of secular voters was felt not only at the presidential level , but also on many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and pundits have referred to the political impact of `` values voters '' in America .
What that designation generally refers to are religious men and women whose scripturally based values coagulate around issues such as opposing marriage equality and women 's reproductive autonomy .
But dubbing such religious voters as `` values voters '' is a real semantic bamboozle .
While it is true that many religious Americans maintain certain values that motivate their voting behavior , it is also very much the case that secular Americans also maintain their own strongly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote on these values with just as much motivation as the religious .
This played out in November in a number of ballot initiatives that have flown under the national media radar .
Voters in Washington state , for example , passed Referendum 90 , which requires that students receive sex education in all public schools .
This was the first time that such a measure was ever on a state ballot , and it passed with ease -- thanks , in part , to the significant number of nonreligious voters in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington is one of the least religious states in the union .
Well over a third of all Washingtonians do not affiliate with any religion , more than a third never pray and almost 40 % never attend religious services .
The referendum 's passing was helped by the fact that nonreligious adults tend to value comprehensive sex education .
Numerous studies have found that secular Americans are significantly more likely to support comprehensive sex education in school .
In his research , sociologist Mark Regnerus found that secular parents were generally much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have open and frank conversations with their children about safe sex than religious parents .
Meanwhile , voters in Oregon -- another Pacific Northwestern state that contains one of the most secular populations in the country -- passed Measure 110 , the first ever statewide law to decriminalize the possession and personal use of drugs .
This aligns with research showing that nonreligious Americans are much more likely to support the decriminalization of drugs than their religious peers .
For instance , a 2016 study from Christian polling firm Barna found that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drugs should be illegal as did 43 % of other Christians , but only 17 % of Americans with no religious faith held such a view .
Secular people are generally more trusting of scientific empiricism , and various studies have shown that the nonreligious are more likely to accept the evidence behind human-generated climate change .
This translates to support for politicians and policies that take climate change seriously .
It may also have factored in to the success of a November ballot measure in Denver to fund programs that eliminate greenhouse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adapt to climate change .
The ballot passed with over 62 % of the vote -- and it is of note that Denver is one of the most secular cities in the nation .
Meanwhile , voters in California -- another area of relative secularity -- passed Proposition 14 supporting the funding of stem cell research , the state being one of only a handful that has a publicly funded program .
Pew studies have repeatedly found that secular Americans are far more likely than religious Americans to support stem cell research .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ held some sway in recent years , there is evidence of a counterbalance among secular `` value voters . ''
For example , while the religious have been more likely to oppose same-sex marriage , secular Americans are more likely to support it , and by significant margins .
A recent Pew study found that 79 % of secular Americans are supportive , compared to 66 % of white mainline Protestants , 61 % of Catholics , 44 % of Black Protestants and 29 % of white evangelicals .
There are many additional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For example , the U.S. Secular Survey of 2020 -- the largest survey of nonreligious Americans ever conducted , with nearly 34,000 participants -- found strong support for safeguarding the separation of church and state .
Other studies have found that secular Americans strongly support women 's reproductive rights , women working in the paid labor force , the DACA program , death with dignity and opposition to the death penalty .
According to Eastern Illinois University professor Ryan Burge 's data analysis , around 80 % of atheists and agnostics and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ religion as `` nothing in particular '' voted for Biden .
This may have been decisive .
As Burge argues , `` it 's completely fair to say that these shifts generated a 2 percentage-point swing for Biden nationwide .
There were five states where the gap between the candidates was less than 2 percentage points ( Georgia , Arizona , Wisconsin , Pennsylvania and North Carolina ) .
Four of those five went for the Biden -- and the nones were between 28 % and 37 % of the population in those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election has shown , secular values are not only alive and well , but they are more pronounced than ever .
It is also noteworthy that more openly nonreligious candidates were elected to public office than ever before .
According to an analysis by the atheist author and activist Hemant Mehta , not only did every member of the secular Congressional Freethought Caucus win re-election , but 10 state senators who are openly secular -- that is , they have made it publicly known that they are nonreligious -- were voted into office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There is now an all-time high of 45 openly secular state representatives nationwide , according to Mehta 's analysis .
Every one of them is a Democrat .
Religious voters will certainly continue to vote their values -- and for politicians that express similar views .
But so , I argue , will secular voters .
Phil Zuckerman is a professor of sociology and secular studies at Pitzer College .
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license .
Read the original article .

A Board of Elections volunteer assists a man as he casts his votes on the first day of early voting in Medina, Ohio on October 6. File Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 22 (UPI) -- The voting patterns of religious groups in the United States have been scrutinized since the presidential election for evidence of shifting allegiances among the faithful. Many have wondered if a boost in Catholic support was behind Joe Biden's win or if a dip in support among evangelicals helped doom President Donald Trump. But much less attention has been paid to one of the largest growing demographics among the U.S. electorate, one that has increased from around 5% of Americans to over 23% in the last 50 years: "Nones" -- that is, the nonreligious. Advertisement
I am a scholar of secularism in the United States, and my focus is on the social and cultural presence of secular people -- nonreligious people such as atheists, agnostics, humanists, freethinkers and those who simply don't identify with any religion. They are an increasingly significant presence in American society, one which inevitably spills into the political arena.
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In this last election, the emerging influence of secular voters was felt not only at the presidential level, but also on many down-ballot issues.
New 'values voters'
For years, scholars and pundits have referred to the political impact of "values voters" in America. What that designation generally refers to are religious men and women whose scripturally based values coagulate around issues such as opposing marriage equality and women's reproductive autonomy.
But dubbing such religious voters as "values voters" is a real semantic bamboozle. While it is true that many religious Americans maintain certain values that motivate their voting behavior, it is also very much the case that secular Americans also maintain their own strongly held values. My research suggests they vote on these values with just as much motivation as the religious.
Sex education
This played out in November in a number of ballot initiatives that have flown under the national media radar.
Voters in Washington state, for example, passed Referendum 90, which requires that students receive sex education in all public schools. This was the first time that such a measure was ever on a state ballot, and it passed with ease -- thanks, in part, to the significant number of nonreligious voters in the Pacific Northwest.
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The fact is, Washington is one of the least religious states in the union. Well over a third of all Washingtonians do not affiliate with any religion, more than a third never pray and almost 40% never attend religious services.
The referendum's passing was helped by the fact that nonreligious adults tend to value comprehensive sex education. Numerous studies have found that secular Americans are significantly more likely to support comprehensive sex education in school. In his research, sociologist Mark Regnerus found that secular parents were generally much more comfortable -- and more likely -- to have open and frank conversations with their children about safe sex than religious parents.
Drugs policy
Meanwhile, voters in Oregon -- another Pacific Northwestern state that contains one of the most secular populations in the country -- passed Measure 110, the first ever statewide law to decriminalize the possession and personal use of drugs.
This aligns with research showing that nonreligious Americans are much more likely to support the decriminalization of drugs than their religious peers. For instance, a 2016 study from Christian polling firm Barna found that 66% of evangelicals believe that all drugs should be illegal as did 43% of other Christians, but only 17% of Americans with no religious faith held such a view.
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Science at the ballot box
Secular people are generally more trusting of scientific empiricism, and various studies have shown that the nonreligious are more likely to accept the evidence behind human-generated climate change. This translates to support for politicians and policies that take climate change seriously.
It may also have factored in to the success of a November ballot measure in Denver to fund programs that eliminate greenhouse gases, fight air pollution and actively adapt to climate change. The ballot passed with over 62% of the vote -- and it is of note that Denver is one of the most secular cities in the nation.
Meanwhile, voters in California -- another area of relative secularity -- passed Proposition 14 supporting the funding of stem cell research, the state being one of only a handful that has a publicly funded program. Pew studies have repeatedly found that secular Americans are far more likely than religious Americans to support stem cell research.
Values versus values
On issues that the religious right has held some sway in recent years, there is evidence of a counterbalance among secular "value voters."
For example, while the religious have been more likely to oppose same-sex marriage, secular Americans are more likely to support it, and by significant margins. A recent Pew study found that 79% of secular Americans are supportive, compared to 66% of white mainline Protestants, 61% of Catholics, 44% of Black Protestants and 29% of white evangelicals.
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There are many additional values that are prominent among secular Americans. For example, the U.S. Secular Survey of 2020 -- the largest survey of nonreligious Americans ever conducted, with nearly 34,000 participants -- found strong support for safeguarding the separation of church and state.
Other studies have found that secular Americans strongly support women's reproductive rights, women working in the paid labor force, the DACA program, death with dignity and opposition to the death penalty.
Secular surge
According to Eastern Illinois University professor Ryan Burge's data analysis, around 80% of atheists and agnostics and 70% of those who described their religion as "nothing in particular" voted for Biden.
This may have been decisive. As Burge argues, "it's completely fair to say that these shifts generated a 2 percentage-point swing for Biden nationwide. There were five states where the gap between the candidates was less than 2 percentage points (Georgia, Arizona, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and North Carolina). Four of those five went for the Biden -- and the nones were between 28% and 37% of the population in those key states."
As this past election has shown, secular values are not only alive and well, but they are more pronounced than ever. It is also noteworthy that more openly nonreligious candidates were elected to public office than ever before. According to an analysis by the atheist author and activist Hemant Mehta, not only did every member of the secular Congressional Freethought Caucus win re-election, but 10 state senators who are openly secular -- that is, they have made it publicly known that they are nonreligious -- were voted into office, up from seven two years ago. There is now an all-time high of 45 openly secular state representatives nationwide, according to Mehta's analysis. Every one of them is a Democrat.
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Religious voters will certainly continue to vote their values -- and for politicians that express similar views. But so, I argue, will secular voters.
Phil Zuckerman is a professor of sociology and secular studies at Pitzer College.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.


upi--2020-12-22--Israel to hold another national election in March; 4th in 2 years

Dec. 22 ( UPI ) -- Israel will hold its fourth national election in two years this spring after lawmakers turned back a bill that aimed to prevent the legislative Knesset from dissolving and requiring a revote .
The country 's two ruling parties -- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 's Likud and Benny Gantz 's Blue and White -- narrowly had enough votes to dodge the bill that called for the Knesset 's dismissal , but three Blue and White members and one Likud lawmaker bucked party leaders and the bill failed 49-47 .
The vote means the Knesset will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is now open for new elections on March 23 .
The bill 's failure also showed persistent disagreements between Netanyahu and Gantz , who banded together in May to form a unity government but have long been at odds on key issues .
The first two elections in May and September of 2019 failed to produce a unity government and the third in May of this year narrowly led to an agreement between Netanyahu and Gantz .
Netanyahu had tried to convince Knesset lawmakers that another election would threaten Israel 's response to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is still facing a trial on bribery , fraud and breach of trust charges .
It is scheduled to begin in May .
Likud lawmaker Michal Shir said she would leave the party for the upstart New Hope Party after voting against the bill Monday .
New Hope was created this month by former Likud member Gideon Sa'ar to challenge Netanyahu 's long rule .
`` I am at peace with my decision to do the least I can to end this embarrassing show of a stuck and conflicted government which is holding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Shir tweeted .

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to Likud Party members at the Israeli Knesset in Jerusalem, Israel, on December 2. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/UPI/Pool | License Photo
Dec. 22 (UPI) -- Israel will hold its fourth national election in two years this spring after lawmakers turned back a bill that aimed to prevent the legislative Knesset from dissolving and requiring a revote. The country's two ruling parties -- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud and Benny Gantz's Blue and White -- narrowly had enough votes to dodge the bill that called for the Knesset's dismissal, but three Blue and White members and one Likud lawmaker bucked party leaders and the bill failed 49-47. Advertisement
The vote means the Knesset will dissolve at midnight Tuesday and the door is now open for new elections on March 23.
The bill's failure also showed persistent disagreements between Netanyahu and Gantz, who banded together in May to form a unity government but have long been at odds on key issues.
The first two elections in May and September of 2019 failed to produce a unity government and the third in May of this year narrowly led to an agreement between Netanyahu and Gantz.
Netanyahu had tried to convince Knesset lawmakers that another election would threaten Israel's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The prime minister is still facing a trial on bribery, fraud and breach of trust charges. It is scheduled to begin in May.
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Likud lawmaker Michal Shir said she would leave the party for the upstart New Hope Party after voting against the bill Monday. New Hope was created this month by former Likud member Gideon Sa'ar to challenge Netanyahu's long rule.
"I am at peace with my decision to do the least I can to end this embarrassing show of a stuck and conflicted government which is holding an entire country hostage for political seats," Shir tweeted.


upi--2020-12-22--WWE Raw: Drew McIntyre, Sheamus and Keith Lee team up, Alexa Bliss confronts Randy Orton

Dec. 22 ( UPI ) -- WWE Champion Drew McIntyre joined forces with his friend Sheamus and Keith Lee to take on AJ Styles , The Miz and John Morrison in a Holiday Street Fight on Raw .
The main event bout was put together following the events of TLC : Tables , Ladders and Chairs on Sunday where McIntyre defeated both Styles and Miz to retain the WWE Championship in a TLC match .
The Miz had inserted himself into the match by cashing in his Money in the Bank contract .
Styles said on Monday that Miz and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why neither of them are champion while appearing on Miz TV .
The Miz apologized and lamented about not being able to become WWE Champion again for the first time in 10 years .
Styles ' towering bodyguard Omos placed the blame on Morrison who he said had technically handed in the Money in the Bank briefcase to the referee .
The Miz saw this as an opportunity and said he will demand WWE management give him back the briefcase before McIntyre , Sheamus and Lee interrupted the trio by reciting a poem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broke out with McIntyre 's team gaining an advantage , however , Styles dropkicked Lee into Sheamus as he got ready to deliver a Brogue Kick .
The incident caused friction between Sheamus and Lee who appeared to not trust each other .
The Holiday Street Fight placed tables filled with Christmas cookies , eggnog and giant candy canes around the ringside area alongside multiple Christmas trees surrounded by presents .
McIntyre sent Styles crashing through a table filled with the eggnog after The Phenomenal One used a candy cane to attack the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ himself in a similar situation where he was going to deliver a Brogue Kick until Lee tagged himself into the match .
Lee pushed Morrison into the hands of Omos who put him through a table .
Lee then won the match after performing a Spirit Bomb on The Miz .
McIntyre celebrated in the ring with his partners , however , Sheamus then Brogue Kicked Lee which knocked him out .
McIntyre yelled at Sheamus as Raw went off the air .
Randy Orton commented on how he burned The Fiend alive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Orton said that he could still smell The Fiend 's burnt flesh in the ring and noted how his trademark voices in his head are now gone as all he hears is The Fiend grasping for his last breath .
The lights in the arena then went out signaling the arrival of The Fiend , but instead his partner Alexa Bliss appeared in the middle of the ring with a Funhouse-themed playground set .
Bliss played on a swing as she told Orton that The Fiend was home now but if he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Viper has ever seen before .
Other moments from Raw included newly crowned Women 's Tag Team Champions Charlotte Flair and Raw Women 's Champion Asuka celebrating their victory ; Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax defeating Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke ; Angel Garza defeating Drew Gulak ; T-Bar of Retribution defeating Ricochet ; The Hurt Business celebrating Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin becoming the new Raw Tag Team Champions ; United States Champion Bobby Lashley and MVP of the Hurt Business defeating Jeff Hardy and Riddle ; Jaxson Ryker defeating Gran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Evans and Peyton Royce .
Evans and Royce kept arguing with each other during the match , which Flair and Asuka took advantage of .
Flair won the match after causing Royce to tap out to the Figure Eight submission hold .

Dec. 22 (UPI) -- WWE Champion Drew McIntyre joined forces with his friend Sheamus and Keith Lee to take on AJ Styles, The Miz and John Morrison in a Holiday Street Fight on Raw.
The main event bout was put together following the events of TLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs on Sunday where McIntyre defeated both Styles and Miz to retain the WWE Championship in a TLC match.
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The Miz had inserted himself into the match by cashing in his Money in the Bank contract. Styles said on Monday that Miz and Morrison's involvement in the match is why neither of them are champion while appearing on Miz TV.
The Miz apologized and lamented about not being able to become WWE Champion again for the first time in 10 years. Styles' towering bodyguard Omos placed the blame on Morrison who he said had technically handed in the Money in the Bank briefcase to the referee.
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The Miz saw this as an opportunity and said he will demand WWE management give him back the briefcase before McIntyre, Sheamus and Lee interrupted the trio by reciting a poem about what happened.
A brawl then broke out with McIntyre's team gaining an advantage, however, Styles dropkicked Lee into Sheamus as he got ready to deliver a Brogue Kick. The incident caused friction between Sheamus and Lee who appeared to not trust each other.
The Holiday Street Fight placed tables filled with Christmas cookies, eggnog and giant candy canes around the ringside area alongside multiple Christmas trees surrounded by presents.
McIntyre sent Styles crashing through a table filled with the eggnog after The Phenomenal One used a candy cane to attack the champ's injured knee.
Sheamus found himself in a similar situation where he was going to deliver a Brogue Kick until Lee tagged himself into the match. Lee pushed Morrison into the hands of Omos who put him through a table.
Lee then won the match after performing a Spirit Bomb on The Miz. McIntyre celebrated in the ring with his partners, however, Sheamus then Brogue Kicked Lee which knocked him out. McIntyre yelled at Sheamus as Raw went off the air.
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Randy Orton commented on how he burned The Fiend alive at TLC during their Firefly Inferno match.
Orton said that he could still smell The Fiend's burnt flesh in the ring and noted how his trademark voices in his head are now gone as all he hears is The Fiend grasping for his last breath.
The lights in the arena then went out signaling the arrival of The Fiend, but instead his partner Alexa Bliss appeared in the middle of the ring with a Funhouse-themed playground set.
Bliss played on a swing as she told Orton that The Fiend was home now but if he returned, it will be like nothing The Viper has ever seen before.
Other moments from Raw included newly crowned Women's Tag Team Champions Charlotte Flair and Raw Women's Champion Asuka celebrating their victory; Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax defeating Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke; Angel Garza defeating Drew Gulak; T-Bar of Retribution defeating Ricochet; The Hurt Business celebrating Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin becoming the new Raw Tag Team Champions; United States Champion Bobby Lashley and MVP of the Hurt Business defeating Jeff Hardy and Riddle; Jaxson Ryker defeating Gran Metalik and Flair and Asuka defeating Lacey Evans and Peyton Royce.
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Evans and Royce kept arguing with each other during the match, which Flair and Asuka took advantage of. Flair won the match after causing Royce to tap out to the Figure Eight submission hold.


upi--2020-12-22--Dr. Anthony Fauci, Alex Azar, others to receive COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday

Dec. 22 ( UPI ) -- Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation 's top infectious diseases expert who has played a key role in fighting the coronavirus pandemic , will receive a COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday .
Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , will receive one of the first doses of Moderna 's newly approved vaccine , as will Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar , National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Francis Collins and front-line healthcare workers at the NIH , Azar tweeted Monday .
Like Vice President Mike Pence Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the others will receive the vaccinations in public .
`` We believe it 's important to publicly receive the vaccine as part of our efforts to demonstrate that these vaccines are safe and effective , '' Azar said .
`` We at NIH are proud to have taken part in an amazing journey that will save many lives , '' Collins tweeted .
Despite playing critical roles in developing Moderna 's vaccine , the NIH and its scientists had not been allocated any doses -- or the other approved vaccine from Pfizer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported .
Maryland Gov .
Larry Hogan , however , announced Monday that the state would provide doses of Moderna vaccine to `` front-line clinical healthcare workers '' at the NIH facility in Bethesda , Md .
`` Maryland is proud to be home to some of the world 's leading health systems and medical research institutions , including NIH , '' Hogan said .
Kentucky Gov .
Andy Beshear and Texas Gov .
Greg Abbott will also receive vaccinations Tuesday .
Meanwhile , an official with the National Institute of Allergy and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why a handful of people have experienced severe allergic reactions to Pfizer 's vaccine .
Alkis Togias , chief of the institute 's Allergy , Asthma , and Airway Biology Branch , told CNBC the study will begin within weeks and will examine reports that the vaccine was followed by potentially life-threatening allergic reactions in a few recipients .
`` We are a little bit concerned that people who have had a lot of allergies who have had reactions like this to all kinds of things , not just vaccines , may be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Togias said .
`` We just do n't want that to happen .
We want to find a way for them to get vaccinated . ''

1/7
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, receives his first dose of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md. Photo by Patrick Semansky/UPI/Pool | License Photo
Dec. 22 (UPI) -- Dr. Anthony Fauci, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins each received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine at a public event Tuesday. The three were among a group of front-line healthcare workers and top federal health officials to get some of the nation's first doses of Moderna's vaccine, known as mRNA-1273, during an event at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Md. The vaccine from Pfizer was also available to the recipients at the event. Advertisement
Like Vice President Mike Pence Friday and President-elect Joe Biden Monday, the highly visible officials received their vaccinations in a live event to inspire public confidence in the new coronavirus vaccines.
Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and perhaps the most trusted authority in the country on the pandemic, praised the NIH and its "unprecedented" work in helping develop an effective vaccine less than a year after the first discovery of the novel coronavirus.
"It is particularly meaningful to me as a member of the NIH for so many years to be receiving today ... a vaccine that essentially had its origination in the fundamental, basic research that's conducted here at NIH by our scientists and as well as by our grantees and contractors over the years," he said.
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The mRNA-1273 vaccine was co-developed by Moderna and NIAID, which is part of the NIH, and supported by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, a unit of the Health and Human Services Department.
Moderna's vaccine was authorized last weekend by the Food and Drug Administration.
"I feel extreme confidence in the safety and the efficacy of this vaccine and I want to encourage everyone who has the opportunity to get vaccinated so that we can have a veil of protection over this country, that would end this pandemic," Fauci said before he was inoculated.
"We at NIH are proud to have taken part in an amazing journey that will save many lives," Collins tweeted before the event.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott were also scheduled to receive vaccinations Tuesday.
Meanwhile, a NIAID official says the agency is investigating why a handful of people have experienced severe allergic reactions to Pfizer's vaccine.
Alkis Togias, chief of the institute's Allergy, Asthma, and Airway Biology Branch, told CNBC the study will begin within weeks and will examine reports that the vaccine was followed by potentially life-threatening allergic reactions in a few recipients.
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"We are a little bit concerned that people who have had a lot of allergies who have had reactions like this to all kinds of things, not just vaccines, may be afraid to get vaccinated now," Togias said.
"We just don't want that to happen. We want to find a way for them to get vaccinated."


upi--2020-12-22--Bengals shock playoff-bound Steelers on 'MNF'

Dec. 22 ( UPI ) -- Backup quarterback Ryan Finley threw a touchdown pass and ran for another score to lead the Cincinnati Bengals to an upset victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football .
Finley completed just 7 of 13 passes for 89 yards in the 27-17 triumph on Monday at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati , but had timely conversions and played a turnover-free game to spark the victory .
`` It 's always fun to get a win and even better beating the Steelers on Monday Night Football , '' Finley told reporters .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the season .
The Steelers ( 11-3 ) have now lost three consecutive games since an 11-0 start to their 2020 campaign .
Cincinnati and Pittsburgh combined for 474 total yards in the AFC North matchup , which was a physical battle between the trenches and an ugly offensive display .
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had a career-low seven passing yards in the first half .
He also threw an interception and lost a fumble .
`` The score speaks for itself , '' Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said .
`` We turned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the game .
You ca n't do that versus anybody .
`` We gave them a short field three times in the first half or so .
It was an uphill battle the rest of the way because of that .
They were able to hide the ball a little bit because of those circumstances .
I thought they had a good plan . ''
The Steelers and Bengals each punted on their first two drives of the game .
Roethlisberger then fumbled on Pittsburgh 's third drive .
The Bengals got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six plays later to take a 3-0 lead with 5:16 remaining in the first quarter .
Siebert then missed a field goal on the Bengals next possession before Cincinnati got the ball back from another Pittsburgh turnover .
Bengals safety Vonn Bell forced that change of possession with a violent hit on Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster , which caused a fumble .
Bengals running back Giovani Bernard scored a four-yard rushing touchdown on the next possession to give Cincinnati a 10-0 advantage three minutes into the second quarter .
Bengals cornerback Mackensie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next drive .
Finley threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Bernard on the next drive to push the Cincinnati advantage to 17 points .
The Bengals held onto that three-possession lead through halftime .
The Steelers forced a three-and-out on the Bengals first drive of the second half .
Roethlisberger then attempted to rally his squad with a 23-yard touchdown pass to Diontae Johnson .
The Steelers defense then forced another Bengals three-and-out before Chris Boswell hit a 25-yard field goal to cut the Cincinnati lead to seven points .
But the Bengals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a three-and-out before Finley added to the Cincinnati lead with a 23-yard touchdown run with 11:26 remaining .
Pittsburgh then responded with a 12-play , 64-yard touchdown drive .
Benny Snell scored a one-yard rushing touchdown to end that possession .
The Bengals later added a field goal with 16 seconds remaining to make the score final .
Bernard had 97 yards from scrimmage and two scores on 26 touches in the victory .
Snell had 107 yards from scrimmage and a score on 21 touches for the Steelers .
The Steelers next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ EST on Sunday and the Bengals face the Houston Texans at 1 p.m. EST at NRG Stadium in Houston .

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Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Ryan Finley accounted for two touchdowns and did not have a turnover in a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday in Cincinnati. File Photo by John Sommers II /UPI | License Photo
Dec. 22 (UPI) -- Backup quarterback Ryan Finley threw a touchdown pass and ran for another score to lead the Cincinnati Bengals to an upset victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football. Finley completed just 7 of 13 passes for 89 yards in the 27-17 triumph on Monday at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, but had timely conversions and played a turnover-free game to spark the victory. Advertisement
"It's always fun to get a win and even better beating the Steelers on Monday Night Football," Finley told reporters.
The win improved the Bengals to 3-10-1 on the season. The Steelers (11-3) have now lost three consecutive games since an 11-0 start to their 2020 campaign.
Not going to be able to fall asleep tonight cause we'll be watching these highlights pic.twitter.com/wHgjJ77dz6— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) December 22, 2020
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Cincinnati and Pittsburgh combined for 474 total yards in the AFC North matchup, which was a physical battle between the trenches and an ugly offensive display.
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had a career-low seven passing yards in the first half. He also threw an interception and lost a fumble.
"The score speaks for itself," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "We turned the ball over in the early portions of the game. You can't do that versus anybody.
"We gave them a short field three times in the first half or so. It was an uphill battle the rest of the way because of that. They were able to hide the ball a little bit because of those circumstances. I thought they had a good plan."
The Steelers and Bengals each punted on their first two drives of the game. Roethlisberger then fumbled on Pittsburgh's third drive. The Bengals got a 24-yard field goal from Austin Siebert six plays later to take a 3-0 lead with 5:16 remaining in the first quarter.
Siebert then missed a field goal on the Bengals next possession before Cincinnati got the ball back from another Pittsburgh turnover. Bengals safety Vonn Bell forced that change of possession with a violent hit on Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, which caused a fumble.
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Bengals running back Giovani Bernard scored a four-yard rushing touchdown on the next possession to give Cincinnati a 10-0 advantage three minutes into the second quarter.
Bengals cornerback Mackensie Alexander then intercepted Roethlisberger on the Steelers next drive. Finley threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Bernard on the next drive to push the Cincinnati advantage to 17 points. The Bengals held onto that three-possession lead through halftime.
The Steelers forced a three-and-out on the Bengals first drive of the second half. Roethlisberger then attempted to rally his squad with a 23-yard touchdown pass to Diontae Johnson. The Steelers defense then forced another Bengals three-and-out before Chris Boswell hit a 25-yard field goal to cut the Cincinnati lead to seven points.
But the Bengals defense stepped up once again and forced a three-and-out before Finley added to the Cincinnati lead with a 23-yard touchdown run with 11:26 remaining.
Pittsburgh then responded with a 12-play, 64-yard touchdown drive. Benny Snell scored a one-yard rushing touchdown to end that possession. The Bengals later added a field goal with 16 seconds remaining to make the score final.
Bernard had 97 yards from scrimmage and two scores on 26 touches in the victory. Snell had 107 yards from scrimmage and a score on 21 touches for the Steelers.
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The Steelers next host the Indianapolis Colts at 1 p.m. EST on Sunday and the Bengals face the Houston Texans at 1 p.m. EST at NRG Stadium in Houston.
This week in the National Football League


upi--2020-12-22--Report: Social media conversations of verified accounts 'easily manipulated'

Dec. 22 ( UPI ) -- A new report by a NATO-accredited organization has found that despite efforts by social media companies to stymie inauthentic behavior , the conversations surrounding the verified accounts of two U.S. senators were `` easily manipulated '' on their platforms for the cost of a few dollars .
Published Monday , the report by the NATO Strategic Communications Center of Excellence set out to test the ability of social media companies to identify and remove inauthentic behavior , finding that despite some variance between five key platforms none is doing enough to prevent the manipulation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ providers are still winning , '' the report said .
The five platforms examined were Facebook , Instagram , Twitter , YouTube and TikTok .
The researchers said they paid some $ 370 to 39 Russian manipulation services to funnel hundreds of thousands of interactions to the media accounts of Sens .
Chuck Grassley , R-Iowa , and Chris Murphy , D-Conn .
In total , they purchased 1,150 comments , 3,726 shares , 9,690 likes and 323,202 views .
Of the 337,768 interactions purchased during the presidential campaign , 98 % remained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see that manipulation on social media remains too accessible , '' Janis Sarts , director of the NATO StratCom COE , said in a statement .
`` This is especially troubling during times of crisis , as these systems can be exploited to stoke up emotions and deepen vulnerabilities within our societies . ''
The report said Facebook and Twitter offered the most significant pushback against inauthentic behavior , with the former managing to remove as much as 90 % of the fake views prior to the manipulation service providers restoring their work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the creation of inauthentic accounts but said it was also the only platform to show an increasing half-life for active inauthentic accounts .
Twitter also improved the speed at which it removed inauthentic accounts by 40 % compared to the researchers ' 2019 study .
It was also reported to do it three times faster than Facebook .
TikTok was also included in the experiment this year but the researchers said it `` seems to be nearly defenseless against platform manipulation '' as none of the manipulations were removed .
It also said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most difficult to manipulate due to the cost needed to pay real people to post the comments while Instagram was the easier to manipulate with 1,803 fake comments and 103 fake likes delivered rapidly to the senators ' posts for only $ 7.30 .
The senators both agreed to participate in the experiment , the researchers said .
The report calls for greater transparency and the development of new safety standards for the platforms as well as the establishment of independent and well-resourced oversight and an increase in efforts to deter manipulation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a universal set of rules that these platforms have to follow both in countering internal manipulation and for creating a safe environment for people who use them , '' Sarts said .

Dec. 22 (UPI) -- A new report by a NATO-accredited organization has found that despite efforts by social media companies to stymie inauthentic behavior, the conversations surrounding the verified accounts of two U.S. senators were "easily manipulated" on their platforms for the cost of a few dollars.
Published Monday, the report by the NATO Strategic Communications Center of Excellence set out to test the ability of social media companies to identify and remove inauthentic behavior, finding that despite some variance between five key platforms none is doing enough to prevent the manipulation of their services.
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"Manipulation service providers are still winning," the report said.
The five platforms examined were Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and TikTok.
The researchers said they paid some $370 to 39 Russian manipulation services to funnel hundreds of thousands of interactions to the media accounts of Sens. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Chris Murphy, D-Conn. In total, they purchased 1,150 comments, 3,726 shares, 9,690 likes and 323,202 views.
Of the 337,768 interactions purchased during the presidential campaign, 98% remained online after four weeks.
"We see that manipulation on social media remains too accessible," Janis Sarts, director of the NATO StratCom COE, said in a statement. "This is especially troubling during times of crisis, as these systems can be exploited to stoke up emotions and deepen vulnerabilities within our societies."
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The report said Facebook and Twitter offered the most significant pushback against inauthentic behavior, with the former managing to remove as much as 90% of the fake views prior to the manipulation service providers restoring their work.
It also cheered Facebook for blocking the creation of inauthentic accounts but said it was also the only platform to show an increasing half-life for active inauthentic accounts.
Twitter also improved the speed at which it removed inauthentic accounts by 40% compared to the researchers' 2019 study. It was also reported to do it three times faster than Facebook.
TikTok was also included in the experiment this year but the researchers said it "seems to be nearly defenseless against platform manipulation" as none of the manipulations were removed.
It also said that Facebook's comment sections were the most difficult to manipulate due to the cost needed to pay real people to post the comments while Instagram was the easier to manipulate with 1,803 fake comments and 103 fake likes delivered rapidly to the senators' posts for only $7.30.
The senators both agreed to participate in the experiment, the researchers said.
The report calls for greater transparency and the development of new safety standards for the platforms as well as the establishment of independent and well-resourced oversight and an increase in efforts to deter manipulation.
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"The results show that we need a universal set of rules that these platforms have to follow both in countering internal manipulation and for creating a safe environment for people who use them," Sarts said.


upi--2020-12-22--U.S. sanctions top Nicaraguan officials, Cuban military-linked businesses

Dec. 22 ( UPI ) -- The Trump administration has separately leveled sanctions against Nicaraguan government officials and businesses controlled by the Cuban military .
The Treasury announced the sanctions Monday , saying the three Nicaraguan government officials were being targeted for supporting the Caribbean nation 's president , Daniel Ortega , and the three Cuban businesses were being blacklisted for their ties to the government and their utilization to subvert international trade restrictions .
The Ortega government has repeatedly been the subject of U.S. sanctions by the Trump administration since its bloody and deadly crack down on peaceful protesters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lower pensions in April 2018 .
The Treasury said Monday it blacklisted Marvin Ramiro Aguilar Garcia , vice president of the Nicaraguan Supreme Court of Justice ; Walmaro Antonio Gutierrez Mercado , a deputy of the National Assembly ; and Fidel de Jesus Dominguez Alvarez , a chief of the Nicaraguan National Police in the city of Leon .
It said those three individuals `` are responsible for coopting judicial of financial reporting mechanisms to support the Ortega regime 's systematic identification , intimidation and punishment of political opposition . ''
`` President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and power over Nicaraguans ' calls for reform . ''
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement .
`` This administration remains committed to targeting the Ortega regime by seeking out and exposing those who continue to suppress the democratic will of the Nicaraguan people . ''
According to the Congressional Research Service , Nicaragua `` turned to authoritarian practices '' in 2018 and the Trump administration has since employed targeted sanctions against those close to the 75-year-old Ortega over allegations of committing human rights abuses .
In October , U.S. Secretary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high-ranking officials , including Paul Oquist Kelley , Ortega 's secretary .
The Treasury and the State Department on Monday also sanctioned Cuban company Grupo de Administracion Empresarial and two of its subsidiaries , Financiera Cimex and Kave Coffee .
The federal department accused GAESA in a statement of being a military-controlled umbrella enterprise with interests in the tourism , financial investment and several other sectors of Cuba 's economy with a portfolio of businesses incorporated in Panama to evade sanctions .
`` The Trump administration remains committed to targeting the Cuban regime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ circumvent United States sanctions , '' Mnuchin said in a separate statement .
Pompeo said the revenue generated from Cuban military companies `` is used to entrench the Cuban military 's control , prop up the Cuban Communist Party 's power , oppress the Cuban people and fund Cuba 's interference in Venezuela . ''
The Trump administration has taken a decidedly different stance to Cuba than that of the Obama administration , which sought to open engagement with the neighboring socialist nation .
Under President Donald Trump , the United States has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nation over its human rights abuses and actions to prop up embattled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro .
`` The United States will continue to support the Cuban people in their desire for a democratic government and respect for human rights , including freedom of religion , expression and association , '' Pompeo said .
`` Until these rights and freedoms are respected , we will continue to hold the regime accountable . ''

The Trump administration imposed sanctions Monday targeting officials close to Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega who was behind a bloody crack down on protesters in 2018. Photo by Jorge Torres/EPA-EFE
Dec. 22 (UPI) -- The Trump administration has separately leveled sanctions against Nicaraguan government officials and businesses controlled by the Cuban military. The Treasury announced the sanctions Monday, saying the three Nicaraguan government officials were being targeted for supporting the Caribbean nation's president, Daniel Ortega, and the three Cuban businesses were being blacklisted for their ties to the government and their utilization to subvert international trade restrictions. Advertisement
The Ortega government has repeatedly been the subject of U.S. sanctions by the Trump administration since its bloody and deadly crack down on peaceful protesters demonstrating against proposals to raise taxes and lower pensions in April 2018.
The Treasury said Monday it blacklisted Marvin Ramiro Aguilar Garcia, vice president of the Nicaraguan Supreme Court of Justice; Walmaro Antonio Gutierrez Mercado, a deputy of the National Assembly; and Fidel de Jesus Dominguez Alvarez, a chief of the Nicaraguan National Police in the city of Leon.
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It said those three individuals "are responsible for coopting judicial of financial reporting mechanisms to support the Ortega regime's systematic identification, intimidation and punishment of political opposition."
"President Ortega and his regime prioritize personal gain and power over Nicaraguans' calls for reform." Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement. "This administration remains committed to targeting the Ortega regime by seeking out and exposing those who continue to suppress the democratic will of the Nicaraguan people."
According to the Congressional Research Service, Nicaragua "turned to authoritarian practices" in 2018 and the Trump administration has since employed targeted sanctions against those close to the 75-year-old Ortega over allegations of committing human rights abuses.
In October, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced sanctions against high-ranking officials, including Paul Oquist Kelley, Ortega's secretary.
The Treasury and the State Department on Monday also sanctioned Cuban company Grupo de Administracion Empresarial and two of its subsidiaries, Financiera Cimex and Kave Coffee.
The federal department accused GAESA in a statement of being a military-controlled umbrella enterprise with interests in the tourism, financial investment and several other sectors of Cuba's economy with a portfolio of businesses incorporated in Panama to evade sanctions.
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"The Trump administration remains committed to targeting the Cuban regime for its malign behavior and attempts to circumvent United States sanctions," Mnuchin said in a separate statement.
Pompeo said the revenue generated from Cuban military companies "is used to entrench the Cuban military's control, prop up the Cuban Communist Party's power, oppress the Cuban people and fund Cuba's interference in Venezuela."
The Trump administration has taken a decidedly different stance to Cuba than that of the Obama administration, which sought to open engagement with the neighboring socialist nation.
Under President Donald Trump, the United States has imposed punitive sanctions against the Caribbean island nation over its human rights abuses and actions to prop up embattled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
"The United States will continue to support the Cuban people in their desire for a democratic government and respect for human rights, including freedom of religion, expression and association," Pompeo said. "Until these rights and freedoms are respected, we will continue to hold the regime accountable."


upi--2020-12-22--On This Day, Dec. 22: SpaceX lands reusable rocket for 1st time

Dec. 22 ( UPI ) -- On this date in history : In 1785 , the American Continental Navy fleet was organized , consisting of two frigates , two brigs and three schooners .
Sailors were paid $ 8 a month .
In 1894 , French Capt .
Alfred Dreyfus was convicted of treason by a military court-martial on flimsy evidence in a highly irregular trial and sentenced to life in prison for his alleged crime of passing military secrets to the Germans .
Dreyfus was released from prison in 1899 and officially exonerated in 1906 .
In 1944 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had his unit trapped south of Bastogne , Belgium , during the Battle of the Bulge , Gen. Anthony McAuliffe of the U.S. 101st Airborne Division replied with one word : `` Nuts ! ''
In 1984 , `` subway vigilante '' Bernhard Goetz shot and injured four would-be holdup men on a New York City subway .
He served eight months in prison for carrying an illegal weapon but was cleared of assault and attempted murder charges .
In 1986 , political dissident and Nobel laureate Andrei Sakharov and his wife , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Moscow after seven years of internal exile .
In 1989 , Romanian President Nicolae Ceausescu , the last hard-line communist holdout against East Bloc reforms , fell from power in the face of massive demonstrations .
In 1992 , all 157 people aboard Libyan Arab Airlines Flight 1103 died when the jetliner crashed , apparently following an in-flight collision with a military plane .
In 2001 , American Airlines passengers and attendants overpowered a man trying to light a match to detonate powerful explosives hidden in his sneakers on a flight from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Walmart was ordered to pay more than 100,000 California employees $ 172 million for depriving them of breaks to eat .
In 2006 , rape charges were dropped against three former members of the Duke University lacrosse team after the alleged victim said she could n't be sure she had been raped .
In 2010 , President Barack Obama signed into law the repeal of the ban on gays and lesbians from openly serving in the U.S. military .
The so-called `` Do n't Ask Do n't Tell '' legislation was signed into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1994 .
In 2015 , SpaceX successfully returned the company 's Falcon 9 rocket to Earth , landing it vertically on a landing pad at Cape Canaveral , Fla. , -- 10 minutes after it blasted-off for its jaunt to space and back .
In 2018 , the U.S. government began a record 35-day partial shutdown after the Senate was unable to agree on a funding bill .

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This long exposure shows the launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and the safe return of the first stage of the rocket at Cape Canaveral, Fla., on December 21, 2015. File Photo courtesy of SpaceX | License Photo
Dec. 22 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1785, the American Continental Navy fleet was organized, consisting of two frigates, two brigs and three schooners. Sailors were paid $8 a month. Advertisement
In 1894, French Capt. Alfred Dreyfus was convicted of treason by a military court-martial on flimsy evidence in a highly irregular trial and sentenced to life in prison for his alleged crime of passing military secrets to the Germans. Dreyfus was released from prison in 1899 and officially exonerated in 1906.
In 1944, ordered to surrender by Nazi troops who had his unit trapped south of Bastogne, Belgium, during the Battle of the Bulge, Gen. Anthony McAuliffe of the U.S. 101st Airborne Division replied with one word: "Nuts!"
In 1984, "subway vigilante" Bernhard Goetz shot and injured four would-be holdup men on a New York City subway. He served eight months in prison for carrying an illegal weapon but was cleared of assault and attempted murder charges.
In 1986, political dissident and Nobel laureate Andrei Sakharov and his wife, Yelena Bonner, were allowed to return to Moscow after seven years of internal exile.
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Yelena Bonner, wife of Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov, waves goodbye as she passes an American flag at Boston’s Logan Airport on May 24, 1986. File Photo by Jim Bourg/UPI
In 1989, Romanian President Nicolae Ceausescu, the last hard-line communist holdout against East Bloc reforms, fell from power in the face of massive demonstrations.
In 1992, all 157 people aboard Libyan Arab Airlines Flight 1103 died when the jetliner crashed, apparently following an in-flight collision with a military plane.
In 2001, American Airlines passengers and attendants overpowered a man trying to light a match to detonate powerful explosives hidden in his sneakers on a flight from Paris to Miami.
In 2005, Walmart was ordered to pay more than 100,000 California employees $172 million for depriving them of breaks to eat.
In 2006, rape charges were dropped against three former members of the Duke University lacrosse team after the alleged victim said she couldn't be sure she had been raped.
In 2010, President Barack Obama signed into law the repeal of the ban on gays and lesbians from openly serving in the U.S. military. The so-called "Don't Ask Don't Tell" legislation was signed into law by former President Bill Clinton in 1994.
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File Photo by Jim Lo Scalzo/UPI
In 2015, SpaceX successfully returned the company's Falcon 9 rocket to Earth, landing it vertically on a landing pad at Cape Canaveral, Fla., -- 10 minutes after it blasted-off for its jaunt to space and back.
In 2018, the U.S. government began a record 35-day partial shutdown after the Senate was unable to agree on a funding bill.


upi--2020-12-22--George Clooney: 'Midnight Sky' is 'The Revenant' meets 'Gravity'

LOS ANGELES , Dec. 22 ( UPI ) -- The new Netflix movie , The Midnight Sky , is one-half space drama and the other half earthbound battle against the elements .
Director and star George Clooney compared it to two popular movies in each genre , including one of his own .
`` We were shooting two different movies if you want to know the truth , '' Clooney said in a Zoom press conference .
`` It was like doing The Revenant and then doing Gravity for the second half . ''
On Earth , Clooney plays Augustine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ station Barbeau .
Augustine is trying to contact orbiting space crews when he discovers a young child , Iris ( Caoilinn Springall ) , whom he must protect from the hostile environment outside the station .
The other half of The Midnight Sky takes place on the Aether spacecraft .
The Aether crew -- Rembshire ( Kyle Chandler ) , Sully ( Felicity Jones ) , Adewole ( David Oyelowo ) , Sanchez ( Demian Bichir ) and Peters ( Tiffany Boone ) -- was on one of many missions to find a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ event .
Aether is the only one Augustine has been able to reach .
`` You do n't find too many scripts in this industry with a Mexican playing an astrodynamicist , '' Bichir said .
`` Sanchez is a lonely man and he has nothing else to lose .
That 's why he 's up there , and still he 's hopeful . ''
Clooney said he began with all the Barbeau scenes filming in Iceland with Springall .
During this portion of the shoot , the cast members who were portraying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The film interweaves scenes on Earth and aboard the Aether .
Both of the films to which Clooney referred were survival stories .
In The Revenant , a fur trader fights for survival in the frozen midwest .
In Gravity , an astronaut fights to survive a catastrophe in orbit .
By the future that is portrayed In The Midnight Sky , all of mankind is fighting for survival .
Screenwriter Mark L. Smith adapted Lily Brooks-Dalton 's book Good Morning , Midnight to The Midnight Sky .
`` We wanted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing to man and mankind , '' Clooney said .
Clooney said the source material had themes of climate change and weapons of mass destructions .
After editing The Midnight Sky throughout the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 , Clooney said a new theme emerged .
He said he related to Augustine and the Aether crew connecting with each other after their lonely , isolated existence .
`` The story really was enveloping our desperate need to be home and our desperate need to be close to the people we love , '' Clooney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pregnant just before filming , Clooney said he decided to make Sully pregnant .
The 37-year-old star gave birth to Wilbur on Sept. 11 , but she felt carrying him throughout The Midnight Sky added to the film .
`` We have seen pregnant characters in films but it 's still pretty revolutionary , '' Jones said .
`` Particularly a pregnant woman in space is quite extraordinary . ''
Sully 's pregnancy enhanced the theme of the film , Clooney said .
Until they make contact with Augustine on Earth , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for weeks .
`` They 're waiting for any sound at all of any sign of life , '' Clooney said .
`` The only sign of life they 're getting is from inside Felicity . ''
As they accommodate Jones ' pregnancy , Adewole became the father of Sully 's child .
Oyelowo changed his character 's name from Harper to Adewole , a name from his own Nigerian tribe , the Yoruba .
Adewole means `` The king has entered the house , '' Oyelowo said .
`` I realized that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a film like this , '' Oyelowo said.
`` I loved the fact that in and amongst us astronauts there was a certain amount of diversity there . ''
The film also tackled diverse philosophical questions , Jones said , adding that it explores questions as big as `` what is the meaning of life ? ''
`` At the same time , it was a very intimate relationship drama about trying to forge a connection and about family and about being a parent , '' Jones said .
`` The fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the small and did it so well is part of the reason that I wanted to do it . ''

1/5
George Clooney must protect Caoilinn Springall from arctic elements in "The Midnight Sky." Photo courtesy of Netflix
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- The new Netflix movie, The Midnight Sky, is one-half space drama and the other half earthbound battle against the elements. Director and star George Clooney compared it to two popular movies in each genre, including one of his own. "We were shooting two different movies if you want to know the truth," Clooney said in a Zoom press conference. "It was like doing The Revenant and then doing Gravity for the second half." Advertisement
On Earth, Clooney plays Augustine, a scientist on the arctic observatory station Barbeau. Augustine is trying to contact orbiting space crews when he discovers a young child, Iris (Caoilinn Springall), whom he must protect from the hostile environment outside the station.
The other half of The Midnight Sky takes place on the Aether spacecraft. The Aether crew -- Rembshire (Kyle Chandler), Sully (Felicity Jones), Adewole (David Oyelowo), Sanchez (Demian Bichir) and Peters (Tiffany Boone) -- was on one of many missions to find a new home for humanity after an apocalyptic event. Aether is the only one Augustine has been able to reach.
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"You don't find too many scripts in this industry with a Mexican playing an astrodynamicist," Bichir said. "Sanchez is a lonely man and he has nothing else to lose. That's why he's up there, and still he's hopeful."
Clooney said he began with all the Barbeau scenes filming in Iceland with Springall. During this portion of the shoot, the cast members who were portraying the astronauts trained to simulate space walks. The film interweaves scenes on Earth and aboard the Aether.
Both of the films to which Clooney referred were survival stories. In The Revenant, a fur trader fights for survival in the frozen midwest. In Gravity, an astronaut fights to survive a catastrophe in orbit.
By the future that is portrayed In The Midnight Sky, all of mankind is fighting for survival. Screenwriter Mark L. Smith adapted Lily Brooks-Dalton's book Good Morning, Midnight to The Midnight Sky.
"We wanted to talk about what man is capable of doing to man and mankind," Clooney said.
Clooney said the source material had themes of climate change and weapons of mass destructions. After editing The Midnight Sky throughout the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, Clooney said a new theme emerged. He said he related to Augustine and the Aether crew connecting with each other after their lonely, isolated existence.
Advertisement
"The story really was enveloping our desperate need to be home and our desperate need to be close to the people we love," Clooney said.
When Jones learned she was pregnant just before filming, Clooney said he decided to make Sully pregnant. The 37-year-old star gave birth to Wilbur on Sept. 11, but she felt carrying him throughout The Midnight Sky added to the film.
"We have seen pregnant characters in films but it's still pretty revolutionary," Jones said. "Particularly a pregnant woman in space is quite extraordinary."
Sully's pregnancy enhanced the theme of the film, Clooney said. Until they make contact with Augustine on Earth, the Aether astronauts have been alone in space for weeks.
"They're waiting for any sound at all of any sign of life," Clooney said. "The only sign of life they're getting is from inside Felicity."
As they accommodate Jones' pregnancy, Adewole became the father of Sully's child. Oyelowo changed his character's name from Harper to Adewole, a name from his own Nigerian tribe, the Yoruba. Adewole means "The king has entered the house," Oyelowo said.
"I realized that I'd never seen an African astronaut in a film like this," Oyelowo said. " I loved the fact that in and amongst us astronauts there was a certain amount of diversity there."
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The film also tackled diverse philosophical questions, Jones said, adding that it explores questions as big as "what is the meaning of life?"
"At the same time, it was a very intimate relationship drama about trying to forge a connection and about family and about being a parent," Jones said. "The fact that it moved from the big into the small and did it so well is part of the reason that I wanted to do it."
The Midnight Sky premieres Wednesday on Netflix.