upi--2020-08-03--Javier Baez walk-off single leads Cubs over Pirates in extras

Aug. 3 ( UPI ) -- Javier Baez smacked a single through the middle of the diamond to plate David Bote and lead the Chicago Cubs to a walk-off , extra-innings triumph over the Pittsburgh Pirates .
Baez belted the RBI single in the bottom of the 11th inning for the 2-1 win Sunday at Wrigley Field in Chicago .
The Cubs now are tied with the Atlanta Braves , Los Angeles Dodgers , New York Yankees and Minnesota Twins with an MLB-best seven wins this season .
The Pirates took a 1-0 lead Sunday with a Kevin Newman solo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inning .
Kyle Schwarber then tied the game with an RBI double in the fifth frame before both bullpens kept the bats silent down the stretch and forced extra innings .
The Pirates had two runners on base in the top of the 10th inning , but could n't capitalize with a go-ahead score .
Chicago was in the same situation -- and had the same result -- in the bottom of the inning .
Cubs relief pitcher Jeremy Jeffress got the Pirates out in order in the top of the 11th inning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bottom of the frame .
Bote began the half-inning on second base due to MLB 's new rule , which allows each team to start with a runner on the base in extra innings this season .
Anthony Rizzo hit a fly ball to right field to move Bote to third base in the first at-bat of the half-inning .
Baez then stepped in to face Pirates reliever Cody Ponce .
Baez earned a 2-0 lead in the count before he knocked Ponce 's third pitch over the pitcher 's mound and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to score before Cubs players swarmed Baez -- but maintained adequate social distance -- to celebrate the win .
Baez went 1 for 5 with an RBI and a strikeout .
Newman went 2 for 4 with an RBI and run scored for the Pirates .
The Cubs had just four hits in the win .
Cubs starter Jon Lester allowed four hits and one run in six innings , but did not earn a decision .
Pirates starter Steven Brault did not allow a hit or a run in three innings of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ host the Kansas City Royals at 8:15 p.m. EDT Monday at Wrigley Field .
The Pirates ( 2-7 ) face the Twins at 8:10 p.m. EDT Monday at Target Field in Minneapolis .

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Chicago Cubs shortstop Javier Baez had just one hit against the Pittsburgh Pirates Sunday in Chicago, but it was a game-winning RBI single. File Photo by Kamil Krzaczynski/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 3 (UPI) -- Javier Baez smacked a single through the middle of the diamond to plate David Bote and lead the Chicago Cubs to a walk-off, extra-innings triumph over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Baez belted the RBI single in the bottom of the 11th inning for the 2-1 win Sunday at Wrigley Field in Chicago. The Cubs now are tied with the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees and Minnesota Twins with an MLB-best seven wins this season. Advertisement
The Pirates took a 1-0 lead Sunday with a Kevin Newman solo homer in the top of the first inning. Kyle Schwarber then tied the game with an RBI double in the fifth frame before both bullpens kept the bats silent down the stretch and forced extra innings.
The Pirates had two runners on base in the top of the 10th inning, but couldn't capitalize with a go-ahead score. Chicago was in the same situation -- and had the same result -- in the bottom of the inning.
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Cubs relief pitcher Jeremy Jeffress got the Pirates out in order in the top of the 11th inning to set up the Cubs bats in the bottom of the frame.
Bote began the half-inning on second base due to MLB's new rule, which allows each team to start with a runner on the base in extra innings this season. Anthony Rizzo hit a fly ball to right field to move Bote to third base in the first at-bat of the half-inning. Baez then stepped in to face Pirates reliever Cody Ponce.
Baez earned a 2-0 lead in the count before he knocked Ponce's third pitch over the pitcher's mound and through the infield. Bote came around to score before Cubs players swarmed Baez -- but maintained adequate social distance -- to celebrate the win.
Baez went 1 for 5 with an RBI and a strikeout. Newman went 2 for 4 with an RBI and run scored for the Pirates. The Cubs had just four hits in the win.
Cubs starter Jon Lester allowed four hits and one run in six innings, but did not earn a decision. Pirates starter Steven Brault did not allow a hit or a run in three innings of work.
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The Cubs (7-2) host the Kansas City Royals at 8:15 p.m. EDT Monday at Wrigley Field. The Pirates (2-7) face the Twins at 8:10 p.m. EDT Monday at Target Field in Minneapolis.


upi--2020-08-03--In photos: Astronauts make round trip to space station from U.S. soil

NASA astronaut Douglas Hurley ( C ) waves to onlookers as he boards a plane at Naval Air Station Pensacola @ @ @ @ @ astronaut Robert Behnken home to Houston a few hours after the duo landed in their @ @ @ @ @ off the coast of Pensacola , Fla , , on August 2 , 2020 .
@ @ @ @

NASA astronaut Douglas Hurley (C) waves to onlookers as he boards a plane at Naval Air Station Pensacola to return him and NASA astronaut Robert Behnken home to Houston a few hours after the duo landed in their SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour spacecraft off the coast of Pensacola, Fla,, on August 2, 2020. Photo by Bill Ingalls/NASA


upi--2020-08-03--David Attenborough, Hans Zimmer team up for BBC's 'Planet Earth: A Celebration'

Aug. 3 ( UPI ) -- Famed naturalist David Attenborough and composer Hans Zimmer are teaming up for a new BBC program called Planet Earth : A Celebration .
Attenborough recorded new narration for the hour-long special , which sets eight extraordinary sequences from Planet Earth II and Blue Planet II to new and rearranged music .
`` Working with David on so many of his magnificent programs celebrating nature and our planet has been a joy for me , '' Zimmer said in a press release .
`` I am constantly inspired by what he is able to capture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Planet Earth : A Celebration is truly special . ''
The string section of the score was performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra , with U.K. rapper Dave accompanying on the grand piano .
`` The BBC has curated this amazing collection of sequences from two of the most talked about natural history series of recent years , Planet Earth II and Blue Planet II , as a spectacular treat for the viewers , '' said Tony Hall , the BBC 's director-general .
`` With brand new narration from the brilliant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hans Zimmer and the team at Bleeding Fingers played by the BBC Concert Orchestra with Dave on the piano , this thrilling journey around the world promises to lift everyone 's spirits . ''
No premiere date has been announced yet .

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David Attenborough is working on a new BBC special called "Planet Earth: A Celebration." File Photo by Neil Hall/EPA-EFE
Aug. 3 (UPI) -- Famed naturalist David Attenborough and composer Hans Zimmer are teaming up for a new BBC program called Planet Earth: A Celebration. Attenborough recorded new narration for the hour-long special, which sets eight extraordinary sequences from Planet Earth II and Blue Planet II to new and rearranged music. Advertisement
"Working with David on so many of his magnificent programs celebrating nature and our planet has been a joy for me," Zimmer said in a press release. "I am constantly inspired by what he is able to capture, and the collection of sequences featured in Planet Earth: A Celebration is truly special."
The string section of the score was performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra, with U.K. rapper Dave accompanying on the grand piano.
"The BBC has curated this amazing collection of sequences from two of the most talked about natural history series of recent years, Planet Earth II and Blue Planet II, as a spectacular treat for the viewers," said Tony Hall, the BBC's director-general.
"With brand new narration from the brilliant David Attenborough, a new score from Hans Zimmer and the team at Bleeding Fingers played by the BBC Concert Orchestra with Dave on the piano, this thrilling journey around the world promises to lift everyone's spirits."
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No premiere date has been announced yet.


upi--2020-08-03--In photos: Moments in Major League Baseball through Aug. 1, 2020

The Chicago White Sox 's James McCann ( C ) and Yoan Moncada ( R ) celebrate the victory over @ @ @ @ @ clicking feet during opening day in Kansas City , Mo.
, on July 31 .
@ @ @ @

The Chicago White Sox's James McCann (C) and Yoan Moncada (R) celebrate the victory over the Kansas City Royals by clicking feet during opening day in Kansas City, Mo., on July 31. Photo by Kyle Rivas/UPI


upi--2020-08-03--In Photos: Notable deaths of 2020

In Photos: Notable deaths of 2020

Wilford Brimley arrives for the premiere of `` Did You Hear About the Morgans ? ''
in New York City @ @ @ @ @ .
The actor , best known for `` The Natural , '' and `` Cocoon @ @ @ @ @ 2 , 2020 , at the age of 85 .
Photo by Laura Cavanaugh/UPI

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


upi--2020-08-03--Watch: Keke Palmer 'expected' her 'GMA' show to be canceled

Aug. 3 ( UPI ) -- Keke Palmer says she `` expected '' her Good Morning America talk show to be canceled .
The 26-year-old actress , singer and television personality said on Sunday 's episode of Watch What Happens Live that she was n't surprised when Strahan , Sara & Keke , aka GMA3 , was canceled amid the coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) pandemic .
`` When the pandemic hit , that 's what became all on our minds was the pandemic , corona , understanding COVID .
So I kinda knew that if our show did come back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much , much later , because our show is really about an audience , '' Palmer said .
`` We do a little bit of news but it 's entertainment news .
It 's really fun , conversations and lighthearted , '' she added of the show .
`` We 're in a different time now , so some of the conversation has changed and I think just that kind of pushed SSK out .
So I expected it . ''
Strahan , Sara & Keke was co-hosted by Palmer , Michael Strahan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in September 2018 .
The series was replaced with Pandemic : What You Need to Know , a daily COVID-19 report , in March , and later morphed into GMA3 .
Page Six reported in early July that Strahan , Sara & Keke was canceled .
`` We 're proud of our teams at SSK and GMA3 and how quickly they transitioned to producing a daily show to give people the news and information they need during an unprecedented pandemic , and conversations continue about how the show will evolve in the months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the time .
On WWHL , Palmer also discussed her speech to members of the National Guard at a Black Lives Matter protest in June .
She encouraged the National Guard to `` march with us '' and said kneeling in solidarity was `` not enough . ''
`` It 's not always enough to play it safe , '' Palmer said on WWHL .

Aug. 3 (UPI) -- Keke Palmer says she "expected" her Good Morning America talk show to be canceled.
The 26-year-old actress, singer and television personality said on Sunday's episode of Watch What Happens Live that she wasn't surprised when Strahan, Sara & Keke, aka GMA3, was canceled amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
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"When the pandemic hit, that's what became all on our minds was the pandemic, corona, understanding COVID. So I kinda knew that if our show did come back it would have to be much, much, much later, because our show is really about an audience," Palmer said.
"We do a little bit of news but it's entertainment news. It's really fun, conversations and lighthearted," she added of the show. "We're in a different time now, so some of the conversation has changed and I think just that kind of pushed SSK out. So I expected it."
Strahan, Sara & Keke was co-hosted by Palmer, Michael Strahan and Sara Haines and premiered on ABC in September 2018. The series was replaced with Pandemic: What You Need to Know, a daily COVID-19 report, in March, and later morphed into GMA3.
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Page Six reported in early July that Strahan, Sara & Keke was canceled.
"We're proud of our teams at SSK and GMA3 and how quickly they transitioned to producing a daily show to give people the news and information they need during an unprecedented pandemic, and conversations continue about how the show will evolve in the months ahead," an ABC rep said at the time.
On WWHL, Palmer also discussed her speech to members of the National Guard at a Black Lives Matter protest in June. She encouraged the National Guard to "march with us" and said kneeling in solidarity was "not enough."
"It's not always enough to play it safe," Palmer said on WWHL.


upi--2020-08-03--Northern Irish political leader, Nobel Laureate John Hume dies at 83

Aug. 3 ( UPI ) -- John Hume , a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize and widely acknowledged as an architect of the Good Friday Agreement that helped bring peace to Northern Ireland , died Monday , his family said .
He was 83 .
A founder and former leader of Northern irish Social Democratic and Labor Party died at a nursing home in Derry , relatives said .
He had been diagnosed with dementia .
Hume became SDLP leader in 1979 and helped broker a cease-fire with the Irish Republican Army in 1994 and the Good Friday agreement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won the Nobel Peace Prize .
His devotion to nonviolence , compromise and unity eventually won over bitter factions in Northern Ireland .
`` John embodied and thus gave birth to a new political creed on this island , transforming the conflicting traditions which had rigidly defined our past , '' SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said .
`` It taught us that it is far better to live for Ireland than to die for Ireland , it challenged us to pursue the path of politics rather than the reactionary instinct of violence , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ahead of easy populism and it told us that human difference does n't have to mean division . ''
Eastwood said the Good Friday agreement will always be a big part of Hume 's legacy .
`` John was not simply the agreement 's architect or its builder , he was very much both , '' he said .
`` He will forever remain its enduring inspiration . ''
`` All of us should bow our heads in respect and thanks , '' Simon Coveney , Ireland 's foreign and defense minister , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , peacemaker , politician , leader , civil rights campaigner , family man , Derryman , inspiration .
May he rest peacefully and his legacy live on . ''
`` More or less all the enduring and successful ideas about resolving the centuries-old conflict here came from the brain of John Hume , '' Hanna tweeted .
`` Pluralist , internationalist , social democratic and resolutely non-violent . ''
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair called Hume a `` political titan '' and his work to bring peace to Northern Ireland `` epic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remembered for it , '' he said .
`` He was insistent it was possible , tireless in pursuit of it and endlessly creative in seeking ways of making it happen . ''

U.S. President Bill Clinton meets meets with Northern Irish lawmaker and Nobel Peace Prize winner John Hume in the Oval Office of the White House on March 17, 2000. File Photo by William Vasta/the White House/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 3 (UPI) -- John Hume, a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize and widely acknowledged as an architect of the Good Friday Agreement that helped bring peace to Northern Ireland, died Monday, his family said. He was 83. A founder and former leader of Northern irish Social Democratic and Labor Party died at a nursing home in Derry, relatives said. He had been diagnosed with dementia. Advertisement
Hume became SDLP leader in 1979 and helped broker a cease-fire with the Irish Republican Army in 1994 and the Good Friday agreement four years later, for which he won the Nobel Peace Prize. His devotion to nonviolence, compromise and unity eventually won over bitter factions in Northern Ireland.
"John embodied and thus gave birth to a new political creed on this island, transforming the conflicting traditions which had rigidly defined our past," SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said. "It taught us that it is far better to live for Ireland than to die for Ireland, it challenged us to pursue the path of politics rather than the reactionary instinct of violence, it dared us always to choose principle ahead of easy populism and it told us that human difference doesn't have to mean division."
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Eastwood said the Good Friday agreement will always be a big part of Hume's legacy.
"John was not simply the agreement's architect or its builder, he was very much both," he said. "He will forever remain its enduring inspiration."
"All of us should bow our heads in respect and thanks," Simon Coveney, Ireland's foreign and defense minister, tweeted. "What an extraordinary man, peacemaker, politician, leader, civil rights campaigner, family man, Derryman, inspiration. May he rest peacefully and his legacy live on."
Clair Hanna, a South Belfast lawmaker, called Hume Ireland's "greatest" peacemaker.
"More or less all the enduring and successful ideas about resolving the centuries-old conflict here came from the brain of John Hume," Hanna tweeted. "Pluralist, internationalist, social democratic and resolutely non-violent."
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair called Hume a "political titan" and his work to bring peace to Northern Ireland "epic."
"He will rightly be remembered for it," he said. "He was insistent it was possible, tireless in pursuit of it and endlessly creative in seeking ways of making it happen."
Notable deaths of 2020


upi--2020-08-03--NASCAR's Brad Keselowski edges Denny Hamlin to win at New Hampshire

Aug. 3 ( UPI ) -- Brad Keselowski won his third NASCAR Cup Series race of the season after he held off Denny Hamlin to take the checkered flag at the Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway .
Keselowski and Hamlin led a combined 18 times before Keselowski earned the victory Sunday in Loudon .
Keselowski led a race-high 184 laps in the 301-lap event .
He crossed the finish line 1.647 seconds before Hamlin .
`` I feel like I drove a really strong race , '' Keselowski told reporters .
`` I was able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pace and make a difference . ''
Martin Truex Jr. , Joey Logano and Kevin Harvick also finished in the top five .
Ninth-place Chase Elliott led for nine laps .
Harvick led for six laps .
`` We 've had a lot of great races this year with the No .
2 car , but we just had n't really gone out and dominated a race , '' Keselowski said .
`` I was talking with [ crew chief ] Jeremy Bullins and we were like maybe that 's what we need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We 're right there .
`` We needed to just go and dominate a race and that 's what today was for us . ''
The Cup Series schedule continues with the FireKeepers Casino 400 at 4 p.m. EDT Saturday at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn , Mich. Harvick leads Keselowski by 81 points in the Cup Series standings .
Hamlin ranks third .

Brad Keselowski (pictured) trails Kevin Harvick by 81 points in the NASCAR Cup Series standings after he won his third race of the season Sunday in Loudon, N.H. File Photo by Edwin Locke/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 3 (UPI) -- Brad Keselowski won his third NASCAR Cup Series race of the season after he held off Denny Hamlin to take the checkered flag at the Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Keselowski and Hamlin led a combined 18 times before Keselowski earned the victory Sunday in Loudon. Keselowski led a race-high 184 laps in the 301-lap event. He crossed the finish line 1.647 seconds before Hamlin. Advertisement
"I feel like I drove a really strong race," Keselowski told reporters. "I was able to get in nice rhythms and dictate the pace and make a difference."
Martin Truex Jr., Joey Logano and Kevin Harvick also finished in the top five. Ninth-place Chase Elliott led for nine laps. Harvick led for six laps.
"We've had a lot of great races this year with the No. 2 car, but we just hadn't really gone out and dominated a race," Keselowski said. "I was talking with [crew chief] Jeremy Bullins and we were like maybe that's what we need to get to the next level. We're right there.
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"We needed to just go and dominate a race and that's what today was for us."
The Cup Series schedule continues with the FireKeepers Casino 400 at 4 p.m. EDT Saturday at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich.
Harvick leads Keselowski by 81 points in the Cup Series standings. Hamlin ranks third.


upi--2020-08-03--South Korea, New Zealand spar over diplomat in sex harassment case

Aug. 3 ( UPI ) -- South Korea and New Zealand are at odds over the case of a South Korean diplomat who has been accused of groping a New Zealand staff member at Seoul 's Embassy in Wellington .
The New Zealand government has called on South Korea to waive the man 's diplomatic immunity , but Seoul has agreed to cooperate on the grounds his immunity not be waived , South Korean news service News 1 reported .
South Korea 's foreign ministry told reporters on Monday the two countries have been in communication over the case .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ government if it requests investigation under the Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters and extradition .
New Zealand has urged Seoul to do more , however .
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has `` expressed her disappointment that the Korean Government was unable to waive immunity to allow aspects of the police investigation into this matter to proceed , '' the prime minister 's office said , according to the New Zealand Herald on Sunday .
Ardern recently conveyed her opinions in a phone call with President Moon Jae-in .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New Zealand , has been charged with three counts of sexual misconduct that took place in 2017 .
The plaintiff in the case , a male employee at the embassy , is currently receiving support from MOSAIC , an advocacy group for male sex abuse survivors , according to the report .
South Korea may have been irritated by New Zealand 's decision to go public with the case , which was addressed with disciplinary measures taken in 2018 , according to local press reports .
The foreign ministry said it had summoned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Turner on Monday , and conveyed its opinion New Zealand 's decision to disclose the case to reporters is an `` unprecedented '' move , according to South Korean news service Newsis .
The two countries have been in communication over the case but Seoul continued to employ the accused , currently stationed in the Philippines , according to Yonhap news agency .
A court in Wellington issued a warrant for the man 's arrest in February .

South Korea and New Zealand are in discussion over the case of a South Korean diplomat accused of sexual misconduct toward a staff member at the South Korean Embassy in New Zealand in 2017, according to local press reports Monday. File Photo by Yonhap
Aug. 3 (UPI) -- South Korea and New Zealand are at odds over the case of a South Korean diplomat who has been accused of groping a New Zealand staff member at Seoul's Embassy in Wellington. The New Zealand government has called on South Korea to waive the man's diplomatic immunity, but Seoul has agreed to cooperate on the grounds his immunity not be waived, South Korean news service News 1 reported. Advertisement
South Korea's foreign ministry told reporters on Monday the two countries have been in communication over the case. Seoul will work with the New Zealand government if it requests investigation under the Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters and extradition.
New Zealand has urged Seoul to do more, however.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has "expressed her disappointment that the Korean Government was unable to waive immunity to allow aspects of the police investigation into this matter to proceed," the prime minister's office said, according to the New Zealand Herald on Sunday.
Ardern recently conveyed her opinions in a phone call with President Moon Jae-in.
The diplomat, a former deputy ambassador to New Zealand, has been charged with three counts of sexual misconduct that took place in 2017. The plaintiff in the case, a male employee at the embassy, is currently receiving support from MOSAIC, an advocacy group for male sex abuse survivors, according to the report.
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South Korea may have been irritated by New Zealand's decision to go public with the case, which was addressed with disciplinary measures taken in 2018, according to local press reports. The foreign ministry said it had summoned New Zealand's Ambassador to Seoul Philip Turner on Monday, and conveyed its opinion New Zealand's decision to disclose the case to reporters is an "unprecedented" move, according to South Korean news service Newsis.
The two countries have been in communication over the case but Seoul continued to employ the accused, currently stationed in the Philippines, according to Yonhap news agency.
A court in Wellington issued a warrant for the man's arrest in February.


upi--2020-08-03--Avalanche's Nazem Kadri beats Blues at buzzer

Aug. 3 ( UPI ) -- Nazem Kadri slid the puck through the ice and into the net just before the final buzzer sounded to lift the Colorado Avalanche to a dramatic last-second win against the St. Louis Blues .
Kadri 's score came with 0.1 seconds left and helped Colorado earn a 2-1 win in the opening game of the round-robin format of the Stanley Cup qualifiers Sunday at Rogers Place in Edmonton , Alberta , Canada .
`` I was aware , not quite down to the decimal point , but I knew there was n't much time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I just saw an opportunity . ''
David Perron scored on a first-period power play and the Blues held the 1-0 lead through the first two periods .
Ryan Graves then tied the score 5:33 into the final frame and the game looked headed to overtime before Kadri 's heroics .
Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar had the puck near the blue line at the start of the sequence .
He then sent a pass to his left to find Nathan MacKinnon .
MacKinnon then slid a pass to Gabriel Landeskog , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kadri turned around and saw the shot hit off the goal before he drained a follow-up attempt just before the final horn .
`` We feel like we can go and play with and beat anyone , '' Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said .
`` If we did n't feel that way , then we should n't be here .
That game tonight could 've gone either way .
`` We had a real good start .
I think they were the better team in the second , [ and ] the third @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there was a lot going on .
We 're fortunate to come out on top . ''
Seeds for the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs will be determined by points teams earn in the round-robin portion of the NHL 's resumed season , which started Saturday in Edmonton and Toronto .
The top four teams from each conference will play three round-robin games .
The remaining eight teams from each conference in the 24-team format will face off in best-of-five series as part of a qualifying round .
The Avalanche will play the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Rogers Place .

Aug. 3 (UPI) -- Nazem Kadri slid the puck through the ice and into the net just before the final buzzer sounded to lift the Colorado Avalanche to a dramatic last-second win against the St. Louis Blues.
Kadri's score came with 0.1 seconds left and helped Colorado earn a 2-1 win in the opening game of the round-robin format of the Stanley Cup qualifiers Sunday at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
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"I was aware, not quite down to the decimal point, but I knew there wasn't much time left," Kadri told reporters. "I just saw an opportunity."
David Perron scored on a first-period power play and the Blues held the 1-0 lead through the first two periods. Ryan Graves then tied the score 5:33 into the final frame and the game looked headed to overtime before Kadri's heroics.
Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar had the puck near the blue line at the start of the sequence. He then sent a pass to his left to find Nathan MacKinnon. MacKinnon then slid a pass to Gabriel Landeskog, who ripped a shot off the post.
Kadri turned around and saw the shot hit off the goal before he drained a follow-up attempt just before the final horn.
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"We feel like we can go and play with and beat anyone," Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. "If we didn't feel that way, then we shouldn't be here. That game tonight could've gone either way.
"We had a real good start. I think they were the better team in the second, [and] the third was really exciting. We traded chances, there was a lot going on. We're fortunate to come out on top."
Seeds for the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs will be determined by points teams earn in the round-robin portion of the NHL's resumed season, which started Saturday in Edmonton and Toronto. The top four teams from each conference will play three round-robin games. The remaining eight teams from each conference in the 24-team format will face off in best-of-five series as part of a qualifying round.
The Avalanche will play the Dallas Stars at 6:30 p.m. EDT Wednesday at Rogers Place.


upi--2020-08-03--Reports: Frank Ocean's brother Ryan Breaux killed in car crash

Aug. 3 ( UPI ) -- Ryan Breaux , the younger brother of singer-songwriter Frank Ocean , reportedly has been killed in a California car crash .
Breaux , 18 , and Ezekial Bishop , 20 , were pronounced dead at the scene after the Tesla they were traveling in left a Ventura County road and ran into a tree in the center median early Sunday .
Police said it is unclear who was driving and speed is believed to have been a factor .
A vigil was held Sunday night where the friends died .
Ocean -- who was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commented on the incident , but he posted a slideshow of photos of him and his sibling on Instagram Sunday .
Paris Brosnan , the son of actor Pierce Brosnan and a longtime friend of Breaux , shared photos on his Instagram account , too .
`` To my brother , who was talented beyond belief , possessed a heart of gold , had an energy that was infectious , a smile & laugh that lifted everyone 's spirit , and was a loyal and authentic friend to anyone he knew , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were just getting started and ready to show the world who you were .
You were a leader and you had a whole army of loyal soldiers behind you .
Thank you for being there for me when I needed you most , thank you for all the wild nights , thank you for your music and all the late night studio sessions with Fray , thank you for blessing us ALL with your presence on this earth .
I will carry you in my heart always .
Until I see you again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bishop forever . ''
Ryan Breaux sang on his brother 's song , `` Futura Free , '' when he was 11 .
The track appeared on Ocean 's 2016 album , Blonde .

Frank Ocean's 18-year-old brother Ryan Breaux reportedly has died in a car crash. File Photo by Monika Graff/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 3 (UPI) -- Ryan Breaux, the younger brother of singer-songwriter Frank Ocean, reportedly has been killed in a California car crash. Breaux, 18, and Ezekial Bishop, 20, were pronounced dead at the scene after the Tesla they were traveling in left a Ventura County road and ran into a tree in the center median early Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement View this post on Instagram A post shared by Frank Ocean (@itsfrankocean) on Aug 2, 2020 at 6:57pm PDT Advertisement
Police said it is unclear who was driving and speed is believed to have been a factor.
A vigil was held Sunday night where the friends died.
Ocean -- who was born Christopher Breaux -- hasn't publicly commented on the incident, but he posted a slideshow of photos of him and his sibling on Instagram Sunday.
The collection received numerous condolence messages.
Paris Brosnan, the son of actor Pierce Brosnan and a longtime friend of Breaux, shared photos on his Instagram account, too.
"To my brother, who was talented beyond belief, possessed a heart of gold, had an energy that was infectious, a smile & laugh that lifted everyone's spirit, and was a loyal and authentic friend to anyone he knew," the younger Brosnan wrote.
"You were just getting started and ready to show the world who you were. You were a leader and you had a whole army of loyal soldiers behind you. Thank you for being there for me when I needed you most, thank you for all the wild nights, thank you for your music and all the late night studio sessions with Fray, thank you for blessing us ALL with your presence on this earth. I will carry you in my heart always. Until I see you again brother. Ryan Breaux forever & Zeek Bishop forever."
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Ryan Breaux sang on his brother's song, "Futura Free," when he was 11. The track appeared on Ocean's 2016 album, Blonde.


upi--2020-08-03--Isaias will become a hurricane as it nears Carolinas, NHC says

Aug. 3 ( UPI ) -- Tropical Storm Isaias is forecast to strengthen into a Category 1 hurricane later Monday as it gains strength off the coast of Georgia and the Carolinas , the National Hurricane Center said .
The National Hurricane Center said in its 8 a.m. update Monday that Isaias was 100 miles southeast of Jacksonville , Fla. , and 250 miles southwest of Myrtle Beach , S.C .
It had maximum sustained winds of 70 mph and was moving north at 13 mph .
A tropical storm becomes a Category 1 hurricane once it produces maximum sustained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its movement speed early Monday as it swirled off the coast of northeastern Florida and Georgia .
In its update , the NHC said the storm is now passing `` well offshore '' the northeast Florida coast .
A hurricane warning is in effect from South Santee River , S.C. , to Surf City , N.C. , and a tropical storm warning is in effect for parts of northeast Florida and coastal points north .
`` On the forecast track , the center of Isaias will pass well east of the Georgia coast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Monday .
`` The center of Isaias will then approach the coast of northeastern South Carolina and southern North Carolina within the hurricane warning area later today .
`` The center will then move inland over eastern North Carolina tonight , and move along the coast of the mid-Atlantic states on Tuesday and into the northeastern United States by Tuesday night . ''
As the weekend wound down , Isaias , which had briefly been a Category 1 hurricane that pounded the Bahamas last week with powerful winds and flooding rains , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Radar images showed the bulk of the heaviest moisture was staying well offshore , but the east coast of Florida was experiencing its share of high winds .
The Carolinas are bracing for the storm , which meteorologists say could make landfall just south of Myrtle Beach , S.C , on Monday evening .
In Charleston , local officials were preparing sandbag pickup locations for residents , as a storm surge warning was in effect from Edisto Beach , S.C. , to Cape Fear , N.C. '' All residents visiting these sites @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gloves , and maintain six feet of distance between themselves and other patrons , '' the city of Charleston said in a statement .
North Carolina Gov .
Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency for portions of the state Friday and urged residents to prepare ahead of Isaias ' approach .
`` Now is the time for North Carolinians to prepare , '' Cooper said .
`` [ Storm ] preparations will be different given the COVID-19 pandemic , and families need to keep that in mind as they get ready .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Guard should crew members need to respond to flood rescues , and the North Carolina Department of Transportation was also on standby with equipment should they need to respond to storm damage early in the week .
Along the Florida coast , in Palm Beach County and Indian River County , shelters were opened on Saturday night in advance of potential impacts that may relocate residents later in the weekend .
But they were closed on Sunday .
NASA arranged plans for a spacecraft to undock from the International Space Station and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
However , there were concerns that Isaias would create hazardous conditions at the primary splashdown site .
Before the landing , NASA reported that the gulf `` looks like glass '' and weather conditions were perfect for the touchdown .
Thanks to Isaias weakening , the capsule had a successful splashdown off Pensacola , Florida .
On its trek toward Florida , Isaias made landfall in the Bahamas around 11 a.m. EDT Saturday on the northern part of Andros Island , NHC reported .
The storm 's maximum-sustained winds fluctuated between 80 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before the storm weakened a bit due to its interaction with land .
The storm came within 40 miles west-southwest of Nassau , the capital city of the Bahamas on Saturday , after leaving behind scenes of flooding in Puerto Rico .
Two people were killed in the Dominican Republic : a 53-year-old farmer was reported electrocuted with his horse , after a tree knocked down the power lines , and a 5-year-old boy crushed by a wall , according to Dominican Today .
Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis declared a state of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's Atlantic Coast , stretching from Miami-Dade to Nassau counties , on Friday in preparation for the storm .
The governor also sent a letter to President Donald Trump requesting a pre-landfall emergency declaration .
DeSantis noted on Twitter that the President had approved the request .
Isaias became the earliest `` I-storm '' in recorded history last Wednesday , surpassing Irene , which formed on Aug. 7 , 2005 .
The storm was also the earliest in the season to move through the Bahamas since 1995 when Category 1 Erin passed over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Aug. 1-2 , according to Colorado State tropical meteorologist Philip Klotzbach .

Isaias was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone as it moved into Canada Tuesday night. Photo courtesy of NOAA
Aug. 5 (UPI) -- Isaias made its way into southeastern Canada after being downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone on Tuesday night. The epicenter of the post-tropical cyclone was about 55 miles north-northwest of Quebec City, Quebec, in Canada, the National Hurricane Center said in its 5 a.m. Wednesday update. Advertisement
The storm was traveling north-northeast at 28 mph but its speed was expected to decrease and its maximum sustained winds of 40 mph with higher gusts was to weaken and drop below tropical storm force through Wednesday morning, the NHC said.
"The post-tropical cyclone is expected to dissipate over southeastern Canada on Thursday," the NHC said.
Forecasters said one to three inches of rain should fall along and near Isaias' track across southern Quebec.
Hurricane-force wind gusts were reported Monday night as the eyewall went ashore in Ocean Isle Beach, N.C., with the highest gust reported over land at 93 mph. As the hurricane approached, the system spawned a tornado that touched down on Bald Head Island, N.C.
All told, Isaias is predicted to cause between $2 billion and $3 billion in damages and economic loss, according to AccuWeather founder and CEO Joel N. Myers.
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One of the main threats for the areas from Virginia to Maine was from torrential rain that can lead to flash, urban and small-stream flooding.
Following its impact on the U.S., Isaias is forecast to spread a swath of rain and gusty winds rapidly through a portion of Atlantic Canada Wednesday into Thursday.
The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season has already left its mark in history with several of the earliest-forming tropical storms on record. Cristobal, Edouard, Fay, Gonzalo, Hanna and Isaias all set early-season formation records for their respective letter. All of the July-forming storms from Edouard through Isaias broke the records set during the infamous 2005 season.
Hanna became the first hurricane of the 2020 season, and Isaias became the second.
There is a high potential that the 2020 season could become "hyperactive" as the peak of hurricane season nears and tropical storm numbers may end up rivaling the historic 2005 season numbers, which produced 28 storms. AccuWeather meteorologists are already monitoring a few areas of disturbed weather beyond Isaias.


upi--2020-08-03--In Photos: Martin Sheen turns 80: a look back

Sheen ( R ) and his granddaughter , Cassandra Jade Estevez , the daughter of actor Charlie Sheen , listen @ @ @ @ @ a judge orders his son , actor Charlie Sheen , to be booked on charges @ @ @ @ @ then undergo drug detoxification and enter a residential treatment facility in Malibu , Calif. , @ @ @ @ @ Sheen admitted to violating the probation in August 1998 .
Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI

Sheen (R) and his granddaughter, Cassandra Jade Estevez, the daughter of actor Charlie Sheen, listen in Malibu Municipal Court as a judge orders his son, actor Charlie Sheen, to be booked on charges of violating his probation, then undergo drug detoxification and enter a residential treatment facility in Malibu, Calif., on May 28,1998. Charlie Sheen admitted to violating the probation in August 1998. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI


upi--2020-08-03--Eli Lilly begins stage-three trial for COVID-19 antiviral drug

Aug. 3 ( UPI ) -- U.S. pharma company Eli Lilly said Monday it has begun a large-scale clinical trial for a COVID-19 antiviral drug for elderly persons living in nursing homes and similar settings .
The company said a third-stage trial of its experimental LY-CoV555 monoclonal antibody treatment began at several long-term U.S. care facilities and is expected to enroll as many as 2,400 participants .
The rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 , the virus that causes COVID-19 , among residents of long-term care facilities , combined with the higher mortality rate for the elderly , has created an `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in this vulnerable population , '' said Dr. Daniel Skovronsky , Lilly 's chief scientific officer and president of Lilly Research Laboratories .
`` COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on nursing home residents , '' he said .
`` We 're working as fast as we can to create medicines that might stop the spread of the virus to these vulnerable individuals . ''
Lilly and biotech partner AbCellera are conducting the `` BLAZE-2 '' study in conjunction with the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the COVID-19 Prevention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said it will use custom-built , retrofitted recreational vehicles as mobile test labs at care facilities to meet challenges of conducting the trial amid the pandemic .
Eli Lilly says LY-CoV555 is a neutralizing antibody that latches onto the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 and blocks its ability to enter human cells .
This can potentially prevent and treat COVID-19 .
A stage-two study of the drug is expected to finish next month .

An elderly patient is moved out of a care facility in Hayward, Calif., on April 9. Dozens of patients and staffers there had tested positive for COVID-19 and several patients died of the disease. File Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 3 (UPI) -- U.S. pharma company Eli Lilly said Monday it has begun a large-scale clinical trial for a COVID-19 antiviral drug for elderly persons living in nursing homes and similar settings. The company said a third-stage trial of its experimental LY-CoV555 monoclonal antibody treatment began at several long-term U.S. care facilities and is expected to enroll as many as 2,400 participants. Advertisement
The rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, among residents of long-term care facilities, combined with the higher mortality rate for the elderly, has created an "urgent need for therapies to prevent COVID-19 in this vulnerable population," said Dr. Daniel Skovronsky, Lilly's chief scientific officer and president of Lilly Research Laboratories.
"COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on nursing home residents," he said. "We're working as fast as we can to create medicines that might stop the spread of the virus to these vulnerable individuals."
Lilly and biotech partner AbCellera are conducting the "BLAZE-2" study in conjunction with the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the COVID-19 Prevention Network, or CoVPN.
The drugmaker said it will use custom-built, retrofitted recreational vehicles as mobile test labs at care facilities to meet challenges of conducting the trial amid the pandemic.
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Eli Lilly says LY-CoV555 is a neutralizing antibody that latches onto the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 and blocks its ability to enter human cells. This can potentially prevent and treat COVID-19.
A stage-two study of the drug is expected to finish next month.


upi--2020-08-03--Iran's mullahs are masters of media manipulation

Aug. 3 ( UPI ) -- News that the leader of the extreme left Podemos Party in Spain had received $ 9.3 million over a three-year period from the Iranian regime finally shone a light on what has been long suspected by many .
El Mundo , the second-largest newspaper in Spain , reported last month that the Economic & Fiscal Crime Division of the Spanish Police ( UDEF ) had established that between 2012 and 2015 , 360 Global Media , the media company owned by Pablo Iglesias , leader of Podemos , had received over €9 million from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collected by the police and their anti-money-laundering committee had identified how 16 companies suspected of money laundering , had passed the cash to 360 Global Media through Emirates NBD ( national Bank of Dubai ) and other intermediary banks .
The majority of the cash transfers were made to the 360 Global Media company , which is the producer of programs for Hispan TV , the Spanish-language satellite channel of Iran 's state-run broadcaster IRIB .
Hispan TV is run by Iranian citizen Mahmoud Alizadeh Azimi and its programs mainly target Latin American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chile , Ecuador , Peru , Colombia , Nicaragua and Mexico .
Manipulation of the Western media by the theocratic regime has long been assumed .
For decades , the mullahs have set out to demonize their main democratic opposition movement , the People 's Mojahedin Organization of Iran ( PMOI-MEK ) , whom they fear and hate with a visceral passion .
The so-called left-wing , anti-American press has been particularly susceptible to Iranian manipulation , with ludicrous and ill-founded articles appearing in The Guardian , The Independent , Channel 4 News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zeitung .
These articles invariably repeat the same propaganda hogwash trotted out by the mullahs ' Ministry of Intelligence & Security , which maintains a network of spies , agents and so-called `` friendly journalists '' across the world .
A court ruling in Germany in July exposed this demonization campaign .
The Hamburg Regional Court ruled that the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung had violated basic journalistic standards in an article traducing the MEK and could face fines of up to $ 293,000 for each of three offending claims , which the court ordered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be withheld from any subsequent publication .
The Hamburg Court verdict mirrored a similar ruling in March 2019 against Der Spiegel , following a legal challenge by the National Council of Resistance of Iran , the coalition of Iranian opposition movements , the main component of which is the MEK .
In both court cases , the evidence presented exposed beyond doubt that the MOIS was the source of the lies and disinformation against the Iranian opposition .
Further proof of this disinformation campaign emerged in Albania in July , when the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dabiel Kassrae , who also had Italian citizenship .
He was sent back to Italy on an order signed by Interior Minister Sander Lleshaj and banned from re-entering Albania for 15 years .
Kassrae had pretended to be a journalist after moving to Albania four years ago , at the same time several thousand MEK supporters were relocated to Tirana following their escape from persecution in Iraq .
Under his disguise as a journalist , Kassrae was frequently found in and around the compound where the Iranian refugees were housed , repeatedly attempting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out against the MEK .
It transpired that he was working for the mullahs ' regime and he was declared persona non grata and kicked out of the country .
Kassrae was only the most recent example of an Iranian to be expelled from Albania .
In January , two diplomats from the Iranian Embassy in Tirana , Mohammad Ali Arzpeima Nemati and Seyed Ahmad Hosseini Alast , were expelled after it was discovered they were agents of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps and were plotting against MEK supporters at Manza .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close collaborators with Qassem Soleimani , the terrorist leader of Iran 's extra-territorial Quds Force , who was killed in an American drone strike in January .
This was the second time that Iranian diplomats had been ejected from Albania .
In December 2018 , the Iranian ambassador and first secretary were declared personae non gratae by Albania 's Prime Minister Edi Rama .
The Iranian regime has now been exposed for buying influence in leftist Western publications .
Surely that should sound alarm bells for prominent newspapers and media outlets who pay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the Iranian opposition , propagated by a pariah regime that is widely recognized as a sponsor of international terror and assassination .
Over many years , it has become clear that the demonization and deliberate spreading of misinformation about the MEK by Tehran , is invariably a prelude to subsequent attacks and assassinations .
It is a softening up process aimed at tarnishing the image of the Iranian democratic opposition in the eyes of the public , so that subsequent atrocities do not inspire major condemnation .
The Western media who accept @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mullahs ' fascist regime to publish such fabrications should hang their heads in shame .
Struan Stevenson is the Coordinator of the Campaign for Iran Change .
He was a member of the European Parliament representing Scotland ( 1999-2014 ) , president of the Parliament 's Delegation for Relations with Iraq ( 2009-14 ) and chairman of the Friends of a Free Iran Intergroup ( 2004-14 ) .
He is an international lecturer on the Middle East and is also president of the European Iraqi Freedom Association .

The Iranian regime has now been exposed for buying influence in leftist Western publications. File photo courtesy of Iran's presidential office/EPA-EFE
Aug. 3 (UPI) -- News that the leader of the extreme left Podemos Party in Spain had received $9.3 million over a three-year period from the Iranian regime finally shone a light on what has been long suspected by many. El Mundo, the second-largest newspaper in Spain, reported last month that the Economic & Fiscal Crime Division of the Spanish Police (UDEF) had established that between 2012 and 2015, 360 Global Media, the media company owned by Pablo Iglesias, leader of Podemos, had received over €9 million from Iran. Advertisement
El Mundo reported that evidence collected by the police and their anti-money-laundering committee had identified how 16 companies suspected of money laundering, had passed the cash to 360 Global Media through Emirates NBD (national Bank of Dubai) and other intermediary banks.
The majority of the cash transfers were made to the 360 Global Media company, which is the producer of programs for Hispan TV, the Spanish-language satellite channel of Iran's state-run broadcaster IRIB. Hispan TV is run by Iranian citizen Mahmoud Alizadeh Azimi and its programs mainly target Latin American countries such as Venezuela, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, Nicaragua and Mexico.
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Manipulation of the Western media by the theocratic regime has long been assumed. For decades, the mullahs have set out to demonize their main democratic opposition movement, the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI-MEK), whom they fear and hate with a visceral passion. The so-called left-wing, anti-American press has been particularly susceptible to Iranian manipulation, with ludicrous and ill-founded articles appearing in The Guardian, The Independent, Channel 4 News, Der Spiegel and the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. These articles invariably repeat the same propaganda hogwash trotted out by the mullahs' Ministry of Intelligence & Security, which maintains a network of spies, agents and so-called "friendly journalists" across the world.
A court ruling in Germany in July exposed this demonization campaign. The Hamburg Regional Court ruled that the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung had violated basic journalistic standards in an article traducing the MEK and could face fines of up to $293,000 for each of three offending claims, which the court ordered to be removed from online archives and to be withheld from any subsequent publication.
The Hamburg Court verdict mirrored a similar ruling in March 2019 against Der Spiegel, following a legal challenge by the National Council of Resistance of Iran, the coalition of Iranian opposition movements, the main component of which is the MEK. In both court cases, the evidence presented exposed beyond doubt that the MOIS was the source of the lies and disinformation against the Iranian opposition.
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Further proof of this disinformation campaign emerged in Albania in July, when the Albanian government deported an Iranian national, Dabiel Kassrae, who also had Italian citizenship. He was sent back to Italy on an order signed by Interior Minister Sander Lleshaj and banned from re-entering Albania for 15 years. Kassrae had pretended to be a journalist after moving to Albania four years ago, at the same time several thousand MEK supporters were relocated to Tirana following their escape from persecution in Iraq.
Under his disguise as a journalist, Kassrae was frequently found in and around the compound where the Iranian refugees were housed, repeatedly attempting to recruit some of them to speak out against the MEK. It transpired that he was working for the mullahs' regime and he was declared persona non grata and kicked out of the country.
Kassrae was only the most recent example of an Iranian to be expelled from Albania. In January, two diplomats from the Iranian Embassy in Tirana, Mohammad Ali Arzpeima Nemati and Seyed Ahmad Hosseini Alast, were expelled after it was discovered they were agents of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps and were plotting against MEK supporters at Manza. It was also established that they had been close collaborators with Qassem Soleimani, the terrorist leader of Iran's extra-territorial Quds Force, who was killed in an American drone strike in January.
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This was the second time that Iranian diplomats had been ejected from Albania. In December 2018, the Iranian ambassador and first secretary were declared personae non gratae by Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama.
The Iranian regime has now been exposed for buying influence in leftist Western publications. Surely that should sound alarm bells for prominent newspapers and media outlets who pay lip service to absurd and disgraceful fabrications about the Iranian opposition, propagated by a pariah regime that is widely recognized as a sponsor of international terror and assassination.
Over many years, it has become clear that the demonization and deliberate spreading of misinformation about the MEK by Tehran, is invariably a prelude to subsequent attacks and assassinations. It is a softening up process aimed at tarnishing the image of the Iranian democratic opposition in the eyes of the public, so that subsequent atrocities do not inspire major condemnation. The Western media who accept clandestine payments or other inducements from the mullahs' fascist regime to publish such fabrications should hang their heads in shame.
Struan Stevenson is the Coordinator of the Campaign for Iran Change. He was a member of the European Parliament representing Scotland (1999-2014), president of the Parliament's Delegation for Relations with Iraq (2009-14) and chairman of the Friends of a Free Iran Intergroup (2004-14). He is an international lecturer on the Middle East and is also president of the European Iraqi Freedom Association.


upi--2020-08-03--Nikki Bella gives birth to first child, a boy

Aug. 3 ( UPI ) -- Wrestler and television personality Nikki Bella announced on Instagram she has given birth to @ @ @ @ @ boy .
`` 7/31/2020 .
Our baby boy is here and we could n't be @ @ @ @ @ !
Everyone is safe and healthy , '' Bella captioned Sunday 's photo of her @ @ @ @ @ her and her fiance Artem Chigvintsev 's hands .
`` Babe WOW !
Sending you @ @ @ @ @ congratulations !
!
! ''
Dancing with the Stars professional dancer Peta Murgatroyd commented on @ @ @ @ @ twin sister Brie gave birth to her second child , a boy , on Saturday @ @ @ @ @ birth announcement on Instagram Sunday .
The 36-year-old sisters announced in January that they were @ @ @ @ @ dates were two weeks apart .

Nikki Bella announced on Instagram she has given birth to her first child, a boy. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 3 (UPI) -- Wrestler and television personality Nikki Bella announced on Instagram she has given birth to her first child, a boy. "7/31/2020. Our baby boy is here and we couldn't be HAPPIER and more in LOVE! Everyone is safe and healthy," Bella captioned Sunday's photo of her newborn's fingers intertwined with her and her fiance Artem Chigvintsev's hands. Advertisement
"Babe WOW! Sending you all so much love. congratulations!!!" Dancing with the Stars professional dancer Peta Murgatroyd commented on the news.
DWTS and Jersey Shore alum Snooki wrote, "Omg congrats my love."
"Congrats!!!!!" offered fashion designer and reality TV star Kristin Cavallari.
Bella's twin sister Brie gave birth to her second child, a boy, on Saturday. She also made the birth announcement on Instagram Sunday.
The 36-year-old sisters announced in January that they were both pregnant and their due dates were two weeks apart.


upi--2020-08-03--New York Jets cut starting right guard Brian Winters

Aug. 3 ( UPI ) -- The New York Jets have released starting right guard Brian Winters after seven seasons with the AFC East franchise .
Winters , 29 , was the longest-tenured player on the Jets roster , started nine games and was in for 526 offensive snaps last season before he landed on injured reserve due to a shoulder injury .
Winters joined the Jets as a third-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft .
The Kent State product started 16 games in 2018 .
He appeared in 89 games and had 79 starts during his tenure with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Louisville offensive tackle Mekhi Becton with the No .
11 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft , and former UNC Charlotte offensive tackle Cameron Clark in the fourth round .
Greg Van Roten -- who signed a three-year contract this off-season -- is expected to start at right guard in 2020 .
The Jets also re-signed starting left guard Alex Lewis this off-season .
Winters was scheduled to earn $ 7.3 million in 2020 before his release .
His salary was not guaranteed .
Jets players reported to training camp last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Buffalo Bills in their first regular-season game at 1 p.m. EDT on Sept. 13 at New Era Field in Orchard Park , N.Y .

Brian Winters (67) started nine games last season for the New York Jets but was released Sunday. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 3 (UPI) -- Less than 24 hours after the New York Jets released him, veteran offensive lineman Brian Winters is signing a short-term contract with the Buffalo Bills. League sources told ESPN and NFL Media on Monday that Winters agreed to a one-year deal with the Bills. Financial details of the agreement weren't disclosed, and the team has yet to confirm the signing. Advertisement
The Jets released Winters, the team's starting right guard, after seven seasons with the AFC East franchise. The team announced the move Sunday.
Winters, 29, was the longest-tenured player on the Jets roster. He started nine games and was in for 526 offensive snaps last season before he landed on injured reserve due to a shoulder injury.
Winters joined the Jets as a third-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft. The Kent State product started 16 games in 2018. He appeared in 89 games and had 79 starts during his time with the Jets.
Jon Feliciano, the Bills' starter at right guard last season, will miss between 8-12 weeks after undergoing surgery on a torn pectoral muscle Friday. Winters is expected to compete for the spot.
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Winters was scheduled to earn $7.3 million in 2020 before his Jets release. His salary was not guaranteed.


upi--2020-08-03--Gallup: Far fewer parents want children returning to school full-time

Aug. 3 ( UPI ) -- The number of parents in the United States who want to send their children back to school full-time this fall has dramatically fallen in recent weeks , a new Gallup survey showed Monday .
According to the poll , 36 % of parents want their children to return to full-time , in-school learning , a decline of 20 % from late May and early June .
Another 36 % prefer a mix of in-person and distance learning , and 28 % want full-time , remote learning .
In late May and early June , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The poll also showed that nearly two-thirds of parents said they 're either very worried ( 27 % ) or somewhat concerned ( 37 % ) about their children catching COVID-19 in school .
That 's an increase of 18 % .
`` Thus , to a large degree , the shift away from-person learning reflects the increased worry among parents since late May and early June , when U.S. coronavirus infections were much lower than today , '' Gallup wrote .
Politically , 42 % of Democratic parents are `` very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus , while just 9 % of Republican parents said the same .
Conversely , 68 % of Republican parents want their children in full-time , in-person schooling this fall , compared to 13 % of Democratic parents .
Gallup said it polled more than 1,000 U.S. parents for the survey , which has a margin of error of 6 points .
Gallup said margins for subgroups are higher .

A teacher demonstrates during a protest outside the St. Louis Public School headquarters in St. Louis, Mo., on July 13. Teachers and faculty haven't been told what rules are in place for student and teacher safety when classes reopen on August 24. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 3 (UPI) -- The number of parents in the United States who want to send their children back to school full-time this fall has dramatically fallen in recent weeks, a new Gallup survey showed Monday. According to the poll, 36% of parents want their children to return to full-time, in-school learning, a decline of 20% from late May and early June. Advertisement
Another 36% prefer a mix of in-person and distance learning, and 28% want full-time, remote learning.
In late May and early June, just 7% wanted distance learning full-time.
The poll also showed that nearly two-thirds of parents said they're either very worried (27%) or somewhat concerned (37%) about their children catching COVID-19 in school. That's an increase of 18%.
"Thus, to a large degree, the shift away from-person learning reflects the increased worry among parents since late May and early June, when U.S. coronavirus infections were much lower than today," Gallup wrote.
Politically, 42% of Democratic parents are "very worried" about their child getting the coronavirus, while just 9% of Republican parents said the same. Conversely, 68% of Republican parents want their children in full-time, in-person schooling this fall, compared to 13% of Democratic parents.
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Gallup said it polled more than 1,000 U.S. parents for the survey, which has a margin of error of 6 points. Gallup said margins for subgroups are higher.


upi--2020-08-03--Magic's Jonathan Isaac tears ACL vs. Kings

Aug. 3 ( UPI ) -- Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac held his left knee and writhed in pain after he tore his ACL in the fourth quarter of a seeding game against the Sacramento Kings .
He 'll likely miss the rest of the NBA 's resumed season .
Isaac caught a pass at the top of the 3-point arc with about 9:19 remaining in the 132-116 win Sunday in Orlando , Fla .
He drove to the rim before he hopped between two defenders on the play .
Isaac then landed and lost control of the ball before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Magic medical staff tended to Isaac before he was taken off the floor in a wheelchair .
The Magic said Isaac had an MRI after the game , which determined he had a torn ACL .
`` Isaac will be out indefinitely and his return to the court will depend on how he responds to treatment and rehabilitation , '' the Magic said .
Isaac had four points , four assists , three rebounds and two steals in 14:36 during the Magic win .
He was playing in just his second game since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which he sustained Jan. 1 .
Isaac had tape and a brace on his left knee during Sunday 's game .
He missed 31 games due to his last knee injury .
`` That was tough , man , '' Magic star Aaron Gordon said of Isaac 's injury .
`` That one brought me to tears , and instantly -- just because I know how good of a guy J.I .
is and how hard he works and how hard he has worked to get back since hurting himself in D.C. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 22 , averaged 11.9 points , 6.8 rebounds , 2.3 blocks , 1.6 steals and 1.4 assists per game this season .
The No .
6 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft has averaged 9.3 points per game in three seasons with Orlando .
Isaac on Saturday became the first NBA player to stand during the national anthem since the season resumed in July after a four-month hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic .
Most NBA players have knelt at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex at Walt Disney World Resort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police brutality and racial inequality .
`` I believe that Black lives matter , '' Isaac said of his decision to stand .
`` A lot went into my decision and part of it is my thought that kneeling while wearing a Black Lives Matter t-shirt does n't go hand in hand with supporting Black lives .
`` And so I felt like , just me personally and what it is that I believe in , standing on a stance that I do believe that Black lives matter , but I just felt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had to make and I did n't feel like putting that shirt on went hand in hand with supporting Black lives . ''
The Magic ( 32-35 ) face the Indiana Pacers at 6 p.m. EDT Tuesday in Orlando .

Aug. 3 (UPI) -- Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac held his left knee and writhed in pain after he tore his ACL in the fourth quarter of a seeding game against the Sacramento Kings. He'll likely miss the rest of the NBA's resumed season.
Isaac caught a pass at the top of the 3-point arc with about 9:19 remaining in the 132-116 win Sunday in Orlando, Fla. He drove to the rim before he hopped between two defenders on the play. Isaac then landed and lost control of the ball before he fell to the floor.
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The Magic medical staff tended to Isaac before he was taken off the floor in a wheelchair. The Magic said Isaac had an MRI after the game, which determined he had a torn ACL.
"Isaac will be out indefinitely and his return to the court will depend on how he responds to treatment and rehabilitation," the Magic said.
Saying a prayer for @JJudahIsaac. pic.twitter.com/qUhw3QOK58— FOX Sports Florida & Sun (@FOXSportsFL) August 3, 2020
Isaac had four points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals in 14:36 during the Magic win. He was playing in just his second game since returning from a hyperextended left knee injury, which he sustained Jan. 1. Isaac had tape and a brace on his left knee during Sunday's game. He missed 31 games due to his last knee injury.
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"That was tough, man," Magic star Aaron Gordon said of Isaac's injury. "That one brought me to tears, and instantly -- just because I know how good of a guy J.I. is and how hard he works and how hard he has worked to get back since hurting himself in D.C. That was tough."
Isaac, 22, averaged 11.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.3 blocks, 1.6 steals and 1.4 assists per game this season. The No. 6 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft has averaged 9.3 points per game in three seasons with Orlando.
Isaac on Saturday became the first NBA player to stand during the national anthem since the season resumed in July after a four-month hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic. Most NBA players have knelt at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex at Walt Disney World Resort as the anthem has played to protest police brutality and racial inequality."I believe that Black lives matter," Isaac said of his decision to stand. "A lot went into my decision and part of it is my thought that kneeling while wearing a Black Lives Matter t-shirt doesn't go hand in hand with supporting Black lives.
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"And so I felt like, just me personally and what it is that I believe in, standing on a stance that I do believe that Black lives matter, but I just felt like it was a decision that I had to make and I didn't feel like putting that shirt on went hand in hand with supporting Black lives."
The Magic (32-35) face the Indiana Pacers at 6 p.m. EDT Tuesday in Orlando.


upi--2020-08-03--Olympic diver Vicki Draves gets Google Doodle spotlight

Aug. 3 ( UPI ) -- Filipino American diver and coach Vicki Draves , the first Asian American woman to @ @ @ @ @ is the subject of Monday 's Google Doodle .
`` Thank you , Vicki Draves @ @ @ @ @ to aim high and take the plunge , '' Google said .
The Doodle showed @ @ @ @ @ one of her smiling while wearing a warm-up jacket and her gold medal and another @ @ @ @ @ pool .
Draves won the gold medal in the women 's 3-meter springboard event at @ @ @ @ @ Aug. 3 , 1948 .
She was the first woman to win gold medals in @ @ @ @ @ events .
The athlete died in 2010 at age 85 .
On Friday , Google @ @ @ @ @ activist Pacita Abad .

Vicki Draves won the gold medal in the women's 3-meter springboard event at the London Summer Olympics on Aug. 3, 1948. Image courtesy of Google
Aug. 3 (UPI) -- Filipino American diver and coach Vicki Draves, the first Asian American woman to win an Olympic medal, is the subject of Monday's Google Doodle. "Thank you, Vicki Draves, for inspiring people everywhere to aim high and take the plunge," Google said. Advertisement
The Doodle showed two images of Draves -- one of her smiling while wearing a warm-up jacket and her gold medal and another of her diving into a pool.
Draves won the gold medal in the women's 3-meter springboard event at the London Summer Olympics on Aug. 3, 1948.
She was the first woman to win gold medals in both the platform and springboard events.
The athlete died in 2010 at age 85.
On Friday, Google paid tribute to artist and activist Pacita Abad.


upi--2020-08-03--Aaron Judge homers in 5th straight game, Yankees beat Red Sox

Aug. 3 ( UPI ) -- New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge homered for a fifth consecutive game to lead his squad to a weekend sweep of the rival Boston Red Sox .
Judge 's latest performance featured two long balls and fueled the Yankees to a 9-7 triumph Sunday at Yankee Stadium in New York City .
Judge went 2 for 4 with five RBIs , two runs scored and a walk in Sunday 's win .
The 6-foot-7 , 282-pound slugger is 7 for 19 with six home runs and 13 RBIs in his last five appearances .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Saturday before his duo of dingers in Sunday 's series finale against Boston .
`` For me right now it 's just about not missing my pitch , '' Judge told reporters .
`` Pitchers are making really good pitches , but there are times when they leave one over the plate and I have to do some damage on it . ''
The Red Sox took a 2-0 lead on a two-run homer from Xander Bogaerts in the first inning before Judge put the Yankees on the scoreboard .
Judge stepped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ base in the bottom of the second inning .
He settled in against Red Sox relief pitcher Matt Hall and worked an even 2-2 count before the Red Sox pitcher threw in an 88.8-mph fastball .
Judge walloped the pitch to left field for a 419-foot homer .
The blast had an exit velocity of 108 mph and left the field in five seconds , according to Statcast .
The Red Sox erupted for three runs in the third frame to take a 5-3 edge .
The Yankees answered with RBI doubles from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the score at 5-5 in the bottom of the third inning .
Bogaerts returned to the plate for his second homer of the game in the top of the fifth frame and Luke Voit homered for the Yankees in the bottom of the fifth .
Rafael Devers snatched the lead back for Boston with a solo shot in the top of the seventh inning .
The Yankees ' D.J .
LeMahieu plated Mike Tauchman with an RBI single to tie the score at 7-7 in the bottom of the eighth frame .
Judge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pitcher Matthew Barnes before he teed off for a go-ahead bomb .
Barnes fell behind in the count 2-0 before he lobbed in an 84-mph knuckle curveball during the sequence .
Judge pounced on the pitch and sent it to left center field for a 468-foot homer .
The blast had an exit velocity of 107 mph .
Judge is the first Yankees player to homer in five consecutive games since Alex Rodriguez in 2007 .
He now leads baseball with six homers on the season .
Judge could tie the MLB record @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he goes deep in his next two contests .
Ken Griffey Jr. , Don Mattingly and Dale Long are the only MLB players in history to homer in seven consecutive games .
The Yankees ( 7-1 ) next host the Philadelphia Phillies at 7:05 p.m. EDT Monday at Yankee Stadium , and the Red Sox ( 3-7 ) face the Tampa Bay Rays at 6:40 p.m. EDT Tuesday at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg , Fla .

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge celebrates on Saturday after hitting a solo home run in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium in New York City. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 3 (UPI) -- New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge homered for a fifth consecutive game to lead his squad to a weekend sweep of the rival Boston Red Sox. Judge's latest performance featured two long balls and fueled the Yankees to a 9-7 triumph Sunday at Yankee Stadium in New York City. Judge went 2 for 4 with five RBIs, two runs scored and a walk in Sunday's win. Advertisement
The 6-foot-7, 282-pound slugger is 7 for 19 with six home runs and 13 RBIs in his last five appearances. He homered Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday before his duo of dingers in Sunday's series finale against Boston.
"For me right now it's just about not missing my pitch," Judge told reporters. "Pitchers are making really good pitches, but there are times when they leave one over the plate and I have to do some damage on it."
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The Red Sox took a 2-0 lead on a two-run homer from Xander Bogaerts in the first inning before Judge put the Yankees on the scoreboard.
Judge stepped to the plate with two runners on base in the bottom of the second inning. He settled in against Red Sox relief pitcher Matt Hall and worked an even 2-2 count before the Red Sox pitcher threw in an 88.8-mph fastball.
Judge walloped the pitch to left field for a 419-foot homer. The blast had an exit velocity of 108 mph and left the field in five seconds, according to Statcast.
The Red Sox erupted for three runs in the third frame to take a 5-3 edge. The Yankees answered with RBI doubles from Gary Sanchez and Gio Urshela to tie the score at 5-5 in the bottom of the third inning.
Bogaerts returned to the plate for his second homer of the game in the top of the fifth frame and Luke Voit homered for the Yankees in the bottom of the fifth. Rafael Devers snatched the lead back for Boston with a solo shot in the top of the seventh inning.
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The Yankees' D.J. LeMahieu plated Mike Tauchman with an RBI single to tie the score at 7-7 in the bottom of the eighth frame. Judge then settled in against Red Sox relief pitcher Matthew Barnes before he teed off for a go-ahead bomb.
Barnes fell behind in the count 2-0 before he lobbed in an 84-mph knuckle curveball during the sequence. Judge pounced on the pitch and sent it to left center field for a 468-foot homer. The blast had an exit velocity of 107 mph.
Judge is the first Yankees player to homer in five consecutive games since Alex Rodriguez in 2007. He now leads baseball with six homers on the season.
Judge could tie the MLB record for home runs in consecutive games if he goes deep in his next two contests. Ken Griffey Jr., Don Mattingly and Dale Long are the only MLB players in history to homer in seven consecutive games.
The Yankees (7-1) next host the Philadelphia Phillies at 7:05 p.m. EDT Monday at Yankee Stadium, and the Red Sox (3-7) face the Tampa Bay Rays at 6:40 p.m. EDT Tuesday at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla.


upi--2020-08-03--Lord & Taylor, Tailored Brands file for bankruptcy

Aug. 3 ( UPI ) -- Lord & Taylor , the oldest department store in the United States , and the parent company of Men 's Wearhouse and Jos .
A .
Banks have both filed for bankruptcy .
Lord & Taylor filed for bankruptcy in the Eastern Court of Virginia .
In a message to customers , the company said its `` searching for a new owner , '' less than a year after the luxury clothier was sold by the Hudson 's Bay Company to French clothing rental company Le Tote .
Lord & Taylor is the oldest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It opened its first store in New York in 1826 and was once a pillar in the high-end luxury clothing market .
Houston-based Tailored Brands filed for Chapter 11 Sunday in the Southern District of Texas .
The owner of the Men 's Wearhouse and Jos .
A .
Banks reported in June that first-quarter sales had fallen 60 % as buyers turned to online sales due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
Last month , Tailored Brands it announced it would cut 20 % of its corporate workforce and close as many as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The pandemic has troubled other retail clothiers in recent months , including Neiman Marcus and J.C. Penney , which filed for bankruptcy in May .
Macy 's has announced plans to close 125 stores and cut thousands of jobs .

Lord & Taylor opened its first store in New York in 1826 and was once a pillar in the high-end luxury clothing market. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 3 (UPI) -- Lord & Taylor, the oldest department store in the United States, and the parent company of Men's Wearhouse and Jos. A. Banks have both filed for bankruptcy. Lord & Taylor filed for bankruptcy in the Eastern Court of Virginia. Advertisement
In a message to customers, the company said its "searching for a new owner," less than a year after the luxury clothier was sold by the Hudson's Bay Company to French clothing rental company Le Tote.
Lord & Taylor is the oldest department store in the United States. It opened its first store in New York in 1826 and was once a pillar in the high-end luxury clothing market.
Houston-based Tailored Brands filed for Chapter 11 Sunday in the Southern District of Texas. The owner of the Men's Wearhouse and Jos. A. Banks reported in June that first-quarter sales had fallen 60% as buyers turned to online sales due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last month, Tailored Brands it announced it would cut 20% of its corporate workforce and close as many as 500 stores due to the health crisis.
The pandemic has troubled other retail clothiers in recent months, including Neiman Marcus and J.C. Penney, which filed for bankruptcy in May. Macy's has announced plans to close 125 stores and cut thousands of jobs.


upi--2020-08-03--Perseid meteor shower highlights list of events in August skies

Aug. 3 ( UPI ) -- The nights are gradually getting longer in the Northern Hemisphere while the warm summer weather holds strong , the perfect combination for enjoying some time under the stars in August .
Comet NEOWISE stole the spotlight in the night sky in July , but has since faded away .
Now sky watchers will be turning their attention to the middle of the month when one of the year 's top meteor showers reaches its climax .
Here are the top three astronomy events to look for in August : The new month will kick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ night sky on Monday night .
People who set up telescopes to catch a look at Jupiter , Saturn and Comet NEOWISE throughout July can focus in on the moon to see its many craters as it shines bright in the sky all night long .
August 's full moon is also known as the Sturgeon Moon .
`` August 's full moon was traditionally called the Sturgeon Moon because the giant sturgeon of the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain were most readily caught during this part of summer , '' the Old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for this month 's full moon include the Blueberry Moon , the Full Green Corn Moon and the Dog Day 's Moon .
Near the end of July , two minor meteor showers peaked on the same night , giving stargazers a preview of August 's top astronomy event .
The Perseids is regularly one of the best meteor showers of the entire year , not only because it can feature a shooting star about once every minute , but also because the meteors are generally brighter than those from other meteor showers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's Perseids will produce 50-75 meteors per hour on the peak night , '' AccuWeather astronomy blogger Dave Samuhel said .
`` This number is down slightly from the normal 100-plus because moonlight will be a factor . ''
The best time to watch the Perseids will likely occur Aug. 11-12 between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. local time , the darkest part of the night before the moon rises .
As the month draws to a close , Jupiter and Saturn will be prominently featured in the southern sky as darkness falls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be good opportunities to look for the planets as the nearly full moon passes nearby .
This has been a monthly occurrence throughout most of the year , but on the night of Aug. 28 , the moon will appear in particularly close proximity to Jupiter .
Onlookers with a telescope or good pair of binoculars may be able to spot Jupiter and its four largest moons in the same frame as our moon .
July brought the rare opportunity to spot a comet in the night sky as Comet NEOWISE made its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sun in 6,800 years .
It became just bright enough to see with the unaided eye , making it the brightest comet for stargazers in the Northern Hemisphere since Comet Hale-Bopp in the late 1990s .
One stargazer took advantage of this opportunity to get down on one knee and propose to his significant other .
As the comet faded on its trip back to the far reaches of the outer solar system , two meteor showers joined forces to put on a dazzling display in the night sky .
The southern Delta @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the early-morning hours of Wednesday to treat stargazers with 15 to 20 meteors per hour .
Jupiter and Saturn also shined bright side by side all month with both planets reaching opposition , or the point in their orbits when they are closest to the Earth .

Aug. 3 (UPI) -- The nights are gradually getting longer in the Northern Hemisphere while the warm summer weather holds strong, the perfect combination for enjoying some time under the stars in August.
Comet NEOWISE stole the spotlight in the night sky in July, but has since faded away. Now sky watchers will be turning their attention to the middle of the month when one of the year's top meteor showers reaches its climax.
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Here are the top three astronomy events to look for in August:
The new month will kick off with a full moon illuminating the night sky on Monday night.
People who set up telescopes to catch a look at Jupiter, Saturn and Comet NEOWISE throughout July can focus in on the moon to see its many craters as it shines bright in the sky all night long.
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August's full moon is also known as the Sturgeon Moon.
"August's full moon was traditionally called the Sturgeon Moon because the giant sturgeon of the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain were most readily caught during this part of summer," the Old Farmer's Almanac explains.
Other nicknames for this month's full moon include the Blueberry Moon, the Full Green Corn Moon and the Dog Day's Moon.
Near the end of July, two minor meteor showers peaked on the same night, giving stargazers a preview of August's top astronomy event.
The Perseids is regularly one of the best meteor showers of the entire year, not only because it can feature a shooting star about once every minute, but also because the meteors are generally brighter than those from other meteor showers throughout the year.
"This year's Perseids will produce 50-75 meteors per hour on the peak night," AccuWeather astronomy blogger Dave Samuhel said. "This number is down slightly from the normal 100-plus because moonlight will be a factor."
Meteors from the Persieds strat in front of the Milky Way during the shower's peak in 2015. Image by Twitter/AaronRigsbyOSC
The best time to watch the Perseids will likely occur Aug. 11-12 between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. local time, the darkest part of the night before the moon rises.
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As the month draws to a close, Jupiter and Saturn will be prominently featured in the southern sky as darkness falls.
The nights of Aug. 27-29 will be good opportunities to look for the planets as the nearly full moon passes nearby.
This has been a monthly occurrence throughout most of the year, but on the night of Aug. 28, the moon will appear in particularly close proximity to Jupiter. Onlookers with a telescope or good pair of binoculars may be able to spot Jupiter and its four largest moons in the same frame as our moon.
July brought the rare opportunity to spot a comet in the night sky as Comet NEOWISE made its closest approach to the Earth and the sun in 6,800 years. It became just bright enough to see with the unaided eye, making it the brightest comet for stargazers in the Northern Hemisphere since Comet Hale-Bopp in the late 1990s.
One stargazer took advantage of this opportunity to get down on one knee and propose to his significant other.
As the comet faded on its trip back to the far reaches of the outer solar system, two meteor showers joined forces to put on a dazzling display in the night sky. The southern Delta Aquarids and Alpha Capricornids peaked Tuesday into the early-morning hours of Wednesday to treat stargazers with 15 to 20 meteors per hour.
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Jupiter and Saturn also shined bright side by side all month with both planets reaching opposition, or the point in their orbits when they are closest to the Earth.


upi--2020-08-03--COVID-19 on brink of ending 6 decades of driving growth in U.S.

Aug. 3 ( UPI ) -- COVID-19 has cleared streets around the world for months now , which has drivers in the United States poised to reverse a growth streak that has lasted for more than six decades , experts say .
Similar to the airline industry , the pandemic 's impact has severely depressed auto travel , and experts believe it will take some time for traffic to return to pre-outbreak levels .
At risk is a 60-year streak of uninterrupted growth in `` vehicle miles traveled , '' or VMT , among Americans , according to report last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consulting firm .
In a 19-page report titled , `` Automotive 's New Reality : Fewer Trips , Fewer Miles , Fewer Cars , '' analysts concluded the pandemic has greatly accelerated two formerly low-key economic forces that already were driving down driving -- working from home and online shopping .
The health crisis , the researchers said , has so firmly reinforced those trends that significant and permanent reductions in VMT are on the horizon and could result in profound consequences for the auto industry and other segments of the U.S. economy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they noted , would lead to lower vehicle sales , closed assembly plants , reduced gasoline consumption and gas taxes , and a decline of aftermarket parts sales .
A related industry , auto insurance , is subject to similar effects .
KPMG analysts predicted , in fact , that high levels of telecommuting and shopping online post-COVID-19 will cut driving in the United States by as many as 270 billion miles every year -- 10 % fewer than the nearly 3 trillion miles that were driven each year before the pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ early 2021 .
If realized , the decline would translate into 14 million fewer cars on the roads .
Also , new car and truck sales would fall by about 1 million vehicles per year with average ownership under two cars per household .
`` Before the pandemic , we were very bullish about VMT continuing to go up because not only were Americans driving more themselves , [ but they also ] were having other people drive them more by pushing a button on ride-sharing apps , '' KPMG partner and automotive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We thought that number was just going to explode , '' Silberg said .
So it was `` stunning , '' he said , to see miles traveled plunge by 64 % in April early during the crisis .
`` We asked ourselves , 'Is this a one-time where we get back to equilibrium ? ''
he said .
`` When you look at the numbers and the 3 trillion miles we travel per year , over 700 billion miles of it is us going back and forth to work , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is shopping , '' Silberg said .
`` We realized that both commuting and shopping are going to decline in the future -- that is going to be an enduring and profound reality . ''
To arrive at their figures , KPMG analysts considered an April survey of more than 300 corporate chief financial officers in which three-quarters said they intended to move at least 5 % of their on-site workforce to permanently remote positions .
The survey , conducted by business consulting firm Gartner , further found that 42 % of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 20 % of their workforce permanently remote .
A number of U.S. companies are making moves to accommodate employees who prefer to work from home -- including Twitter , Shopify and Coinbase , each of which has already announced policy changes that allow their entire force to stay remote permanently .
The other factor , growing e-commerce , will pare down U.S. driving by between 40 billion and 130 billion miles per year , the KPMG report found .
A loss of 1 million vehicle sales would be a serious blow to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ struggling , and less driving could make an even greater impact for related aftermarket service providers like mechanics , repair shops and auto insurers .
Silberg said , however , a probable upside exists -- a growing market for the commercial delivery vehicles used by e-commerce retailers like Amazon to deliver their products .
`` There 's an exploding market for those now , '' he said .
`` For instance , Amazon has placed an order for 100,000 all-electric delivery vehicles made by a start-up company called Rivian , '' he said @

An empty North Capitol Street is seen near the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on April 1, after the city issued a stay-home order to limit the spread of the coronavirus. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 3 (UPI) -- COVID-19 has cleared streets around the world for months now, which has drivers in the United States poised to reverse a growth streak that has lasted for more than six decades, experts say. Similar to the airline industry, the pandemic's impact has severely depressed auto travel, and experts believe it will take some time for traffic to return to pre-outbreak levels. Advertisement
At risk is a 60-year streak of uninterrupted growth in "vehicle miles traveled," or VMT, among Americans, according to report last month by industry analysts with the KPMG consulting firm.
In a 19-page report titled, "Automotive's New Reality: Fewer Trips, Fewer Miles, Fewer Cars," analysts concluded the pandemic has greatly accelerated two formerly low-key economic forces that already were driving down driving -- working from home and online shopping.
The health crisis, the researchers said, has so firmly reinforced those trends that significant and permanent reductions in VMT are on the horizon and could result in profound consequences for the auto industry and other segments of the U.S. economy.
Advertisement
A prolonged decline in driving, they noted, would lead to lower vehicle sales, closed assembly plants, reduced gasoline consumption and gas taxes, and a decline of aftermarket parts sales. A related industry, auto insurance, is subject to similar effects.
KPMG analysts predicted, in fact, that high levels of telecommuting and shopping online post-COVID-19 will cut driving in the United States by as many as 270 billion miles every year -- 10% fewer than the nearly 3 trillion miles that were driven each year before the pandemic.
The mileage figure will be calculated in early 2021.
If realized, the decline would translate into 14 million fewer cars on the roads. Also, new car and truck sales would fall by about 1 million vehicles per year with average ownership under two cars per household.
"Before the pandemic, we were very bullish about VMT continuing to go up because not only were Americans driving more themselves, [but they also] were having other people drive them more by pushing a button on ride-sharing apps," KPMG partner and automotive sector head Gary Silberg told UPI.
"We thought that number was just going to explode," Silberg said.
So it was "stunning," he said, to see miles traveled plunge by 64% in April early during the crisis.
Advertisement
"We asked ourselves, 'Is this a one-time where we get back to equilibrium?" he said.
"When you look at the numbers and the 3 trillion miles we travel per year, over 700 billion miles of it is us going back and forth to work, while more than 450 billion miles of it is shopping," Silberg said.
"We realized that both commuting and shopping are going to decline in the future -- that is going to be an enduring and profound reality."
To arrive at their figures, KPMG analysts considered an April survey of more than 300 corporate chief financial officers in which three-quarters said they intended to move at least 5% of their on-site workforce to permanently remote positions.
The survey, conducted by business consulting firm Gartner, further found that 42% of the CFOs planned to make between 10% and 20% of their workforce permanently remote.
A number of U.S. companies are making moves to accommodate employees who prefer to work from home -- including Twitter, Shopify and Coinbase, each of which has already announced policy changes that allow their entire force to stay remote permanently.
Advertisement
The other factor, growing e-commerce, will pare down U.S. driving by between 40 billion and 130 billion miles per year, the KPMG report found.
A loss of 1 million vehicle sales would be a serious blow to the auto industry, which already is struggling, and less driving could make an even greater impact for related aftermarket service providers like mechanics, repair shops and auto insurers.
Silberg said, however, a probable upside exists -- a growing market for the commercial delivery vehicles used by e-commerce retailers like Amazon to deliver their products.
"There's an exploding market for those now," he said. "For instance, Amazon has placed an order for 100,000 all-electric delivery vehicles made by a start-up company called Rivian," he said.