upi--2020-06-03--WHO resumes hydroxychloroquine tests; study shows drug doesn't prevent COVID-19

June 3 ( UPI ) -- The World Health Organization has resumed its medical trials on hydroxychloroquine Wednesday , the same day a new study says the drug does n't prevent coronavirus .
WHO paused the tests May 25 so they could undergo review by the Data Safety Monitoring Board .
`` On the basis of the available mortality data , the members of the committee recommended that there are no reasons to modify the trial protocol , '' WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during a briefing Wednesday .
More than 3,500 patients in 17 countries were enrolled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treatment .
But a study of 15,000 patients published in the Lancet last month said taking the drug doubled the risks of dangerous cardiac side effects that could lead to death .
Tedros added that the drug is accepted as generally safe for use in patients with autoimmune diseases or malaria .
Hydroxychloroquine and related drug chloroquine , have been used as anti-malarial drugs for decades .
Doctors have also prescribed them for lupus and rheumatoid arthritis .
Trump said he took hydroxychloroquine as a prophylactic for undetermined amount of time last month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine rose by 2,000 percent from March 15 to 21 , which spanned the time before and after Trump touted them as a `` game changer . ''
On Wednesday , a study conducted by the University of Minnesota found that hydroxychloroquine does n't help patients prevent COVID-19 infections .
The randomized trial -- results of which were published in The New England Journal of Medicine on Wednesday , found that 11.8 percent of people taking the drug became infected with COVID-19 .
Of those not taking the drug , 14.3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statistically insignificant .
`` While we are disappointed that this did not prevent COVID-19 , we are pleased that we were able to provide a conclusive answer , '' Dr. David Boulware , lead author of the study , told the Minneapolis Star Tribune .

The World Health Organization halted its trials of hydroxychloroquine last month so it could undergo a safety review. UPI File Photo | License Photo
June 3 (UPI) -- The World Health Organization has resumed its medical trials on hydroxychloroquine Wednesday, the same day a new study says the drug doesn't prevent coronavirus. WHO paused the tests May 25 so they could undergo review by the Data Safety Monitoring Board. Advertisement
"On the basis of the available mortality data, the members of the committee recommended that there are no reasons to modify the trial protocol," WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during a briefing Wednesday.
More than 3,500 patients in 17 countries were enrolled in clinical trials of hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 treatment.
A study of 15,000 patients published in the Lancet last month said taking the drug doubled the risks of dangerous cardiac side effects that could lead to death. But that study was retracted by the authors on Thursday over questions of the validity of the data.
Tedros added that the drug is accepted as generally safe for use in patients with autoimmune diseases or malaria.
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Hydroxychloroquine and related drug chloroquine, have been used as anti-malarial drugs for decades. Doctors have also prescribed them for lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
Trump said he took hydroxychloroquine as a prophylactic for undetermined amount of time last month. A study showed that prescriptions for hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine rose by 2,000 percent from March 15 to 21, which spanned the time before and after Trump touted them as a "game changer."
On Wednesday, a study conducted by the University of Minnesota found that hydroxychloroquine doesn't help patients prevent COVID-19 infections.
The randomized trial -- results of which were published in The New England Journal of Medicine on Wednesday, found that 11.8 percent of people taking the drug became infected with COVID-19. Of those not taking the drug, 14.3 percent became sick, which researchers consider statistically insignificant.
"While we are disappointed that this did not prevent COVID-19, we are pleased that we were able to provide a conclusive answer," Dr. David Boulware, lead author of the study, told the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
World moves to reopen amid COVID-19 pandemic
Visitors wear face masks as they tour the Whitney Museum of American Art as it reopens on September 3. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
This story has been updated to reflect that a study published in The Lancet has been retracted.


upi--2020-06-03--Domestic violence may have risen under stay-at-home rules

Domestic violence cases rose after Los Angeles and Indianapolis introduced stay-at-home rules to help stop the spread of COVID-19 , researchers say .
`` Shelter-in-place rules , by mandating more time at home , are very likely to increase the volume of domestic or intimate partner violence , which thrives behind closed doors , '' said senior author Jeffrey Brantingham , a professor of anthropology at the University of California , Los Angeles .
Los Angeles implemented stay-at-home rules March 20 Indianapolis did so March 24 .
Both cities ordered schools , restaurants and bars to close March 16 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ police service in Los Angeles between Jan. 2 and April 18 and in Indianapolis from Jan. 2 to April 21 .
The study also analyzed reported crime statistics -- different figures that reflect alleged crime -- through April 10 in Los Angeles and April 18 in Indianapolis .
Both cities had a statistically significant upticks in domestic violence calls after stay-at-home policies went into effect , the study found .
While the researchers expect the surge to taper off as people resume normal daily routines , they warned that numbers could rise again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new stay-at-home restrictions .
Brantingham noted that domestic violence is one of the crimes least reported to police .
The analysis also found a significant drop in reported robberies and burglaries in Los Angeles along with a moderate increase in vehicle thefts .
Robbery reports were relatively stable in Indianapolis , while vehicle thefts were unchanged and burglaries fell slightly .
Both cities had significant declines in traffic stops .
`` Overall , these shifts are perhaps less substantial than might be expected given the scale of the disruption of social and economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brantingham said in a UCLA news release .
`` Overall , people were still finding opportunities to commit crimes at approximately the same level as before the crisis . ''
The study was published in the May-June issue of the Journal of Criminal Justice .
The American Academy of Family Physicians has more on domestic violence .

Pixabay Los Angeles and Indianapolis had a statistically significant upticks in domestic violence calls after stay-at-home policies went into effect, the study found. Photo by kalhh
Domestic violence cases rose after Los Angeles and Indianapolis introduced stay-at-home rules to help stop the spread of COVID-19, researchers say. "Shelter-in-place rules, by mandating more time at home, are very likely to increase the volume of domestic or intimate partner violence, which thrives behind closed doors," said senior author Jeffrey Brantingham, a professor of anthropology at the University of California, Los Angeles. Advertisement
Los Angeles implemented stay-at-home rules March 20 Indianapolis did so March 24. Both cities ordered schools, restaurants and bars to close March 16.
Brantingham and his colleagues analyzed calls for police service in Los Angeles between Jan. 2 and April 18 and in Indianapolis from Jan. 2 to April 21. The study also analyzed reported crime statistics -- different figures that reflect alleged crime -- through April 10 in Los Angeles and April 18 in Indianapolis.
Both cities had a statistically significant upticks in domestic violence calls after stay-at-home policies went into effect, the study found. While the researchers expect the surge to taper off as people resume normal daily routines, they warned that numbers could rise again if a second wave of infections triggers new stay-at-home restrictions.
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Brantingham noted that domestic violence is one of the crimes least reported to police.
The analysis also found a significant drop in reported robberies and burglaries in Los Angeles along with a moderate increase in vehicle thefts. Robbery reports were relatively stable in Indianapolis, while vehicle thefts were unchanged and burglaries fell slightly.
Both cities had significant declines in traffic stops.
"Overall, these shifts are perhaps less substantial than might be expected given the scale of the disruption of social and economic life brought on by COVID-19," Brantingham said in a UCLA news release. "Overall, people were still finding opportunities to commit crimes at approximately the same level as before the crisis."
The study was published in the May-June issue of the Journal of Criminal Justice.
More information
The American Academy of Family Physicians has more on domestic violence.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-06-03--Car, illicit barbecue found hidden under camouflage material

June 3 ( UPI ) -- A British police department said the smell of cooking breakfast tipped them off to @ @ @ @ @ car hidden under camouflage material .
Purbeck police said officers in the Studland , Dorset @ @ @ @ @ of breakfast being cooked Tuesday morning and followed the smell to an `` innovative '' @ @ @ @ @ activity .
`` A busy morning down in Studland .
We found an innovative vehicle @ @ @ @ @ .
It was n't the camouflage that made us stop , but the stove cooking @ @ @ @ @ whilst driving by '' police said in an Instagram post .
Barbecues and other fires @ @ @ @ @ protected area .

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June 3 (UPI) -- A British police department said the smell of cooking breakfast tipped them off to a barbecue and an entire car hidden under camouflage material.
Purbeck police said officers in the Studland, Dorset, area detected the smell of breakfast being cooked Tuesday morning and followed the smell to an "innovative" attempt to hide the illicit activity.
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"A busy morning down in Studland. We found an innovative vehicle disguise on Ferry Road today. It wasn't the camouflage that made us stop, but the stove cooking breakfast that we could smell whilst driving by" police said in an Instagram post.
Barbecues and other fires are currently banned in the protected area.


upi--2020-06-03--Airmen in Grand Forks AFB shooting identified, parents say it was domestic violence

June 3 ( UPI ) -- The death of a U.S. Air Force airman at Grand Forks , N.D. , Air Base was called an act of domestic violence by her parents on Wednesday .
The Air Force released the names of two airmen shot and killed on Monday in a base dormitory , Airman First Class Natasha Raye Aposhian of Arizona and Airman First Class Julian Carlos Torres of Texas .
Grand Forks was the first duty station for each .
Base officials said in a statement Wednesday that Aposhian was `` killed during a fatal shooting , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deceased in the incident . ''
Aposhian 's parents , Brian Murray and Megan Aposhian , told the Grand Forks Herald in a statement that they are `` torn apart by the loss of our daughter to a senseless act of domestic violence . ''
`` Natasha had recently joined the Air Force and was just starting to embark on a career serving her country , '' Murray and Aposhian said .
`` It 's a tragedy she wo n't get to fulfill her hopes and dreams .
We ask that you pray @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countless victims of these crimes . ''
A base spokeswoman said no suspects are being sought in the case , which is under investigation , but did not comment on the possibility the shootings were a murder-suicide or other example of domestic violence .
After the incident on Monday , 21 airmen were immediately moved from the dormitory , the base said in a statement , and emergency mental health workers were made available to those affected .

Airman First Class Natasha Raye Aposhian was one of two people killed in a shooting at Grand Fork, N.D., Air Force Base, -- an incident her parents said Wednesday was an example of domestic violence. Photo courtesy of Facebook
June 3 (UPI) -- The death of a U.S. Air Force airman at Grand Forks, N.D., Air Base was called an act of domestic violence by her parents on Wednesday. The Air Force released the names of two airmen shot and killed on Monday in a base dormitory, Airman First Class Natasha Raye Aposhian of Arizona and Airman First Class Julian Carlos Torres of Texas. Grand Forks was the first duty station for each. Advertisement
Base officials said in a statement Wednesday that Aposhian was "killed during a fatal shooting," while Torres was described as "also deceased in the incident."
Aposhian's parents, Brian Murray and Megan Aposhian, told the Grand Forks Herald in a statement that they are "torn apart by the loss of our daughter to a senseless act of domestic violence."
"Natasha had recently joined the Air Force and was just starting to embark on a career serving her country," Murray and Aposhian said. "It's a tragedy she won't get to fulfill her hopes and dreams. We ask that you pray for her, our family and the countless victims of these crimes."
A base spokeswoman said no suspects are being sought in the case, which is under investigation, but did not comment on the possibility the shootings were a murder-suicide or other example of domestic violence.
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After the incident on Monday, 21 airmen were immediately moved from the dormitory, the base said in a statement, and emergency mental health workers were made available to those affected.


upi--2020-06-03--Dow climbs 527 points as positive economic data fuels gains on Wall Street

June 3 ( UPI ) -- U.S. stocks continued gains on Wall Street Wednesday , fueled by positive economic figures .
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 527 points , or 1.9 percent , on Tuesday .
The blue chip index gained almost 270 points on Tuesday and has closed with gains for three straight days .
The S & P 500 climbed 1.36 percent and the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.78 percent .
Wall Street was influenced Wednesday by a private jobs report that said the U.S. economy lost just 2.7 million jobs in May , far less than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investor confidence as the United States continues to reopen during the coronavirus pandemic .
The Labor Department 's official May jobs report will be released Friday .
Stocks expected to benefit from the lifting of restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 have led markets higher throughout the week and continued to rise Wednesday .
United Airlines stock gained 12.50 percent , Delta grew 7.76 percent and American Airlines increased 5.61 percent .
Bank stocks also climbed , as JPMorgan Chase rose 5.40 percent , Wells Fargo stock climbed 5.22 percent and Bank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , stocks that rose following the announcement of lengthy lockdown orders declined , with Shopify dropping 2.22 percent and Netflix falling 1.25 percent .
Amazon closed up just 0.24 percent after losses earlier in the day .

U.S. stocks were influenced Wednesday by a report that showed far fewer job losses in May than experts projected. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
June 3 (UPI) -- U.S. stocks continued gains on Wall Street Wednesday, fueled by positive economic figures. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 527 points, or 1.9 percent, on Tuesday. The blue chip index gained almost 270 points on Tuesday and has closed with gains for three straight days. Advertisement
The S&P 500 climbed 1.36 percent and the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.78 percent.
Wall Street was influenced Wednesday by a private jobs report that said the U.S. economy lost just 2.7 million jobs in May, far less than analysts had projected. The data stirred investor confidence as the United States continues to reopen during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Labor Department's official May jobs report will be released Friday.
Stocks expected to benefit from the lifting of restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 have led markets higher throughout the week and continued to rise Wednesday. United Airlines stock gained 12.50 percent, Delta grew 7.76 percent and American Airlines increased 5.61 percent.
Bank stocks also climbed, as JPMorgan Chase rose 5.40 percent, Wells Fargo stock climbed 5.22 percent and Bank of America gained 4.61 percent.
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Conversely, stocks that rose following the announcement of lengthy lockdown orders declined, with Shopify dropping 2.22 percent and Netflix falling 1.25 percent. Amazon closed up just 0.24 percent after losses earlier in the day.


upi--2020-06-03--Wife's birthday present to husband wins $350,000 lottery jackpot

June 3 ( UPI ) -- An Australian man 's birthday turned out even happier than expected when a gift @ @ @ @ @ to be a lottery ticket worth nearly $ 350,000 .
The Bundaberg , Queensland , @ @ @ @ @ that the Saturday Gold Lotto ticket she bought at Chippindalls Newsagency was a birthday present @ @ @ @ @ I actually bought the ticket for my husband for his birthday , '' the woman @ @ @ @ @ it was the best birthday present I 've ever gotten him ! ''
The couple @ @ @ @ @ 10 winning tickets to score a $ 347,862.34 Division One jackpot in Saturday 's drawing @ @ @ @ @ been through a tough time and this is going to help a heck of a @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` It really has n't sunk in just yet , but I know @ @ @ @ @ .
My husband and I are both retired so we have plenty of time to @ @ @ @ @ it . ''

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June 3 (UPI) -- An Australian man's birthday turned out even happier than expected when a gift from his wife turned out to be a lottery ticket worth nearly $350,000.
The Bundaberg, Queensland, woman told The Lott officials that the Saturday Gold Lotto ticket she bought at Chippindalls Newsagency was a birthday present for her husband.
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"I actually bought the ticket for my husband for his birthday," the woman said. "Turns out it was the best birthday present I've ever gotten him!"
The couple's ticket was one of 10 winning tickets to score a $347,862.34 Division One jackpot in Saturday's drawing.
"Our family has been through a tough time and this is going to help a heck of a lot," the woman said. "It really hasn't sunk in just yet, but I know we will really enjoy it. My husband and I are both retired so we have plenty of time to plan how we will enjoy it."


upi--2020-06-03--At-home gene test for breast, ovarian cancers looks effective

Screening for breast and ovarian cancer genes might be added to the list of medical tests that can be safely and effectively done from home , new research suggests .
The study looked at screening for BRCA1 , BRCA2 and other gene mutations linked to an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer .
Women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation have as much as a 7 in 10 chance of getting breast cancer by age 80 , according to the American Cancer Society .
Typically , this genetic testing requires a pre-screening counseling session with a genetic counselor .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a post-screening session to get their test results .
But a number of services have begun offering BRCA gene testing at home -- and not all offer counseling .
`` We really wanted to figure out how to make genetic testing more accessible to women in their homes , but we wanted to know if that would create stress or anxiety , '' said study lead author Dr. Elizabeth Swisher .
She is director of gynecologic oncology at the University of Washington .
Counseling is important for women who learn they have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BRCA2 .
Because of their higher risk for developing certain cancers , some women with these mutations choose to have prophylactic removal of their breasts or ovaries .
Actress Angelina Jolie chose to have a double mastectomy in 2013 after learning that she had the BRCA1 mutation .
She had her ovaries removed in 2015 .
The study included more than 3,800 women from centers in the United States .
Their average age was 44 , and most were white .
The genetic test they were given relies on the use of saliva @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BRCA2 mutations , as well as thousands of other less common genetic mutations linked to breast or ovarian cancers .
Just over 7 percent of the women had a mutation in a breast or ovarian cancer gene .
The researchers looked at whether women were comfortable forgoing either pre- or post-test genetic counseling , or both .
Eighteen percent of the women had high distress three months after the test , but it did n't seem to matter what level of counseling they had experienced .
Distress levels were lowest for women who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But none of the groups were significantly different in terms of distress levels .
The researchers also found that anxiety , depression or regret about having the test was similar in all of the testing situations .
Also , women who received online genetic education but no counseling were most likely to complete the testing .
Swisher said the off-the-shelf cost of the test is about $ 250 .
Insurance coverage would likely make this cheaper , she said .
She suggested customers should be wary of `` recreational '' genetic tests if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making .
`` If you want to assess your cancer risk , genetic testing is something to consider .
At a minimum , you should ask parents and other relatives about your family cancer history -- where did the cancer start , at what age and what relative ?
Certain patterns [ like a young age when first diagnosed ] can suggest hereditary risk , '' Swisher said .
Dr. William Cance , chief medical and scientific officer for the American Cancer Society , said , `` Home testing could be a major @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many people as possible .
It saves time , travel and copays . ''
Plus , he said , there is a shortage of genetic counselors .
With home screening , women who do n't have genetic mutations could likely get their results faster and be `` reassured quickly . ''
For women who have a genetic mutation , Cance added , `` I think it is essential that women get counseling for a positive result . ''
The study was presented Friday as part of the American Society of Clinical Oncology virtual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ typically viewed as preliminary until they 've been published in a peer-reviewed journal .
The study was funded by Stand Up to Cancer , the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance and the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition .
Learn more about genetic testing for breast cancer genes from the American Cancer Society .

Screening for breast and ovarian cancer genes might be added to the list of medical tests that can be safely and effectively done from home, new research suggests.
The study looked at screening for BRCA1, BRCA2 and other gene mutations linked to an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation have as much as a 7 in 10 chance of getting breast cancer by age 80, according to the American Cancer Society.
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Typically, this genetic testing requires a pre-screening counseling session with a genetic counselor. After the test, women usually return for a post-screening session to get their test results.
But a number of services have begun offering BRCA gene testing at home -- and not all offer counseling.
"We really wanted to figure out how to make genetic testing more accessible to women in their homes, but we wanted to know if that would create stress or anxiety," said study lead author Dr. Elizabeth Swisher. She is director of gynecologic oncology at the University of Washington.
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Counseling is important for women who learn they have genetic mutations, such as BRCA1 or BRCA2. Because of their higher risk for developing certain cancers, some women with these mutations choose to have prophylactic removal of their breasts or ovaries. Actress Angelina Jolie chose to have a double mastectomy in 2013 after learning that she had the BRCA1 mutation. She had her ovaries removed in 2015.
The study included more than 3,800 women from centers in the United States. Their average age was 44, and most were white. The genetic test they were given relies on the use of saliva. The test looked for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations, as well as thousands of other less common genetic mutations linked to breast or ovarian cancers.
Just over 7 percent of the women had a mutation in a breast or ovarian cancer gene.
The researchers looked at whether women were comfortable forgoing either pre- or post-test genetic counseling, or both.
Eighteen percent of the women had high distress three months after the test, but it didn't seem to matter what level of counseling they had experienced.
Distress levels were lowest for women who received no pre- or post-test counseling. But none of the groups were significantly different in terms of distress levels. The researchers also found that anxiety, depression or regret about having the test was similar in all of the testing situations.
Advertisement
Also, women who received online genetic education but no counseling were most likely to complete the testing.
Swisher said the off-the-shelf cost of the test is about $250. Insurance coverage would likely make this cheaper, she said.
She suggested customers should be wary of "recreational" genetic tests if one wants the information for medical decision making.
"If you want to assess your cancer risk, genetic testing is something to consider. At a minimum, you should ask parents and other relatives about your family cancer history -- where did the cancer start, at what age and what relative? Certain patterns [like a young age when first diagnosed] can suggest hereditary risk," Swisher said.
Dr. William Cance, chief medical and scientific officer for the American Cancer Society, said, "Home testing could be a major step forward in getting screening to as many people as possible. It saves time, travel and copays."
Plus, he said, there is a shortage of genetic counselors. With home screening, women who don't have genetic mutations could likely get their results faster and be "reassured quickly."
For women who have a genetic mutation, Cance added, "I think it is essential that women get counseling for a positive result."
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The study was presented Friday as part of the American Society of Clinical Oncology virtual meeting. Findings presented at meetings are typically viewed as preliminary until they've been published in a peer-reviewed journal.
The study was funded by Stand Up to Cancer, the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance and the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition.
More information
Learn more about genetic testing for breast cancer genes from the American Cancer Society.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-06-03--COVID-19 pandemic causes 42% drop in ER visits nationwide, CDC reports

June 3 ( UPI ) -- Visits to hospital U.S. emergency rooms have dropped by more than 40 percent so far in 2020 , compared to the same period last year , according to figures released Wednesday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
The statistics indicate that a significant number of Americans may have delayed or declined emergency care because of the COVID-19 pandemic , the agency said .
In their analysis of ER visit trends , CDC researchers analyzed data from the National Syndromic Surveillance Program for the period of Jan. 1 through May 30 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. states except Hawaii , South Dakota and Wyoming .
Changes in how hospitals , and specifically ERs , are used could be a lasting legacy of the new coronavirus , according to some public health experts .
Many patients who once addressed health concerns by heading to the ER could be managed remotely , using telemedicine , Dr. Paul Biddinger , during a conference call with reporters on May 26 .
Biddinger , vice chair for emergency preparedness in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital , was not part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been working for years , probably really fair to say decades , on telemedicine , when it 's appropriate for patients not to have to come to the hospital , but they can see their doctor remotely , '' Biddinger said .
`` And the pandemic forced a lot of that on us , '' he said .
The CDC researchers compared total visits so far this year to the same five-month period in 2019 .
The number of ER visits declined from a mean of roughly 2.1 million per week between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 27 , 2019 , to a mean of 1.22 million per week during the `` early pandemic '' period of March 29 to April 25 of this year , according to the CDC .
ER visits declined for every age group , with the largest proportional declines in children 10 years old and younger at 72 percent and children 11 to 14 years old at 71 percent , the agency said .
Researchers found the largest declines in ER visits occurred in the New England states at 49 percent , as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That region includes New York and New Jersey , which has been the epicenter of the U.S. COVID-19 outbreak .
ER visits related to abdominal pain and other digestive problems fell by more than 66,000 per week from year to year , while those among patients reporting musculoskeletal pain -- excluding low-back pain -- dropped by more than 52,000 per week , according to the CDC report .
Visits for `` sprains and strains '' declined by nearly 34,000 per week , and those related to `` superficial injuries '' fell by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Conversely , ER visits for `` exposure , encounters , screening or contact with infectious disease '' increased by nearly 19,000 per week from 2019 to 2020 , the analysis found .
Specifically , some 18,000 ER visits occurred per week across the country for COVID-19 symptoms through the end of May , the researchers said .
Still , additional research is needed to determine whether the decline in ER visits could be also attributed to `` actual reductions in injuries or illness [ due ] to changing activity patterns during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ researchers wrote .
`` The striking decline in [ ER ] visits nationwide , with the highest declines in regions where the pandemic was most severe , suggests that the pandemic has altered the use of the [ ER ] by the public , '' researchers said .

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a significant drop in emergency room visits among patients with other ailments, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. Photo by paulbr75/Pixabay
June 3 (UPI) -- Visits to hospital U.S. emergency rooms have dropped by more than 40 percent so far in 2020, compared to the same period last year, according to figures released Wednesday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The statistics indicate that a significant number of Americans may have delayed or declined emergency care because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the agency said. Advertisement
In their analysis of ER visit trends, CDC researchers analyzed data from the National Syndromic Surveillance Program for the period of Jan. 1 through May 30. The program includes data from all U.S. states except Hawaii, South Dakota and Wyoming.
Changes in how hospitals, and specifically ERs, are used could be a lasting legacy of the new coronavirus, according to some public health experts.
Many patients who once addressed health concerns by heading to the ER could be managed remotely, using telemedicine, Dr. Paul Biddinger, during a conference call with reporters on May 26.
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Biddinger, vice chair for emergency preparedness in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, was not part of the CDC analysis.
"People have been working for years, probably really fair to say decades, on telemedicine, when it's appropriate for patients not to have to come to the hospital, but they can see their doctor remotely," Biddinger said.
"And the pandemic forced a lot of that on us," he said.
The CDC researchers compared total visits so far this year to the same five-month period in 2019.
The number of ER visits declined from a mean of roughly 2.1 million per week between March 31, 2019, and April 27, 2019, to a mean of 1.22 million per week during the "early pandemic" period of March 29 to April 25 of this year, according to the CDC.
ER visits declined for every age group, with the largest proportional declines in children 10 years old and younger at 72 percent and children 11 to 14 years old at 71 percent, the agency said.
Researchers found the largest declines in ER visits occurred in the New England states at 49 percent, as well as in the mid-Atlantic region at 48 percent. That region includes New York and New Jersey, which has been the epicenter of the U.S. COVID-19 outbreak.
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ER visits related to abdominal pain and other digestive problems fell by more than 66,000 per week from year to year, while those among patients reporting musculoskeletal pain -- excluding low-back pain -- dropped by more than 52,000 per week, according to the CDC report.
Visits for "sprains and strains" declined by nearly 34,000 per week, and those related to "superficial injuries" fell by nearly 31,000 per week, the researchers said.
Conversely, ER visits for "exposure, encounters, screening or contact with infectious disease" increased by nearly 19,000 per week from 2019 to 2020, the analysis found. Specifically, some 18,000 ER visits occurred per week across the country for COVID-19 symptoms through the end of May, the researchers said.
Still, additional research is needed to determine whether the decline in ER visits could be also attributed to "actual reductions in injuries or illness [due] to changing activity patterns during the pandemic" lockdown, the CDC researchers wrote.
"The striking decline in [ER] visits nationwide, with the highest declines in regions where the pandemic was most severe, suggests that the pandemic has altered the use of the [ER] by the public," researchers said.


upi--2020-06-03--Listen: Eunkwang shares 'FoRest: Entrance' highlight medley

June 3 ( UPI ) -- South Korean singer Eunkwang is giving fans a preview of his debut EP .
@ @ @ @ @ a member of the boy band BtoB , released a highlight medley Wednesday for his @ @ @ @ @ : Entrance .
The video features clips of `` Have a Nice Day , '' @ @ @ @ @ Love Again '' and four other songs .
Eunkwang will release FoRest : Entrance on @ @ @ @ @ new concept photos for the EP on Tuesday .
Eunkwang came to fame with BtoB @ @ @ @ @ .
The group has been on hiatus as Eunkwang , Minhyuk and Changsub fulfill their @ @ @ @ @ also consists of Hyunsik , Peniel , Ilhoon and Sungjae .
The group made its @ @ @ @

June 3 (UPI) -- South Korean singer Eunkwang is giving fans a preview of his debut EP.
The 29-year-old K-pop star, a member of the boy band BtoB, released a highlight medley Wednesday for his forthcoming mini album, FoRest: Entrance.
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The video features clips of "Have a Nice Day," "Walk," "Love Again" and four other songs.
Eunkwang will release FoRest: Entrance on June 8. BtoB shared new concept photos for the EP on Tuesday.
Eunkwang came to fame with BtoB, or Born to Beat. The group has been on hiatus as Eunkwang, Minhyuk and Changsub fulfill their mandatory military service.
BtoB also consists of Hyunsik, Peniel, Ilhoon and Sungjae. The group made its debut in 2012.


upi--2020-06-03--Disney pledges to donate $5 million toward social justice

June 3 ( UPI ) -- The Walt Disney Company announced plans on Wednesday to donate $ 5 million to support nonprofit organizations that advance social justice .
Disney said it will begin by donating $ 2 million to the NAACP .
The company also committed to matching donations made by employees to eligible organizations .
`` The killing of George Floyd has forced our nation to once again confront the long history of injustice that black people in America have suffered , and it is critical that we stand together , speak out and do everything in our power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violence are never tolerated , '' Bob Chapek , CEO of the Walt Disney Co. said in a statement .
`` The $ 5 million pledge will continue to support the efforts of nonprofit organizations such as the NAACP that have worked tirelessly to ensure equality and justice , '' he continued .
Disney is making the donation as protests take place nationwide following the death of George Floyd .
Floyd , 46 , was an unarmed black man who died while handcuffed and pinned to the ground by white police officer Derek @ @ @ @ @ @ @ videotaped placing his knee on Floyd 's neck , has been fired and charged .
Music stars The Weeknd and Drake recently donated $ 100,000 to National Bail Out following Floyd 's death .
National Bail Out is a black-led collective working to end pretrial detention for black women .
In May , the San Francisco 49ers pledged to donate $ 1 million to `` local and national organizations who are creating change . ''

The Walt Disney Company has pledged $5 million to support nonprofit organizations that advance social justice, beginning with a $2 million donation to the NAACP: https://t.co/Heo5DKaiuf pic.twitter.com/FpSECsstXS— Walt Disney Company (@WaltDisneyCo) June 3, 2020
June 3 (UPI) -- The Walt Disney Company announced plans on Wednesday to donate $5 million to support nonprofit organizations that advance social justice.
Disney said it will begin by donating $2 million to the NAACP. The company also committed to matching donations made by employees to eligible organizations.
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"The killing of George Floyd has forced our nation to once again confront the long history of injustice that black people in America have suffered, and it is critical that we stand together, speak out and do everything in our power to ensure that acts of racism and violence are never tolerated," Bob Chapek, CEO of the Walt Disney Co. said in a statement.
"The $5 million pledge will continue to support the efforts of nonprofit organizations such as the NAACP that have worked tirelessly to ensure equality and justice," he continued.
Disney is making the donation as protests take place nationwide following the death of George Floyd. Floyd, 46, was an unarmed black man who died while handcuffed and pinned to the ground by white police officer Derek Chauvin. The officer, who was videotaped placing his knee on Floyd's neck, has been fired and charged.
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Music stars The Weeknd and Drake recently donated $100,000 to National Bail Out following Floyd's death. National Bail Out is a black-led collective working to end pretrial detention for black women.
In May, the San Francisco 49ers pledged to donate $1 million to "local and national organizations who are creating change."


upi--2020-06-03--Watch: Man with metal detector finds lost diamond ring at Florida beach

June 3 ( UPI ) -- A treasure hunter using his metal detector at a Florida beach found a lost @ @ @ @ @ water .
Derek Smith said he was out Monday with his metal detector when it @ @ @ @ @ the shallow water at Madeira Beach .
Smith reached into the sand and unearthed a @ @ @ @ @ able to identify as belonging to a woman who had earlier reached out to him @ @ @ @ @ on the lookout for the ring she lost at the beach .
Smith said the @ @ @ @ @ large diamond and several smaller jewels , bear 's the woman 's name engraved inside @ @ @ @ @ hunter said he is working on returning the ring , which he estimated to be @ @ @ @ @ to its rightful owner .
He said he does not have the woman 's contact @ @ @ @ @ hoping she will come forward to claim her property .

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June 3 (UPI) -- A treasure hunter using his metal detector at a Florida beach found a lost diamond ring in the shallow water.
Derek Smith said he was out Monday with his metal detector when it indicated something was buried under the shallow water at Madeira Beach.
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Smith reached into the sand and unearthed a ring that he was quickly able to identify as belonging to a woman who had earlier reached out to him and asked him to be on the lookout for the ring she lost at the beach.
Smith said the ring, which features a large diamond and several smaller jewels, bear's the woman's name engraved inside the band.
The treasure hunter said he is working on returning the ring, which he estimated to be worth about $10,000, to its rightful owner. He said he does not have the woman's contact information, but he is hoping she will come forward to claim her property.


upi--2020-06-04--WWE NXT: Keith Lee, Mia Yim take on Johnny Gargano, Candice LeRae

June 4 ( UPI ) -- North American Champion Keith Lee and Mia Yim faced off against Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae in a couple vs. couple match on WWE NXT .
The bout was made after Yim and LeRae had a one-on-one bout that ended via double count-out .
Yim and LeRae brawled outside the ring during their match , leading the referee to count them out .
Tegan Nox , Dakota Kai , Raquel Gonzalez and Shotzi Blackheart also got involved in the melee .
NXT general manager William Regal then ordered a Mixed Tag Team Match to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LeRae and Gargano .
Lee used his incredible strength to throw Gargano into the ring to start the match .
LeRae tried to jump on Lee 's back to no avail .
Yim and Lee were able to dominate at first until Gargano pulled out his car keys to poke the champ in the eye .
Yim checked on her boyfriend which allowed LeRae to quickly pin her from behind to win the match .
Lee will be defending his North American Championship against Gargano at NXT TakeOver : In Your House on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came to a close with El Hijo del Fantasma taking on Drake Maverick in the finals .
Maverick , who has been fighting to keep his job , fought hard against Fantasma and was in control until a group of masked men came to the ringside area .
The masked men have been responsible for abducting NXT stars in recent weeks .
Maverick fought off the masked men who appeared to be targeting Fantasma .
Maverick rolled back into the ring where Fantasma defeated him with the Phantom Driver to become the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ H then arrived and granted Maverick a new contract so that he could keep his job .
Breezango , the tag team consisting of Tyler Breeze and Fandango , returned in style to take on Bobby Fish and Roderick Strong and Danny Burch and Oney Lorcan in a Triple Threat match .
Breezango arrived to ring wearing space outfits .
Fandango won the match after performing The Last Dance on Fish who was distracted by the mysterious Dexter Lumis .
Other moments from WWE NXT included Isaiah 'Swerve ' Scott defeating Tony Nese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Grimes defeating Bronson Reed ; and Karrion Kross assaulting Bronson before issuing a warning to Tommaso Ciampa .
NXT TakeOver : In Your House will also feature NXT Champion Adam Cole defending his title against The Velveteen Dream in a Backlot Brawl ; NXT Women 's Champion Charlotte Flair defending her title against Rhea Ripley and Io Shirai ; and Finn Balor vs. Damian Priest .

June 4 (UPI) -- North American Champion Keith Lee and Mia Yim faced off against Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae in a couple vs. couple match on WWE NXT.
The bout was made after Yim and LeRae had a one-on-one bout that ended via double count-out. Yim and LeRae brawled outside the ring during their match, leading the referee to count them out.
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Tegan Nox, Dakota Kai, Raquel Gonzalez and Shotzi Blackheart also got involved in the melee. NXT general manager William Regal then ordered a Mixed Tag Team Match to start immediately between Lee, Yim, LeRae and Gargano.
Lee used his incredible strength to throw Gargano into the ring to start the match. LeRae tried to jump on Lee's back to no avail.
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Yim and Lee were able to dominate at first until Gargano pulled out his car keys to poke the champ in the eye. Yim checked on her boyfriend which allowed LeRae to quickly pin her from behind to win the match.
Lee will be defending his North American Championship against Gargano at NXT TakeOver: In Your House on Sunday.
The NXT Cruiserweight Championship tournament came to a close with El Hijo del Fantasma taking on Drake Maverick in the finals.
Maverick, who has been fighting to keep his job, fought hard against Fantasma and was in control until a group of masked men came to the ringside area. The masked men have been responsible for abducting NXT stars in recent weeks.
Maverick fought off the masked men who appeared to be targeting Fantasma. Maverick rolled back into the ring where Fantasma defeated him with the Phantom Driver to become the new NXT Cruiserweight Championship.
NXT head Triple H then arrived and granted Maverick a new contract so that he could keep his job.
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Breezango, the tag team consisting of Tyler Breeze and Fandango, returned in style to take on Bobby Fish and Roderick Strong and Danny Burch and Oney Lorcan in a Triple Threat match. Breezango arrived to ring wearing space outfits.
Fandango won the match after performing The Last Dance on Fish who was distracted by the mysterious Dexter Lumis.
Other moments from WWE NXT included Isaiah 'Swerve' Scott defeating Tony Nese; Santana Garrett defeating Aliyah; Cameron Grimes defeating Bronson Reed; and Karrion Kross assaulting Bronson before issuing a warning to Tommaso Ciampa.
NXT TakeOver: In Your House will also feature NXT Champion Adam Cole defending his title against The Velveteen Dream in a Backlot Brawl; NXT Women's Champion Charlotte Flair defending her title against Rhea Ripley and Io Shirai; and Finn Balor vs. Damian Priest.


upi--2020-06-04--World's most sensitive strain sensor can detect the weight of a feather

June 4 ( UPI ) -- Scientists have unveiled the world 's most sensitive strain sensor , capable of detecting the weight of a single feather .
The sensor is significantly more stretchable , capable of enduring 80 times greater strain than current commercial sensors , and is able to register resistance changes with 100 times the precision of current sensors , researchers said .
The new strain sensor -- described Thursday in the journal Advanced Functional Materials -- could be used to improve the sensitivity of a variety of medical and wearable devices .
`` The next wave of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rubber imbued with conductive materials such as graphene or silver nanoparticles , and has been in development for over a decade now , '' lead study author Marcus O'Mara , researcher at the University of Sussex , said in a news release .
`` We believe these sensors are a big step forward , '' O'Mara said .
`` When compared to both linear and non-linear strain sensors referenced in the scientific literature , our sensors exhibit the largest absolute change in resistance ever reported . ''
According to Alan Dalton , study @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sussex , the device could be used to measure joint movements of an athlete or the vital signs of a hospital patient .
`` Multiple devices could be used across the body of a patient , connected wirelessly and communicating together to provide a live , mobile health diagnostics at a fraction of the current cost , '' Dalton said .
Researchers created the new strain sensor by carefully incorporating large amounts of graphene nanosheets into a matrix composed of the composite material polydimethylsiloxane , or PDMS .
According to the new study @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , transparent , durable , and has very minimal shrinkage on curing . ''
PDMS is normally resistant to mixing , but researchers developed a novel process for incorporating graphene into the composite material -- methods that researchers suggest could be used to develop other kinds of two-dimensional layered materials and polymer matrices .
Most strain sensors are limited in either their range or their sensitivity , but the latest strain sensor material is able to take on large amounts of strain while also registering tiny changes in strain .
`` Nanocomposites are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to their elasticity , but widespread adoption by industry has been hampered by non-linear effects such as hysteresis and creep due to the liquid like nature of polymers at the nanoscale which makes accurate , repeatable strain readouts an ongoing challenge , '' said Sean Ogilvie , researcher fellow at Sussex .
`` Our sensors settle into a repeated , predictable pattern which means that we can still extract an accurate read-out of strain despite these effects , '' Ogilvie said .

Researchers created a new strain sensor material by incorporating graphene into a unique polymer matrix. Photo by University of Sussex
June 4 (UPI) -- Scientists have unveiled the world's most sensitive strain sensor, capable of detecting the weight of a single feather. The sensor is significantly more stretchable, capable of enduring 80 times greater strain than current commercial sensors, and is able to register resistance changes with 100 times the precision of current sensors, researchers said. Advertisement
The new strain sensor -- described Thursday in the journal Advanced Functional Materials -- could be used to improve the sensitivity of a variety of medical and wearable devices.
"The next wave of strain sensing technology uses elastic materials like rubber imbued with conductive materials such as graphene or silver nanoparticles, and has been in development for over a decade now," lead study author Marcus O'Mara, researcher at the University of Sussex, said in a news release.
"We believe these sensors are a big step forward," O'Mara said. "When compared to both linear and non-linear strain sensors referenced in the scientific literature, our sensors exhibit the largest absolute change in resistance ever reported."
According to Alan Dalton, study co-author and professor of experimental physics at Sussex, the device could be used to measure joint movements of an athlete or the vital signs of a hospital patient.
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"Multiple devices could be used across the body of a patient, connected wirelessly and communicating together to provide a live, mobile health diagnostics at a fraction of the current cost," Dalton said.
Researchers created the new strain sensor by carefully incorporating large amounts of graphene nanosheets into a matrix composed of the composite material polydimethylsiloxane, or PDMS.
According to the new study, PDMS is "biocompatible, elastic, transparent, durable, and has very minimal shrinkage on curing."
PDMS is normally resistant to mixing, but researchers developed a novel process for incorporating graphene into the composite material -- methods that researchers suggest could be used to develop other kinds of two-dimensional layered materials and polymer matrices.
Most strain sensors are limited in either their range or their sensitivity, but the latest strain sensor material is able to take on large amounts of strain while also registering tiny changes in strain.
"Nanocomposites are attractive candidates for next generation strain sensors due to their elasticity, but widespread adoption by industry has been hampered by non-linear effects such as hysteresis and creep due to the liquid like nature of polymers at the nanoscale which makes accurate, repeatable strain readouts an ongoing challenge," said Sean Ogilvie, researcher fellow at Sussex.
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"Our sensors settle into a repeated, predictable pattern which means that we can still extract an accurate read-out of strain despite these effects," Ogilvie said.


upi--2020-06-04--U.S. ambassador to South Korea shares photo of George Floyd protest

June 4 ( UPI ) -- The top U.S. diplomat to South Korea issued a statement on the protests that have swept the United States since the death of George Floyd , who died from asphyxia after being arrested by Minneapolis police .
Ambassador Harry Harris shared on Twitter on Thursday a message he said he had issued to U.S. Embassy staff .
Harris included a photo of a local protest outside the U.S. Embassy in central Seoul .
Harris said in his tweet that he `` disagreed '' with the South Korean protesters ' message in the photo , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ca n't breathe ! ''
The ambassador also said he `` respects their right to peacefully protest '' in democratic South Korea .
In the image shared on Twitter , the South Korean demonstrators are seen holding up images of Derek Chauvin , the white police officer who continued to press his knee into Floyd 's neck even after Floyd said he could not breathe , before becoming unresponsive .
Harris ' tweet included a screen capture of his message to Embassy staff .
`` I am deeply troubled about the events @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Minnesota and the ongoing aftermath .
I hurt to see our nation going through such difficult times .
Most demonstrators across the United States today are formed in peace protests against racism , bigotry and hatred .
I stand with them .
I share the conviction that those beliefs have no place in our society , '' Harris ' message read .
`` As an Asian American who was reared in the segregated South of the 1960s , I never thought I would see this happening again , especially in the 21st @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and her people .
`` To be clear , however , I do not stand with those who use peaceful protest as a cover for vandalism , mayhem and wanton destruction .
And to those voices -- and there are some , already -- who take perverse pleasure in what is happening in American today ... to them I say we 'll emerge a better country and a stronger democracy ... and we wo n't forget , '' the ambassador said .
Solidarity rallies are being planned online in South Korea , among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Korea Herald reported .

U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Harry Harris (L) issued a statement on the George Floyd protests. File Photo by Yonhap/EPA-EFE
June 4 (UPI) -- The top U.S. diplomat to South Korea issued a statement on the protests that have swept the United States since the death of George Floyd, who died from asphyxia after being arrested by Minneapolis police. Ambassador Harry Harris shared on Twitter on Thursday a message he said he had issued to U.S. Embassy staff. Harris included a photo of a local protest outside the U.S. Embassy in central Seoul. Advertisement
Harris said in his tweet that he "disagreed" with the South Korean protesters' message in the photo, which read, "U.S. imperialism means I can't breathe!"
The ambassador also said he "respects their right to peacefully protest" in democratic South Korea.
In the image shared on Twitter, the South Korean demonstrators are seen holding up images of Derek Chauvin, the white police officer who continued to press his knee into Floyd's neck even after Floyd said he could not breathe, before becoming unresponsive.
I disagree w/these protestors but respect their right to peacefully protest here in democratic ROK. Way cool-Americans & Koreans will rally VIRTUALLY on Saturday. USA will investigate fully & transparently George Floyd's killing. Shared these thoughts w/Embassy Team last Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/9jnXWbUTn9— Harry Harris (@USAmbROK) June 4, 2020
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Harris' tweet included a screen capture of his message to Embassy staff.
"I am deeply troubled about the events surrounding the brutal killing of George Floyd in Minnesota and the ongoing aftermath. I hurt to see our nation going through such difficult times. Most demonstrators across the United States today are formed in peace protests against racism, bigotry and hatred. I stand with them. I share the conviction that those beliefs have no place in our society," Harris' message read.
"As an Asian American who was reared in the segregated South of the 1960s, I never thought I would see this happening again, especially in the 21st Century. But I believe in America and her people.
"To be clear, however, I do not stand with those who use peaceful protest as a cover for vandalism, mayhem and wanton destruction. And to those voices -- and there are some, already -- who take perverse pleasure in what is happening in American today...to them I say we'll emerge a better country and a stronger democracy...and we won't forget," the ambassador said.
Solidarity rallies are being planned online in South Korea, among Korea's black communities and their supporters, the Korea Herald reported.


upi--2020-06-04--College football: Arizona State's Turk retains eligibility despite agent, NFL Combine work

June 4 ( UPI ) -- The NCAA has restored collegiate eligibility for Arizona State football player Michael Turk , despite the fact the Sun Devils punter declared for the NFL Draft , participated in the Scouting Combine and hired an agent .
Turk and Arizona State appealed to the NCAA to have the eligibility restored , citing the impact of the coronavirus on his opportunity to impress NFL scouts in person .
Turk could have showcased his skills at Arizona State 's pro day , but it was canceled due to the pandemic .
`` I left college early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did n't work out , '' Turk said Wednesday .
`` I 've been working hard and praying about it and now , due to COVID-19 and extenuating circumstances , I 've actually been granted my two years of eligibility back to play college football and I will be going back to Arizona State University . ''
The Sun Devils punter now has two years of collegiate eligibility remaining .
Turk led the Pac-12 with 67 punts for an average of 46 yards in 13 games last season , and tied for 11th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He set the single-game NCAA record with 63 yards per attempt in last season 's opener against Kent State .
Turk is the nephew of both longtime NFL punter Matt Turk and former NFL offensive lineman Dan Turk .
The Sun Devils punter was not selected in April 's NFL Draft and did not sign with an NFL team as an undrafted free agent .
Turk was a redshirt sophomore last season after he transferred to Arizona State from Lafayette College .
He sat out in 2018 after the transfer to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the 2020 NFL Draft -- Texas A & M 's Braden Mann by the New York Jets in the sixth round and Syracuse 's Sterling Hofrichter by the Atlanta Falcons in the seventh .

June 4 (UPI) -- The NCAA has restored collegiate eligibility for Arizona State football player Michael Turk, despite the fact the Sun Devils punter declared for the NFL Draft, participated in the Scouting Combine and hired an agent.
Turk and Arizona State appealed to the NCAA to have the eligibility restored, citing the impact of the coronavirus on his opportunity to impress NFL scouts in person. Turk could have showcased his skills at Arizona State's pro day, but it was canceled due to the pandemic.
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"I left college early to pursue a professional career and that didn't work out," Turk said Wednesday.
"I've been working hard and praying about it and now, due to COVID-19 and extenuating circumstances, I've actually been granted my two years of eligibility back to play college football and I will be going back to Arizona State University."
The Sun Devils punter now has two years of collegiate eligibility remaining.
Turk led the Pac-12 with 67 punts for an average of 46 yards in 13 games last season, and tied for 11th in college football in yards per punt. He set the single-game NCAA record with 63 yards per attempt in last season's opener against Kent State.
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Turk is the nephew of both longtime NFL punter Matt Turk and former NFL offensive lineman Dan Turk. The Sun Devils punter was not selected in April's NFL Draft and did not sign with an NFL team as an undrafted free agent.
Turk was a redshirt sophomore last season after he transferred to Arizona State from Lafayette College. He sat out in 2018 after the transfer to the Sun Devils.
Two punters were selected in the 2020 NFL Draft -- Texas A&M's Braden Mann by the New York Jets in the sixth round and Syracuse's Sterling Hofrichter by the Atlanta Falcons in the seventh.


upi--2020-06-04--Police officers shot, stabbed in NYC; LA faces suit over curfew

June 4 ( UPI ) -- Protests nationwide have become more peaceful since Minnesota authorities charged all four officers involved in the death of George Floyd , but violence continued in some cities -- including New York City , where three officers were badly injured by an armed assailant .
The New York City Police Department said early Thursday three officers were attacked by the suspect in Brooklyn , who stabbed one of the policemen in the neck and then stole a handgun and shot two others before he himself was shot .
The attack occurred in Brooklyn 's Flatbush @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We had a chaotic scene , '' NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea told reporters early Thursday .
`` We had two police officers shot in the hand , and we have a third police officer that is stabbed in the neck .
`` All police officers , at this point in time ... are in stable condition and are expected to recover . ''
Officials said the attacker is in critical condition .
In Washington , D.C. , mostly peaceful demonstrations went late into the night near the U.S. Capitol and the White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police -- as well as the Trump International Hotel .
There was a beefed-up federal and local police presence in the city , which saw repeated violence and vandalism over the past week .
The show of force , ordered by U.S. Attorney William Barr after violence flared in the Washington earlier in the week , included federal agents , troops and police .
Hundreds of protesters in the San Francisco Bay Area defied local curfews .
After declining to arrest violators on Tuesday , San Francisco police arrested nearly two dozen on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Justice .
In Los Angeles , Mayor Eric Garcetti said he plans to lift the city 's curfew on Thursday .
Pressure has been building on Garcetti to make the move .
The ACLU Foundation of Southern California has filed an emergency lawsuit on behalf of Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles , which challenges the `` draconian '' curfews imposed throughout Southern California .
The suit argues that the curfews constitute an `` extraordinary suppression of all political protest in the evening hours , '' and the ACLU said they violate the First Amendment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guarantee of freedom of movement .
`` The City and County of Los Angeles are attempting to use these curfews to suppress Black Lives Matter-L.A. 's right to protest , '' said group co-founder Melina Abdullah .
In Seattle , thousands of protesters rallied in the city 's Capitol Hill neighborhood and at City Hall .
Just before a citywide curfew took effect at 9 p.m. , Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan and Police Chief Carmen Best announced it would be lifted effective immediately .
They said they decided to rescind the curfew following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` wanted to ensure no peaceful individuals '' were arrested .
`` Chief Best believes we can balance public safety and ensure peaceful protests can continue without a curfew , '' Durkan said .

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Protesters take a knee Wednesday while marching in New York City following the death of George Floyd in Minnesota. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
June 4 (UPI) -- Protests nationwide have become more peaceful since Minnesota authorities charged all four officers involved in the death of George Floyd, but violence continued in some cities -- including New York City, where three officers were severely injured by an armed assailant. The New York City Police Department said early Thursday three officers were attacked in Brooklyn by a man who stabbed one officer in the neck, then stole a handgun and shot two others before the attacker was shot. Advertisement
The attack occurred in Brooklyn's Flatbush neighborhood just before midnight Wednesday.
"We had a chaotic scene," NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea told reporters early Thursday. "We had two police officers shot in the hand, and we have a third police officer that is stabbed in the neck.
"All police officers, at this point in time ... are in stable condition and are expected to recover."
Officials said the attacker was critically injured.
In Washington, D.C., mostly peaceful demonstrations went late into the night near the U.S. Capitol and the White House -- which had been blocked off by police -- as well as the Trump International Hotel.
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There was an increased federal and local police presence in the city, which saw repeated violence and vandalism over the past week.
The show of force, ordered by U.S. Attorney William Barr, included federal agents, troops and police.
In California, hundreds of protesters in the San Francisco Bay area defied local curfews. After declining to arrest violators on Tuesday, San Francisco police arrested nearly two dozen on Wednesday outside the city's Hall of Justice.
Earlier, thousands had marched through San Francisco's Mission District.
In Los Angeles, Mayor Eric Garcetti said he plans to lift the city's curfew on Thursday.
The ACLU Foundation of Southern California has filed an emergency lawsuit on behalf of Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles, which challenges the "draconian" curfews imposed throughout Southern California.
The suit argues that the curfews constitute an "extraordinary suppression of all political protest in the evening hours," the organization said in a press release, adding that curfews violate the First Amendment as well as the U.S. Constitution's guarantee of freedom of movement.
"The city and county of Los Angeles are attempting to use these curfews to suppress Black Lives Matter-L.A.'s right to protest," group co-founder Melina Abdullah said in the release.
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In Seattle, thousands of protesters rallied in the city's Capitol Hill neighborhood and at City Hall.
Just before a citywide curfew took effect at 9 p.m., Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan and Police Chief Carmen Best announced it would be lifted immediately. They said they decided to rescind the curfew following feedback from community leaders and protesters who "wanted to ensure no peaceful individuals" were arrested.
"Chief Best believes we can balance public safety and ensure peaceful protests can continue without a curfew," Durkan said.
Protesters demand justice in police killing of George Floyd


upi--2020-06-04--Soccer: Bundesliga won't punish players for George Floyd protests

June 4 ( UPI ) -- The German Bundesliga said it will not punish players for on-field protests in support of George Floyd during last weekend 's soccer slate .
Floyd , a 46-year-old black man , was killed while handcuffed and pinned to the ground by a white police officer on May 25 in Minneapolis .
His death has sparked protests throughout the United States and in Europe .
Borussia Dortmund 's Jadon Sancho and Achraf Hakimi revealed undershirts that read `` Justice for George Floyd '' after they scored goals in a win against Paderborn on Sunday in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Marcus Thuram referenced Floyd after he scored during a 4-1 win against Union Berlin Sunday in Monchengladbach .
Thurman scored before he knelt on the ground just outside the box .
He also posted a message about Floyd on social media after the match .
American midfielder Weston McKennie , who plays for Schalke 04 , wore an armband that read `` Justice for George Floyd '' during a 1-0 loss to Werder Bremen on Saturday in Gelsenkirchen .
Bundesliga rules prohibit players from political demonstrations and messages on equipment while they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Association , the governing body for soccer in Germany , said it would investigate the tributes after the matches .
FIFA rules also stipulate the same guidelines against political and personal messages .
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said Tuesday the Bundesliga should not punish the four players .
The German Football Association concluded that the players will not be be disciplined for the protests .
They said they will take the same stance with additional protests .
`` I welcome the control body 's forward-thinking decision and am very pleased with it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a statement .
`` The [ association ] is opposed to all forms of racism , discrimination and violence , and stands for tolerance , openness and diversity -- all values that are also deeply ingrained with the [ association ] statutes .
`` That 's why the players ' actions have our respect and understanding . ''
More players could protest in a similar fashion in Bundesliga games this weekend and as other European soccer leagues return from coronavirus-related suspensions .
The Football Association , which governs soccer in England @ @ @ @ @ @ @ common sense approach '' when it addresses the protests .
Players from Premier League squads showed support for Floyd earlier this week as they trained .
Spain 's La Liga , which returns June 11 , has not released a statement about Floyd-related protests but FC Barcelona star Lionel Messi has shown support for Floyd on social media .
Bundesliga play resumes with Monchengladbach in a game against Freiburg at 2:30 p.m. EDT Friday .
The weekend slate includes five more games on Saturday and three games on Sunday .

Borussia Dortmund's Jadon Sancho and three other Bundesliga players will not be punished for their protests in support of George Floyd during last week's soccer matches in Germany. Photo by Lars Baron/EPA-EFE
June 4 (UPI) -- The German Bundesliga said it will not punish players for on-field protests in support of George Floyd during last weekend's soccer slate. Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, was killed while handcuffed and pinned to the ground by a white police officer on May 25 in Minneapolis. His death has sparked protests throughout the United States and in Europe. Advertisement
Borussia Dortmund's Jadon Sancho and Achraf Hakimi revealed undershirts that read "Justice for George Floyd" after they scored goals in a win against Paderborn on Sunday in Paderborn, Germany.
Borussia Monchengladbach's Marcus Thuram referenced Floyd after he scored during a 4-1 win against Union Berlin Sunday in Monchengladbach. Thurman scored before he knelt on the ground just outside the box. He also posted a message about Floyd on social media after the match.
American midfielder Weston McKennie, who plays for Schalke 04, wore an armband that read "Justice for George Floyd" during a 1-0 loss to Werder Bremen on Saturday in Gelsenkirchen.
54' Thorgan Hazard 57' Jadon Sancho @BlackYellow are up and running at Paderborn pic.twitter.com/jr8JLxcseh— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) May 31, 2020
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Bundesliga rules prohibit players from political demonstrations and messages on equipment while they are on the field. The German Football Association, the governing body for soccer in Germany, said it would investigate the tributes after the matches. FIFA rules also stipulate the same guidelines against political and personal messages. FIFA President Gianni Infantino said Tuesday the Bundesliga should not punish the four players.
The German Football Association concluded that the players will not be be disciplined for the protests. They said they will take the same stance with additional protests.
"I welcome the control body's forward-thinking decision and am very pleased with it," German Football Association President Fritz Keller said in a statement. "The [association] is opposed to all forms of racism, discrimination and violence, and stands for tolerance, openness and diversity -- all values that are also deeply ingrained with the [association] statutes.
"That's why the players' actions have our respect and understanding."
No action to be taken against messages of solidarity with George Floyd. https://t.co/Rwb917sI3v pic.twitter.com/UqUaUdQXdc— Germany (@DFB_Team_EN) June 3, 2020
More players could protest in a similar fashion in Bundesliga games this weekend and as other European soccer leagues return from coronavirus-related suspensions. The Football Association, which governs soccer in England, said it will use a "common sense approach" when it addresses the protests. Players from Premier League squads showed support for Floyd earlier this week as they trained.
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Spain's La Liga, which returns June 11, has not released a statement about Floyd-related protests but FC Barcelona star Lionel Messi has shown support for Floyd on social media.
Bundesliga play resumes with Monchengladbach in a game against Freiburg at 2:30 p.m. EDT Friday. The weekend slate includes five more games on Saturday and three games on Sunday.


upi--2020-06-04--OHCHR: Philippines gov't has committed repeated human rights violations

June 4 ( UPI ) -- A United Nations report Thursday said the Philippines government has engaged in widespread human rights violations in the name of national security and drug trafficking .
The U.N. Human Rights Office called on the government to immediately address its tactics and the way it deals with suspects under President Rodrigo Duterte .
`` While there have been important human rights gains in recent years , particularly in economic and social rights , the underpinning focus on national security threats -- real and inflated -- has led to serious human rights violations , reinforced by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 26-page report states .
The study adds that there have been 8,663 deaths since the government in Manila began its campaign against drugs under Duterte four years ago .
The OHCHR said 248 human rights activists , legal professionals , journalists and trade unionists have been among the dead since 2015 .
Human rights organizations say the true toll is much higher and is probably close to 27,000 .
The OHCHR said laws lack due process protections and there 's encouragement at the highest level for the government to kill drug suspects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to widespread misconduct by police , the report says .
`` The Philippines faces major challenges -- structural poverty , inequality , armed conflict , frequent natural disasters , and now the COVID-19 crisis , '' said High Commissioner for Human Rights Michele Bachelet .
`` It is vital the government 's responses be grounded in human-rights approaches and guided by meaningful dialogue , '' she said .
`` Unfortunately , the report has documented deep-seated impunity for serious human rights violations , and victims have been deprived of justice for the killings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are heartbreaking . ''

A demonstrator holds a sign condemning Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte during a rally in Jerusalem, Israel, on September 4, 2018. Duterte has been called a dictator who justifies acts of violence. File Photo by Debbie Hill/UPI | License Photo
June 4 (UPI) -- A United Nations report Thursday said the Philippines government has engaged in widespread human rights violations in the name of national security and drug trafficking. The U.N. Human Rights Office called on the government to immediately address its tactics and the way it deals with suspects under President Rodrigo Duterte. Advertisement
"While there have been important human rights gains in recent years, particularly in economic and social rights, the underpinning focus on national security threats -- real and inflated -- has led to serious human rights violations, reinforced by harmful rhetoric from high-level officials," the 26-page report states.
The study adds that there have been 8,663 deaths since the government in Manila began its campaign against drugs under Duterte four years ago. The OHCHR said 248 human rights activists, legal professionals, journalists and trade unionists have been among the dead since 2015.
Human rights organizations say the true toll is much higher and is probably close to 27,000.
The OHCHR said laws lack due process protections and there's encouragement at the highest level for the government to kill drug suspects. Those lack of checks has led to widespread misconduct by police, the report says.
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"The Philippines faces major challenges -- structural poverty, inequality, armed conflict, frequent natural disasters, and now the COVID-19 crisis," said High Commissioner for Human Rights Michele Bachelet.
"It is vital the government's responses be grounded in human-rights approaches and guided by meaningful dialogue," she said. "Unfortunately, the report has documented deep-seated impunity for serious human rights violations, and victims have been deprived of justice for the killings of their loved ones. Their testimonies are heartbreaking."


upi--2020-06-04--AEW Dynamite: Cody defends TNT Championship against Jungle Boy

June 4 ( UPI ) -- Cody defended the newly introduced TNT Championship for the first time on Dynamite against Jungle Boy .
Jungle Boy rose to the challenge on Wednesday and fought hard against The American Nightmare .
Cody , outside the ring , attempted to headbutt Jungle Boy twice but he ended up connecting with a wall , causing the champ to bleed .
Jungle Boy took advantage of the situation and attacked Cody 's head .
Jungle Boy and Cody eventually found themselves fighting on the top turnbuckle , right above a table that had been set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the table together .
Cody , back inside the ring , was able to recover and nail Jungle boy with the CrossRhodes to earn the three count .
Cody embraced Jungle Boy afterwards with the pair giving each other a hug and a handshake .
Also on Dynamite , AEW World Tag Team Champions Kenny Omega and Hangman Adam Page defended their titles against Kip Sabian and Jimmy Havoc .
Sabian was accompanied to the ring by his fiancee Penelope Ford .
Ford attempted to attack Page and jumped off the top rope @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then decided to eject Ford from the ringside area .
Havoc used the referee being distracted to attack Omega and Page with a ring wrench .
Page and Omega won the hard-hitting match after delivering The Last Call to Havoc for the three count .
The Last Call is a combination of Page 's Buckshot Lariat and Omega 's V-Trigger .
Chris Jericho was in action against Colt Cabana .
Jericho was joined by Inner Circle Members Jake Hager and Sammy Guevara .
Cabana was in control of the bout until Hager got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the top turnbuckle .
Cabana would recover and continue to attack Le Champion and was even able to escape from Jericho 's Lion Tamer submission hold .
Jericho won after hitting Cabana with the Judas Effect for the three count .
Jericho , following his altercation with Mike Tyson last week , called out the boxing great to confront him in the ring .
Jericho was instead greeted by Orange Cassidy .
Jericho and Hager both charged at Cassidy who was able to escape .
Cassidy , at ringside was then joined by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who picked him up over the guard rail .
Other moments from Dynamite included Brian Cage defeating Sean Dean ; AEW World Champion Jon Moxley confronting Cage and stating that he will retain his title at Fyter Fest ; Matt Hardy agreeing to help out Private Party in the future ; Nyla Rose defeating Big Swole ; # FTR being confronted by The Butcher and The Blade during an interview ; Cabana being asked to join The Dark Order ; and Dr. Britt Baker releasing a comedic video about her road to recovery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be broadcast over two nights on July 1 and July 8 on TNT .
The event will feature every AEW Championship being defended .

June 4 (UPI) -- Cody defended the newly introduced TNT Championship for the first time on Dynamite against Jungle Boy.
Jungle Boy rose to the challenge on Wednesday and fought hard against The American Nightmare.
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Cody, outside the ring, attempted to headbutt Jungle Boy twice but he ended up connecting with a wall, causing the champ to bleed. Jungle Boy took advantage of the situation and attacked Cody's head.
Jungle Boy and Cody eventually found themselves fighting on the top turnbuckle, right above a table that had been set up ringside. The competitors crashed through the table together.
Cody, back inside the ring, was able to recover and nail Jungle boy with the CrossRhodes to earn the three count. Cody embraced Jungle Boy afterwards with the pair giving each other a hug and a handshake.
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Also on Dynamite, AEW World Tag Team Champions Kenny Omega and Hangman Adam Page defended their titles against Kip Sabian and Jimmy Havoc. Sabian was accompanied to the ring by his fiancee Penelope Ford.
Ford attempted to attack Page and jumped off the top rope but Page stopped her. The referee then decided to eject Ford from the ringside area. Havoc used the referee being distracted to attack Omega and Page with a ring wrench.
Page and Omega won the hard-hitting match after delivering The Last Call to Havoc for the three count. The Last Call is a combination of Page's Buckshot Lariat and Omega's V-Trigger.
Chris Jericho was in action against Colt Cabana. Jericho was joined by Inner Circle Members Jake Hager and Sammy Guevara.
Cabana was in control of the bout until Hager got involved to smash Cabana's head into the top turnbuckle. Cabana would recover and continue to attack Le Champion and was even able to escape from Jericho's Lion Tamer submission hold.
Jericho won after hitting Cabana with the Judas Effect for the three count. Jericho, following his altercation with Mike Tyson last week, called out the boxing great to confront him in the ring.
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Jericho was instead greeted by Orange Cassidy. Jericho and Hager both charged at Cassidy who was able to escape. Cassidy, at ringside was then joined by his partners, The Best Friends, who picked him up over the guard rail.
Other moments from Dynamite included Brian Cage defeating Sean Dean; AEW World Champion Jon Moxley confronting Cage and stating that he will retain his title at Fyter Fest; Matt Hardy agreeing to help out Private Party in the future; Nyla Rose defeating Big Swole; #FTR being confronted by The Butcher and The Blade during an interview; Cabana being asked to join The Dark Order; and Dr. Britt Baker releasing a comedic video about her road to recovery after being injured.
Fyter Fest will be broadcast over two nights on July 1 and July 8 on TNT. The event will feature every AEW Championship being defended.


upi--2020-06-04--South Korean man's fall at department store ruled a suicide

June 4 ( UPI ) -- A South Korean man died by suicide on Thursday in the central city of Daegu , according to local press reports .
Yonhap and Money Today reported the unidentified man in his 30s fell from the ninth floor of the Shinsegae Department Store in Daegu .
The fall occurred inside the building at about 11:20 a.m. , when the man fell over the balustrade on the ninth floor and landed on the fifth floor , reports say .
Paramedics responded to an emergency call from a member of the department store 's safety management @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11:25 a.m. to provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation .
The man was then taken to Daegu Fatima Hospital , local police and fire department sources said .
He died while undergoing treatment at the hospital , according to reports .
South Korea police said foul play is not suspected .
`` After checking closed circuit television footage , we have found no suspected criminal actions , '' police said .
`` We will conduct investigations with surviving family members . ''
South Korea has one of the highest rates of suicide among developed nations of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ press reported workers who were the target of workplace bullying were resorting to suicide , after being subjected to frequent verbal abuse .
Workplace abuse in South Korea made headlines in 2014 , when a Korean Air heiress ordered the removal of airplane staff for not serving in-flight nuts on a plate .

A man died by suicide in the central South Korean city of Daegu, according to local press reports. File Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo
June 4 (UPI) -- A South Korean man died by suicide on Thursday in the central city of Daegu, according to local press reports. Yonhap and Money Today reported the unidentified man in his 30s fell from the ninth floor of the Shinsegae Department Store in Daegu. Advertisement
The fall occurred inside the building at about 11:20 a.m., when the man fell over the balustrade on the ninth floor and landed on the fifth floor, reports say.
Paramedics responded to an emergency call from a member of the department store's safety management team, arriving on site at around 11:25 a.m. to provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
The man was then taken to Daegu Fatima Hospital, local police and fire department sources said.
He died while undergoing treatment at the hospital, according to reports.
South Korea police said foul play is not suspected.
"After checking closed circuit television footage, we have found no suspected criminal actions," police said. "We will conduct investigations with surviving family members."
South Korea has one of the highest rates of suicide among developed nations of the world.
In May, local press reported workers who were the target of workplace bullying were resorting to suicide, after being subjected to frequent verbal abuse.
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Workplace abuse in South Korea made headlines in 2014, when a Korean Air heiress ordered the removal of airplane staff for not serving in-flight nuts on a plate.


upi--2020-06-04--3 men in Georgia court Thursday to face charges in Ahmaud Arbery killing

June 4 ( UPI ) -- Three men charged in the killing of Ahmaud Arbery will appear in court in Georgia for a preliminary hearing on Thursday .
Arbery died after he was shot three times on Feb. 23 as he was jogging in the Satilla Shores neighborhood in Brunswick , Ga. , less than two miles from his home .
Gregory McMichael , 64 , his son Travis McMichael , 34 , and William `` Roddie '' Bryan Jr. , 50 , will appear via video before Glynn County Chief Magistrate Judge Wallace E. Harrell at the county courthouse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McMichaels were arrested last month and charged with murder and aggravated assault after video of the shooting was posted online .
Bryan , who captured the footage of the confrontation , was also arrested on charges of murder and attempt to commit false imprisonment .
All three men are being held without bond at the Glynn County Detention Center and their attorneys filed motions with magistrate court requesting preliminary probable cause hearings .
Arbery 's death preceded the police killing of George Floyd in Minnesota and the case has been a part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police brutality .
The elder McMichael told police they pursued Arbery after suspecting he 'd committed a series of break-ins in the neighborhood .
District Attorney Joyette Holmes will lead the case , after two previous prosecutors recused themselves due to conflicts of interest .
One , George Barnhill , had said the McMichaels were acting in self-defense and advised that no charges be filed against them .
An arrest warrant for Bryan said he attempted to block Arbery with his vehicle and confine and detain him without legal authority .
The Justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also weighing hate crimes charges in the case .

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Ahmaud Arbery was shot dead in February while jogging near his home in Brunswick, Ga. Three men have been charged in his slaying. Photo courtesy Ahmaud Arbery family/UPI | License Photo
June 4 (UPI) -- A Georgia judge on Thursday advanced the cases against the three defendants charged with murder in the killing of Ahmaud Arbery to trial court. Magistrate Court Judge Wallace Harrell found there was enough evidence to allow the cases against Travis McMichael, 34, his father Greg McMichael, 64, and William Bryan, 50, to advance following a probable cause hearing featuring testimony from a special prosecutor and the lead investigator. Advertisement
The McMichaels and their neighbor, Bryan, are each charged with felony murder in the killing of Arbery, who died after he was shot three times on Feb. 23 as he was jogging through a Brunswick neighborhood less than 2 miles from his home.
Special prosecutor Jesse Evans said Arbery, a 25-year-old black man, "was chased, hunted down and ultimately executed" while being boxed in by two pickup trucks driven by the white defendants.
Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent Richard Dial testified that the driver of the first pickup truck, Travis McMichael, got out of the truck and shot Arbery three times with a shotgun.
Dial also testified that Bryan heard Travis McMichael call Arbery a racial slur after firing the fatal shots.
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The McMichaels were arrested last month and charged with murder and aggravated assault after video of the shooting was posted online. Bryan, who captured the footage of the confrontation, was also arrested on charges of murder and attempt to commit false imprisonment.
All three were being held without bond at the Glynn County Detention Center.
The elder McMichael told police they pursued Arbery after suspecting he'd committed a series of break-ins in the neighborhood.
His death preceded the police killing of George Floyd in Minnesota and the case has been a part of national protests over the past week opposing police brutality.
Crowds of protesters gathered outside of the courthouse chanting "hands up, don't shoot" and "no bond."
Police were on high alert in Brunswick after Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp promised he would "do whatever is necessary to keep the peace" amid protests.
District Attorney Joyette Holmes will lead the case, after two previous prosecutors recused themselves due to conflicts of interest. One, George Barnhill, had said the McMichaels were acting in self-defense and advised that no charges be filed against them.
An arrest warrant for Bryan said he attempted to block Arbery with his vehicle and confine and detain him without legal authority.
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The Justice Department said last month federal prosecutors are also weighing hate crimes charges in the case.


upi--2020-06-04--South Korea protesters clashing at comfort women site, report says

June 4 ( UPI ) -- Tensions are rising between protesters at a weekly rally outside the Japanese Embassy in Seoul , according to a local press report .
South Korean news service Money Today reported Thursday the demonstrations of the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery are increasingly the target of counter-protesters , following misappropriation allegations against the council 's founder and new lawmaker Yoon Mi-hyang .
Lee Yong-soo , the former `` comfort woman '' who had said she and other victims of Japanese wartime brothels were used as a front @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pleaded to demonstrators to not turn the comfort women rallies into a political battleground , according to Money Today .
The call was ignored on Wednesday , when conservative South Korean activists , who have accused Yoon of embezzlement , reportedly clashed physically with Yoon 's supporters .
Yoon 's supporters used vuvuzelas , or horns used at soccer matches , to block out the messages from the conservative activists who were rallying a few feet away .
The instruments were used to deter opponents despite pleas from a Korean Council representative to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups . ''
Koo Jeong-woo , a sociologist at Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul , said conservatives have a right to express their opinion ; South Korean conservative causes have taken a back seat since the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye .
There is also no need to insist on protesting before the comfort woman statue , Koo said , according to Money Today .
The issue of Japanese government compensation has divided Seoul and Tokyo , following the termination of a 2015 foundation for past victims .
On Wednesday Tokyo voiced opposition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Korea-based Japanese corporate assets for the compensation of Korean wartime laborers , warning Seoul of `` serious consequences . ''
Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said Thursday a `` cautious response '' is needed from the South 's side , during a phone call with his South Korean counterpart Kang Kyung-wha , Jiji Press reported .

South Korean counter-protests are rising at the site of the "comfort women" rallies outside the Japanese Embassy in Seoul. File Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI | License Photo
June 4 (UPI) -- Tensions are rising between protesters at a weekly rally outside the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, according to a local press report. South Korean news service Money Today reported Thursday the demonstrations of the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery are increasingly the target of counter-protesters, following misappropriation allegations against the council's founder and new lawmaker Yoon Mi-hyang. Advertisement
Lee Yong-soo, the former "comfort woman" who had said she and other victims of Japanese wartime brothels were used as a front for Yoon's donation drives, had pleaded to demonstrators to not turn the comfort women rallies into a political battleground, according to Money Today.
The call was ignored on Wednesday, when conservative South Korean activists, who have accused Yoon of embezzlement, reportedly clashed physically with Yoon's supporters.
Yoon's supporters used vuvuzelas, or horns used at soccer matches, to block out the messages from the conservative activists who were rallying a few feet away. The instruments were used to deter opponents despite pleas from a Korean Council representative to "not use vuvuzelas to attack conservative groups."
Koo Jeong-woo, a sociologist at Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul, said conservatives have a right to express their opinion; South Korean conservative causes have taken a back seat since the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye.
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There is also no need to insist on protesting before the comfort woman statue, Koo said, according to Money Today.
The issue of Japanese government compensation has divided Seoul and Tokyo, following the termination of a 2015 foundation for past victims.
On Wednesday Tokyo voiced opposition against any South Korean movements toward liquidating Korea-based Japanese corporate assets for the compensation of Korean wartime laborers, warning Seoul of "serious consequences."
Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said Thursday a "cautious response" is needed from the South's side, during a phone call with his South Korean counterpart Kang Kyung-wha, Jiji Press reported.