upi--2020-07-12--Brandee Evans relives mother drama on 'P-Valley'

LOS ANGELES , July 12 ( UPI ) -- Brandee Evans stars as Mercedes , a veteran stripper in the Starz original series P-Valley .
Mercedes is ready to leave the club for bigger dreams , but drama keeps her dancing for now .
One of her dramas involves her mother , to which Evans can relate .
`` My mom and I actually had a toxic relationship growing up just like Patrice and Mercedes in P-Valley , '' Evans told UPI in a recent phone interview .
Patrice ( Harriett D. Foy ) is Mercedes ' mother , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ donations to the church while condemning the strip club that nets that money .
Evans made up with her mother by 2013 and has cared for her since 2016 when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis .
Before that , Evans forged her own path in dance in the face of her mother 's objections .
Evans attended the University of Miami on a dance scholarship , but she earned an English degree because her mother thought that would provide more financial stability .
Her family could not afford tuition , so Evans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ financial aid .
`` I literally danced for my life then , '' Evans said .
Evans taught English at Southwind High School in Memphis and Germantown Middle School in Germantown , Tenn. , all while coaching dance teams around the world .
`` I became the English teacher that she wanted , '' Evans said of her mother 's wish .
`` I love that , but I was still able to get that dance in and help pay those medical bills . ''
Evans left academia to become a full-time professional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ begins , Mercedes is trying to make her transition to lead a high school cheer squad to championships .
She has not proven herself in Patrice 's eyes the way Evans showed her mother she could make it as a dancer .
The role of Mercedes also showcases Evans ' dance background .
She danced for artists like Monica , Katy Perry and Snoop Dogg , but learned pole dancing specifically for P-Valley .
She only uses a stunt double , named Spyda , for dangerous moves where Mercedes touches the ceiling or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I definitely would have probably tried it , '' Evans said .
`` I 'm a daredevil . ''
On Starz , a premium cable network , P-Valley has the freedom to show explicit nudity .
Some of Evans ' co-stars disrobe fully during their strip club dances .
Evans said whether there is nudity or just suggestive dancing , P-Valley films the dancers with a female gaze .
She suggests a male gaze would have the camera focus on the bare bodies and sexuality .
Evans discussed with P-Valley creator Katori @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aspects of erotic dance .
`` We want to shoot it [ as ] a beautiful , athletic performance , '' Evans said .
`` That 's exactly what we feel and we want you to see that . ''
Mercedes ' approach to coaching the cheer squad reflects Evans ' approach to dance coaching , too .
She is hard on the girls as a form of tough love .
`` Listen , if you do n't want to be on any type of competitive team , then you should n't audition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order to win , you 've got to have thick skin . ''
P-Valley also allows Evans to draw from her own lessons .
She used to teach a class called Hip Hop In Heels , helping dancers to adapt to choreography while wearing high heels .
Mercedes wears high heels in her pole dances .
With customers throwing dollar bills on the stage , it adds the risk of a slippery surface .
`` When you throw money on the floor , it 's like ice skating , '' Evans said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was so intense that she broke several pairs of shoes filming it .
Luckily , she had practice dancing on the balls of her feet , so she could complete the routine with the heels missing from her shoes .
`` I just stayed on the balls of my toes , '' Evans said .
`` You do n't really need a heel if you stay on your toes . ''
Evans ended her Hip Hop In Heels classes in 2016 when she began to care for her mother full time and shifted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ landed roles in episodes of Lethal Weapon and Ryan Hansen Solves Crimes on Television , and TV movies like The New Edition Story , Dear Santa , I Need a Date and The Bobby Brown Story , in which she played Bobby 's sister , Tina .
Now that her acting career is taking off and she has been away from Hip Hop In Heels for four years , Evans is considering bringing it back .
`` Now I miss it , if I 'm honest , '' Evans said .
Evans still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her early in her career .
She choreographs dancers in Japan and has been working with them via Zoom while she 's unable to travel to Japan because of the COVID-19 pandemic .
Evans said she is happy she can keep her toes in the dance world while expanding her horizons as an actor .
`` With dance , you 're able to tell the story through movement , '' Evans said .
`` With acting , you get to tell so many more stories . ''

1/3
Brandee Evans' character Mercedes wants to leave the strip club and teach dance full time. Photo courtesy of Starz
LOS ANGELES, July 12 (UPI) -- Brandee Evans stars as Mercedes, a veteran stripper in the Starz original series P-Valley. Mercedes is ready to leave the club for bigger dreams, but drama keeps her dancing for now. One of her dramas involves her mother, to which Evans can relate. "My mom and I actually had a toxic relationship growing up just like Patrice and Mercedes in P-Valley," Evans told UPI in a recent phone interview. Advertisement
Patrice (Harriett D. Foy) is Mercedes' mother, a devout churchgoer who will accept Mercedes' donations to the church while condemning the strip club that nets that money.
Evans made up with her mother by 2013 and has cared for her since 2016 when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Before that, Evans forged her own path in dance. She says her mother preferred her to pursue singing if she were to pursue the arts, and insisted she earn an English degree for financial stability.
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Evans earned that English degree from the University of Memphis, which she attended on a dance scholarship. Her family could not afford tuition, so Evans could not have obtained a degree without financial aid.
"I literally danced for my life then," Evans said.
Evans taught English at Southwind High School in Memphis and Germantown Middle School in Germantown, Tenn., all while coaching dance teams around the world.
"I became the English teacher that she wanted," Evans said of her mother's wish. "I love that, but I was still able to get that dance in and help pay those medical bills."
Evans left academia to become a full-time professional dancer and dance instructor.
When P-Valley begins, Mercedes is trying to make her transition to lead a high school cheer squad to championships. She has not proven herself in Patrice's eyes the way Evans showed her mother she could make it as a dancer.
The role of Mercedes also showcases Evans' dance background. She danced for artists like Monica, Katy Perry and Snoop Dogg, but learned pole dancing specifically for P-Valley. She only uses a stunt double, named Spyda, for dangerous moves where Mercedes touches the ceiling or drops down the pole head first.
Advertisement
"I definitely would have probably tried it," Evans said. "I'm a daredevil."
On Starz, a premium cable network, P-Valley has the freedom to show explicit nudity. Some of Evans' co-stars disrobe fully during their strip club dances.
Evans said whether there is nudity or just suggestive dancing, P-Valley films the dancers with a female gaze. She suggests a male gaze would have the camera focus on the bare bodies and sexuality. Evans discussed with P-Valley creator Katori Hall how the show would emphasize different aspects of erotic dance.
"We want to shoot it [as] a beautiful, athletic performance," Evans said. "That's exactly what we feel and we want you to see that."
Mercedes' approach to coaching the cheer squad reflects Evans' approach to dance coaching, too. She is hard on the girls as a form of tough love.
"Listen, if you don't want to be on any type of competitive team, then you shouldn't audition," Evans said. "In order to win, you've got to have thick skin."
P-Valley also allows Evans to draw from her own lessons. She used to teach a class called Hip Hop In Heels, helping dancers to adapt to choreography while wearing high heels.
Mercedes wears high heels in her pole dances. With customers throwing dollar bills on the stage, it adds the risk of a slippery surface.
Advertisement
"When you throw money on the floor, it's like ice skating," Evans said.
Evans said choreography in the season finale was so intense that she broke several pairs of shoes filming it. Luckily, she had practice dancing on the balls of her feet, so she could complete the routine with the heels missing from her shoes.
"I just stayed on the balls of my toes," Evans said. "You don't really need a heel if you stay on your toes."
Evans ended her Hip Hop In Heels classes in 2016 when she began to care for her mother full time and shifted her focus to acting. She has landed roles in episodes of Lethal Weapon and Ryan Hansen Solves Crimes on Television, and TV movies like The New Edition Story, Dear Santa, I Need a Date and The Bobby Brown Story, in which she played Bobby's sister, Tina.
Now that her acting career is taking off and she has been away from Hip Hop In Heels for four years, Evans is considering bringing it back.
"Now I miss it, if I'm honest," Evans said.
Evans still accepts dance gigs for choreographers who helped her early in her career. She choreographs dancers in Japan and has been working with them via Zoom while she's unable to travel to Japan because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Evans said she is happy she can keep her toes in the dance world while expanding her horizons as an actor.
"With dance, you're able to tell the story through movement," Evans said. "With acting, you get to tell so many more stories."
P-Valley premieres Sunday at 8 p.m. EDT on Starz.


upi--2020-07-12--Famous birthdays for July 12: Michelle Rodriguez, Malala Yousafzai

July 12 ( UPI ) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Cancer .
-- Dr. @ @ @ @ @ the coronary artery bypass surgery , in 1923

Michelle Rodriguez attends the Fashion For Relief catwalk show at Mandelieu Airport in Cannes, France, on May 13, 2018. The actor turns 41 on July 12. File Photo by Rune Hellestad/UPI | License Photo
July 12 (UPI) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Cancer. They include: Advertisement
-- Roman leader Julius Caesar in 100 B.C.
-- Pope Clement X in 1590
-- American writer Henry David Thoreau in 1817
-- Photography pioneer George Eastman in 1854
-- Scientist George Washington Carver in 1864
-- Italian painter and sculptor Amedeo Modigliani in 1884
-- Composer Oscar Hammerstein II in 1895
-- Chilean writer Pablo Neruda in 1904
-- Comedian Milton Berle in 1908
-- Painter Andrew Wyeth in 1917
-- Dr. Rene Favaloro, inventor of the coronary artery bypass surgery, in 1923
-- Pianist Van Cliburn in 1934
-- Comedian/actor Bill Cosby in 1937 (age 83)
-- Costume designer Eiko Ishioka in 1938
-- Musician Christine McVie in 1943 (age 77)
File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
-- Actor Denise Nicholas in 1944 (age 76)
-- Exercise/diet guru Richard Simmons in 1948 (age 72)
-- Movie producer Brian Grazer in 1951 (age 69)
-- Actor Cheryl Ladd in 1951 (age 69)
-- Actor Mel Harris in 1956 (age 64)
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-- Actor Rolonda Watts in 1959 (age 61)
-- Olympic gold medal figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi in 1971 (age 49)
-- Actor Cheyenne Jackson in 1975 (age 45)
File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
-- Wrestler Brock Lesnar in 1977 (age 43)
-- Actor Steve Howey in 1977 (age 43)
-- Actor Michelle Rodriguez in 1978 (age 42)
-- Actor Topher Grace in 1978 (age 42)
-- Country singer Kimberly Perry in 1983 (age 37)
-- Actor Phoebe Tonkin in 1989 (age 31)
-- Actor Erik Per Sullivan in 1991 (age 29)
-- Human rights activist Malala Yousafzai in 1997 (age 23)


upi--2020-07-12--Rookie Cole Custer wins first Cup Series race at Kentucky Speedway

July 12 ( UPI ) -- NASCAR Cup Series rookie Cole Custer executed a daring four-wide pass on the final lap to win Sunday 's Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta , Ky. With the victory , Custer became the first Cup Series rookie in almost four years to win a race .
Martin Truex Jr. and Kevin Harvick were dueling for the lead on the lap 266 final restart when Custer -- who restarted fifth with two laps to go -- used a push from Matt DiBenedetto to slide in front of the field .
Custer outlasted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earn the win .
`` I knew I just had to get to the top , '' Custer said .
`` The top rolled pretty good and once I got past and I was like in third I was like , ' I 've just got to take a shot and do whatever I can here . '
`` And it ended up the 4 [ Harvick ] and the 19 [ Truex ] got together a little bit and I was able to take advantage of it . ''
Custer , 22 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20th Cup Series start .
He is the first rookie to win a non-rain-shortened race since Juan Pablo Montoya in 2007 .
Chris Buescher won a rain-shortened race as a rookie in August 2016 .
Brad Keselowski ( 2009 ) , Trevor Bayne ( 2011 ) and Justin Haley ( 2019 ) also won while not racing full seasons .
All three would have been considered rookies had they been competing a full year .
DiBenedetto came in third , followed by Harvick in fourth and Kurt Busch in fifth .
Ryan Blaney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( seventh ) , Aric Almirola ( eighth ) , Keselowski ( ninth ) and rookie Tyler Reddick ( 10th ) rounded out the top 10 .
It marked the first time in NASCAR history that three rookies finished in the top 10 in a race .
The Cup Series ' next event is the non-points NASCAR All-Star Race on Wednesday night at Bristol Motor Speedway .
The next points-paying race in the Cup Series is set for Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway .

July 12 (UPI) -- NASCAR Cup Series rookie Cole Custer executed a daring four-wide pass on the final lap to win Sunday's Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Ky.
With the victory, Custer became the first Cup Series rookie in almost four years to win a race.
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Martin Truex Jr. and Kevin Harvick were dueling for the lead on the lap 266 final restart when Custer -- who restarted fifth with two laps to go -- used a push from Matt DiBenedetto to slide in front of the field. Custer outlasted Truex by a mere .271 seconds to earn the win.
"I knew I just had to get to the top," Custer said. "The top rolled pretty good and once I got past and I was like in third I was like, 'I've just got to take a shot and do whatever I can here.'
"And it ended up the 4 [Harvick] and the 19 [Truex] got together a little bit and I was able to take advantage of it."
One of the wildest late-lap battles for the lead in recent memory! Advertisement Relive the final lap that gave @ColeCuster his first win in the NASCAR Cup Series! #QS400 pic.twitter.com/29ZqkUPCYP— NASCAR (@NASCAR) July 12, 2020
Inspection is complete at @KySpeedway. No issues for this slugger. pic.twitter.com/wsMajiZlgq— NASCAR (@NASCAR) July 12, 2020
Custer, 22, earned his first victory in his 20th Cup Series start. He is the first rookie to win a non-rain-shortened race since Juan Pablo Montoya in 2007. Chris Buescher won a rain-shortened race as a rookie in August 2016.
Brad Keselowski (2009), Trevor Bayne (2011) and Justin Haley (2019) also won while not racing full seasons. All three would have been considered rookies had they been competing a full year.
DiBenedetto came in third, followed by Harvick in fourth and Kurt Busch in fifth. Ryan Blaney (sixth), rookie Christopher Bell (seventh), Aric Almirola (eighth), Keselowski (ninth) and rookie Tyler Reddick (10th) rounded out the top 10. It marked the first time in NASCAR history that three rookies finished in the top 10 in a race.
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The Cup Series' next event is the non-points NASCAR All-Star Race on Wednesday night at Bristol Motor Speedway. The next points-paying race in the Cup Series is set for Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway.


upi--2020-07-12--Lakers stars LeBron James, Anthony Davis to keep names on back of jerseys

July 12 ( UPI ) -- Los Angeles Lakers stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis are keeping their last names on the back of their jerseys for the NBA 's 22-team restart in Orlando , Fla. , opting against using a social justice message .
During a video conference call Sunday , Davis admitted he was `` torn '' between using his last name or one of the messages provided by the league and the players ' union .
The NBA is allowing players to have a social justice message or phrase on the back of their jerseys when it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think the name 'Davis ' is something that I try to represent every time I try to step on the floor : my family , '' Davis told reporters Sunday .
`` I did n't know what to decide .
Should I have a social justice message or should I have my last name there ?
I just think my last name is something that is very important to me .
`` Also social justice as well .
But just holding my family name and representing the name on the back to go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who 've been with me through my entire career to help me get to this point .
While still kind of bringing up things that we can do for social injustice . ''
James revealed over the weekend that he would do the same .
The three-time NBA champion said the 29 approved messages -- decided upon jointly by the NBA and the NBA Players Association -- were `` something that did n't really seriously resonate with my mission . ''
`` I actually did n't go with a name on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Saturday .
`` It was no disrespect to the list that was handed out to all the players .
I commend anyone that decides to put something on the back of their jersey .
It 's just something that did n't really seriously resonate with my mission , with my goal .
`` I would have loved to have a say-so on what would have went on the back of my jersey .
I had a couple things in mind , but I was n't part of that process , which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that .
...
I do n't need to have something on the back of my jersey for people to understand my mission or know what I 'm about and what I 'm here to do . ''
As of Wednesday , 285 of the expected 350 eligible NBA players selected a social justice message to display on their jerseys .
According to ESPN 's The Undefeated , 17 players opted to continue to use their last names instead .
The list of the suggested messages are : Black Lives Matter ; Say Their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Breathe ; Justice ; Peace ; Equality ; Freedom ; Enough ; Power to the People ; Justice Now ; Say Her Name ; Si Se Puede ( Yes We Can ) ; Liberation ; See Us ; Hear Us ; Respect Us ; Love Us ; Listen ; Listen to Us ; Stand Up ; Ally ; Anti-Racist ; I Am A Man ; Speak Up ; How Many More ; Group Economics ; Education Reform ; and Mentor .
`` Some guys chose to , some guys chose not , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a ton of ways to kind of represent what we stand for . ''
James and Davis guided the Lakers ( 49-14 ) to the No .
1 seed in the Western Conference before the NBA suspended play in mid-March because of the coronavirus pandemic .

Los Angeles Lakers stars LeBron James (L) and Anthony Davis guided the Lakers to the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference before the NBA suspended play in mid-March because of the coronavirus pandemic. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
July 12 (UPI) -- Los Angeles Lakers stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis are keeping their last names on the back of their jerseys for the NBA's 22-team restart in Orlando, Fla., opting against using a social justice message. During a video conference call Sunday, Davis admitted he was "torn" between using his last name or one of the messages provided by the league and the players' union. The NBA is allowing players to have a social justice message or phrase on the back of their jerseys when it resumes play this month. Advertisement
"I think the name 'Davis' is something that I try to represent every time I try to step on the floor: my family," Davis told reporters Sunday. "I didn't know what to decide. Should I have a social justice message or should I have my last name there? I just think my last name is something that is very important to me.
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"Also social justice as well. But just holding my family name and representing the name on the back to go through this process and my name and people who've been with me through my entire career to help me get to this point. While still kind of bringing up things that we can do for social injustice."
James revealed over the weekend that he would do the same. The three-time NBA champion said the 29 approved messages -- decided upon jointly by the NBA and the NBA Players Association -- were "something that didn't really seriously resonate with my mission."
"I actually didn't go with a name on the back of my jersey," James said Saturday. "It was no disrespect to the list that was handed out to all the players. I commend anyone that decides to put something on the back of their jersey. It's just something that didn't really seriously resonate with my mission, with my goal.
"I would have loved to have a say-so on what would have went on the back of my jersey. I had a couple things in mind, but I wasn't part of that process, which is OK. I'm absolutely OK with that. ... I don't need to have something on the back of my jersey for people to understand my mission or know what I'm about and what I'm here to do."
Advertisement More Than pic.twitter.com/MHBxWeIn0f— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) July 12, 2020
As of Wednesday, 285 of the expected 350 eligible NBA players selected a social justice message to display on their jerseys. According to ESPN's The Undefeated, 17 players opted to continue to use their last names instead.
The list of the suggested messages are: Black Lives Matter; Say Their Names; Vote; I Can't Breathe; Justice; Peace; Equality; Freedom; Enough; Power to the People; Justice Now; Say Her Name; Si Se Puede (Yes We Can); Liberation; See Us; Hear Us; Respect Us; Love Us; Listen; Listen to Us; Stand Up; Ally; Anti-Racist; I Am A Man; Speak Up; How Many More; Group Economics; Education Reform; and Mentor.
"Some guys chose to, some guys chose not," Davis said. "We'll have a ton of ways to kind of represent what we stand for."
James and Davis guided the Lakers (49-14) to the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference before the NBA suspended play in mid-March because of the coronavirus pandemic.


upi--2020-07-12--UFC 251 results: Kamaru Usman beats Jorge Masvidal to retain title

July 12 ( UPI ) -- Kamaru Usman defeated Jorge Masvidal by unanimous decision in the main event of UFC 251 on Sunday morning in Abu Dhabi , United Arab Emirates .
With the victory , Usman ( 17-1 ) retained his UFC welterweight title and remained unbeaten in the UFC .
His 12 straight wins ties lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov for the longest active winning streak in the UFC and equals Georges St-Pierre for the longest winning streak in UFC welterweight history .
Usman outlasted a gassed Masvidal , who took the fight on a week 's notice after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- tested positive for the coronavirus .
Burns was forced to withdraw from the fight due to the positive test result .
`` [ Masvidal ] is the biggest , baddest dude out there right now , '' Usman said after the fight .
`` I had to switch gears and prepare for him on a week 's notice .
I had to make a mental shift because I trained for Gilbert .
I had a completely different game plan . ''
Masvidal started out hot and pushed the pace in the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's legs and body .
Masvidal also landed multiple hard right hands , but Usman was never in danger .
Usman weathered Masvidal 's early onslaught and began to take control of the bout in the second round .
From that point on , Usman picked apart Masvidal in the clinch and took him down numerous times .
`` There were some areas where I felt with a better training camp I could definitely surpass him , '' Masvidal said .
`` I think I showed a lot of my wrestling on six @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not too easy to take down and to hold down on the ground .
I made a lot of mistakes .
I tried to fight in spots , because I felt that my gas tank was n't the greatest . ''
This was Usman 's second title defense .
He beat Tyron Woodley at UFC 235 to win the welterweight belt and successfully defended it against Colby Covington at UFC 245 in December .
Masvidal ( 35-14 ) defeated Darren Till , Ben Askren and Nate Diaz in an eight-month span last year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There were two other title bouts on the UFC 251 card .
Alexander Volkanovski edged Max Holloway via split decision to retain the featherweight crown , while Petr Yan stopped Jose Aldo by TKO in the fifth round to win the vacant bantamweight title .
Petr Yan def .
Jose Aldo via TKO in fifth round Amanda Ribas def .
Paige VanZant via submission ( armbar ) in first round Jiri Prochazka def .
Volkan Oezdemir via KO in second round Makwan Amirkhani def .
Danny Henry via submission ( anaconda choke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Martin Day via KO in third round

July 12 (UPI) -- Kamaru Usman defeated Jorge Masvidal by unanimous decision in the main event of UFC 251 on Sunday morning in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
With the victory, Usman (17-1) retained his UFC welterweight title and remained unbeaten in the UFC. His 12 straight wins ties lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov for the longest active winning streak in the UFC and equals Georges St-Pierre for the longest winning streak in UFC welterweight history.
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Usman outlasted a gassed Masvidal, who took the fight on a week's notice after Usman's scheduled opponent -- Gilbert Burns -- tested positive for the coronavirus. Burns was forced to withdraw from the fight due to the positive test result.
"[Masvidal] is the biggest, baddest dude out there right now," Usman said after the fight. "I had to switch gears and prepare for him on a week's notice. I had to make a mental shift because I trained for Gilbert. I had a completely different game plan."
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Masvidal started out hot and pushed the pace in the first round, landing hard kicks to Usman's legs and body. Masvidal also landed multiple hard right hands, but Usman was never in danger.
Usman weathered Masvidal's early onslaught and began to take control of the bout in the second round. From that point on, Usman picked apart Masvidal in the clinch and took him down numerous times.
"There were some areas where I felt with a better training camp I could definitely surpass him," Masvidal said. "I think I showed a lot of my wrestling on six days' notice, that I'm not too easy to take down and to hold down on the ground. I made a lot of mistakes. I tried to fight in spots, because I felt that my gas tank wasn't the greatest."
This was Usman's second title defense. He beat Tyron Woodley at UFC 235 to win the welterweight belt and successfully defended it against Colby Covington at UFC 245 in December.
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Masvidal (35-14) defeated Darren Till, Ben Askren and Nate Diaz in an eight-month span last year to earn the title shot against Usman.
There were two other title bouts on the UFC 251 card. Alexander Volkanovski edged Max Holloway via split decision to retain the featherweight crown, while Petr Yan stopped Jose Aldo by TKO in the fifth round to win the vacant bantamweight title.
UFC 251 main card results:
Kamaru Usman def. Jorge Masvidal via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 49-46)
Alexander Volkanovski def. Max Holloway via split decision (48-47, 48-47, 47-48)
Petr Yan def. Jose Aldo via TKO in fifth round
Rose Namajunas def. Jessica Andrade via split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29)
Amanda Ribas def. Paige VanZant via submission (armbar) in first round
UFC 251 prelims results:
Jiri Prochazka def. Volkan Oezdemir via KO in second round
Muslim Salikhov def. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos via split decision (30-27, 29-28, 28-29)
Makwan Amirkhani def. Danny Henry via submission (anaconda choke) in first round
Leonardo Santos def. Roman Bogatov via unanimous decision (29-26, 29-26, 29-26)
UFC 251 early prelims results:
Marcin Tybura def. Maxim Grishin via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
Raulian Paiva def. Zhalgas Zhumagulov via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
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Karol Rosa def. Vanessa Melo via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-27)
Davey Grant def. Martin Day via KO in third round


upi--2020-07-12--Benjamin Keough, Elvis Presley's grandson, dead at 27

July 12 ( UPI ) -- Singer and actor Benjamin Keough -- son of musicians Danny Keough and Lisa Marie @ @ @ @ @ ' n ' roll icon Elvis Presley -- has died at age 27 .
TMZ @ @ @ @ @ apparent , self-inflicted gunshot wound Sunday in Calabasas , Calif. '' Lisa Marie is completely @ @ @ @ @ devastated but trying to stay strong for her 11-year-old twins and her oldest daughter , @ @ @ @ @ representative told ETOnline .
`` She adored that boy .
He was the love of @ @ @ @

Benjamin Keough has died at age 27. Photo courtesy of Pixnio
July 12 (UPI) -- Singer and actor Benjamin Keough -- son of musicians Danny Keough and Lisa Marie Presley and grandson of rock 'n' roll icon Elvis Presley -- has died at age 27. Keough's sister is The Lodge actress Riley Keough. Advertisement
TMZ reported he died from an apparent, self-inflicted gunshot wound Sunday in Calabasas, Calif.
"Lisa Marie is completely heartbroken, inconsolable and beyond devastated but trying to stay strong for her 11-year-old twins and her oldest daughter, Riley," Presley's representative told ETOnline. "She adored that boy. He was the love of her life."
Notable deaths of 2020


upi--2020-07-12--Collin Morikawa outlasts Justin Thomas in playoff to win Workday Charity Open

July 12 ( UPI ) -- Collin Morikawa beat Justin Thomas in a playoff to win the Workday Charity Open on Sunday at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin , Ohio .
With the win , Morikawa earned his second PGA Tour title in only his 24th pro start .
It was a remarkable turnaround for the 23-year-old rising star , who missed the first cut of his career two weeks ago at the Travelers Championship .
`` This is a huge kind of stepping stone , '' Morikawa said .
`` We got No .
1 out of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Let the gates just open and let 's keep going . ''
Morikawa forced the playoff by making up three shots with three left to play .
He had two pars and a birdie at the end of the back nine , but Thomas bogeyed two of his final three holes .
Thomas was ultimately done in by an errant tee shot on hole No .
10 in the third round of the playoff .
The misfire ended up in the rough behind a tree , forcing him to pitch out 102 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ missed his 15-foot par putt , leading to Morikawa 's 2-putt par and the victory .
Both ended regulation at 19-under 269 .
`` It 's completely unacceptable to give up a 3-shot lead with three to go , '' Thomas said .
`` I 'm upset , I 'm disappointed in myself .
But at the end of the day it 's over with now , and I just need to take some time this afternoon and tonight to build on it and figure out what I can do better going into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hovland posted a 71 and finished alone in third .
American Chase Seiffert shot a final-round 67 and came in fourth , while Gary Woodland and Ian Poulter tied for fifth at 12-under 276 .
Rickie Fowler ended in a tie for 22nd at 8-under 280 .
Phil Mickelson shot a 72 Sunday and tied for 58th .
Brooks Koepka , Jordan Spieth , Bubba Watson , Justin Rose and Jim Furyk were among the players who failed to make the cut Saturday after some of Friday 's second round was moved back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The PGA Tour returns Thursday for the opening round of the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village in Ohio .

July 12 (UPI) -- Collin Morikawa beat Justin Thomas in a playoff to win the Workday Charity Open on Sunday at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio.
With the win, Morikawa earned his second PGA Tour title in only his 24th pro start. It was a remarkable turnaround for the 23-year-old rising star, who missed the first cut of his career two weeks ago at the Travelers Championship.
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"This is a huge kind of stepping stone," Morikawa said. "We got No. 1 out of the way. We got No. 2. Let the gates just open and let's keep going."
Morikawa forced the playoff by making up three shots with three left to play. He had two pars and a birdie at the end of the back nine, but Thomas bogeyed two of his final three holes.
Thomas was ultimately done in by an errant tee shot on hole No. 10 in the third round of the playoff. The misfire ended up in the rough behind a tree, forcing him to pitch out 102 yards short of the green.
Thomas missed his 15-foot par putt, leading to Morikawa's 2-putt par and the victory. Both ended regulation at 19-under 269.
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"It's completely unacceptable to give up a 3-shot lead with three to go," Thomas said. "I'm upset, I'm disappointed in myself. But at the end of the day it's over with now, and I just need to take some time this afternoon and tonight to build on it and figure out what I can do better going into next week."
The sweet taste of victory. A win at Jack's Place gets @Collin_Morikawa a trophy and a milkshake. pic.twitter.com/BKmGoGFOAk— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 12, 2020
Norway's Viktor Hovland posted a 71 and finished alone in third. American Chase Seiffert shot a final-round 67 and came in fourth, while Gary Woodland and Ian Poulter tied for fifth at 12-under 276.
Rickie Fowler ended in a tie for 22nd at 8-under 280. Phil Mickelson shot a 72 Sunday and tied for 58th.
Brooks Koepka, Jordan Spieth, Bubba Watson, Justin Rose and Jim Furyk were among the players who failed to make the cut Saturday after some of Friday's second round was moved back a day because of inclement weather.
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The PGA Tour returns Thursday for the opening round of the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village in Ohio.


upi--2020-07-12--Federal appeals court lifts injunction on execution of Daniel Lewis Lee

July 9 ( UPI ) -- The U.S. government is set to carry out its first execution in more than 17 years Monday after an appeals court lifted a temporary injunction .
Daniel Lewis Lee , who was sentenced to death for his role as an accomplice in the 1996 murders of William Mueller , his wife Nancy Mueller , and his stepdaughter Sarah Powell in Georgia is expected to be the first of three federal executions this week , the result of a yearlong effort by Attorney General William Barr to resume the punishment .
The federal 7th Circuit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ temporary injunction by U.S. District Court Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson in response to a lawsuit filed by family members of the victims , including Nancy Mueller 's mother Earlene Peterson , sister Kimma Gurel and niece Monica Veillete asking for Lee 's execution to be postponed as they would be unable to attend due to the coronavirus .
The 7th Circuit , however , ruled that no federal statute or regulation gives them a right to attend Lee 's execution .
`` Needless to say , executions are not public proceedings , '' the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Penalty Act makes no mention of witnesses , whether members of the victim 's family or others . ''
Baker Kurrus , an attorney for the families said they would appeal the 7th Circuit 's decision to the Supreme Court .
`` My clients hope the Supreme Court and the federal government will respect their right to be present at the execution and delay it until travel is safe enough to make that possible , '' Kurrus said .
In their lawsuit , the families said the pandemic `` ravaging the federal prison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if they attended the execution , especially those family members considered to be medically vulnerable .
Peterson must travel from Arkansas , and Gurel and Veillete must travel from Washington to attend the execution .
Robert Dunham , director of the Washington , D.C.-based Death Penalty Information Center , told UPI the federal government put the family members and other witnesses in an `` untenable predicament '' when it appealed the injunction .
Even though the federal judge ordered the delay , they were then forced to decide whether to travel to Indiana @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overturned the ruling .
`` At this point , whether the government is legally right or wrong does n't even matter .
What does it say about the people making these decisions and advancing these arguments on behalf of the Department of Justice that they are willing to risk killing vulnerable members of the victims ' family so they can kill a prisoner in time for the election ? ''
he said .
While individual states have carried out executions for the past four decades , federal executions have been on a moratorium @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That year , the U.S. government put to death Gulf War veteran Louis Jones Jr. for the rape and murder of a fellow soldier , Pvt .
Tracie McBride in 1995 .
Last month , Peterson called on President Donald Trump to commute Lee 's sentence to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole .
She said his death would bring her family more pain .
`` We feel Mr. Lee 's execution would dishonor the memory of my daughter Nancy Ann and my granddaughter Sarah Elizabeth , '' she wrote .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ physically killed Sarah -- Chevie Kehoe -- is serving three life sentences and did not receive the death penalty .
More than 1,000 faith leaders have also called on President Donald Trump and Barr to halt the four scheduled executions .
The federal Bureau of Prisons in June scheduled the executions of Wesley Purkey ( Wednesday ) , Dustin Lee Honken ( Friday ) and Keith Dwayne Nelson ( Aug. 28 ) .
The leaders from a variety of faiths said that with the coronavirus pandemic , economic crisis and systemic racism in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be focused on `` protecting and preserving life , not carrying out executions . ''
Several executions scheduled for the spring and summer were delayed in Tennessee and Texas due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
Lawyers argued that the investigations they do in the final months before the scheduled date could n't be carried out because of stay-at-home orders and health concerns .
Barr ordered the federal government to resume capital punishment in July 2019 , 16 years after the last federal execution .
He told the Bureau of Prisons to schedule executions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ December 2019 , but a number of injunctions delayed the dates until this month .
The four inmates who were originally scheduled to be executed in December -- Lee , Purkey , Honken and Alfred Bourgeois -- mounted a legal challenge against Barr 's efforts .
Bourgeois ' execution has not been rescheduled .
At issue was the Justice Department 's plan to institute a uniform lethal injection protocol rather than follow the individual protocols used by each state , which the law requires .
Barr proposed using a single drug , pentobarbital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used in many state executions .
Under a 1994 statute , all federal executions must be carried out in a `` manner prescribed by the law of the state in which the sentence is imposed . ''
Government attorneys had argued the drugs used in the protocol are irrelevant , since the method of execution -- lethal injection -- is the same .
The District of Columbia U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals lifted the injunction in April , giving Barr the green light to reschedule the executions .
In 2014 , former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Holder to review the use of the death penalty in the United States , effectively implementing a moratorium on executions .

The U.S. government is preparing to end a 17-year moratorium on federal executions Monday. File Photo by Paul Buck/EPA
July 12 (UPI) -- The U.S. government is set to carry out its first execution in more than 17 years Monday after an appeals court lifted a temporary injunction. Daniel Lewis Lee, who was sentenced to death for his role as an accomplice in the 1996 murders of William Mueller, his wife, Nancy Mueller, and his stepdaughter Sarah Powell in Georgia is expected to be the first of three federal executions this week, the result of a yearlong effort by Attorney General William Barr to resume capital punishment. Advertisement
The federal 7th Circuit Court of Appeals on Sunday overturned a temporary injunction by U.S. District Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson in response to a lawsuit filed by family members of the victims, including Nancy Mueller's mother, Earlene Peterson, sister Kimma Gurel and niece Monica Veillete, asking for Lee's execution to be postponed as they would be unable to attend due to the coronavirus.
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The 7th Circuit, however, ruled that no federal statute or regulation gives them a right to attend Lee's execution.
"Needless to say, executions are not public proceedings," the court wrote. "The Federal Death Penalty Act makes no mention of witnesses, whether members of the victim's family or others."
Baker Kurrus, an attorney for the families, said they would appeal the 7th Circuit's decision to the Supreme Court.
"My clients hope the Supreme Court and the federal government will respect their right to be present at the execution and delay it until travel is safe enough to make that possible," Kurrus said.
COVID-19 concerns
In their lawsuit, the families said the pandemic "ravaging the federal prison population" would put them at risk if they attended the execution, especially those family members considered to be medically vulnerable. Peterson must travel from Arkansas, and Gurel and Veillete must travel from Washington to attend the execution.
Robert Dunham, director of the Washington, D.C.-based Death Penalty Information Center, told UPI the federal government put the family members and other witnesses in an "untenable predicament" when it appealed the injunction. Even though the federal judge ordered the delay, they were then forced to decide whether to travel to Indiana for the execution in case upper courts overturned the ruling.
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"At this point, whether the government is legally right or wrong doesn't even matter. What does it say about the people making these decisions and advancing these arguments on behalf of the Department of Justice that they are willing to risk killing vulnerable members of the victims' family so they can kill a prisoner in time for the election?" he said.
While individual states have carried out executions for the past four decades, federal executions have been on a moratorium -- official or otherwise -- since 2003. That year, the U.S. government put to death Gulf War veteran Louis Jones Jr. for the rape and murder of a fellow soldier, Pvt. Tracie McBride in 1995.
Last month, Peterson called on President Donald Trump to commute Lee's sentence to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. She said his death would bring her family more pain.
"We feel Mr. Lee's execution would dishonor the memory of my daughter Nancy Ann and my granddaughter Sarah Elizabeth," she wrote.
She pointed out that the man who physically killed Sarah -- Chevie Kehoe -- is serving three life sentences and did not receive the death penalty.
More than 1,000 faith leaders have also called on Trump and Barr to halt the four scheduled executions. The federal Bureau of Prisons in June scheduled the executions of Wesley Purkey (Wednesday), Dustin Lee Honken (Friday) and Keith Dwayne Nelson (Aug. 28).
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The leaders from a variety of faiths said that with the coronavirus pandemic, economic crisis and systemic racism in the justice system, the country should be focused on "protecting and preserving life, not carrying out executions."
Several executions scheduled for the spring and summer were delayed in Tennessee and Texas due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lawyers argued that the investigations they do in the final months before the scheduled date couldn't be carried out because of stay-at-home orders and health concerns.
Execution delays
Barr ordered the federal government to resume capital punishment in July 2019, 16 years after the last federal execution. He told the Bureau of Prisons to schedule executions for five death row inmates starting in December 2019, but a number of injunctions delayed the dates until this month.
The four inmates who were originally scheduled to be executed in December -- Lee, Purkey, Honken and Alfred Bourgeois -- mounted a legal challenge against Barr's efforts. Bourgeois' execution has not been rescheduled.
At issue was the Justice Department's plan to institute a uniform lethal injection protocol rather than follow the individual protocols used by each state, which the law requires. Barr proposed using a single drug, pentobarbital, rather than the common three-drug cocktail used in many state executions.
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Under a 1994 statute, all federal executions must be carried out in a "manner prescribed by the law of the state in which the sentence is imposed." Government attorneys had argued the drugs used in the protocol are irrelevant, since the method of execution -- lethal injection -- is the same.
The District of Columbia U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals lifted the injunction in April, giving Barr the green light to reschedule the executions.
In 2014, former President Barack Obama ordered then-Attorney General Eric Holder to review the use of the death penalty in the United States, effectively implementing a moratorium on executions.


upi--2020-07-12--Pregnant YouTube star Nicole Thea dead at 24

July 12 ( UPI ) -- Pregnant YouTube star Nicole Thea has died at age 24 , her family wrote @ @ @ @ @ .
The causes of the deaths for Thea and her baby have not been released @ @ @ @ @ To all Nicole 's friends and supporters it is with great sadness that I have @ @ @ @ @ and her son she and Boga named Reign sadly passed away on Saturday morning , @ @ @ @ @ 's account said .
`` Also Nicole pre-schedule a few YouTube videos and Boga has @ @ @ @ @ them to be aired .
As a family we ask that you give us privacy @ @ @ @ @ broken and we are struggling to cope with what has happened .
Thank you her @ @ @ @ @ girl Nicnac and my grandson Reign , I will miss you for the rest of @ @ @ @ @ again in eternal heaven . ''
The London dancer and social-media influencer gained fame for @ @ @ @ @ with her partner , street dancer Global Boga .

July 12 (UPI) -- Pregnant YouTube star Nicole Thea has died at age 24, her family wrote in an Instagram post Sunday.
The causes of the deaths for Thea and her baby have not been released to the public.
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"To all Nicole's friends and supporters it is with great sadness that I have to inform you that Nicole and her son she and Boga named Reign sadly passed away on Saturday morning," the message on Thea's account said.
"Also Nicole pre-schedule a few YouTube videos and Boga has made the decision to allow them to be aired. As a family we ask that you give us privacy because our hearts are truly broken and we are struggling to cope with what has happened. Thank you her mum RIP My beautiful baby girl Nicnac and my grandson Reign, I will miss you for the rest of my life until we meet again in eternal heaven."
The London dancer and social-media influencer gained fame for pregnancy videos she starred in with her partner, street dancer Global Boga.
Notable deaths of 2020


upi--2020-07-12--21 people injured in 3-alarm fire onboard USS Bonhomme Richard

July 12 ( UPI ) -- At least 21 people were injured after a three-alarm fire broke out following an explosion on the USS Bonhomme Richard , the Navy said on Sunday .
A fire was called at 8:30 a.m. as the ship was docked at a Naval base in San Diego and 17 of the 160 sailors onboard as well as four civilians sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were transferred to hospitals for treatment , Naval Surface Forces reported on Twitter .
`` USS Bonhomme Richard is going through a maintenance availability and has a crew size of approximately 1,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Diego Fire Department wrote on Twitter that is combatting the blaze alongside Federal Fire and that multiple sailors were being treated for `` a variety of injuries . ''
The cause of the blast and the location of the fire on the ship were not immediately clear .
USS Bonhomme Richard is a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship that was commissioned in 1998.The name is derived from the pen name of Benjamin Franklin .
The ship appeared in two films , Battleship and Act of Valor .
All inport ships were directed to provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effort to combat the blaze and the USS Fitzgerald and USS Russell were shifted further away from the fire .

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Federal and Navy firefighting crews battle a fire that erupted Sunday morning on the USS Bonhomme Richard. Photo by Lt. John J. Mike/U.S. Navy/UPI | License Photo
July 12 (UPI) -- At least 21 people including more than a dozen sailors were injured after a three-alarm fire broke out with an explosion on the USS Bonhomme Richard, the Navy said on Sunday. The fire was reported at 8:30 a.m. as the ship was docked at Naval Base San Diego for repairs with 17 of the 160 sailors on board as well as four civilians sustaining non-life-threatening injuries, Naval Surface Forces reported on Twitter, adding all had been transferred to local hospitals for treatment. Advertisement
Rear Adm. Philip E. Sobeck told reporters during a press conference Sunday evening that all hospitalized sailors were in stable condition, most of whom were suffering from either heat exhaustion or smoke inhalation.
Firefighters and sailors from all over San Diego were fighting the fire, he said, adding a 1,800-foot perimeter has been established around the vessel and nearby buildings while the U.S. Coast Guard is enforcing a 1-nautical-mile perimeter around the ship, which has a crew size of approximately 1,000.
"Just know that sailors across this waterfront are doing a magnificent job," Sobeck said. "They are fighting their ship and they're saving their ship."
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Sobeck explained the fire is believed to have started in the lower cargo hold and the reported explosion was the result of "over-pressurization" caused by the fire heating up the enclosed compartment but it is unknown what caused the Class-A fire, which is fueled by paper, wood and other common items.
All personnel has been evacuated from the vessel and there were no ordinances on board when the fire ignited, he said, adding the 1 million gallons of fuel on board was "well bellow" any heat source.
Asked if the ship will ever sail again, Sobeck said "absolutely."
"She was already in the shipyard being worked on so, again, she was in a stage of repair anyway so we're just going to get right back at it once we get this thing contained and put out," he said.
The San Diego Fire Department earlier wrote on Twitter that it was combatting the blaze alongside Federal Fire and that multiple sailors were being treated for "a variety of injuries."
USS Bonhomme Richard is a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship that was commissioned in 1998. The name is derived from the pen name of Benjamin Franklin.
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The ship appeared in two films, Battleship and Act of Valor.
All ships in port were directed to provide fire parties to possibly assist with the effort to combat the blaze and the USS Fitzgerald and USS Russell were shifted further away from the fire.


upi--2020-07-12--Betsy DeVos: Schools need to prioritize plans to have children in classrooms this fall

July 12 ( UPI ) -- Education Secretary Betsy DeVos on Sunday reiterated the call from the federal government that schools throughout the nation must reopen in the fall despite recent surges in COVID-19 cases .
Appearing on CNN 's State of the Union , DeVos repeatedly stated that it should be the standard that schools are open for in-person instruction in the fall and that individual school districts have plans to respond to outbreaks of the coronavirus .
`` What we 're saying is that kids need to be back in school and that school leaders across the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just that , '' said DeVos .
`` There 's going to be the exception to the rule , but the rule should be that kids go back to school this fall .
And where there are little flare-ups or hot spots , that can be dealt with on a school-by-school or a case-by-case basis . ''
DeVos also declined to offer a unified set of guidelines for school reopenings from the Department of Education , adding that guidelines released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are `` recommendations and every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
`` Kids need to be in school .
They need to be learning , they need to be moving ahead and we can not be paralyzed and not allow that or not be intent on that happening , '' she said .
DeVos said that schools should be able to individually decide to go to distance learning for a short period of time if they experience a surge in cases but should make plans to be open for the majority of the school year .
`` If there is a short @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that 's a different situation than planning for an entire school year in anticipation of something that has n't happened , '' she said .
Assistant Secretary of Health Adm. Brett Giroir told ABC News ' This Week that children not being in school `` risk their social and emotional health , risk many people with nutrition , the recognition of child abuse , child sexual abuse '' stressing the importance of returning physically to school .
`` But we have to do that safely , '' he said .
`` And the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we need to get the virus under control .
When we get the virus under control , then we can really think about how we put children back in the classroom . ''
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , also appearing on CNN 's State of the Union , described the push by DeVos and the Trump administration to force children back to school as `` appalling . ''
`` The president and his administration are messing with the health of our children .
We all want our children to go back to school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And children do .
But they must go back safely , '' said Pelosi .
`` And what you hear what the administration is saying , we know they have no appreciation for the failure that has brought us to this point . ''

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos urged that "kids need to be back in school" on Sunday calling on education leaders to plan for in-person learning throughout the school year. Photo by Chris Kleponis/UPI | License Photo
July 12 (UPI) -- Education Secretary Betsy DeVos on Sunday reiterated the call from the federal government that schools throughout the nation must reopen in the fall despite recent surges in COVID-19 cases. Appearing on CNN's State of the Union, DeVos repeatedly stated that it should be the standard that schools are open for in-person instruction in the fall and that individual school districts have plans to respond to outbreaks of the coronavirus. Advertisement
"What we're saying is that kids need to be back in school and that school leaders across the country need to be making plans to do just that," said DeVos. "There's going to be the exception to the rule, but the rule should be that kids go back to school this fall. And where there are little flare-ups or hot spots, that can be dealt with on a school-by-school or a case-by-case basis."
DeVos also declined to offer a unified set of guidelines for school reopenings from the Department of Education, adding that guidelines released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are "recommendations and every situation is going to look slightly different."
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"Kids need to be in school. They need to be learning, they need to be moving ahead and we cannot be paralyzed and not allow that or not be intent on that happening," she said.
DeVos said that schools should be able to individually decide to go to distance learning for a short period of time if they experience a surge in cases but should make plans to be open for the majority of the school year.
"If there is a short term flare-up for a few days, that's a different situation than planning for an entire school year in anticipation of something that hasn't happened," she said.
Assistant Secretary of Health Adm. Brett Giroir told ABC News' This Week that children not being in school "risk their social and emotional health, risk many people with nutrition, the recognition of child abuse, child sexual abuse" stressing the importance of returning physically to school.
"But we have to do that safely," he said. "And the first thing we need to do is we need to get the virus under control. When we get the virus under control, then we can really think about how we put children back in the classroom."
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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, also appearing on CNN's State of the Union, described the push by DeVos and the Trump administration to force children back to school as "appalling."
"The president and his administration are messing with the health of our children. We all want our children to go back to school. Teachers do. Parents do. And children do. But they must go back safely," said Pelosi. "And what you hear what the administration is saying, we know they have no appreciation for the failure that has brought us to this point."


upi--2020-07-12--Florida reports single-day record 15,300 new COVID-19 cases

July 12 ( UPI ) -- Florida reported 15,300 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday , the most new positive cases any state has reported on a single day since the onset of the pandemic .
The state far surpassed the previous record of 11,434 new cases -- also set by Florida on July 4 -- as it has now reported a total of 269,811 cases , the third-highest tally in the nation .
Florida also reported 45 new deaths for a death toll of 4,242 -- ninth highest in the country .
Florida Department of Health records also showed that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 142,981 tests on Saturday , up from the previous record of 95,335 on Thursday .
The overall positive rate is 10.5 percent , including 13.62 in tests reported Saturday .
Hospital beds are filling up , including ones in intensive care .
`` Our ventilator usage has gone up , close to 200 now , so we definitely had a sharp increase in the number of people going to the hospital , '' Gimenez said .
The most recent surge in cases in Florida came as Walt Disney World in Orlando reopened its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Saturday .
`` Disney , I have no doubt , is going to be a safe environment , '' Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis said .
`` I think that where you start to see the spread is just in social situations where people let their guard down .
Usually , like a private party or something like that . ''
DeSantis has moved to suspend on-premise consumption of alcohol in bars amid rapidly rising cases but has resisted calls for a statewide mandate requiring the use of masks and other face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of control across the state because our governor wo n't even tell everybody to wear masks , '' Rep. Donna , D-Fla. , told CNN .
`` At least in Miami-Dade county , everyone must wear a mask when they 're outside .
This is an American tragedy . ''
The United States leads all nations with 3,271,549 reported cases of COVID-19 and 134,904 deaths related to the virus , according to figures by John 's Hopkins University .
Arizona , Texas and California have also seen new case trends spike .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ranking seventh in the nation with 122,467 cases .
Meanwhile , Texas reported 10,351 new cases for a total 250,462 -- fourth highest in the nation of and California reported 8,047 new cases , for the nation 's second highest total at 312,344 of Saturday .
Former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb told CBS News ' Face the Nation Sunday he believes `` things are going to get worse before they get better '' particularly in southern states .
`` I think the Southern experience is more likely to mirror @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see more of an extended plateau once we reach that apex .
And you could reach the apex in the next two or three weeks , '' he said .
Gottlieb also compared the arc of the outbreak in New York -- which still holds the highest case total and death toll in the United States with 401,706 cases and 32,348 -- to Italy 's as both were at one point the global epicenter for the virus .
`` New York really followed the pattern of Italy , where it was a sharp @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it came down rapidly , '' he said .
New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo on Sunday said the state had reported 677 new cases and 5 deaths within the past 24 hours , down from 730 positive tests the previous day , declaring the states numbers have remained `` low and stable '' while expressing concern for the rest of the nation .

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Florida reported 15,299 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, a day after Walt Disney World in Orlando reopened some of its parks as the state has surged to third in the country in total cases. File Photo by Paul Brinkmann/UPI
July 12 (UPI) -- Florida recorded 15,300 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, the most positive new cases any state has reported on a single day since the onset of the pandemic. The state far surpassed the previous record of 11,434 new cases -- also set by Florida on July 4 -- as it has now reported a total of 269,811 cases, the third-highest tally in the nation. Florida also reported 45 new deaths for a death toll of 4,242 -- ninth highest in the country. Advertisement
Florida Department of Health records also showed that laboratories in the state reported a record 142,981 tests on Saturday, up from the previous record of 95,335 on Thursday.
The overall positive rate is 10.5 percent, including 13.62 in tests reported Saturday.
Hospital beds are filling up, including ones in intensive care.
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Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez told CNN the county is reaching capacity.
"Our ventilator usage has gone up, close to 200 now, so we definitely had a sharp increase in the number of people going to the hospital," Gimenez said.
The most recent surge in cases in Florida came as Walt Disney World in Orlando reopened its Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom theme parks on Saturday.
"Disney, I have no doubt, is going to be a safe environment," Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said. "I think that where you start to see the spread is just in social situations where people let their guard down. Usually, like a private party or something like that."
DeSantis has moved to suspend on-premise consumption of alcohol in bars amid rapidly rising cases but has resisted calls for a statewide mandate requiring the use of masks and other face coverings in public.
"It's out of control across the state because our governor won't even tell everybody to wear masks," Rep. Donna, D-Fla., told CNN. "At least in Miami-Dade county, everyone must wear a mask when they're outside. This is an American tragedy."
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Florida's tally represented nearly a quarter of the more than 61,400 cases reported nationwide on Sunday by Johns Hopkins University.
The United States leads all nations with 3,304,142 reported cases of COVID-19 and 135,190 deaths related to the virus, according to figures by the Baltimore university.
Arizona, Texas and California have also seen new case trends spike. Arizona reported 2,537 new cases on Sunday, ranking seventh in the nation with 122,467 cases. Meanwhile, Texas reported 10,351 new cases for a total 250,462 -- fourth highest in the nation of and California reported 8,047 new cases, for the nation's second-highest total at 312,344 of Saturday.
Former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb told CBS News' Face the Nation Sunday he believes "things are going to get worse before they get better" particularly in southern states.
"I think the Southern experience is more likely to mirror Brazil, where you're likely to see more of an extended plateau once we reach that apex. And you could reach the apex in the next two or three weeks," he said.
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Gottlieb also compared the arc of the outbreak in New York -- which still holds the highest case total and death toll in the United States with 401,706 cases and 32,348 -- to Italy's as both were at one point the global epicenter for the virus.
"New York really followed the pattern of Italy, where it was a sharp up, a huge epidemic, but it came down rapidly," he said.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Sunday said the state had reported 677 new cases and 5 deaths within the past 24 hours, down from 730 positive tests the previous day, declaring the states numbers have remained "low and stable" while expressing concern for the rest of the nation.


upi--2020-07-12--Rapper Lil Marlo shot and killed in Atlanta

July 12 ( UPI ) -- Rudolph Johnson , a rapper who performed under the name Lil Marlo , was shot and killed in Atlanta this weekend .
His age was reported as both 27 and 30 by various media outlets .
TMZ said Johnson was shot while driving on Saturday night .
Police were called to the scene when he crashed his car .
`` Atlanta Police Homicide investigators responded to the scene and immediately began their investigation , '' a police representative told Billboard .
`` At this time , investigators believe the victim was the intended target @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting . ''
A spokesman for the Quality Control record label , which Johnson had been part of since 2017 , also confirmed the hip-hop artist 's death to The Chicago Tribune .
His solo songs include `` 1st N 3rd , '' `` F****em '' and `` 9 + Z6ne = 1 ' 5 . ''
He also collaborated with Lil Baby and Gucci Mane on `` The Load . ''
`` We just did a song a 4 this morning smh rip brother , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saturday night .

Rapper Lil Marlo was shot and killed in Atlanta this weekend. Photo courtesy of Lil Marlo/ Instagram
July 12 (UPI) -- Rudolph Johnson, a rapper who performed under the name Lil Marlo, was shot and killed in Atlanta this weekend. His age was reported as both 27 and 30 by various media outlets. Advertisement
TMZ said Johnson was shot while driving on Saturday night.
Police were called to the scene when he crashed his car.
"Atlanta Police Homicide investigators responded to the scene and immediately began their investigation," a police representative told Billboard. "At this time, investigators believe the victim was the intended target of the gunfire and they are working to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting."
A spokesman for the Quality Control record label, which Johnson had been part of since 2017, also confirmed the hip-hop artist's death to The Chicago Tribune.
His solo songs include "1st N 3rd," "F****em" and "9 + Z6ne = 1'5." He also collaborated with Lil Baby and Gucci Mane on "The Load."
"We just did a song a 4 this morning smh rip brother," rapper Lil Yachty posted on Instagram on Saturday night.
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Notable deaths of 2020


upi--2020-07-12--Cases, deaths climb worldwide as COVID-19 mortality rate declines to 4.4%

July 12 ( UPI ) -- Coronavirus has spread worldwide since the pandemic began earlier this year , rising exponentially in deaths to more than 567,000 and nearly 13 million cases .
But despite those grim statistics , the mortality rate -- comparing deaths and cases -- has been declining .
On May 1 , the mortality rate was 7.2 percent but on Saturday it had decreased to 4.4 percent overall .
Seventy-two days ago , the death count was 240,976 and cases were 3,351,722 .
Deaths have more than doubled to 567,035 , while cases almost quadrupled to 12,884,231 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new cases , below the record of 236,918 the day before .
Deaths rose by 4,996 Saturday compared with 5,684 .
Since the first deaths were reported in Wuhan , China , the outbreak spread to Europe , then the United States with hotspots not only in the U.S. but throughout Latin America , including Mexico , Brazil , Peru and Chile .
And the world 's second most populous nation , India , also has had soaring numbers .
The United States represents about one-quarter of the world 's deaths and cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been declining to below the world figure with 4.1 percent .
It 's cases have climbed dramatically from 36,101 on May 1 to above 70,000 last week .
In China , the world 's most populous nation with 1.4 billion people , the rate is 5.5 percent with 4,634 deaths , including none since April 26 , and 83,594 cases .
Italy , which became the next epicenter of the virus , has a more significant rate , 14.4 , Yet there were only 188 cases reported Saturday compared with a high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nation reported only nine deaths Sunday after seven Saturday for a total of 34,954 .
Other countries have been setting daily case records in the past few weeks .
Brazil is in second place worldwide in deaths at 71,515 and cases with 3,357,127 but its mortality rate is only 2.1 percent .
Its daily case high of 55,209 was set June 19 but on Saturday it was 36,474 .
Brazil 's daily death rate has been soaring and often is above 1,000 and the most in the world .
Saturday 's increase was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who has minimized the outbreak and refuses to wear a mask , tested positive last week .
On Saturday , his wife , Michelle , said Saturday that she and her two daughters had tested negative for the virus .
The president said he is taking an unproven drug , hydroxychloroquine , to treat the infection , has been in isolation and has been feeling in good shape .
He often has described the virus as a `` little flu . ''
Bolsonaro said `` mininfirmation '' is causing panic , noting `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be worse than the virus itself . ''
`` Millions of jobs destroyed , tens of millions of people in the informality without income and a country on the brink of recession , '' Bolsonaro said .
Mexico is fifth in the world with 34,730 deaths and eighth with 295,268 cases .
But its death rate is 11.8 percent .
The nation set a record in cases with 7,280 Friday and dropped to 6,891 Saturday .
Mexico , the United States and China have all but around 4,000 of the 184,763 deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12th place with 8,773 but has been under triple digits since 139 on June 4 , including 14 Saturday .
The U.S. border with Mexico and Canada remains closed until July 21 except for essential travel and goods .
Marcelo Ebrard , foreign secretary of Mexico , said Friday the restrictions could be extended to August , `` Until there is a decline in the area . ''
`` What we have is the southern states of the U.S. , California , Arizona , New Mexico , and Texas on the rise [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perspective and the Mexican Secretary of Health is that it would be unwise right now to open because then what we 're going to cause is an impact towards a respread , '' Ebrard announced during a morning conference from Mexico City .
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Wednesday .
Peru has risen to 10th on the globe with 11,682 deaths but is fifth in cases at 322,710 with a death rate of 3.6 percent .
The South American nation had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ record 8,805 on May 31 .
South America has a total of 103,914 deaths , including 1,644 Saturday .
Chile , which is in 22nd place , added 100 .
In Asia , India has risen to eighth in deaths at 22,762 but is third in cases with 856,062 , including a record 27,755 Saturday but only 5,704 Sunday .
The mortality rate in India is 2.6 percent .
The Indian city of Bengaluru , the third largest in India , will be put under lockdown for a week starting Tuesday to contain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authorities said .
There were 16,862 cases of COVID-19 in the Bengaluru urban area and 245 cases in rural areas , state health authorities said .
Europe has four nations in the top 10 for deaths but the pandemic has stabilized there .
Britain , which is third in the world with 44,798 deaths , reported 21 deaths after 148 Saturday .
Its mortality rate is 15.5 percent .
On Sunday , Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said his nation may ask visitors from England to quarantine on arrival in Scotland .
Sturgeon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not political , it 's not constitutional , it 's just taking a similar view to countries across the world in terms of protecting populations from the risk of the virus . ''
Not reporting data Saturday were No .
6 France , which reported 25 deaths Friday , and No .
7 Spain , with 2 Friday .
In Europe , there were 462 deaths for a total of 196,338 .
The pandemic also has stabilized in Asia , where there have been 69,504 deaths but only 657 Sunday -- mostly in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is in 10th place .
In the Far East , the only nation besides China with more than 1,000 deaths is the Philippines with 1,372 deaths , including 12 Saturday as well as 1,308 cases .
Japan , which has a total of 410 deaths , did n't report any deaths Saturday but it had 410 cases , which is the highest since 519 on April 25 .
Two U.S. Marine bases in Okinawa Prefecture are on lockdown , with 62 coronavirus cases confirmed last week , the prefectural government said Saturday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ military personnel had held parties in downtown areas and beaches around July 4 to celebrate the U.S .
Independence Day .
In Korea , the nation has reported only 6 deaths since June 25 and none Sunday for a total of 288 .
Case counts also have been low with a high of 79 on May 28 .
The nation will require foreigners arriving from high-risk nations -- Bangladesh , Pakistan , Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan -- starting Monday to submit a certificate showing they tested negative for coronavirus because of the number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been 108 deaths in Australia and 22 in New Zealand .
Australia 's last reported deaths were 2 on Monday , and 1 each on Saturday and Sunday .
The latest death was in Victoria where its borders were closed last week because of a spike , including 273 new cases in one day Saturday .
New Zealand 's last fatality was on May 28 .
Deaths continue to surge in Africa , going from 5,215 five weeks ago to 13,029 , including 220 Saturday .
South Africa leads with 3,971 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Egypt with 3,769 , including a rise of 67 .

Chinese soldiers wear protective face masks as the march back to their barracks after changing guard in Beijing's embassy district on Thursday. Despite the easing of restrictions and the lowered threat of COVID-19 in China's capital, the government still requires people to wear face masks when in public areas. The nation is 21st in the world in deaths with 4,634 and its mortality rate is 5.5 percent, about 1 percentage point above the world rate. Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI | License Photo
July 12 (UPI) -- Coronavirus has spread worldwide since the pandemic began earlier this year, rising exponentially in deaths to more than 567,000 and nearly 13 million cases. But despite those grim statistics, the mortality rate -- comparing deaths and cases -- has been declining. On May 1, the mortality rate was 7.2 percent but on Saturday it had decreased to 4.4 percent overall. Advertisement
Seventy-two days ago, the death count was 240,976 and cases were 3,351,722. Deaths have more than doubled to 567,035, while cases almost quadrupled to 12,884,231. On Saturday, there were 214,786 new cases, below the record of 236,918 the day before. Deaths rose by 4,996 Saturday compared with 5,684.
Since the first deaths were reported in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year, the outbreak spread to Europe, then the United States with hotspots also sprouting throughout Latin America, including Mexico, Brazil, Peru and Chile. And the world's second-most populous nation, India, also has had soaring numbers.
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The United States represents about one-quarter of the world's deaths and cases. But it's mortality rate also has been declining to below the world figure at 4.1 percent. It's cases have climbed dramatically from 36,101 on May 1 to above 70,000 last week.
In China, the world's most populous nation with 1.4 billion people, the rate is 5.5 percent with 4,634 deaths, including none since April 26, and 83,594 cases.
Italy, which became the next epicenter of the virus, has a more significant rate, 14.4, Yet there were only 188 cases reported Saturday compared with a high of 6,553 on March 21. The nation reported only nine deaths Sunday after seven Saturday for a total of 34,954.
Germany on Sunday reported zero deaths in the previous 24 hours for the first time since it registered its first fatality to the disease in March. It also registered 138 new cases on Sunday, continuing a downward trend from a high of nearly 7,000 cases late March.
The new figures increase its total deaths to 9,134 and 199,950 cases.
Other countries have been setting daily case records in the past few weeks.
Brazil is in second place worldwide in deaths at 71,515 and cases with 3,357,127 but its mortality rate is only 2.1 percent. Its daily case high of 55,209 was set June 19 but on Saturday it was 36,474.
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Brazil's daily death rate has been soaring and often is above 1,000 and the most in the world. Saturday's increase was 968.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who has minimized the outbreak and refuses to wear a mask, tested positive last week. On Saturday, his wife, Michelle, said Saturday that she and her two daughters had tested negative for the virus. The president said he is taking an unproven drug, hydroxychloroquine, to treat the infection, has been in isolation and has been feeling in good shape. He often has described the virus as a "little flu."
Bolsonaro said "misinformation" is causing panic, noting "side effects of fighting the virus could not be worse than the virus itself."
Namely, the economy.
"Millions of jobs destroyed, tens of millions of people in the informality without income and a country on the brink of recession," Bolsonaro said.
Mexico overtook Italy for fourth in deaths on Sunday after recording 276 new fatalities in the past 24 hours. It also sat eight with 299,750 positive infections. However, its death rate is 11.8 percent. The nation set a record in cases with 7,280 Friday and dropped to 6,891 Saturday. On Sunday, it reported 4,482.
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Mexico, the United States and Canada have all but around 4,000 of the 184,763 deaths in North America.
Canada is in 12th place with 8,773 but has been under triple digits since 139 on June 4, including 14 on Saturday.
The U.S. border with Mexico and Canada remains closed until July 21 except for essential travel and goods.
Marcelo Ebrard, foreign secretary of Mexico, said Friday the restrictions could be extended to August, "Until there is a decline in the area."
"What we have is the southern states of the U.S., California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas on the rise [of coronavirus cases], so our perspective and the Mexican Secretary of Health is that it would be unwise right now to open because then what we're going to cause is an impact towards a respread," Ebrard announced during a morning conference from Mexico City.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Wednesday.
Peru has risen to 10th on the globe with 11,682 deaths but is fifth in cases at 322,710 with a death rate of 3.6 percent. The South American nation had 3,064 cases Saturday, much less the record 8,805 on May 31.
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South America has a total of 103,914 deaths, including 1,644 Saturday. Chile, which is in 22nd place, added 100.
In Asia, India has risen to eighth in deaths at 22,762 but is third in cases with 856,062, including a record 27,755 Saturday but only 5,704 Sunday. The mortality rate in India is 2.6 percent.
The Indian city of Bengaluru, the third largest in India, will be put under lockdown for a week starting Tuesday to contain a massive cluster of COVID-19 cases, authorities said. There were 16,862 cases of COVID-19 in the Bengaluru urban area and 245 cases in rural areas, state health authorities said.
Europe has four nations in the top 10 for deaths but the pandemic has stabilized there.
Britain, which is third in the world with 44,798 deaths, reported 21 deaths after 148 Saturday. Its mortality rate is 15.5 percent.
On Sunday, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said his nation may ask visitors from England to quarantine on arrival in Scotland.
Sturgeon told the BBC the decision is "not political, it's not constitutional, it's just taking a similar view to countries across the world in terms of protecting populations from the risk of the virus."
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Not reporting data Saturday were No. 6 France, which reported 25 deaths Friday, and No. 7 Spain, with 2 Friday.
In Europe, there were 462 deaths for a total of 196,338.
The pandemic also has stabilized in Asia, where there have been 69,504 deaths but only 657 Sunday -- mostly in India.
Iran reported 194 deaths and is in 10th place.
In the Far East, the only nation besides China with more than 1,000 deaths is the Philippines with 1,372 deaths, including 12 Saturday as well as 1,308 cases.
Japan, which has a total of 410 deaths, didn't report any deaths Saturday but it had 410 cases, which is the highest since 519 on April 25.
Two U.S. Marine bases in Okinawa Prefecture are on lockdown, with 62 coronavirus cases confirmed last week, the prefectural government said Saturday. Gov. Denny Tamaki said some American military personnel had held parties in downtown areas and beaches around July 4 to celebrate the U.S. Independence Day.
In Korea, the nation has reported only 6 deaths since June 25 and none Sunday for a total of 288. Case counts also have been low with a high of 79 on May 28.
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The nation will require foreigners arriving from high-risk nations -- Bangladesh, Pakistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan -- starting Monday to submit a certificate showing they tested negative for coronavirus because of the number of imported cases.
In Oceania, there have been 108 deaths in Australia and 22 in New Zealand. Australia's last reported deaths were 2 on Monday, and 1 each on Saturday and Sunday.
The latest death was in Victoria where its borders were closed last week because of a spike, including 273 new cases in one day Saturday.
New Zealand's last fatality was on May 28.
Deaths continue to surge in Africa, going from 5,215 five weeks ago to 13,029, including 220 Saturday. South Africa leads with 3,971, including 111 more Saturday, followed closely by Egypt with 3,769, including a rise of 67.


upi--2020-07-12--Mueller: Roger Stone still 'a convicted felon' following Trump commutation

July 12 ( UPI ) -- Former special counsel Robert Mueller responded to claims that his investigation into potential collusion between Russia and President Donald Trump 's 2016 was illegitimate following the president 's decision to commute Roger Stone 's sentence .
Mueller published an op-ed in the Washington Post on Saturday asserting that while the work of the special counsel 's office including indictments , guilty pleas and convictions `` should speak for itself '' but that he felt compelled to respond to claims that its `` motives were improper and that '' stone was a `` victim '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigation was of paramount importance .
Stone was prosecuted and convicted because he committed federal crimes .
He remains a convicted felon and rightly so , '' Mueller wrote .
Trump on Friday commuted Stone 's sentence , four days before he was set to spend 40 months in prison .
Stone , who was n't pardoned by Trump , is appealing his conviction but the commutation protects him from serving prison time as a result .
A statement from White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany following the decision declared that Stone was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' referencing terminology Trump has often used to describe Mueller 's investigation .
Stone , a 67-year-old Republican strategist , was convicted in November of charges that included lying to Congress , witness tampering and interfering in the House 's Russia investigation .
`` He lied about the identity of his intermediary to WikiLeaks .
He lied about the existence of written communications with his intermediary .
He lied by denying he had communicated with the Trump campaign about the timing of WikiLeaks ' releases .
He in fact updated senior campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he tampered with a witness , imploring him to stonewall Congress , '' Mueller wrote .
Mueller added it was critical for the special counsel 's office to obtain `` full and accurate information '' adding that its decisions in Stone 's case were `` based solely on facts and the law in accordance with the rule of law '' and any claims to the contrary are false .
`` When a subject lies to investigators , it strikes at the core of the government 's efforts to find the truth and hold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those efforts , '' wrote Mueller .
Prosecutors had originally recommended Stone serve seven to nine years in prison .
But Attorney General William Barr recommended a more lenient sentence .
The entire prosecution team resigned from the case in protest .

Former special counsel Robert Mueller asserted that Robert Stone "remains a convicted felon and rightly so," after President Donald Trump commuted his sentence on Friday. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
July 12 (UPI) -- Former special counsel Robert Mueller responded to claims that his investigation into potential collusion between Russia and President Donald Trump's 2016 was illegitimate following the president's decision to commute Roger Stone's sentence. Mueller published an op-ed in the Washington Post on Saturday asserting that while the work of the special counsel's office including indictments, guilty pleas and convictions "should speak for itself" but that he felt compelled to respond to claims that its "motives were improper and that" stone was a "victim" of the office. Advertisement
"The Russia investigation was of paramount importance. Stone was prosecuted and convicted because he committed federal crimes. He remains a convicted felon and rightly so," Mueller wrote.
Trump on Friday commuted Stone's sentence, four days before he was set to spend 40 months in prison. Stone, who wasn't pardoned by Trump, is appealing his conviction but the commutation protects him from serving prison time as a result.
A statement from White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany following the decision declared that Stone was "a victim of the Russia hoax," referencing terminology Trump has often used to describe Mueller's investigation.
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Stone, a 67-year-old Republican strategist, was convicted in November of charges that included lying to Congress, witness tampering and interfering in the House's Russia investigation.
"He lied about the identity of his intermediary to WikiLeaks. He lied about the existence of written communications with his intermediary. He lied by denying he had communicated with the Trump campaign about the timing of WikiLeaks' releases. He in fact updated senior campaign officials repeatedly about Wiki Leaks. And he tampered with a witness, imploring him to stonewall Congress," Mueller wrote.
Mueller added it was critical for the special counsel's office to obtain "full and accurate information" adding that its decisions in Stone's case were "based solely on facts and the law in accordance with the rule of law" and any claims to the contrary are false.
"When a subject lies to investigators, it strikes at the core of the government's efforts to find the truth and hold wrongdoers accountable. It may ultimately impede those efforts," wrote Mueller.
Prosecutors had originally recommended Stone serve seven to nine years in prison. But Attorney General William Barr recommended a more lenient sentence. The entire prosecution team resigned from the case in protest.


upi--2020-07-12--Writer-producer Carina Adly MacKenzie leaves 'Roswell, New Mexico'

July 12 ( UPI ) -- Writer-producer Carina Adly MacKenzie has announced she will not return for Season 3 of The CW 's sci-fi romance , Roswell , New Mexico .
`` I have made the difficult decision to resign from my role on Roswell , New Mexico .
I obviously do n't take this decision lightly , but ultimately due to fundamental differences , I must depart and entrust Roswell , New Mexico to capable hands , '' MacKenzie tweeted .
`` I am so proud of what we built over the last two years and I believe in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : asking tough questions , striving to make the world better , amplifying marginalized voices , and fighting the good fight . ''
Last month , MacKenzie had voiced on social media her outrage regarding how the show 's gay sex scenes were edited when they aired in the United Kingdom .
The Hollywood Reporter said the announcement that she was leaving came amid tension with the show 's production company Warner Bros. Television , the writing team and its lead actress Jeanine Mason .
But MacKenzie denied most of this in her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do with any of the cast , crew , or writers .
I love them in an epic forever handprints-on-my-soul kinda way , '' she said .
Warner Bros. confirmed MacKenzie 's exit in a statement , explaining : `` Carina Adly MacKenzie has departed as executive producer/co-showrunner of Roswell , New Mexico .
The third season of the series will return to The CW as part of the network 's 2021 mid-season lineup . ''
Co-starring Nathan Dean Parsons , Michael Vlamis , Lily Cowles , Tyler Blackburn and Heather Hemmens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ living as humans in the titular town .
It is a remake of a series that ran on the WB and UPN from 1999 to 2002 .

Left-right. Cast members Michael Vlamis, Jeanine Mason, Lily Cowles and Nathan Parsons of "Roswell, New Mexico" on the red carpet at The CW Network's 2018 Upfront in New York City. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
July 12 (UPI) -- Writer-producer Carina Adly MacKenzie has announced she will not return for Season 3 of The CW's sci-fi romance, Roswell, New Mexico. "I have made the difficult decision to resign from my role on Roswell, New Mexico. I obviously don't take this decision lightly, but ultimately due to fundamental differences, I must depart and entrust Roswell, New Mexico to capable hands," MacKenzie tweeted. Advertisement
"I am so proud of what we built over the last two years and I believe in the heart and soul of the show: asking tough questions, striving to make the world better, amplifying marginalized voices, and fighting the good fight."
I'm gonna let him fly. pic.twitter.com/lA2ghvzuwP— carina adly mackenzie (@cadlymack) July 10, 2020
Last month, MacKenzie had voiced on social media her outrage regarding how the show's gay sex scenes were edited when they aired in the United Kingdom.
The Hollywood Reporter said the announcement that she was leaving came amid tension with the show's production company Warner Bros. Television, the writing team and its lead actress Jeanine Mason.
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But MacKenzie denied most of this in her tweet.
"This decision has nothing to do with any of the cast, crew, or writers. I love them in an epic forever handprints-on-my-soul kinda way," she said.
Warner Bros. confirmed MacKenzie's exit in a statement, explaining: "Carina Adly MacKenzie has departed as executive producer/co-showrunner of Roswell, New Mexico. The third season of the series will return to The CW as part of the network's 2021 mid-season lineup."
Co-starring Nathan Dean Parsons, Michael Vlamis, Lily Cowles, Tyler Blackburn and Heather Hemmens, the show is about space aliens living as humans in the titular town. It is a remake of a series that ran on the WB and UPN from 1999 to 2002.


upi--2020-07-12--Naya Rivera's family visits lake where actress disappeared

July 12 ( UPI ) -- Naya Rivera 's family visited the California lake where police and volunteers have been searching for the former Glee and Devious Maids actress ' body .
Rivera , 33 , was boating with her 4-year-old son Josey Wednesday when she vanished .
The child was wearing a life jacket when he was discovered , alone and sleeping , on the boat .
Search parties have been looking for Rivera since .
Officials said Thursday that they were treating the search as a recovery mission not a rescue and the actress is presumed to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County Sheriff 's Office told ETOnline that Rivera 's relatives were with investigators Saturday at Lake Piru .
ABC producer Anastasia Williams posted a photo on Twitter Saturday captioned : `` The search continues for Naya Rivera .
@ VENTURASHERIFF told press that this man and woman are Naya 's mother and brother .
Her mother is kneeling on the dock with her arms outstretched towards the water . ''
`` Naya 's mother and brother have been at the lake every day since Naya disappeared .
They have been in constant contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the search .
On Saturday morning , they joined the search on a sheriff 's boat , '' an unnamed source told People.com .
TMZ said Rivera 's father and her ex-husband , Ryan Dorsey , were also at the lake Saturday .

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Naya Rivera's family reportedly joined the search for the missing actress at California's Lake Piru on Saturday. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
July 12 (UPI) -- Naya Rivera's family visited the California lake where police and volunteers have been searching for the former Glee and Devious Maids actress' body. Rivera, 33, was boating with her 4-year-old son Josey Wednesday when she vanished. Advertisement
The child was wearing a life jacket when he was discovered, alone and sleeping, on the boat.
Search parties have been looking for Rivera since.
Officials said Thursday that they were treating the search as a recovery mission not a rescue and the actress is presumed to be dead.
A representative for the Ventura County Sheriff's Office told ETOnline that Rivera's relatives were with investigators Saturday at Lake Piru.
ABC producer Anastasia Williams posted a photo on Twitter Saturday captioned: "The search continues for Naya Rivera. @VENTURASHERIFF told press that this man and woman are Naya's mother and brother. Her mother is kneeling on the dock with her arms outstretched towards the water."
"Naya's mother and brother have been at the lake every day since Naya disappeared. They have been in constant contact with the Sheriff's Office and involved in the search. On Saturday morning, they joined the search on a sheriff's boat," an unnamed source told People.com.
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TMZ said Rivera's father and her ex-husband, Ryan Dorsey, were also at the lake Saturday.


upi--2020-07-12--Bollywood icon Aishwarya Rai Bachchan tests positive for coronavirus

July 12 ( UPI ) -- Bollywood icon Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and her daughter Aaradhya have tested positive for the coronavirus .
`` Aishwarya and Aaradhya have also tested COVID-19 positive .
They will be self quarantining at home .
The BMC [ Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation ] has been updated of their situation and are doing the needful .
The rest of the family including my Mother have tested negative .
Thank you all for your wishes and prayers , '' Aishwarya 's husband Abhishek tweeted Sunday .
The announcement regarding the 46-year-old Bride & Prejudice , Devdas and Jodhaa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after Abhishek , 44 , and his father Amitabh , 77 -- also Indian film stars -- confirmed they had tested positive for the virus and were experiencing mild symptoms .
`` My father and I remain in hospital till the doctors decide otherwise .
Everyone please remain cautious and safe .
Please follow all rules ! ''
Abhishek wrote on Twitter Sunday .
India is experiencing a spike in coronavirus cases with a total of 867,020 reported as of Sunday .
The death toll is 22,762 in eighth place worldwide .
Amitabh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and includes performances in The Great Gatsby , Zanjeer and Sholay .
Abhishek has acted in Dhoom , Run , Yuva , Sarkar and Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna .

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Aishwarya Rai has tested positive for the coronavirus, along with her husband, daughter and father-in-law. File Photo by David Silpa/UPI | License Photo
July 12 (UPI) -- Bollywood icon Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and her daughter Aaradhya have tested positive for the coronavirus. "Aishwarya and Aaradhya have also tested COVID-19 positive. They will be self quarantining at home. The BMC [Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation] has been updated of their situation and are doing the needful. The rest of the family including my Mother have tested negative. Thank you all for your wishes and prayers," Aishwarya's husband Abhishek tweeted Sunday. Advertisement
The announcement regarding the 46-year-old Bride & Prejudice, Devdas and Jodhaa Akbar actress' health was made hours after Abhishek, 44, and his father Amitabh, 77 -- also Indian film stars -- confirmed they had tested positive for the virus and were experiencing mild symptoms.
"My father and I remain in hospital till the doctors decide otherwise. Everyone please remain cautious and safe. Please follow all rules!" Abhishek wrote on Twitter Sunday.
India is experiencing a spike in coronavirus cases with a total of 867,020 reported as of Sunday. The death toll is 22,762 in eighth place worldwide.
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Amitabh's career dates back to the 1970s and includes performances in The Great Gatsby, Zanjeer and Sholay.
Abhishek has acted in Dhoom, Run, Yuva, Sarkar and Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna.