upi--2020-08-25--Twins' Sano, Cruz crush homers in win over Indians

Aug. 25 ( UPI ) -- Nelson Cruz and Miguel Sano each homered and the Minnesota Twins got another solid start from Kenta Maeda to spark a 3-2 win over the Cleveland Indians .
Maeda allowed five hits and a run in five innings to pick up his fourth win of the season Monday at Progressive Field in Cleveland .
He also had seven strikeouts .
The Twins ( 20-10 ) are now tied with the Oakland Athletics for the best record in the American League .
Minnesota leads the Chicago White Sox by 2 1/2 games for first place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Indians second baseman Cesar Hernandez hit a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the first frame .
Neither team scored a run for the next two innings before Cruz settled into the batter 's box to lead off the top of the fourth inning .
The Twins designated hitter fell behind 1-2 in the count against Aaron Civale before he smacked the Indians starter 's fourth offering over the right field fence for a 396-foot solo home run .
The blast traveled 105 mph and left the field in 4.5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ followed Cruz 's game-tying home run with a two-run shot in the sixth frame .
Cruz flew out to right field at the start of that inning before Eddie Rosario doubled to center field .
Sano then settled in against Civale .
The Twins first baseman proceeded to hack a 1-0 cutter to right field for a 417-foot blast a 3-1 lead .
Sano 's homer traveled 106 mph and left the field in 5.6 seconds .
Indians first baseman Carlos Santana laced an RBI single to center field in the bottom of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bullpen silenced Cleveland 's bats in the final two innings to clinch the victory .
Taylor Rogers earned his seventh save of the season after he allowed one hit and no runs in a scoreless ninth inning .
Indians right fielder Max Kepler went 2 for 4 in the win .
Santana went 3 for 5 with an RBI in the loss .
Francisco Lindor , Cesar Hernandez and Tyler Naquin each had two hits for the Indians .
Civale allowed seven hits and three runs in six innings and took his third @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 17-12 ) host the Twins at 7:10 p.m. EDT Tuesday at Progressive Field .

Minnesota Twins infielder Miguel Sanó (22) hit a go-ahead home run in the fourth inning of a win over the Cleveland Indians Monday in Cleveland. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 25 (UPI) -- Nelson Cruz and Miguel Sano each homered and the Minnesota Twins got another solid start from Kenta Maeda to spark a 3-2 win over the Cleveland Indians. Maeda allowed five hits and a run in five innings to pick up his fourth win of the season Monday at Progressive Field in Cleveland. He also had seven strikeouts. Advertisement
The Twins (20-10) are now tied with the Oakland Athletics for the best record in the American League. Minnesota leads the Chicago White Sox by 2 1/2 games for first place in the American League Central division.
Indians second baseman Cesar Hernandez hit a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the first frame. Neither team scored a run for the next two innings before Cruz settled into the batter's box to lead off the top of the fourth inning.
The Twins designated hitter fell behind 1-2 in the count against Aaron Civale before he smacked the Indians starter's fourth offering over the right field fence for a 396-foot solo home run. The blast traveled 105 mph and left the field in 4.5 seconds, according to Statcast.
Advertisement
Sano followed Cruz's game-tying home run with a two-run shot in the sixth frame. Cruz flew out to right field at the start of that inning before Eddie Rosario doubled to center field. Sano then settled in against Civale. The Twins first baseman proceeded to hack a 1-0 cutter to right field for a 417-foot blast a 3-1 lead. Sano's homer traveled 106 mph and left the field in 5.6 seconds.
Indians first baseman Carlos Santana laced an RBI single to center field in the bottom of the seventh frame, but the Minnesota bullpen silenced Cleveland's bats in the final two innings to clinch the victory.
Taylor Rogers earned his seventh save of the season after he allowed one hit and no runs in a scoreless ninth inning. Indians right fielder Max Kepler went 2 for 4 in the win. Santana went 3 for 5 with an RBI in the loss. Francisco Lindor, Cesar Hernandez and Tyler Naquin each had two hits for the Indians.
Civale allowed seven hits and three runs in six innings and took his third loss of the season.
The Indians (17-12) host the Twins at 7:10 p.m. EDT Tuesday at Progressive Field.
Advertisement
This week in Major League Baseball


upi--2020-08-25--LeBron James leads Los Angeles Lakers to playoff rout of Portland TrailBlazers on Kobe Bryant Day

Aug. 25 ( UPI ) -- LeBron James scored a game-high 30 points and the Los Angeles Lakers led by as many as 38 points in a Game 4 win over the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of their Western Conference playoff series .
James also had 10 assists and six rebounds in the 135-115 victory Monday at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando , Fla .
The Lakers now own a 3-1 series lead and can advance into the second round with a win Wednesday at the Walt Disney World Resort .
Anthony Davis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apiece in the victory .
The Lakers held Blazers star Damian Lillard to 11 points .
James and the Lakers wore special `` Black Mamba '' edition jerseys with a patch for Gianna Bryant to memorialize the late Kobe Bryant and his daughter .
Incidentally , Los Angeles led 24-8 at one point in the first quarter , the jersey numbers Bryant wore during his career with the Lakers .
Monday , which also was dated 8-24 , is celebrated as Mamba Day by the franchise .
`` The stars aligned , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looked and saw 24-8 I said 'OK , he 's in the building . ''
The Lakers began the game on a 15-0 run and pushed their first quarter lead to as many as 24 points in the frame .
Davis paced the Lakers to the early edge with 16 points in the first 12 minutes .
James poured in 14 points in the second quarter and helped the Lakers to an 80-51 advantage at halftime .
The Lakers pushed their lead to 91-54 with an 11-0 run to start the third quarter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fourth quarter .
James and Davis both sat out in the fourth quarter and the Lakers bench held onto the large lead to secure the victory .
Danny Green scored 14 points for the Lakers .
Dwight Howard had 13 points and eight rebounds off the Lakers bench .
Jusuf Nurkic led the Blazers with 20 points and 13 rebounds and C.J .
McCollum chipped in 18 points in the loss .
Lillard left the game in the third quarter after he hurt his right knee .
He was already playing with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he injured in Game 2 .
McCollum has played with a fractured vertebra in his lower back .
`` We know what we are up against when we are down 3-1 to a good team , '' Blazers coach Terry Stotts said .
`` We have to battle . ''
The Lakers will play the Blazers in Game 5 at 9 p.m. EDT Wednesday .

LeBron James (23) and the Los Angeles Lakers now lead the Portland Trail Blazers 3-1 in their first-round Western Conference playoff series after a 20-point win Monday in Orlando, Fla. Photo by John G. Mabanglo/EPA-EFE
Aug. 25 (UPI) -- LeBron James scored a game-high 30 points and the Los Angeles Lakers led by as many as 38 points in a Game 4 win over the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of their Western Conference playoff series. James also had 10 assists and six rebounds in the 135-115 victory Monday at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla. The Lakers now own a 3-1 series lead and can advance into the second round with a win Wednesday at the Walt Disney World Resort. Advertisement
Anthony Davis and Kyle Kuzma chipped in 18 points apiece in the victory. The Lakers held Blazers star Damian Lillard to 11 points.
James and the Lakers wore special "Black Mamba" edition jerseys with a patch for Gianna Bryant to memorialize the late Kobe Bryant and his daughter. Incidentally, Los Angeles led 24-8 at one point in the first quarter, the jersey numbers Bryant wore during his career with the Lakers. Monday, which also was dated 8-24, is celebrated as Mamba Day by the franchise.
Advertisement
"The stars aligned," James told reporters. "When I looked and saw 24-8 I said 'OK, he's in the building."
The Lakers began the game on a 15-0 run and pushed their first quarter lead to as many as 24 points in the frame. Davis paced the Lakers to the early edge with 16 points in the first 12 minutes.
James poured in 14 points in the second quarter and helped the Lakers to an 80-51 advantage at halftime. The Lakers pushed their lead to 91-54 with an 11-0 run to start the third quarter. They had a 112-87 lead entering the fourth quarter.
James and Davis both sat out in the fourth quarter and the Lakers bench held onto the large lead to secure the victory.
Danny Green scored 14 points for the Lakers. Dwight Howard had 13 points and eight rebounds off the Lakers bench. Jusuf Nurkic led the Blazers with 20 points and 13 rebounds and C.J. McCollum chipped in 18 points in the loss.
Lillard left the game in the third quarter after he hurt his right knee. He was already playing with a dislocated left index finger, which he injured in Game 2. McCollum has played with a fractured vertebra in his lower back.
Advertisement
"We know what we are up against when we are down 3-1 to a good team," Blazers coach Terry Stotts said. "We have to battle."
The Lakers will play the Blazers in Game 5 at 9 p.m. EDT Wednesday.
Moments from LeBron James' career


upi--2020-08-25--Google honors sculptor Barbara Hepworth with new Doodle

Aug. 25 ( UPI ) -- Google is celebrating abstract sculptor Barbara Hepworth with a new Doodle .
Hepworth is @ @ @ @ @ the most impactful sculptors of the mid-20th century .
Tuesday marks the day Hepworth arrived @ @ @ @ @ .
in 1939 where she established her studio and lived .
Doodler Matt Cruickshank created @ @ @ @ @ homepage of Hepworth working on a sculpture inside her home .
Hepworth , who started @ @ @ @ @ 1930s , was one of the leading practitioners of direct carving , a technique where @ @ @ @ @ by the qualities of the raw material rather than a preconceived model .
Hepworth was @ @ @ @ @ the 1959 Sao Paulo Bienal and was named Dame Commander of the Order of the @ @ @ @ @ `` Hepworth 's more than 600 sculpture remain a testament to the unique power of @ @ @ @ @ values of humanism and natural beauty , '' Google said .

Google is paying homage to abstract sculptor Barbara Hepworth with a new Doodle. Image courtesy of Google
Aug. 25 (UPI) -- Google is celebrating abstract sculptor Barbara Hepworth with a new Doodle. Hepworth is considered to be one of the most impactful sculptors of the mid-20th century. Tuesday marks the day Hepworth arrived in St. Ives, England. in 1939 where she established her studio and lived. Advertisement
Doodler Matt Cruickshank created the artwork on Google's homepage of Hepworth working on a sculpture inside her home.
Hepworth, who started creating abstract pieces in the 1930s, was one of the leading practitioners of direct carving, a technique where the sculpting process is influenced by the qualities of the raw material rather than a preconceived model.
Hepworth was awarded the Grand Prix at the 1959 Sao Paulo Bienal and was named Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1965.
"Hepworth's more than 600 sculpture remain a testament to the unique power of art to reflect the timeless values of humanism and natural beauty," Google said.


upi--2020-08-25--Weakened Marco makes landfall in Gulf Coast; Laura next in line

Aug. 25 ( UPI ) -- Tropical Storm Marco made landfall over the U.S. Gulf Coast near the mouth of the Mississippi River late Monday before it weakened to a tropical depression .
Forecasters said Marco made landfall as a weak tropical storm .
Early Tuesday , it became a post-tropical cyclone and began to dissipate just south of the central Louisiana coastline .
By the time it reached land , Marco had weakened considerably .
It was a Category 1 hurricane on Sunday before it was later downgraded to a tropical storm and then to a depression with winds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system lost its spin on early Tuesday , it became a post-tropical low and the National Hurricane Center issued the last advisory on the system at 5 a.m. Officials forecast Marco to continue moving west over Louisiana until it dissipates .
A greater threat looms , however , in Tropical Storm Laura -- which is expected to be a hurricane by the time it arrives on the Gulf Coast early Thursday .
The National Hurricane Center said in its 4 a.m. update that Laura was located about 85 miles northwest of the western @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Lake Charles , La .
It had maximum sustained winds of 65 mph and was moving northwest at 17 mph .
`` On the forecast track , the center of Laura will move away from Cuba and over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico this morning .
Laura is then forecast to move over the central and northwestern Gulf of Mexico tonight and Wednesday , approach the Upper Texas and Southwest Louisiana coasts on Wednesday night and move inland near those area on Thursday , '' the NHC said in its advisory .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Reeves said .
`` We are dealing with not only two potential storms in the next few hours , we are also dealing with COVID-19 . ''
The governor and other state officials urged residents to prepare and advised them to find places to evacuate other than public shelters .
Significant strengthening is forecast over the next two days and Laura `` is now expected to be a major hurricane at landfall , '' the center said .
Oil and gas rigs are most concentrated in the central and western two-thirds of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Houston and Galveston area and around New Orleans .
`` If Laura also takes a track toward the Louisiana coast as forecast , power crews may not even be able to go to some areas after Marco exits .
As soon as they get there they may have to evacuate again to avoid Laura , '' said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Pydynowski .
Louisiana Gov .
John Bel Edwards requested a Federal Emergency Declaration on Saturday in preparation for both storms .
`` This is unlike anything we have seen , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mean that people will have to shelter in place for more than 72 hours and that there may not be time to do things like restore lost power between the two storms . ''
In Texas , Gov .
Greg Abbott deployed more than 70 members of the Texas Army , Air National Guards and Texas State Gaurd with the Texas Military Department throughout the state on Monday ahead of the storms .
`` As the situation develops , it is imperative that Texans who live on the Gulf Coast and in southeast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alerts and heed warnings from local officials , '' Abbott said .
`` Property and belongings can be restored , but lives can not . ''
Marco became the 10th storm in 2020 to go down in the record books for the basin , and Laura is the earliest ' L ' named storm on record .
And more storms could be coming , as tropical waves continue to emerge off the coast of Africa .
The heart of the 2020 hurricane season , which is just getting underway , is expected to @ @ @ @

Hurricane Laura is seen after it arrived on the Louisiana coast early Thursday as a Category 4 storm. Image courtesy NOAA/NHC
Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Laura slammed into the coast of Louisiana near Cameron early Thursday as a Category 4 hurricane, packing maximum sustained winds of 150 mph. Not even 24 hours earlier, Laura rapidly intensified to a Category 3 hurricane, the first major hurricane of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season. A short time later, the NOAA Hurricane Hunters found Laura had become an "extremely dangerous" Category 4 storm. Advertisement
The National Hurricane Center said in a 4 a.m. advisory Thursday that Laura had weakened to a Category 2 storm over land.
AccuWeather meteorologists warned that complete destruction of mobile homes along with roof and wall failure is possible from Laura. Locations could be uninhabitable for weeks or months, and roads impassible from large debris.
Many bridges, causeways and access routes may become impassable as flood control systems and barriers may become stressed and fail. Major damage to marinas, docks, boardwalks and piers should be expected.
Advertisement
The National Hurricane Center warned that Laura may damage even well-built homes. Along with the common threat of the storm snapping or uprooting trees, the NHC also warned electricity and water may be unavailable for several days to weeks.
Laura's winds have already wrecked havoc on the power grid across the region. More than 137,000 customers were without electricity in Louisiana and there were 15,000 outages in southeast Texas early Thursday.
Numerous tornado warnings have been issued across the region, and AccuWeather meteorologists say the tornado dangers will continue as Laura moves inland.
Louisiana started to experience intense flooding on Wednesday morning near Louisiana State Route 1, among other areas, well before Laura made landfall.
"Unsurvivable storm surge with large and destructive waves will cause catastrophic damage," the NHC warned in an advisory Wednesday, adding that the surge could extend up to 40 miles inland from the coastline.
Storm surge is an above-normal rise in sea water along the coast that's generated by approaching or landfalling tropical systems, its strength and reach comparing more to a river than a tide.
AccuWeather forecasters predicted a storm surge of 15 to 20 feet near Cameron, Louisiana, a coastal town of about 135 miles east of Houston. The highest elevation in Cameron Parish is around 20 feet, meaning that the entire parish could be underwater during the worst of the storm.
Advertisement
"A storm surge of that magnitude, combined with wave action, would be high enough to fully devastate the second story of structures located along the coast," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said. "Moving water with wave action has the force of being in the middle of a large river. Waters will begin to rise and some coastal roads can become flooded will in advance of the center of the storm's arrival on the coast."
Tensions mounted during the week ahead of Laura's landfall as the storm strengthened along an eerily similar path taken by Hurricane Rita in 2005. The similarities stirred old wounds that local officials sought to address.
"This is not Harvey, this is not Imelda, this is not Allison. This is Laura," Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said during a press conference. "Every storm is different, and we urge folks not to use any prior storm as a template for what or will happen. What we need to do is prepare for the worst."
The coronavirus pandemic has brought new challenges to hurricane preparation this season. To adapt to the dual danger of COVID-19 and hurricanes, the Center for Disease Prevention and Control has recommended preparing a "go kit" with items that that can help protect you and others from transmission of COVID-19, including hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes and two masks for each person as social distancing may become more difficult.
Advertisement
The first mandatory evacuation order was issued Tuesday when the hurricane was still a Category 1 storm. Galveston Mayor Craig Brown signed a mandatory evacuation and the city urged residents to leave the island by noon Wednesday and to take with them "all family members and pets." City services were suspended at noon on Tuesday.
Elsewhere along the Gulf Coast, residents in Louisiana prepared for the storm by boarding up windows. Oil refineries across the Gulf were shut down amid all of the tropical activity over the Gulf -- first from Marco and later from Laura. All told, over half a million in Texas and Louisiana were told to flee the approaching storm.
A St. George Island first responder died while trying to save a swimmer, Franklin County Sheriff A.J. Smith reported over Facebook Live. He noted that it had been a "double-red-flag day," meaning no one should have been in the water to begin with.
"The conditions are terrible," Smith said. "There's a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico, so I'm asking all the tourists don't go in the water. If you're in the water and you're told to leave and you don't, you will be arrested. We're serious about this. There's no reason for any other loss of life."
Advertisement
The identity of the first responder has yet to be made public.
Laura took its time its beginning stages of development before moving into the warm waters that would serve as a catalyst to its strengthening.
Laura first struck the Dominican Republic and Haiti before moving over Cuba by late Sunday, leaving behind damage and flooding while it pushed across the northern Caribbean as a tropical storm. It turned into a hurricane Tuesday.
Tropical Storm Marco preceded Laura, but fizzled out during the beginning of the week as it skirted along the Gulf Coast. However, this wasn't before it became the earliest "M" storm on record in the basin and unleashed torrential rainfall on the region. The previous "M" storm record was held by the 2005 Hurricane Maria, which developed Sept. 2.
Prior to Laura and Marco's formation, Cristobal, Edouard, Fay, Gonzalo, Hanna, Isaias, Josephine and Kyle had all set new records for their respective letters in 2020.


upi--2020-08-25--WHO: 172 countries in talks on COVID-19 vaccine initiative

Aug. 25 ( UPI ) -- More than 170 countries are in talks with the World Health Organization to participate in its initiative to provide worldwide access to the COVID-19 vaccine , the U.N. health body said , urging them to confirm their commitments by the end of August .
The WHO said in a statement that as of Monday it was in discussions with 172 countries to join its COVAX Facility initiative that aims to manufacture and provide worldwide equitable access to a COVID-19 vaccine once one is developed .
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreysus , WHO general-director , said during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on COVID-19 that COVAX is a critical mechanism for developing a vaccine as it pools resources and spreads risk out over multiple vaccine candidates while providing all donor countries with access .
WHO said the facility has the largest and most diverse COVID-19 vaccine portfolio in the world , including nine candidate vaccines with a further nine under evaluation .
It is also in talks with four more manufacturers to join the facility , Tedros said .
`` This is in the interests of all countries , even those that have invested with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We 're working with vaccine manufacturers to provide all countries that join the effort timely and equitable access to all vaccines , licensed and approved . ''
Some 80 self-financing countries and 92 low- and middle-income economies have submitted non-binding expressions of interest to COVAX , representing more than 70 % of the world 's population , the WHO said .
It is now urging those richer countries to confirm potential intent to participate by the end of August , with the aim to sign binding commitments by Sept. 18 so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made no later than Oct. 9 .
`` Equal access to a COVID-19 vaccine is the key to beating the virus and paving the way for recovery from the pandemic , '' Stefan Lovfen , the prime minister of Sweden , said in a statement .
`` This can not be a race with a few winners and the COVAX Facility is an important part of the solution -- making sure all countries can benefit from access to the world 's largest portfolio of candidates and fair and equitable distribution of vaccine doses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the WHO said , is dependent on not only securing countries ' commitments but securing funding for research and development and supporting the participation of lower-income countries .
Tedros said competition by nations and manufacturers for a vaccine could lead to price hikes , adding that `` vaccine nationalism only helps the virus . ''
`` Our only way out of this pandemic is together , '' he said .
The plan for a global rollout of the vaccine , he said , is to ensure those at highest risk around the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are covered when supplies are low .
As supplies increase , disbursement would be expanded based on each country 's vulnerability to COVID-19 , he said , with the goal of delivering at least 2 billion doses of an effective vaccine by the end of next year .
`` There is light at the end of the tunnel , '' he said .
`` And as I said last week , together we can do it . ''
Despite being the global epicenter of the pandemic with more than 5.7 million infections , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in participating in the initiative .
Once the largest donor to the WHO , the United States formally requested to exit the organization in early July , after President Donald Trump and his administration accused it of enabling China to cover up its initial outbreak of the virus .
The virus emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December and has since spread the world over .
According to researchers at Johns Hopkins University , the pandemic has infected 23.6 million people , resulting in 813,418 deaths .

Patrons wearing protective face masks visit a newly opened restaurant in Beijing, China, on August 15. Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 25 (UPI) -- More than 170 countries are in talks with the World Health Organization to participate in its initiative to provide worldwide access to the COVID-19 vaccine, the U.N. health body said, urging them to confirm their commitments by the end of August. The WHO said in a statement that as of Monday it was in discussions with 172 countries to join its COVAX Facility initiative that aims to manufacture and provide worldwide equitable access to a COVID-19 vaccine once one is developed. Advertisement
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO general-director, said during his opening remarks at a media briefing on COVID-19 that COVAX is a critical mechanism for developing a vaccine as it pools resources and spreads risk out over multiple vaccine candidates while providing all donor countries with access.
WHO said the facility has the largest and most diverse COVID-19 vaccine portfolio in the world, including nine candidate vaccines with a further nine under evaluation. It is also in talks with four more manufacturers to join the facility, Tedros said.
Advertisement
"This is in the interests of all countries, even those that have invested with individual manufacturers independently," he said. "We're working with vaccine manufacturers to provide all countries that join the effort timely and equitable access to all vaccines, licensed and approved."
Some 80 self-financing countries and 92 low- and middle-income economies have submitted non-binding expressions of interest to COVAX, representing more than 70% of the world's population, the WHO said. It is now urging those richer countries to confirm potential intent to participate by the end of August, with the aim to sign binding commitments by Sept. 18 so that the first upfront payments can be made no later than Oct. 9.
"Equal access to a COVID-19 vaccine is the key to beating the virus and paving the way for recovery from the pandemic," Stefan Lovfen, the prime minister of Sweden, said in a statement. "This cannot be a race with a few winners and the COVAX Facility is an important part of the solution -- making sure all countries can benefit from access to the world's largest portfolio of candidates and fair and equitable distribution of vaccine doses."
The success of COVAX, the WHO said, is dependent on not only securing countries' commitments but securing funding for research and development and supporting the participation of lower-income countries.
Advertisement
Tedros said competition by nations and manufacturers for a vaccine could lead to price hikes, adding that "vaccine nationalism only helps the virus."
"Our only way out of this pandemic is together," he said.
The plan for a global rollout of the vaccine, he said, is to ensure those at highest risk around the world, including healthcare workers and seniors, are covered when supplies are low.
As supplies increase, disbursement would be expanded based on each country's vulnerability to COVID-19, he said, with the goal of delivering at least 2 billion doses of an effective vaccine by the end of next year.
"There is light at the end of the tunnel," he said. "And as I said last week, together we can do it."
Despite being the global epicenter of the pandemic with more than 5.7 million infections, the United States has not expressed interest in participating in the initiative.
Once the largest donor to the WHO, the United States formally requested to exit the organization in early July, after President Donald Trump and his administration accused it of enabling China to cover up its initial outbreak of the virus.
The virus emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December and has since spread the world over. According to researchers at Johns Hopkins University, the pandemic has infected 23.6 million people, resulting in 813,418 deaths.


upi--2020-08-25--Seoul suspends in-person classes amid pandemic fears

SEOUL , Aug. 25 ( UPI ) -- Students in the greater Seoul metropolitan area will return to remote learning on Wednesday , as South Korea struggles to contain a surge in COVID-19 cases centered around the capital city .
The move was announced Tuesday by the Ministry of Education in a statement that said `` more pre-emptive and intensive measures are needed for schools in the metropolitan area in order to prevent the further spread of infectious disease . ''
According to the ministry , 150 students and 43 faculty members in the Seoul area have tested positive for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ began in the middle of August and has placed health authorities on high alert .
The suspension of in-person classes will be in effect until Sept. 11 .
The order applies to all grade levels except final-year high school students , who are preparing to take South Korea 's grueling , once-a-year college entrance exam in December .
After Sept. 11 , the suspension `` will be reviewed in connection with the social distancing stage of the quarantine authorities based on the spread of the disease and the level of risk , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the possibility it would be extended .
After daily local infections had dwindled to single digits earlier this month , South Korea has seen a surge in new cases centered around the greater Seoul area , driven by a large cluster at a church in northern Seoul and further spread by an anti-government rally held on Aug. 15 .
South Korea reported 280 new infections on Tuesday , a drop from a recent high of 397 on Sunday .
Health officials last week tightened social distancing guidelines in the Seoul metropolitan area , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scale , prohibiting indoor gatherings of more than 50 people and outdoor gatherings of more than 100 .
Public facilities and high-risk locations such as nightlife venues have had to shut down , while professional sports leagues have returned to playing games in empty stadiums .
In-person religious services have also been temporarily halted .
On Sunday , the government extended the Level 2 guidelines to the entire country .
Health officials were hesitant on Tuesday to attribute the falling numbers of new infections to the enhanced distancing protocols yet .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continuing on , '' Yoon Tae-ho , a senior health ministry official , said at a Tuesday briefing .
`` Despite the fact that we have a slight decrease in the number of patients compared to the weekend , we are still monitoring the situation to determine if the social distancing measures have yielded results . ''
Over the past 12 days , South Korea has seen 3,175 new cases , with the main cluster of infections concentrated at the Sarang Jeil Presbyterian Church in northern Seoul .
As of Tuesday afternoon , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the church , which is led by right-wing pastor the Rev .
Jun Kwang-hoon , an outspoken critic of the administration of President Moon Jae-in .
A number of secondary clusters have sprung up around schools , office buildings , apartment complexes , hospitals and restaurants .
At least 176 patients have also been connected to an Aug. 15 anti-government rally , where Jun spoke and claimed that the government has `` terrorized '' his church with the virus .
The church has been accused of impeding the epidemiological investigation by providing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inaccurate membership lists to officials .
The government filed charges last week against Jun , who has tested positive for COVID-19 , for obstructing their investigation and for defying a self-isolation order by participating in the rally .
Health officials have warned that they may next raise distancing guidelines to Level 3 , which would ban all gatherings of more than 10 people .
Seoul has prohibited any rallies or demonstrations with more than 10 participants , and on Monday mandated the wearing of face masks in public at all times , except @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's total number of COVID-19 cases rose to 17,945 on Tuesday , while deaths increased by one to 310 , according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .

Seoul schools will go back to remote learning starting on Wednesday as health officials struggle to contain a COVID-19 outbreak. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI
SEOUL, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- Students in the greater Seoul metropolitan area will return to remote learning on Wednesday, as South Korea struggles to contain a surge in COVID-19 cases centered around the capital city. The move was announced Tuesday by the Ministry of Education in a statement that said "more pre-emptive and intensive measures are needed for schools in the metropolitan area in order to prevent the further spread of infectious disease." Advertisement
According to the ministry, 150 students and 43 faculty members in the Seoul area have tested positive for COVID-19 during the current outbreak, which began in the middle of August and has placed health authorities on high alert.
The suspension of in-person classes will be in effect until Sept. 11. The order applies to all grade levels except final-year high school students, who are preparing to take South Korea's grueling, once-a-year college entrance exam in December.
Advertisement
After Sept. 11, the suspension "will be reviewed in connection with the social distancing stage of the quarantine authorities based on the spread of the disease and the level of risk," the education ministry said, leaving open the possibility it would be extended.
After daily local infections had dwindled to single digits earlier this month, South Korea has seen a surge in new cases centered around the greater Seoul area, driven by a large cluster at a church in northern Seoul and further spread by an anti-government rally held on Aug. 15.
South Korea reported 280 new infections on Tuesday, a drop from a recent high of 397 on Sunday.
Health officials last week tightened social distancing guidelines in the Seoul metropolitan area, moving to Level 2 on a three-tier scale, prohibiting indoor gatherings of more than 50 people and outdoor gatherings of more than 100.
Public facilities and high-risk locations such as nightlife venues have had to shut down, while professional sports leagues have returned to playing games in empty stadiums. In-person religious services have also been temporarily halted.
On Sunday, the government extended the Level 2 guidelines to the entire country.
Health officials were hesitant on Tuesday to attribute the falling numbers of new infections to the enhanced distancing protocols yet.
Advertisement
"We are very much concerned about this outbreak continuing on," Yoon Tae-ho, a senior health ministry official, said at a Tuesday briefing. "Despite the fact that we have a slight decrease in the number of patients compared to the weekend, we are still monitoring the situation to determine if the social distancing measures have yielded results."
Over the past 12 days, South Korea has seen 3,175 new cases, with the main cluster of infections concentrated at the Sarang Jeil Presbyterian Church in northern Seoul. As of Tuesday afternoon, some 915 confirmed cases have been linked to the church, which is led by right-wing pastor the Rev. Jun Kwang-hoon, an outspoken critic of the administration of President Moon Jae-in.
A number of secondary clusters have sprung up around schools, office buildings, apartment complexes, hospitals and restaurants.
At least 176 patients have also been connected to an Aug. 15 anti-government rally, where Jun spoke and claimed that the government has "terrorized" his church with the virus. The church has been accused of impeding the epidemiological investigation by providing false information on its gatherings and providing inaccurate membership lists to officials.
The government filed charges last week against Jun, who has tested positive for COVID-19, for obstructing their investigation and for defying a self-isolation order by participating in the rally.
Advertisement
Health officials have warned that they may next raise distancing guidelines to Level 3, which would ban all gatherings of more than 10 people. Seoul has prohibited any rallies or demonstrations with more than 10 participants, and on Monday mandated the wearing of face masks in public at all times, except when eating or drinking.
South Korea's total number of COVID-19 cases rose to 17,945 on Tuesday, while deaths increased by one to 310, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.


upi--2020-08-25--Judge strikes down Florida order tying schools' funding to reopening

Aug. 25 ( UPI ) -- A federal judge in Florida ruled against a state order for schools to either open in-person classes amid the coronavirus pandemic or loss already allotted funding , stating it 's unconstitutional as it ignores safety concerns and strips school boards of their decision-making powers .
In a strongly worded decision on Monday , Circuit Judge Charles Dodson imposed a temporary injection against an executive order issued by Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran on July 6 that ties school districts ' funding to reopening classrooms by the end of August .
Dodson said that the order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ essentially ignored the requirement of school safety by requiring the statewide opening of brick-and-mortar schools to receive allocated funding . ''
The defendants Gov .
Ron DeSantis and Corcoran argued that school boards agree with the order as none joined the litigation against them and that more than 60 school districts had already submitted reopening plans .
However , Dodson said school boards had no choice as their funding was tied to submitting and having reopening plans approved by the state .
`` The districts have no meaningful alternative , '' Dodson wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chooses safety , that is , delaying the start of schools until it individually determines it is safe to do so for its county , it risks losing state funding , even though every student is being taught . ''
Dodson 's decision allows school boards to make their own decision about re-opening in-person classes without the worry of losing funding .
Corcoran rejected the court 's decision later Monday and said the state would appeal .
`` We 've said it all along , and we will say it one million times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will win this lawsuit , '' Corcoran said in a statement .
`` This fight has been , and will continue to be , about giving every parent , every teacher and every student a choice , regardless of what educational option they choose . ''
The Florida Education Association , which filed the lawsuit against the state , said it `` appreciates '' the ruling to place a temporary injunction against the order as its lawsuit continues through the courts .
`` This is only a temporary injunction , but we plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FEA President Fedrick Ingram said in a statement .
`` Local communities should have the freedom to make the best decisions for reopening or keeping open local schools . ''
Randi Weingarten , president of the American Federation of Teachers , the second-largest teachers union in the country , called the decision `` a remarkable victory . ''
`` Today , Judge Dodson saw Florida 's unconstitutional executive order for what it was -- a cynical edict that put fealty to President [ Donald ] Trump over the wellbeing of children and educators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ judge ruled that decisions about reopening should be made locally , bot dictated by the state , either directly or through funding decisions . ''

Florida schools may reopen in-person classes when they feel it is safe to do so after a Florida judge placed a temporary injunction against a state order on Monday that threatened funding for school districts if they didn't reopen classes by the end of August. Photo by Gary I Rothstein/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 25 (UPI) -- A federal judge in Florida ruled against a state order for schools to either open in-person classes amid the coronavirus pandemic or loss already allotted funding, stating it's unconstitutional as it ignores safety concerns and strips school boards of their decision-making powers. In a strongly worded decision on Monday, Circuit Judge Charles Dodson imposed a temporary injection against an executive order issued by Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran on July 6 that ties school districts' funding to reopening classrooms by the end of August. Advertisement
Dodson said that the order, and its application, "have essentially ignored the requirement of school safety by requiring the statewide opening of brick-and-mortar schools to receive allocated funding."
The defendants Gov. Ron DeSantis and Corcoran argued that school boards agree with the order as none joined the litigation against them and that more than 60 school districts had already submitted reopening plans.
However, Dodson said school boards had no choice as their funding was tied to submitting and having reopening plans approved by the state.
"The districts have no meaningful alternative," Dodson wrote. "If an individual school district chooses safety, that is, delaying the start of schools until it individually determines it is safe to do so for its county, it risks losing state funding, even though every student is being taught."
Advertisement
Dodson's decision allows school boards to make their own decision about re-opening in-person classes without the worry of losing funding.
Corcoran rejected the court's decision later Monday and said the state would appeal.
"We've said it all along, and we will say it one million times -- we are 100% confident we will win this lawsuit," Corcoran said in a statement. "This fight has been, and will continue to be, about giving every parent, every teacher and every student a choice, regardless of what educational option they choose."
The Florida Education Association, which filed the lawsuit against the state, said it "appreciates" the ruling to place a temporary injunction against the order as its lawsuit continues through the courts.
"This is only a temporary injunction, but we plan to press ahead in court," FEA President Fedrick Ingram said in a statement. "Local communities should have the freedom to make the best decisions for reopening or keeping open local schools."
Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, the second-largest teachers union in the country, called the decision "a remarkable victory."
"Today, Judge Dodson saw Florida's unconstitutional executive order for what it was -- a cynical edict that put fealty to President [Donald] Trump over the wellbeing of children and educators," Weingarten said. "The judge ruled that decisions about reopening should be made locally, bot dictated by the state, either directly or through funding decisions."


upi--2020-08-25--Famous birthdays for Aug. 25: Claudia Schiffer, Sean Connery

Aug. 25 ( UPI ) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Virgo .
-- Czar @ @ @ @ @ the Terrible , '' of Russia , in 1530

1/3
Claudia Schiffer arrives on the red carpet at the New York premiere of "Rocketman" at Alice Tully Hall on May 29, 2019, in New York City. She turns 50 on August 24. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 25 (UPI) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Virgo. They include: Advertisement
-- Czar Ivan IV, "Ivan the Terrible," of Russia, in 1530
-- Composer/conductor Leonard Bernstein in 1918
-- Former Alabama Gov. George Wallace in 1919
-- Game show host Monty Hall in 1921
-- Tennis champion Althea Gibson in 1927
-- Actor Sean Connery in 1930 (age 90)
File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
-- TV personality Regis Philbin in 1931
-- Actor Tom Skerritt in 1933 (age 87)
-- Writer Frederick Forsyth in 1938 (age 82)
-- Baseball Hall of Fame member Rollie Fingers in 1946 (age 74)
-- Writer Martin Amis in 1949 (age 71)
-- Actor John Savage in 1949 (age 71)
-- Rock singer Gene Simmons of Kiss in 1949 (age 71)
-- Singer/songwriter Elvis Costello in 1954 (age 66)
-- Film director Tim Burton in 1958 (age 62)
File Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI
Advertisement
-- Country singer Billy Ray Cyrus in 1961 (age 59)
-- Actor Ally Walker in 1961 (age 59)
-- Actor Blair Underwood in 1964 (age 56)
-- Actor Tom Hollander in 1967 (age 53)
-- Television cook Rachael Ray in 1968 (age 52)
-- Supermodel Claudia Schiffer in 1970 (age 50)
-- Actor Alexander Skarsgard in 1976 (age 44)
File Photo by Christine Chew/UPI
-- Actor Kel Mitchell in 1978 (age 42)
-- Actor Rachel Bilson in 1981 (age 39)
-- Actor Blake Lively in 1987 (age 33)
-- Actor China Anne McClain in 1998 (age 22)


upi--2020-08-25--On This Day, Aug. 25: Voyager 2 makes closest pass of Neptune

Aug. 25 ( UPI ) -- On this date in history : In 1609 , Galileo Galilei exhibited his first telescope in Venice .
In 1718 , the city of New Orleans was founded .
In 1875 , Matthew Webb , a 27-year-old British merchant navy captain , became the first person known to successfully swim the English Channel .
In 1944 , allied forces and the French resistance freed the city of Paris from German occupation during World War II .
In 1984 , In Cold Blood and Breakfast at Tiffany 's author Truman Capote died at age 59 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 13 , was killed with her father and six other people in a plane crash in Maine .
Samantha 's 1983 letter to Soviet President Yuri Andropov about her fear of nuclear war earned her a visit to the Soviet Union .
In 1989 , Voyager 2 , after a 4 billion-mile journey , made its closest pass over Neptune , sending back images of southern lights and its moon , Triton , to Earth .
In 2006 , Pulkova Airlines Flight 612 crashed near the Russian border in Ukraine , killing 171 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Edward `` Ted '' Kennedy , D-Mass.
, a liberal fixture in the Senate for 46 years , died of brain cancer at the age of 77 .
In 2012 , former astronaut Neil Armstrong , the first man to walk on the moon , died in Cincinnati .
He was 82 .
In 2017 , Hurricane Harvey made landfall on San Jose Island , Texas , as a Category 4 storm .
Harvey killed more than 100 people and caused $ 125 billion in damage .
In 2019 , Rory McIlroy won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Club in Atlanta , taking home the largest payout in golf history -- $ 15 million .

1/5
On August 25, 1989, Voyager 2, after a 4 billion-mile journey, made its closest pass over Neptune, sending back images of southern lights and its moon, Triton, to Earth. File Photo courtesy of NASA
Aug. 25 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1609, Galileo Galilei exhibited his first telescope in Venice. Advertisement
In 1718, the city of New Orleans was founded.
In 1875, Matthew Webb, a 27-year-old British merchant navy captain, became the first person known to successfully swim the English Channel.
In 1944, allied forces and the French resistance freed the city of Paris from German occupation during World War II.
In 1967, a sniper assassinated American Nazi leader George Lincoln Rockwell in Arlington, Va.
In 1984, In Cold Blood and Breakfast at Tiffany's author Truman Capote died at age 59.
In 1985, Samantha Smith, 13, was killed with her father and six other people in a plane crash in Maine. Samantha's 1983 letter to Soviet President Yuri Andropov about her fear of nuclear war earned her a visit to the Soviet Union.
Photo courtesy RIA Novosti archive
Advertisement
In 1989, Voyager 2, after a 4 billion-mile journey, made its closest pass over Neptune, sending back images of southern lights and its moon, Triton, to Earth.
In 2006, Pulkova Airlines Flight 612 crashed near the Russian border in Ukraine, killing 171 people.
In 2009, U.S. Sen. Edward "Ted" Kennedy, D-Mass., a liberal fixture in the Senate for 46 years, died of brain cancer at the age of 77.
File Photo by CJ Gunther/UPI
In 2012, former astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, died in Cincinnati. He was 82.
In 2017, Hurricane Harvey made landfall on San Jose Island, Texas, as a Category 4 storm. Harvey killed more than 100 people and caused $125 billion in damage.
In 2019, Rory McIlroy won the FedEx Cup at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, taking home the largest payout in golf history -- $15 million.
File Photo by Peter DaSilva/UPI


upi--2020-08-25--Spoonful of honey more effective against cough than cold meds

There may be no cure for the common cold , but a spoonful of honey might make it less miserable , a new research review concludes .
Parents have long used honey to soothe kids ' sore throats and cough -- probably because their parents did .
But the review of 14 clinical trials finds some science to back it up .
Overall , adults and kids given honey had less-severe , less-frequent coughing spells than those who received `` usual care '' -- including over-the-counter cough syrups , cold and allergy medicines , and painkillers .
And while honey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ symptoms , it 's reasonable to give it a try , experts said .
That 's partly because the cold-and-cough medicines sold in drug stores do not work well and can have side effects , said Dr. Russell Greenfield , an integrative medicine specialist who was not involved in the study .
`` The reality is : We do n't have a good conventional therapy for the common cold , '' said Greenfield , who is clinical physician executive of Novant Health Integrative Medicine in Charlotte , N.C .
In contrast , honey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ largely safe and relatively cheap .
The exception , Greenfield said , is babies : Children younger than 1 year should not be given honey , due to the risk of botulism .
Honey has a centuries-long history as a folk remedy , including as a balm for sore throats and cough .
For the new review , researchers at Oxford University in England pulled together recent evidence on whether the nectar actually works .
They found 14 clinical trials done since 2007 most focused on children , but five involved adults .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ or a placebo .
Overall , honey was better than usual care in limiting coughs .
`` The majority of studies focused on cough , and the evidence is best for cough , '' said lead review author Hibatullah Abuelgasim , a medical student at Oxford .
A few studies looked at other symptoms .
A study of adults , for instance , measured throat irritation and found that honey seemed to speed recovery .
Given the mostly benign nature of honey , `` it 's reasonable to try it -- especially if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Abuelgasim said .
One of those potentially harmful alternatives is antibiotics , which are commonly prescribed for colds .
That 's despite the fact that antibiotics kill bacteria , and therefore , wo n't work against the viruses that cause colds .
In some cases , a person with a cold may develop a secondary bacterial infection and need medication for it , Greenfield noted .
But , he said , `` colds , by definition , wo n't respond to an antibiotic . ''
What is the magic behind honey ?
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Greenfield .
Honey contains antioxidants , he noted , and research suggests it has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity .
It also helps coat the mucus membranes , Greenfield said , which might bring some relief .
Plus , it 's sweet and `` does n't taste bad , '' he said .
`` In integrative medicine , we do n't discount the placebo effect -- we try to use it . ''
As for the best way to use honey -- by the spoonful or mixed into tea , for example -- the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used various modes of delivery , Abuelgasim said .
Her advice : `` It may be best to take it how you prefer . ''
With the world in the middle of a pandemic , however , even a cough should be taken seriously , according to Greenfield .
`` These days , it 's a different animal , '' he said .
So before turning to self-care with honey , Greenfield said , anyone who develops a cough or other possible symptoms of COVID-19 should consult their doctor .
The findings were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BMJ : Evidence-Based Medicine .
The Mayo Clinic has advice on self-care for cold symptoms .

There may be no cure for the common cold, but a spoonful of honey might make it less miserable, a new research review concludes.
Parents have long used honey to soothe kids' sore throats and cough -- probably because their parents did. But the review of 14 clinical trials finds some science to back it up.
Advertisement
Overall, adults and kids given honey had less-severe, less-frequent coughing spells than those who received "usual care" -- including over-the-counter cough syrups, cold and allergy medicines, and painkillers.
And while honey might not be a slam-dunk against cold symptoms, it's reasonable to give it a try, experts said.
That's partly because the cold-and-cough medicines sold in drug stores do not work well and can have side effects, said Dr. Russell Greenfield, an integrative medicine specialist who was not involved in the study.
"The reality is: We don't have a good conventional therapy for the common cold," said Greenfield, who is clinical physician executive of Novant Health Integrative Medicine in Charlotte, N.C.
Advertisement
In contrast, honey might be helpful, and it's largely safe and relatively cheap.
The exception, Greenfield said, is babies: Children younger than 1 year should not be given honey, due to the risk of botulism.
Honey has a centuries-long history as a folk remedy, including as a balm for sore throats and cough. For the new review, researchers at Oxford University in England pulled together recent evidence on whether the nectar actually works.
They found 14 clinical trials done since 2007 most focused on children, but five involved adults. Each tested honey against standard cold-and-cough medicines or a placebo.
Overall, honey was better than usual care in limiting coughs.
"The majority of studies focused on cough, and the evidence is best for cough," said lead review author Hibatullah Abuelgasim, a medical student at Oxford.
A few studies looked at other symptoms. A study of adults, for instance, measured throat irritation and found that honey seemed to speed recovery.
Given the mostly benign nature of honey, "it's reasonable to try it -- especially if it replaces potentially harmful alternatives," Abuelgasim said.
One of those potentially harmful alternatives is antibiotics, which are commonly prescribed for colds. That's despite the fact that antibiotics kill bacteria, and therefore, won't work against the viruses that cause colds.
Advertisement
In some cases, a person with a cold may develop a secondary bacterial infection and need medication for it, Greenfield noted. But, he said, "colds, by definition, won't respond to an antibiotic."
What is the magic behind honey? It's not entirely clear, according to Greenfield.
Honey contains antioxidants, he noted, and research suggests it has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity. It also helps coat the mucus membranes, Greenfield said, which might bring some relief.
Plus, it's sweet and "doesn't taste bad," he said. "In integrative medicine, we don't discount the placebo effect -- we try to use it."
As for the best way to use honey -- by the spoonful or mixed into tea, for example -- the trials do not answer that. They used various modes of delivery, Abuelgasim said.
Her advice: "It may be best to take it how you prefer."
With the world in the middle of a pandemic, however, even a cough should be taken seriously, according to Greenfield.
"These days, it's a different animal," he said.
So before turning to self-care with honey, Greenfield said, anyone who develops a cough or other possible symptoms of COVID-19 should consult their doctor.
The findings were published online Aug. 18 in the journal BMJ: Evidence-Based Medicine.
Advertisement
More information
The Mayo Clinic has advice on self-care for cold symptoms.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-08-25--Texas A&M professor, NASA researcher charged with hiding ties to China

Aug. 25 ( UPI ) -- The Justice Department has charged a Texas A & M University professor and NASA researcher with lying about his affiliations with Chinese universities , institutions and a government program that recruits foreign nationals with knowledge of U.S. technology and intellectual property .
Zhengdong Cheng , 53 , of College Station , Texas , was charged with conspiracy , making false statements and wire fraud in a criminal complaint unsealed Monday , the Justice Department said in a release .
`` Once again , we have witnessed the criminal consequences that can arise from undisclosed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ program , '' Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers said .
According to the complaint , Cheng is accused of participating in a scheme with individuals known and unknown to defraud NASA and gain access to unique resources , including those of the International Space Station , to further research at Chinese institutions and enhance his standing in a Chinese government program that incentivizes foreign Chinese nationals to steal international technology and intellectual property for Beijing .
Cheng , arrested Sunday , is the latest person to be charged as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China Initiative crackdown on those engaged in trade secret theft , hacking and economic espionage for Beijing .
It also targets those who pose threats to U.S. infrastructure through foreign investment and supply-chain compromises .
Dozens , many professors , have been charged under this initiative since its first arrest in April 2018 .
`` China is building an economy and academic institutions with bricks stolen from others all around the world , '' U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick for the Southern District of Texas said in a statement .
`` While 1.4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the U.S. for the right reasons , the Chinese Talents Program exploits our open and free universities .
These conflicts must be disclosed , and we will hold those accountable when such conflict violates the law . ''
Cheng was hired by Texas A & M in May 2004 and was part of a research team that received government grants , including a nearly $ 750,000 grant to conduct research for NASA , the complaint said .
During the application process for this grant , Cheng hid his many paid affiliations with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his university .
He also failed to disclose that he had taken part in China 's River Talent Plan and was an applicant for its Thousand Talents Plan .
`` Through these plans , the Chinese government has created a significant financial incentive for foreign , talented individuals to transfer international technology and intellectual property to China , licitly or otherwise , '' the complaint said .
China uses the information these assets give it for scientific development , economic prosperity and national security , prosecutors said .
If NASA knew of Cheng @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the grant would not have been awarded .
`` NASA 's funding restrictions are in place to protect taxpayer-financed research dollars and intellectual property , '' said Special Agent in Charge Mark Zielinski of the NASA Office of the Inspector General .
`` We will continue to pursue anyone who attempts to circumvent these guidelines and conceal affiliations with Chinese institutions and companies in order to obtain NASA grant money . ''
The Justice Department said about 80 % of all economic espionage prosecutions in the United States accuse the suspect of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came less than a week after the Justice Department announced that former CIA officer Alexander Yuk Ching Ma , 67 , had been charged under the China Initiative for communicating classified information to intelligence officials in Beijing .

Zhengdong Cheng, 53, was hired by Texas A&M University in 2004. Photo courtesy of Texas A&M University/ Website
Aug. 25 (UPI) -- The Justice Department has charged a Texas A&M University professor and NASA researcher with lying about his affiliations with Chinese universities, institutions and a government program that recruits foreign nationals with knowledge of U.S. technology and intellectual property. Zhengdong Cheng, 53, of College Station, Texas, was charged with conspiracy, making false statements and wire fraud in a criminal complaint unsealed Monday, the Justice Department said in a release. Advertisement
"Once again, we have witnessed the criminal consequences that can arise from undisclosed participation in the Chinese government's talent program," Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers said.
According to the complaint, Cheng is accused of participating in a scheme with individuals known and unknown to defraud NASA and gain access to unique resources, including those of the International Space Station, to further research at Chinese institutions and enhance his standing in a Chinese government program that incentivizes foreign Chinese nationals to steal international technology and intellectual property for Beijing.
Advertisement
Cheng, arrested Sunday, is the latest person to be charged as part of the Justice Department's so-called China Initiative crackdown on those engaged in trade secret theft, hacking and economic espionage for Beijing. It also targets those who pose threats to U.S. infrastructure through foreign investment and supply-chain compromises.
Dozens, many professors, have been charged under this initiative since its first arrest in April 2018.
"China is building an economy and academic institutions with bricks stolen from others all around the world," U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick for the Southern District of Texas said in a statement. "While 1.4 million foreign researchers and academics are here in the U.S. for the right reasons, the Chinese Talents Program exploits our open and free universities. These conflicts must be disclosed, and we will hold those accountable when such conflict violates the law."
Cheng was hired by Texas A&M in May 2004 and was part of a research team that received government grants, including a nearly $750,000 grant to conduct research for NASA, the complaint said.
During the application process for this grant, Cheng hid his many paid affiliations with Chinese universities and institutions from NASA and his university. He also failed to disclose that he had taken part in China's River Talent Plan and was an applicant for its Thousand Talents Plan.
Advertisement
"Through these plans, the Chinese government has created a significant financial incentive for foreign, talented individuals to transfer international technology and intellectual property to China, licitly or otherwise," the complaint said.
China uses the information these assets give it for scientific development, economic prosperity and national security, prosecutors said.
If NASA knew of Cheng's Chinese affiliations, the complaint states, the grant would not have been awarded.
"NASA's funding restrictions are in place to protect taxpayer-financed research dollars and intellectual property," said Special Agent in Charge Mark Zielinski of the NASA Office of the Inspector General. "We will continue to pursue anyone who attempts to circumvent these guidelines and conceal affiliations with Chinese institutions and companies in order to obtain NASA grant money."
The Justice Department said about 80% of all economic espionage prosecutions in the United States accuse the suspect of working for China.
Cheng's arrest came less than a week after the Justice Department announced that former CIA officer Alexander Yuk Ching Ma, 67, had been charged under the China Initiative for communicating classified information to intelligence officials in Beijing.


upi--2020-08-27--Tropical Storm Laura: Mass power outages in Louisiana and Texas; 6 dead

Aug. 27 ( UPI ) -- Hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses were without electricity in Louisiana and Texas on Thursday and at least six people died after Tropical Storm Laura arrived on land as a major hurricane .
Laura made landfall near Cameron , La.
, early Thursday as a Category 4 hurricane .
The National Hurricane Center had warned of a potentially catastrophic impact and `` unsurvivable '' storm surge created by the hurricane .
Laura weakened to a Category 2 storm almost immediately after moving over land , and was later downgraded to a tropical storm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when it arrived .
In Lake Charles , which was in Laura 's direct path , there were reports of damage and debris in the downtown area -- but no severe flooding , which had been a major concern for the area since it 's 15 feet above sea level .
The White House said Thursday President Donald Trump is committed to `` deploying the full resources of the federal government to rescue those in distress , support those in the region affected and restore disruptions to our communities and infrastructure . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Federal Emergency Management Agency National Response Coordination to monitor Laura 's path along the Gulf Coast .
`` This team forward deployed resources , '' Pence said .
`` We were ready for the worst and by all accounts from the experts , while this was obviously a major storm with devastating impact , it was not as bad as it could have been . ''
Trump said he considered postponing his speech to close the Republican National Convention to Monday in order to survey damage in Texas , Lousiana and perhaps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instead travel to those states as soon as this weekend .
`` We got a little bit lucky , '' Trump said .
`` It was very big , it was very powerful .
But it passed quickly and so everything 's on schedule .
When Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana in 2005 , it caused widespread catastrophic flooding due to the state 's low elevation .
Other areas , including Lafayette , La.
, saw some flooding after Laura passed through .
A New Orleans Times-Picayune reporter tweeted that mobile homes in Lake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were torn off and trailers thrown around .
PowerOutage.us showed nearly 900,000 customers in Louisiana , Texas and Arkansas were without electricity by early Thursday afternoon .
`` Power is out pretty much everywhere , '' Calcasieu Parish spokesman Thomas Hoefer said .
`` We may get water in but it 's not here now .
Cameron is dealing with the surge ; we are dealing with the wind . ''
City and state leaders had warned before Laura 's arrival that it could take several days to restore power to the affected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the COVID-19 pandemic .
At least six people have died in the storm .
Louisiana Gov .
John Bel Edwards told reporters at a news conference Thursday that a 14-year-old girl was killed , and Edwards ' Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness said two others died in Acadia and Jackson parishes .
Details were unclear on the location of the fourth fatality .
All four were killed by falling trees .
A 24-year-old man in Calcasieu Parish also died of carbon monoxide poisoning caused by a generator inside his home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when his boat sank , according to a Louisiana health department spokesperson , the New York Times reported .
`` As we wake up today , everyone must remember that the threat Laura poses to Louisiana is ongoing , '' Edwards tweeted earlier .
`` Stay home , continue to heed the warnings and instructions of local officials and monitor your local news to stay informed . ''
A chemical fire erupted in Westlake , La.
, less than 5 miles west of Lake Charles , and state troopers closed nearby Interstate 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in place until further notice and close your doors and windows , '' Edwards tweeted .
Storm chaser Brandon Clement of WXChasing posted video of wind toppling a recreational vehicle and WKRG-TV broadcast footage of a badly damaged home in Lake Charles .
A video shot by storm chaser Reed Timmer showed a powerful winds battering the Lake Charles Convention Center as Laura moved through the city in the pre-dawn hours .

1/6
Hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses in Louisiana and Texas are without electricity and dealing with flooding after Hurricane Laura. Photo by PO3 Paige Hause/U.S. Coast Guard | License Photo
Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses were without electricity in Louisiana and Texas on Thursday and at least six people died after Tropical Storm Laura arrived on land as a major hurricane. Laura made landfall near Cameron, La., early Thursday as a Category 4 hurricane. The National Hurricane Center had warned of a potentially catastrophic impact and "unsurvivable" storm surge created by the hurricane. Advertisement
Laura weakened to a Category 2 storm almost immediately after moving over land, and was later downgraded to a tropical storm.
Laura produced winds of 150 mph when it arrived. In Lake Charles, which was in Laura's direct path, there were reports of damage and debris in the downtown area -- but no severe flooding, which had been a major concern for the area since it's 15 feet above sea level.
Advertisement
The White House said Thursday President Donald Trump is committed to "deploying the full resources of the federal government to rescue those in distress, support those in the region affected and restore disruptions to our communities and infrastructure."
Trump and Vice President Mike Pence visited the Federal Emergency Management Agency National Response Coordination to monitor Laura's path along the Gulf Coast.
"This team forward deployed resources," Pence said. "We were ready for the worst and by all accounts from the experts, while this was obviously a major storm with devastating impact, it was not as bad as it could have been."
Trump said he considered postponing his speech to close the Republican National Convention to Monday in order to survey damage in Texas, Lousiana and perhaps Arkansas, but said he intends to instead travel to those states as soon as this weekend.
"We got a little bit lucky," Trump said. "It was very big, it was very powerful. But it passed quickly and so everything's on schedule.
When Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana in 2005, it caused widespread catastrophic flooding due to the state's low elevation.
Other areas, including Lafayette, La., saw some flooding after Laura passed through.
Advertisement
A New Orleans Times-Picayune reporter tweeted that mobile homes in Lake Charles were "shredded," roofs were torn off and trailers thrown around.
Watch as Hurricane #Laura's powerful winds flip over an RV in Lake Charles, Louisiana: https://t.co/Nb7hWJHYg0 pic.twitter.com/XyNOsloo1u— AccuWeather (@accuweather) August 27, 2020
PowerOutage.us showed nearly 900,000 customers in Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas were without electricity by early Thursday afternoon.
"Power is out pretty much everywhere," Calcasieu Parish spokesman Thomas Hoefer said. "We may get water in but it's not here now. Cameron is dealing with the surge; we are dealing with the wind."
City and state leaders had warned before Laura's arrival that it could take several days to restore power to the affected areas, particularly with added precautions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
At least six people have died in the storm. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards told reporters at a news conference Thursday that a 14-year-old girl was killed, and Edwards' Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness said two others died in Acadia and Jackson parishes. Details were unclear on the location of the fourth fatality.
Advertisement
All four were killed by falling trees.
A 24-year-old man in Calcasieu Parish also died of carbon monoxide poisoning caused by a generator inside his home and another male drowned during the storm when his boat sank, according to a Louisiana health department spokesperson, the New York Times reported.
"As we wake up today, everyone must remember that the threat Laura poses to Louisiana is ongoing," Edwards tweeted earlier. "Stay home, continue to heed the warnings and instructions of local officials and monitor your local news to stay informed."
A chemical fire erupted in Westlake, La., less than 5 miles west of Lake Charles, and state troopers closed nearby Interstate 10.
"Residents are advised to shelter in place until further notice and close your doors and windows," Edwards tweeted.
Storm chaser Brandon Clement of WXChasing posted video of wind toppling a recreational vehicle and WKRG-TV broadcast footage of a badly damaged home in Lake Charles.
A video shot by storm chaser Reed Timmer showed a powerful winds battering the Lake Charles Convention Center as Laura moved through the city in the pre-dawn hours.
One user posted a tweet early Thursday that showed high winds destroying a Wendy's restaurant sign.


upi--2020-08-27--Cincinnati Bengals CB Mackensie Alexander's missing father found alive

Aug. 27 ( UPI ) -- The father of Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Mackensie Alexander has been found alive in Florida , officials said Thursday .
Jean Odney Alexandre -- a Haitian immigrant who uses a French spelling of the family 's surname -- was found Thursday morning after he walked up to a ranger station at the Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park , according to the Okeechobee County Sheriff 's Office .
Officials said he was healthy and turned him over to family members .
Alexandre , 65 , was reported missing Monday after he traveled with another man -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Okeechobee County to pick palmetto berries .
Alexandre was picking berries with Etienne -- whom he has known for more than 10 years -- before disappearing in the woods around 2 p.m. EDT Monday , according to the incident report .
Etienne told officials he searched for Alexandre for about three hours before contacting Alexandre 's wife .
Etienne then picked up Alexandre 's wife and the two looked for him in the area , the report said .
After searching for about 45 minutes , they returned home and notified the authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bengals ' training camp to aid in the search for his father .
On Tuesday night , Alexander and another man , Evins Clement , were arrested on a misdemeanor battery charge after allegedly hitting Etienne .
Alexander and Clement were released on $ 2,000 bond Wednesday .
He is expected to plead not guilty at a future arraignment date .
The Bengals signed Alexander to a one-year contract this past off-season .
He spent the last four seasons with the Minnesota Vikings .

Former Minnesota Vikings cornerback Mackensie Alexander (20) signed a one-year contract with the Cincinnati Bengals this past off-season. File Photo by Ian Halperin/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 27 (UPI) -- The father of Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Mackensie Alexander has been found alive in Florida, officials said Thursday. Jean Odney Alexandre -- a Haitian immigrant who uses a French spelling of the family's surname -- was found Thursday morning after he walked up to a ranger station at the Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park, according to the Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office. Officials said he was healthy and turned him over to family members. Advertisement
Alexandre, 65, was reported missing Monday after he traveled with another man -- identified as 56-year-old Mauricet Etienne -- to Okeechobee County to pick palmetto berries.
Alexandre was picking berries with Etienne -- whom he has known for more than 10 years -- before disappearing in the woods around 2 p.m. EDT Monday, according to the incident report. Etienne told officials he searched for Alexandre for about three hours before contacting Alexandre's wife.
Etienne then picked up Alexandre's wife and the two looked for him in the area, the report said. After searching for about 45 minutes, they returned home and notified the authorities.
Alexander, 26, left the Bengals' training camp to aid in the search for his father. On Tuesday night, Alexander and another man, Evins Clement, were arrested on a misdemeanor battery charge after allegedly hitting Etienne.
Advertisement
Alexander and Clement were released on $2,000 bond Wednesday. He is expected to plead not guilty at a future arraignment date.
The Bengals signed Alexander to a one-year contract this past off-season. He spent the last four seasons with the Minnesota Vikings.


upi--2020-08-27--Lawyers: R. Kelly attacked by inmate in federal jail

Aug. 27 ( UPI ) -- R. Kelly was attacked by another inmate at a federal jail in Chicago , lawyers for the singer said Thursday .
The 53-year-old , born Robert Sylvester Kelly , was on his bed at Chicago 's Metropolitan Correctional Center on Tuesday night when another inmate approached him and began to punch him , Doug Anton , an attorney for Kelly , said .
Anton said guards quickly stopped the attack and Kelly did not sustain injuries and X-rays revealed no fractures .
Lawyer Mike Leonard , however , said that Kelly sustained `` very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Another Kelly attorney , Steve Greenberg , said his legal team received `` conflicting reports as to the extent of his injuries , '' citing difficulty communicating with Kelly due to restrictions on in-person visits in response to the COVID-19 pandemic .
`` Regardless , it is time to release Mr. Kelly , '' Greenberg said .
`` The government can not ensure his safety and they can not give him his day in court .
We should not incarcerate people indefinitely because we can not provide them with due process ! ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for more than a year as he faces charges for multiple sex crimes in New York City ; Cook County , Ill. ; the federal Northern District of Illinois ; and Hennepin County , Minn .
He is set to appear in court Sept. 8 for a status hearing in the Cook County state 's attorney 's case in Chicago , which is scheduled to begin in October , while his Brooklyn federal trial is set to begin Sept. 29 .
Both cases face potential delays due to the pandemic .

Lawyers for R. Kelly said Thursday that he was attacked by another inmate while in his cell at a federal jail in Chicago earlier this week. File Photo by Jim Ruymen | License Photo
Aug. 27 (UPI) -- R. Kelly was attacked by another inmate at a federal jail in Chicago, lawyers for the singer said Thursday. The 53-year-old, born Robert Sylvester Kelly, was on his bed at Chicago's Metropolitan Correctional Center on Tuesday night when another inmate approached him and began to punch him, Doug Anton, an attorney for Kelly, said. Advertisement
Anton said guards quickly stopped the attack and Kelly did not sustain injuries and X-rays revealed no fractures.
Lawyer Mike Leonard, however, said that Kelly sustained "very minor bruising" following the attack.
Another Kelly attorney, Steve Greenberg, said his legal team received "conflicting reports as to the extent of his injuries," citing difficulty communicating with Kelly due to restrictions on in-person visits in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Regardless, it is time to release Mr. Kelly," Greenberg said. "The government cannot ensure his safety and they cannot give him his day in court. We should not incarcerate people indefinitely because we cannot provide them with due process!"
Kelly has been held at MCC Chicago for more than a year as he faces charges for multiple sex crimes in New York City; Cook County, Ill.; the federal Northern District of Illinois; and Hennepin County, Minn.
Advertisement
He is set to appear in court Sept. 8 for a status hearing in the Cook County state's attorney's case in Chicago, which is scheduled to begin in October, while his Brooklyn federal trial is set to begin Sept. 29. Both cases face potential delays due to the pandemic.


upi--2020-08-27--Trump administration buys 150M card-based COVID-19 tests authorized by FDA

Aug. 27 ( UPI ) -- The Trump administration purchased 150 million low-cost , rapid-response COVID-19 tests that were authorized by the Food and Drug Administration on Thursday .
The FDA said it authorized Abbott Laboratories ' BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card , which the company says can give test results in 15 minutes , can produce results on a small card and costs $ 5 each .
The Trump administration said it will distribute the tests throughout the country .
`` This is a major development that will help save more lives by further protecting America 's most vulnerable and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get Americans back to work and get kids back to school , '' the White House said in a statement .
A clinical study showed the BinaxNOW card has a sensitivity of 97.1 % ( positive percent agreement ) and specificity of 98.5 % ( negative percent agreement ) in suspected COVID-19 patients within the first seven days , Abbott said in a statement .
`` This new COVID-19 antigen test is an important addition to available tests because the results can be read in minutes , right off the testing card , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the FDA Center for Devices and Radiological Health , said in a statement .
`` This means people will know if they have the virus in almost real-time . ''
With the BinaxNOW test , a health worker swabs a patient 's nose and puts the sample onto the test card .
Results then appear on the card -- a single line for a negative result and two lines for a positive result .
Abbott said it will ship tens of millions of the tests next month , and 50 million per month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also launch a companion app , NAVICA , which allows those who test negative to display a temporary digital health pass to enter restricted facilities .
`` We intentionally designed the BinaxNOW test and NAVICA app so we could offer a comprehensive testing solution to help Americans feel more confident about their health and lives , '' said Abbott President and CEO Robert Ford .

Coronavirus testing samples are seen at a testing site in Arlington, Va., on March 19. File Photo by Tasos Katopodis/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 27 (UPI) -- The Trump administration purchased 150 million low-cost, rapid-response COVID-19 tests that were authorized by the Food and Drug Administration on Thursday. The FDA said it authorized Abbott Laboratories' BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card, which the company says can give test results in 15 minutes, can produce results on a small card and costs $5 each. Advertisement
The Trump administration said it will distribute the tests throughout the country.
"This is a major development that will help save more lives by further protecting America's most vulnerable and allow our country to remain open, get Americans back to work and get kids back to school," the White House said in a statement.
A clinical study showed the BinaxNOW card has a sensitivity of 97.1% (positive percent agreement) and specificity of 98.5% (negative percent agreement) in suspected COVID-19 patients within the first seven days, Abbott said in a statement.
"This new COVID-19 antigen test is an important addition to available tests because the results can be read in minutes, right off the testing card," Dr. Jeff Shuren, director of the FDA Center for Devices and Radiological Health, said in a statement. "This means people will know if they have the virus in almost real-time."
Advertisement
With the BinaxNOW test, a health worker swabs a patient's nose and puts the sample onto the test card. Results then appear on the card -- a single line for a negative result and two lines for a positive result.
Abbott said it will ship tens of millions of the tests next month, and 50 million per month starting in October. The company will also launch a companion app, NAVICA, which allows those who test negative to display a temporary digital health pass to enter restricted facilities.
"We intentionally designed the BinaxNOW test and NAVICA app so we could offer a comprehensive testing solution to help Americans feel more confident about their health and lives," said Abbott President and CEO Robert Ford.


upi--2020-08-27--Buffalo Bills release veteran kicker Stephen Hauschka

Aug. 27 ( UPI ) -- The Buffalo Bills have released veteran kicker Stephen Hauschka , who was the team 's starter at the position since 2017 .
The team announced the roster move Thursday , almost one year after giving him a two-year contract extension .
Buffalo also cut punter Lachlan Edwards .
The Bills selected Georgia Southern kicker Tyler Bass in the sixth round of this year 's NFL Draft , creating a position battle at the kicker spot in training camp .
Bass won the job , leaving Hauschka as the odd man out .
Hauschka won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Seattle Seahawks in 2013 and signed with the Bills four years later .
He converted 87.9 % of his field goal attempts in his first season in Buffalo but made only 78.6 % of his kicks in each of the last two campaigns -- including just 41.7 % on attempts beyond 50 yards .
The Bills gave Hauschka a two-year extension in August 2019 .
He spent six seasons as the Seahawks ' starting kicker after brief stints with the Baltimore Ravens and Denver Broncos .
Hauschka , 35 , has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) of his field goal attempts since making his NFL debut in 2008 .

Buffalo Bills kicker Stephen Hauschka (4) was the team's starter at the position since 2017. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 27 (UPI) -- The Buffalo Bills have released veteran kicker Stephen Hauschka, who was the team's starter at the position since 2017. The team announced the roster move Thursday, almost one year after giving him a two-year contract extension. Buffalo also cut punter Lachlan Edwards. Advertisement
The Bills selected Georgia Southern kicker Tyler Bass in the sixth round of this year's NFL Draft, creating a position battle at the kicker spot in training camp. Bass won the job, leaving Hauschka as the odd man out.
Hauschka won a Super Bowl title as a member of the Seattle Seahawks in 2013 and signed with the Bills four years later. He converted 87.9% of his field goal attempts in his first season in Buffalo but made only 78.6% of his kicks in each of the last two campaigns -- including just 41.7% on attempts beyond 50 yards.
The Bills gave Hauschka a two-year extension in August 2019. He spent six seasons as the Seahawks' starting kicker after brief stints with the Baltimore Ravens and Denver Broncos.
Advertisement
Hauschka, 35, has made 85.7% (264 of 308) of his field goal attempts since making his NFL debut in 2008.


upi--2020-08-27--175,000 have found jobs through Military Spouse Employment Partnership

Aug. 27 ( UPI ) -- Some 175,000 military spouses have secured jobs through the Military Spouse Employment Partnership , the Pentagon announced this week .
The Military Spouse Employment partnership is an initiative of the Spouse Education and Career Opportunities program , which provides education and personalized career coaching and support to military spouses .
Created in 2011 , MSEP now has more than 440 partners across a variety of industries .
`` Military spouses are well educated and highly qualified for a range of careers , but they also face obstacles to employment because of the mobile military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mark T. Esper .
`` MSEP is an important piece of the well-rounded support system that connects spouses with fulfilling careers that enable them to contribute to the well-being of their families .
This benefits our military as a whole . ''
In 2019 , the program started hosting virtual hiring fairs with military spouses seeking jobs connecting directly with hundreds of MSEP partners with positions to fill , the next iteration of which is planned for fall 2020 .
Military Spouses can learn about employment opportunities by calling Military OneSource , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ center and a website to provide information and resources on every aspect of military life .

Secretary of Defense Mark Esper testifies before the House Armed Services Committee in July. The Department of Defense announced this week that 175,000 military spouses have found jobs through its Military Spouse Employment Partnership. Pool Photo by Michael Reynolds/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Some 175,000 military spouses have secured jobs through the Military Spouse Employment Partnership, the Pentagon announced this week. The Military Spouse Employment partnership is an initiative of the Spouse Education and Career Opportunities program, which provides education and personalized career coaching and support to military spouses. Advertisement
Created in 2011, MSEP now has more than 440 partners across a variety of industries.
"Military spouses are well educated and highly qualified for a range of careers, but they also face obstacles to employment because of the mobile military life," said Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper. "MSEP is an important piece of the well-rounded support system that connects spouses with fulfilling careers that enable them to contribute to the well-being of their families. This benefits our military as a whole."
In 2019, the program started hosting virtual hiring fairs with military spouses seeking jobs connecting directly with hundreds of MSEP partners with positions to fill, the next iteration of which is planned for fall 2020.
Military Spouses can learn about employment opportunities by calling Military OneSource, a DoD-funded program that offers both a call center and a website to provide information and resources on every aspect of military life.


upi--2020-08-27--Weather aids firefighters in containment as California wildfires reach 1.35M acres

Aug. 27 ( UPI ) -- Wildfires in California have burned more than 1.35 million acres as of Thursday as fire officials said crews have been able to increase containment rates .
More than 15,600 firefighters are battling more than 700 wildfires in California that have burned a collective acreage larger than the state of Delaware , the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said in its daily update .
In total , seven deaths have been reported and 1,890 structures have been destroyed by the fires .
A lightning siege producing more than 14,000 lightning strikes is responsible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lightning strikes including more than two dozen in the past 24 hours have presented the possibility of more fires .
Cal Fire said , however , that seasonable weather conditions have aided firefighters in their containment efforts .
`` Firefighters have increased containment at a faster rate than before as weather conditions have returned to a more predictable seasonal nature , '' the agency said .
The LNU Lightning Complex Fire grew to 368,868 acres throughout Napa , Sonoma , Lake , Yolo and Solano counties to become the largest of the active @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday , Cal Fire said .
It has also been the most destructive of the fires , resulting in five deaths , destroying 1,080 structures and damaging 272 more .
The second largest of the active fires , the SCU Lightning Complex fire , burned 368,671 acres in Santa Clara , Alameda , Contra Costa , San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties and was 35 % contained as of Thursday .
It has resulted in five injuries , destroyed 37 structures and damaged six more .
The CZU August Lightning Fire in San Mateo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acres and was 21 % contained and has resulted in one death , while the BTU/TGU Lightning Complex fire has burend 55,309 acres and was 30 % contained A helicopter pilot fighting the Hills Fire in Fresno County also died last week .

More than 1.35 million acres in California have been burned by more than 700 wildfires. Photo by Peter DaSilva/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Wildfires in California have burned more than 1.35 million acres as of Thursday as fire officials said crews have been able to increase containment rates. More than 15,600 firefighters are battling more than 700 wildfires in California that have burned a collective acreage larger than the state of Delaware, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said in its daily update. Advertisement
In total, seven deaths have been reported and 1,890 structures have been destroyed by the fires.
A lightning siege producing more than 14,000 lightning strikes is responsible for many of the blazes and continued lightning strikes including more than two dozen in the past 24 hours have presented the possibility of more fires.
Cal Fire said, however, that seasonable weather conditions have aided firefighters in their containment efforts.
"Firefighters have increased containment at a faster rate than before as weather conditions have returned to a more predictable seasonal nature," the agency said.
The LNU Lightning Complex Fire grew to 368,868 acres throughout Napa, Sonoma, Lake, Yolo and Solano counties to become the largest of the active fires and was 33% contained on Thursday, Cal Fire said.
Advertisement
It has also been the most destructive of the fires, resulting in five deaths, destroying 1,080 structures and damaging 272 more.
The second largest of the active fires, the SCU Lightning Complex fire, burned 368,671 acres in Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties and was 35% contained as of Thursday. It has resulted in five injuries, destroyed 37 structures and damaged six more.
The CZU August Lightning Fire in San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties has burned 81,333 acres and was 21% contained and has resulted in one death, while the BTU/TGU Lightning Complex fire has burend 55,309 acres and was 30% contained
A helicopter pilot fighting the Hills Fire in Fresno County also died last week.


upi--2020-08-27--SOUTHCOM, South American defense leaders look to strengthen partnerships

Aug. 27 ( UPI ) -- U.S. Southern Command hosted defense leaders from South America Thursday during the first virtual South America Defense Conference .
SOUTHCOM invited chiefs of defense from Argentina , Bolivia , Brazil , Chile , Colombia , Ecuador , Guyana , Perú , Paraguay , Suriname and Uruguay to the annual conference , as well as defense leaders from Canada , French Guiana , Spain and the United Kingdom .
Also present at the conference were National Guard leaders from nearly a dozen states .
The purpose of the annual conference is to `` facilitate an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's top military leaders '' and share security cooperation ideas .
U.S. Navy Adm. Craig Faller , commander of U.S. Southern Command , hosted the forum , joined by U.S. leaders and security experts from the Department of Defense , Department of State , Department of Homeland Security , and the William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies .
This year leaders discussed their support of the region 's ongoing response to the pandemic and law-enforcement-led operations against international criminal organizations , according to SOUTHCOM .
In April , the White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to support the National Drug Control Strategy .
That has resulted in the seizure of more than 154 metric tons of cocaine and more than 40,000 pounds of marijuana , which SOUTHCOM estimates has created a loss of more than $ 4 billion in criminal profits for trafficking organizations .
That includes the seizure of more than 120 kilograms of suspected cocaine worth $ 4.5 million 200 nautical miles southwest of Jamaica at the end of July .
Conference participants also discussed humanitarian partnerships to fight the COVID-19 pandemic .
`` Since March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in South America , Central America and the Caribbean to support their COVID-19 response and mitigation efforts .
Under its Humanitarian Assistance Program , the command has purchased and donated supplies , equipment and other vital resources to support the efforts of 28 nations , '' with humanitarian assistance SOUTHCOM 's press release said .
Earlier this week , the command donated three field hospitals to Costa Rica .
Officials plan to donate 21 more field hospitals to 11 countries in the region .

Admiral Craig S. Faller, Commander, U.S. Southern Command, shown here at the Pentagon in March, hosted the first virtual annual South America Defense Conference. Photo by Marvin Lynchard/Department of Defense
Aug. 27 (UPI) -- U.S. Southern Command hosted defense leaders from South America Thursday during the first virtual South America Defense Conference. SOUTHCOM invited chiefs of defense from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Perú, Paraguay, Suriname and Uruguay to the annual conference, as well as defense leaders from Canada, French Guiana, Spain and the United Kingdom. Advertisement
Also present at the conference were National Guard leaders from nearly a dozen states.
The purpose of the annual conference is to "facilitate an open and candid dialogue between the region's top military leaders" and share security cooperation ideas.
U.S. Navy Adm. Craig Faller, commander of U.S. Southern Command, hosted the forum, joined by U.S. leaders and security experts from the Department of Defense, Department of State, Department of Homeland Security, and the William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies.
This year leaders discussed their support of the region's ongoing response to the pandemic and law-enforcement-led operations against international criminal organizations, according to SOUTHCOM.
In April, the White House announced that SOUTHCOM would lead counter-narcotics operations to support the National Drug Control Strategy.
That has resulted in the seizure of more than 154 metric tons of cocaine and more than 40,000 pounds of marijuana, which SOUTHCOM estimates has created a loss of more than $4 billion in criminal profits for trafficking organizations.
Advertisement
That includes the seizure of more than 120 kilograms of suspected cocaine worth $4.5 million 200 nautical miles southwest of Jamaica at the end of July.
Conference participants also discussed humanitarian partnerships to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Since March, SOUTHCOM has worked with partner nations in South America, Central America and the Caribbean to support their COVID-19 response and mitigation efforts. Under its Humanitarian Assistance Program, the command has purchased and donated supplies, equipment and other vital resources to support the efforts of 28 nations," with humanitarian assistance SOUTHCOM's press release said.
Earlier this week, the command donated three field hospitals to Costa Rica.
Officials plan to donate 21 more field hospitals to 11 countries in the region.