upi--2020-07-23--South Korea slides into recession on COVID-19 impact

SEOUL , July 23 ( UPI ) -- South Korea 's economy contracted for the second quarter in a row , falling 3.3 % from the previous quarter in its sharpest decline in over two decades as the global COVID-19 pandemic took a heavy toll on exports , according to advance data from the Bank of Korea .
The contraction marked the second quarter in a row of negative growth for South Korea , putting the country in a technical recession for the first time since 2003 .
In the first quarter of the year , the economy declined by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for nearly 40 % of the South Korean economy , plummeted by 16.6 % from the previous quarter , the BOK announced Thursday , citing weak demand for motor vehicles and petrochemical products .
It was the biggest drop in the sector since 1963 .
Year-on-year , gross domestic product fell by 2.9 % in the second quarter .
Finance minister Hong Nam-Ki said during a policy meeting Thursday that the contraction exceeded projections that had been in the low to mid 2 % range due to `` a larger than expected foreign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] he impact of the global economic downturn was more profound than expected as the global pandemic spread , '' Hong said , noting falling economic activity and shutdowns of overseas production facilities in countries such as Vietnam and India .
However , Hong said that `` a significant rebound is possible '' in the third quarter , driven by government stimulus efforts along with increased overseas production and resumption of hospital and school activities .
He said the rebound could be on a `` similar track '' as China , which has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Hong said that South Korea 's economy is `` relatively strong '' compared to major developed countries , pointing to growing domestic demand .
Last week , Singapore announced that it had entered a recession , with second-quarter growth plunging by 41.2 % quarter-on-quarter .
Japan is also set to declare a recession , the Asahi Shimbun reported Thursday , ending a 71-month economic expansion streak .
Domestic private consumption in South Korea grew by 1.4 % quarter-on-quarter , driven in part by government cash stimulus that boosted spending on household items @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its benchmark interest rate twice this year , to a current record low of 0.5 % , to help increase consumption .
The government has pledged $ 225 billion in stimulus this year to help prop up the economy and minimize the impact of the coronavirus , and last week President Moon Jae-in delivered details of an ambitious `` Korean New Deal '' of economic , environmental and social reforms .
In May , the Bank of Korea forecast that the economy would shrink by 0.2 % in 2020 .
However , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said GDP growth would likely be lower than that projection , noting that the spread of the coronavirus was accelerating around the world .
`` The path forward for the economy will depend on the evolution of the pandemic , '' the statement said .
`` The downside risks include a prolonged spread of the virus , a deepening of the US-China trade dispute and a delay in the semiconductor industry 's recovery . ''
The International Monetary Fund recently revised its GDP forecast for South Korea downward to a decline of 2.1 @ @ @ @ @

South Korea announced an economic contraction of 3.3% for the second quarter, plunging the country into a technical recession for the first time since 2003. Photo by Jeon Heon-Kyun/EPA-EFE
SEOUL, July 23 (UPI) -- South Korea's economy contracted for the second quarter in a row, falling 3.3% from the previous quarter in its sharpest decline in over two decades as the global COVID-19 pandemic took a heavy toll on exports, according to advance data from the Bank of Korea. The contraction marked the second quarter in a row of negative growth for South Korea, putting the country in a technical recession for the first time since 2003. In the first quarter of the year, the economy declined by 1.4%. Advertisement
Exports, which account for nearly 40% of the South Korean economy, plummeted by 16.6% from the previous quarter, the BOK announced Thursday, citing weak demand for motor vehicles and petrochemical products. It was the biggest drop in the sector since 1963.
Year-on-year, gross domestic product fell by 2.9% in the second quarter.
Advertisement
Finance minister Hong Nam-Ki said during a policy meeting Thursday that the contraction exceeded projections that had been in the low to mid 2% range due to "a larger than expected foreign sector shock."
"[T]he impact of the global economic downturn was more profound than expected as the global pandemic spread," Hong said, noting falling economic activity and shutdowns of overseas production facilities in countries such as Vietnam and India.
However, Hong said that "a significant rebound is possible" in the third quarter, driven by government stimulus efforts along with increased overseas production and resumption of hospital and school activities. He said the rebound could be on a "similar track" as China, which has managed to avoid sliding into a recession.
Hong said that South Korea's economy is "relatively strong" compared to major developed countries, pointing to growing domestic demand.
Last week, Singapore announced that it had entered a recession, with second-quarter growth plunging by 41.2% quarter-on-quarter. Japan is also set to declare a recession, the Asahi Shimbun reported Thursday, ending a 71-month economic expansion streak.
Domestic private consumption in South Korea grew by 1.4% quarter-on-quarter, driven in part by government cash stimulus that boosted spending on household items. The central bank has also slashed its benchmark interest rate twice this year, to a current record low of 0.5%, to help increase consumption.
Advertisement
The government has pledged $225 billion in stimulus this year to help prop up the economy and minimize the impact of the coronavirus, and last week President Moon Jae-in delivered details of an ambitious "Korean New Deal" of economic, environmental and social reforms.
In May, the Bank of Korea forecast that the economy would shrink by 0.2% in 2020. However, a statement issued by the BOK last week said GDP growth would likely be lower than that projection, noting that the spread of the coronavirus was accelerating around the world.
"The path forward for the economy will depend on the evolution of the pandemic," the statement said. "The downside risks include a prolonged spread of the virus, a deepening of the US-China trade dispute and a delay in the semiconductor industry's recovery."
The International Monetary Fund recently revised its GDP forecast for South Korea downward to a decline of 2.1% for the year.


upi--2020-07-23--U.S. offers $2M reward for 2 men who hacked SEC

July 23 ( UPI ) -- The United States has announced it is offering a reward of up to $ 2 million for information that leads to the arrests or convictions of two Ukrainian hackers .
The U.S. State Department and Secret Service on Wednesday announced the two $ 1-million rewards for help detaining Artem Viacheslavovich Radchenko and Oleksandr Vitalyevich Ieremenko , Ukrainian nationals who have been accused of stealing information from the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission in 2016 .
In a statement , the Secret Service said it was the first time the agency had offered a monetary award @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` For the first time in agency history , we are able to strategically leverage resources worldwide in the pursuit of a wanted fugitive charged with the exploitation and manipulation of our financial systems , '' Secret Service Director James M. Murray said in a statement .
According to the 16-count indictment unsealed in January 2019 , Radchenko , 28 , and Ieremenko , 29 , hacked the SEC 's Electronic Data Gathering , Analysis and Retrieval system and stole thousands of files .
The two men gained access to the system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ computers with malware , the indictment said , adding that once they were in the system , they copied the filings to servers they controlled .
`` Radchenko and Ieremenko 's scheme focused on stealing annual , quarterly and current reports of publicly traded companies before the reports were disseminated , '' the State Department said in a statement .
`` Many of the stolen reports contained material non-public information concerning , among other things , the earnings of the companies . ''
The two men , it said , attempted to profit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trading in the securities of the companies before the investing public learned what they knew from the stolen documents .
The State Department said Radchenko recruited Ieremenko and other hackers in Ukraine between February 2016 and March 2017 .
`` Cybercriminals do not observe nor respect the rule of law in any country , '' U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday in a statement .
`` As their criminal reach is worldwide , we welcome the cooperation and coordination of all governments to bring these criminals to justice and protect innocent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was previously indicted in 2015 along with eight others for hacking into three business newswires to steal undisclosed press releases containing non-public financial information to make illegal trades , generating an estimated $ 30 million .
The rewards were offered in partnership between the State Department 's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs and the Secret Services ' Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program , which was founded in 2013 to help the government dismantle international criminal groups .

1/2
The United States has offered a $1-million reward for information that leads to the arrest of Artem Viacheslavovich Radchenko. Photo courtesy of U.S. Secret Service
July 23 (UPI) -- The United States has announced it is offering a reward of up to $2 million for information that leads to the arrests or convictions of two Ukrainian hackers. The U.S. State Department and Secret Service on Wednesday announced the two $1-million rewards for help detaining Artem Viacheslavovich Radchenko and Oleksandr Vitalyevich Ieremenko, Ukrainian nationals who have been accused of stealing information from the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission in 2016. Advertisement
In a statement, the Secret Service said it was the first time the agency had offered a monetary award in soliciting assistance from the global public.
"For the first time in agency history, we are able to strategically leverage resources worldwide in the pursuit of a wanted fugitive charged with the exploitation and manipulation of our financial systems," Secret Service Director James M. Murray said in a statement.
According to the 16-count indictment unsealed in January 2019, Radchenko, 28, and Ieremenko, 29, hacked the SEC's Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system and stole thousands of files.
The two men gained access to the system through a series of cyberattacks and infecting computers with malware, the indictment said, adding that once they were in the system, they copied the filings to servers they controlled.
Advertisement
"Radchenko and Ieremenko's scheme focused on stealing annual, quarterly and current reports of publicly traded companies before the reports were disseminated," the State Department said in a statement. "Many of the stolen reports contained material non-public information concerning, among other things, the earnings of the companies."
The two men, it said, attempted to profit from selling the undisclosed reports and by trading in the securities of the companies before the investing public learned what they knew from the stolen documents.
The State Department said Radchenko recruited Ieremenko and other hackers in Ukraine between February 2016 and March 2017.
"Cybercriminals do not observe nor respect the rule of law in any country," U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday in a statement. "As their criminal reach is worldwide, we welcome the cooperation and coordination of all governments to bring these criminals to justice and protect innocent citizens throughout the world."
Ieremenko was previously indicted in 2015 along with eight others for hacking into three business newswires to steal undisclosed press releases containing non-public financial information to make illegal trades, generating an estimated $30 million.
The rewards were offered in partnership between the State Department's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs and the Secret Services' Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program, which was founded in 2013 to help the government dismantle international criminal groups.
Advertisement


upi--2020-07-23--Drink coffee for pleasure, not disease prevention, researchers say

Coffee has been tied to many potential health benefits , but people should drink it for pleasure , and not disease prevention .
That 's one of the main conclusions of a new research review .
In it , researchers give an overview of the evidence on coffee and caffeine -- the subjects of many health studies over the years .
`` The impact of coffee consumption on health is important because there are few other dietary factors that so many people across the world are so frequently exposed to , '' said Rob van Dam , the lead author @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his team found , the news is good for coffee lovers : Caffeinated coffee does not appear to raise any disease risks , and is instead linked to lower odds of various diseases .
And moderate doses of caffeine are generally safe for most people .
`` Moderate '' is the key , however .
Too much caffeine can disrupt sleep or make people jittery .
`` The amount of caffeine that leads to unpleasant side effects varies greatly from person to person , '' said van Dam , a professor at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people pay attention to whether caffeine seems to affect their ability to fall asleep or lead to `` agitation or anxiety . ''
If it does , van Dam said , `` they can adapt their level of intake or timing of intake during the day . ''
That 's the advice for most adults .
Pregnant women , however , should be particularly careful about caffeine intake .
Based on the evidence , van Dam 's team said , they should limit themselves to no more than 200 milligrams of caffeine a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 12 ounces of coffee .
For nonpregnant people , van Dam said that up to five 8-ounce cups of coffee a day may be fine , depending on a person 's caffeine tolerance .
Lauri Wright is chair of nutrition and dietetics at the University of North Florida , and a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics .
`` There 's been so much back-and-forth over the years about whether caffeine is good or bad , '' said Wright , who was not involved in the review .
`` So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the evidence . ''
In general , studies show that despite caffeine 's bad reputation as a stimulant , caffeinated coffee does not seem to raise the risk of developing high blood pressure -- or worsen existing blood pressure problems .
In fact , coffee consumption has been linked to lower risks of developing heart disease , as well as other serious conditions .
The list includes type 2 diabetes , certain cancers , Parkinson 's disease , liver disease and gallstones , according to the review .
None of those studies , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caffeine -- are responsible for the lower risks , Wright said .
She agreed with the report 's conclusion that people should not rely on java to prevent any diseases .
`` But coffee and caffeine can be part of a healthy lifestyle , '' Wright said .
There is a question over whether filtered coffee -- from a drip coffee maker , for instance -- is healthier than unfiltered .
The latter includes espresso , boiled coffee and coffee made by French press , for example .
According to van Dam , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blood cholesterol levels .
Wright , however , said `` what you put into the coffee is what really matters , rather than whether it 's filtered or unfiltered . ''
That is , avoid loading that coffee cup with sugar and cream .
`` Some of these coffee drinks people buy are more like milk shakes , '' Wright said .
There are other sources of dietary caffeine , including tea , sodas and chocolate .
For the most part , though , they contain low amounts , Wright said .
Two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drinks and `` shots , '' which can contain as much or more caffeine than a cup of coffee .
High intake of those beverages can cause spikes in blood pressure and heart palpitations , according to the review .
Caffeine can also interact with certain medications .
If people have questions about their medications , Wright said , they can talk to their pharmacist .
The review was published July 23 in the New England Journal of Medicine .
The Harvard School of Public Health has more on coffee and health .

Overall, research shows few health risks from consuming moderate amounts of coffee, researchers say. Photo by stokpic /Pixabay
Coffee has been tied to many potential health benefits, but people should drink it for pleasure, and not disease prevention. That's one of the main conclusions of a new research review. In it, researchers give an overview of the evidence on coffee and caffeine -- the subjects of many health studies over the years. Advertisement
"The impact of coffee consumption on health is important because there are few other dietary factors that so many people across the world are so frequently exposed to," said Rob van Dam, the lead author on the review.
And overall, his team found, the news is good for coffee lovers: Caffeinated coffee does not appear to raise any disease risks, and is instead linked to lower odds of various diseases. And moderate doses of caffeine are generally safe for most people.
"Moderate" is the key, however. Too much caffeine can disrupt sleep or make people jittery.
Advertisement
"The amount of caffeine that leads to unpleasant side effects varies greatly from person to person," said van Dam, a professor at the National University of Singapore.
He suggested people pay attention to whether caffeine seems to affect their ability to fall asleep or lead to "agitation or anxiety." If it does, van Dam said, "they can adapt their level of intake or timing of intake during the day."
That's the advice for most adults. Pregnant women, however, should be particularly careful about caffeine intake. Based on the evidence, van Dam's team said, they should limit themselves to no more than 200 milligrams of caffeine a day.
That's roughly the amount in 12 ounces of coffee.
For nonpregnant people, van Dam said that up to five 8-ounce cups of coffee a day may be fine, depending on a person's caffeine tolerance.
Lauri Wright is chair of nutrition and dietetics at the University of North Florida, and a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
"There's been so much back-and-forth over the years about whether caffeine is good or bad," said Wright, who was not involved in the review. "So it's good to come back to the evidence."
In general, studies show that despite caffeine's bad reputation as a stimulant, caffeinated coffee does not seem to raise the risk of developing high blood pressure -- or worsen existing blood pressure problems.
Advertisement
In fact, coffee consumption has been linked to lower risks of developing heart disease, as well as other serious conditions. The list includes type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, Parkinson's disease, liver disease and gallstones, according to the review.
None of those studies, however, prove that coffee -- or caffeine -- are responsible for the lower risks, Wright said. She agreed with the report's conclusion that people should not rely on java to prevent any diseases.
"But coffee and caffeine can be part of a healthy lifestyle," Wright said.
There is a question over whether filtered coffee -- from a drip coffee maker, for instance -- is healthier than unfiltered. The latter includes espresso, boiled coffee and coffee made by French press, for example.
According to van Dam, research shows that unfiltered coffee can raise blood cholesterol levels.
Wright, however, said "what you put into the coffee is what really matters, rather than whether it's filtered or unfiltered." That is, avoid loading that coffee cup with sugar and cream.
"Some of these coffee drinks people buy are more like milk shakes," Wright said.
There are other sources of dietary caffeine, including tea, sodas and chocolate. For the most part, though, they contain low amounts, Wright said.
Advertisement
Two exceptions, she noted, are energy drinks and "shots," which can contain as much or more caffeine than a cup of coffee. High intake of those beverages can cause spikes in blood pressure and heart palpitations, according to the review.
Caffeine can also interact with certain medications. If people have questions about their medications, Wright said, they can talk to their pharmacist.
The review was published July 23 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
More information
The Harvard School of Public Health has more on coffee and health.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-07-23--NASA's Mars 2020 rover will seek signs of ancient life

In this artist 's conception , the Phoenix Mars Lander , which was launched in August 2007 as the first project in NASA 's Mars Scout missions , landed on Mars on May 25 , 2008 .
The mission 's plan is to land in icy soils near the north polar permanent ice cap and explore the history of the water in these soils and any associated rocks , while monitoring polar climate.The spacecraft and its instruments are designed to analyze samples collected from up to 20 inches deep using its robotic arm .
The arm extends forward in this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mars .
Image courtesy of NASA | This section of the first color image from the Spirit rover has been further processed to produce a sharper look at a trail left by the one of rover 's airbags .
The drag mark was made after the rover landed and its airbags were deflated and retracted .
Scientists have dubbed the region the `` Magic Carpet '' after a crumpled portion of the soil that appears to have been peeled away ( lower left side of the drag mark ) .
Rocks also were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and `` bow waves '' in the soil .
The mission team plans to drive the rover to this site to look for additional clues about the composition of the Martian soil .
This image was taken by Spirit 's panoramic camera .
Photo courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell | On July 20 , 1976 , at 8:12 a.m. EDT , NASA received the signal that the Viking I Lander successfully reached the Martian surface .
This major milestone represented the first time the United States successfully landed a vehicle on the surface of Mars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that would soon be used in future NASA missions .
Upon touchdown , Viking I took its first picture of the dusty and rocky surface and relayed the historic image back to Earthlings eagerly awaiting its arrival .
Viking I , and later Viking II Orbiter , collected an abundance of high-resolution imagery and scientific data , blazing a trail that will one day take humans to Mars .
Photo courtesy of NASA |

The Mars Curiosity rover was sent to Gale Crater -- and took this picture of Mount Sharp, in the middle of the crater -- but researchers have chosen to send the Perseverance rover to Jericho Crater to investigate ancient lake bed and river delta. Photo by NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
July 23 (UPI) -- When Perseverance touches down on Mars early next year, the rover and its many instruments will start to probe for evidence of what the Red Planet was like billions of years ago. And like the Mars missions that came before -- from Mariner to Viking to Curiosity -- Mars 2020 will operate with one eye focused on the future. Advertisement
The mission's team of scientists will also study Mars' geologic diversity and collect a cache of rock samples to return to Earth.
In searching for the remnants of Martian environs that once proved friendly to microorganisms -- and for the chemical signatures of ancient Martian organisms -- researchers hope to gain insights into how NASA can support a human mission.
"The more we know about Mars, the better prepared we are to send humans there and get them home safely," Ken Williford, deputy project scientist for the Mars 2020 mission, told UPI.
Advertisement
The mission is scheduled to launch July 30 from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
After touchdown
After Perseverance touches down in February 2021, the rover will begin to look for previously habitable sites. A pair of imaging instruments, Mastcam-Z and SuperCam, will aid the hunt.
The Mastcam-Z and its variable-zoom eyes will capture panoramic and stereoscopic 3D color images in high resolution, while the rover's SuperCam will deploy a laser to vaporize rock and study its contents with visible near-infrared light.
The SuperCam and several other instruments aboard Perseverance use spectroscopy to analyze the makeup of the rocks and sediments it samples. Spectroscopic instruments disperse an object's light into different wavelengths. Different minerals and molecules produce different spectral patterns.
Sampling often dictated exploration on previous Mars missions, but the opposite will be true for Mars 2020. Perseverance will use its exploratory capabilities to seek out the most interesting sample sites before drilling into the Martian surface.
When Perseverance finds a site ripe with potential evidence of past life, the rover will utilize a pair of more precise rock analysis instruments: PIXL and SHERLOC.
PIXL, the X-ray lithochemistry instrument, will use X-ray fluorescence to survey a mineral's elemental composition. SHERLOC, the Scanning Habitable Environments with Raman and Luminescence for Organics and Chemicals instrument, will use a deep-ultra-violet laser and fluorescence spectroscopy to determine fine-scale mineralogy and detect organic compounds.
Advertisement
Possibility of life
While the possibility of alien life on Mars has long captured the attention of the public, researchers are equally excited about the quest to unravel the Red Planet's inorganic mysteries.
"I think we have successfully gotten the word out that we plan to seek the signs of ancient life," Williford said. "I think this is the first mission since Viking to focus so directly and seriously on the search for extraterrestrial life.
"Perhaps less well understood by the media is the fact that our mission, and Mars Sample Return more broadly is about something much bigger than astrobiology" and the search for ancient life, he said. "We wish to understand how Mars formed, how it evolved as a planetary system and what all of that can tell us about our own planet, our solar system and our place in the universe."
Mars 2020 is slated to land inside Mars' Jezero Crater, positioned near the western edge of Isidis Planitia, a massive basin north of the Martian equator.
NASA scientists chose to send to Perseverance to the crater because it features an ancient lake bed and river delta and boasts a unique mix of minerals like clays, carbonates and hydrated silica. The region's water-rich past make it an ideal place to look for signs of ancient life, but its history of water-fueled erosion also makes Jezero geologically interesting.
Advertisement
Even if scientists fail to find the chemical signatures of ancient life inside the crater's layers of rock and sediment, they will surely find -- with the help of Perseverance's instruments -- evidence of ancient climate conditions.
Unlike previous rover landing spots, like Gale Crater, which offered only a brief snapshot of Mars' geologic and climate history, Jericho Crater's varied landscape will provide geologic features that represent a 500 million-year time span.
Bringing back samples
On all previous Mars missions, geologic observations have been conducted exclusively in situ, measuring rocks and sediments in the place where they are. Mars 2020 will do plenty of in situ science, but also will do something new.
"This is the first time where we are robotically, from another planet, collecting, depositing and sealing a sample that can be brought back to Earth," Ray Baker, an engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and flight systems manager for the Mars 2020 mission, told UPI.
Perseverance is outfitted with a pair of robotic arms, nine drill bits, a rotating storage carousel and 43 metallic tubes that will be used to target, extract and seal rock and sediment samples for future study inside laboratories on Earth.
"The baseline concept is that we collect and seal the sample," Baker said. "The sample is retained with a hermetic seal and no contamination can get in. When we find a good location, we'll create a cache. We'll actually drop the samples onto the surface of Mars for a future rover to come pick up."
Advertisement
NASA and the European Space Agency are planning a future Mars mission that involved the collection and return of the samples Cached by Perseverance to Earth, with a possible launch slated for 2026.
Exploration of Mars through history
NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover used two different cameras to create this panoramic selfie, comprised of 60 images, in front of Mont Mercou, a rock outcrop that stands 20 feet tall on March 26, 2021, the 3,070th Martian day, or sol, of the mission. These were combined with 11 images taken by the Mastcam on the mast, or "head," of the rover on March 16. The hole visible to the left of the rover is where its robotic drill sampled a rock nicknamed "Nontron." The Curiosity team is nicknaming features in this part of Mars using names from the region around the village of Nontron in southwestern France. Photo courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS


upi--2020-07-23--Famous birthdays for July 23: Michelle Williams, Edie McClurg

July 23 ( UPI ) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Leo .

1/2
Michelle Williams attends the 15th annual BET Awards at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on June 28, 2015. The singer turns 40 on July 23. File Photo by Christine Chew/UPI | License Photo
July 23 (UPI) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Leo. They include: Advertisement
-- Pope Clement XI in 1649
-- Detective novelist Raymond Chandler in 1888
-- Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie in 1892
-- U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy in 1936 (age 84)
-- Actor Ronny Cox in 1938 (age 82)
-- Talk show host Don Imus in 1940 (age 80)
-- Drummer Dino Danelli in 1944 (age 76)
-- Drummer John Rutsey in 1952
-- Actor Edie McClurg in 1945 (age 75)
File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
-- Musician David Essex in 1947 (age 73)
-- Dutch film director Theo van Gogh in 1957
-- Actor Woody Harrelson in 1961 (age 59)
-- Actor Eriq La Salle in 1962 (age 58)
-- Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman in 1967
-- Guitarist Slash, born Saul Hudson, in 1965 (age 55)
-- Singer Alison Krauss in 1971 (age 49)
-- Actor Marlon Wayans in 1972 (age 48)
File Photo by Christine Chew/UPI
Advertisement
-- Former White House intern Monica Lewinsky in 1973 (age 47)
-- Singer Michelle Williams in 1980 (age 40)
-- Actor Paul Wesley in 1982 (age 38)
-- Actor Daniel Radcliffe in 1989 (age 31)
-- Country singer Danielle Bradbery in 1996 (age 24)


upi--2020-07-23--Netflix: What's coming and going in August 2020

July 23 ( UPI ) -- Netflix subscribers can watch Work It , a dance comedy starring Sabrina Carpenter , and new seasons of Lucifer and Selling Sunset in August .
The streaming service released a list of the movies , TV shows , comedy specials and documentaries coming and going next month .
Here 's the full list of what 's being added to Netflix in August : The NeverEnding Story 2 : The Next Chapter What Keeps You Alive The Seven Deadly Sins : Imperial Wrath of the Gods ( Netflix Original ) The Magic School Bus Rides @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) The New Legends of Monkey Season 2 ( Netflix Original ) The Legend of Korra : Book One : Air The Legend of Korra : Book Two : Spirits The Legend of Korra : Book Three : Change The Legend of Korra : Book Four : Balance John Was Trying to Contact Aliens ( Netflix Original ) All Together Now ( Netflix Original ) Behind the Scenes : The Umbrella Academy Begins July 29th Here 's the full list of what 's leaving Netflix in August : Judy Moody and the Not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Him to the Greek He 's Just Not That Into You Life as We Know It

"Lucifer," starring Tom Ellis, will return for a fifth season in August. Photo by Nina Prommer/ EPA-EFE
July 23 (UPI) -- Netflix subscribers can watch Work It, a dance comedy starring Sabrina Carpenter, and new seasons of Lucifer and Selling Sunset in August. The streaming service released a list of the movies, TV shows, comedy specials and documentaries coming and going next month. Advertisement
Here's the full list of what's being added to Netflix in August:
Aug. 1
Super Monsters: The New Class (Netflix Original)
A Knight's Tale
Acts of Violence
The Addams Family (1991)
An Education
Being John Malkovich
Death at a Funeral
Dennis the Menace
Elizabeth Harvest
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Hardcore Henry
Iron Man: Armored Adventures Seasons 1-2
Jurassic Park
The Lost World: Jurassic Park
Jurassic Park III
Mad Max (1979)
Mr. Deeds
My Perfect Landing Season 1
Nagi-Asu: A Lull in the Sea Season 1
The NeverEnding Story
The NeverEnding Story 2: The Next Chapter
Advertisement
The Next Step Season 6
Nights in Rodanthe
Ocean's Twelve
Ocean's Thirteen
Operation Ouch Season 1
Operation Ouch Special
Remember Me
Seabiscuit
Toradora! Season 1
Transformers Rescue Bots Academy Season 2
The Ugly Truth
What Keeps You Alive
Aug. 2
Almost Love
Connected (Netflix Original)
Aug. 3
Immigration Nation (Netflix Original)
Aug. 4
A! Go! Go! Cory Carson Summer Camp (Netflix Original)
Malibu Rescue: The Next Wave (Netflix Original)
Mundo Mistério (Mystery Lab) (Netflix Original)
Sam Jay 3: In the Morning (Netflix Original)
Aug. 5
Anelka: L'Incompris (Anelka: Misunderstood) (Netflix Original)
World's Most Wanted (Netflix Original)
Aug. 6
The Rain Season 3 (Netflix Original)
The Seven Deadly Sins: Imperial Wrath of the Gods (Netflix Original)
Aug. 7
Alta Mar (High Seas) (Netflix Original)
Berlin, Berlin (Netflix Original)
The Magic School Bus Rides Again Kids in Space (Netflix Original)
¡Nailed it! México Season 2 (Netflix Original)
The New Legends of Monkey Season 2 (Netflix Original)
Selling Sunset Season 3 (Netflix Original)
Sing On! Germany (Netflix Original)
Tiny Creatures (Netflix Original)
Wizards: The Tale of Arcadia (Netflix Original)
Word Party Songs (Netflix Original)
Work It (Netflix Original)
Aug. 8
The Promise
We Summon the Darkness
Aug. 10
Game On: A Comedy Crossover Event (Netflix Original)
Advertisement
Nightcrawler
Aug. 11
Mr. Peabody & Sherman
Rob Schneider: Asian Momma, Mexican Kids (Netflix Original)
Aug. 12
Scary Movie 5
(Un)Well (Netflix Original)
Aug. 13
Safety Not Guaranteed
Une fille facile (An Easy Girl) (Netflix Original)
Aug. 14
3% Season 4 (Netflix Original)
El robo del siglo (Netflix Original)
Fearless (Netflix Original)
Glow Up Season 2 (Netflix Original)
Project Power (Netflix Original)
The Legend of Korra: Book One: Air
The Legend of Korra: Book Two: Spirits
The Legend of Korra: Book Three: Change
The Legend of Korra: Book Four: Balance
Octonauts & the Caves of Sac Actun (Netflix Original)
Teenage Bounty Hunters (Netflix Original)
Aug. 15
Rita Season 4 (Netflix Original)
Stranger Season 2 (Netflix Original)
Aug. 16
Johnny English
Les Misérables (2012)
Aug. 17
Crazy Awesome Teachers (Netflix Original)
Drunk Parents
Glitch Techs Season 2 (Netflix Original)
Aug. 19
Crímenes de familia (The Crimes That Bind) (Netflix Original)
DeMarcus Family Rules (Netflix Original)
High Score (Netflix Original)
Aug. 20
Biohackers (Netflix Original)
Good Kisser
Great Pretender (Netflix Original)
John Was Trying to Contact Aliens (Netflix Original)
Aug. 21
Alien TV (Netflix Original)
Fuego negro (Netflix Original)
Hoops (Netflix Original)
Lucifer Season 5 (Netflix Original)
Rust Valley Restorers Season 3 (Netflix Original)
Advertisement
The Sleepover (Netflix Original)
Aug. 23
1BR
Septembers of Shiraz
Aug. 25
Emily's Wonder Lab (Netflix Original)
Trinkets Season 2 (Netflix Original)
Aug. 26
Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol (Netflix Original)
La venganza de Analía (Netflix Original)
Million Dollar Beach House (Netflix Original)
Rising Phoenix (Netflix Original)
Aug. 27
Aggretsuko Season 3 (Netflix Original)
The Bridge Curse
The Frozen Ground
Aug. 28
All Together Now (Netflix Original)
Cobra Kai Seasons 1-2 (Netflix Original)
I Am a Killer: Released (Netflix Original)
Orígenes secretos (Unknown Origins) (Netflix Original)
Aug. 31
Casino Royale
Quantum of Solace
Coming soon:
Arashi's Diary -Voyage- Episode 11 (Netflix Original)
Podcasts coming to Netflix:
Behind the Scenes: The Umbrella Academy Begins July 29th
Here's the full list of what's leaving Netflix in August:
Aug. 1
Skins Seasons 1-7
Aug. 3
Love (2015)
Paranormal Survivor Seasons 1-2
Aug. 7
6 Days
Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer
St. Agatha
Aug. 14
Adventures in Public School
Being AP
Goon
Aug. 18
The Incident
Aug. 19
Some Kind of Beautiful
Aug. 20
Bad Rap
Aug. 21
Just Go with It
Aug. 23
Fanatic
Aug. 25
Advertisement
Blue is the Warmest Color
Aug. 28
Bring It On: Worldwide Showdown
The Wicker Man
Aug. 31
Bad Boys
Bad Boys II
Candyman
Child's Play
Clueless
Failure to Launch
Get Him to the Greek
Groundhog Day
He's Just Not That Into You
Jerry Maguire
The Karate Kid
The Karate Kid Part II
The Karate Kid Part III
The Lake House
Life as We Know It
Murder Party
Observe and Report
One Day
Public Enemies
Rugrats Go Wild
School Daze
Tootsie
United 93
V for Vendetta
Valentine's Day


upi--2020-07-23--Major League Baseball arrives after pandemic pause

July 23 ( UPI ) -- The 2020 Major League Baseball season finally will get underway Thursday when the Washington Nationals host the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers host the San Francisco Giants .
`` We can almost taste it , '' Yankees star Aaron Judge said Tuesday .
`` It has been a long journey to get to opening day .
I know our team is ready .
`` I 'm just excited to get back on the field and play the game that I love .
I hope to bring some positivity into the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on . ''
Nationals Park in Washington , D.C. , will serve as the venue for the first game of the abbreviated season , which was reduced from 162 to 60 games because of the coronavirus pandemic .
The MLB season had been slated to start March 26 , but all major professional sports leagues were suspended in mid-March because of the pandemic .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , the country 's top infectious diseases expert , will throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Yankees and Nationals game , which starts at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' They are going to be ready to compete , '' Nationals manager Dave Martinez said of his team .
`` That 's all you can ask them to do . ''
The World Series champion Nationals had been scheduled to take on the Yankees on the original MLB opening day .
Ace pitcher Max Scherzer will take the mound for the Nationals , while Gerrit Cole , who signed a $ 324 million contract this off-season , will start for the Yankees .
No fans will be allowed to attend the game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to COVID-19 safety precautions and bans on large gatherings .
Both games will air on ESPN .
Scherzer and Cole are two of baseball 's stingiest pitchers , with each posting sub-3 ERAs in 2019 .
The Yankees and Nationals could play a low-scoring game if Scherzer and Cole put in strong performances .
The did not face each other in 2019 regular season .
Cole 's Houston Astros also did not play against the Washington Nationals during the 2019 regular season , but they did battle in the World Series .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Series after he allowed five hits and two runs in five innings for the Nationals on Oct. 22 in Houston .
Cole allowed eight hits and five runs in that appearance .
Cole returned to form for Game 5 of the World Series when he allowed just three hits and one run in seven innings to pick up a victory .
While Scherzer obviously will face a different Cole squad in this affair , Cole 's foes also have changed within the Nationals ' lineup .
The World Series champions lost several key @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Young slugger Juan Soto now leads the Nationals ' offense .
The Yankees boast a healthy offensive barrage led by Judge , Giancarlo Stanton , Gary Sanchez , Gleyber Torres and D.J .
LeMahieu .
The Yankees and Nationals game is scheduled for a 7:08 p.m. EDT first pitch Thursday at Nationals Park .
Rain is in the forecast .
The Yankees are a slight favorite on most betting sites .
The Giants and Dodgers are scheduled for a 10:08 p.m. EDT first pitch Thursday at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the best teams in the National League , but have n't been able to clinch a World Series trophy since 1988 .
Ace pitcher Clayton Kershaw will look to spark the Dodgers to short-season success in 2020 when he takes the mound against Giants starter Johnny Cueto .
`` I 'm very excited to start opening day , especially when it did n't look very good for a while that we were going to get to play , '' Kershaw said .
`` It 's almost a sigh of relief that the three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might actually pay off for some sort of season . ''
Cueto made just four starts in 2019 after he recovered from right-arm surgery .
He allowed five hits and five runs in his final start of the season , a Sept. 27 loss to the Dodgers .
Kershaw -- who owns the lowest ERA for any active MLB pitcher -- allowed 10 hits , three runs and five walks in two starts last season against the Giants .
The three-time Cy Young award winner also had 12 strikeouts in 11 innings in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Dodgers are among the betting favorites to win the World Series .
Los Angeles added some star power to its lineup this off-season with trades for Mookie Betts and David Price .
Price will not play this season , but Betts -- the 2018 American League MVP -- will slide into a lineup that includes 2019 National League MVP Cody Bellinger to form one of the most feared offensive attacks in baseball .
The Dodgers also boast sluggers Max Muncy and Joc Pederson and Justin Turner , one of the league 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the game as heavy underdogs .
They did not have any players with more than 21 home runs or 87 RBIs in 2019 .
San Francisco also had the fourth-worst team batting average in baseball last season .
The off-season additions of veterans Hunter Pence and Wilmer Flores should help the Giants ' bats , but the Dodgers are heavy favorites to win the game .

Kansas City Royals batter Alex Gordon connects for a sacrifice RBI during an exhibition game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on July 22. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo
July 23 (UPI) -- The 2020 Major League Baseball season finally will get underway Thursday when the Washington Nationals host the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers host the San Francisco Giants. "We can almost taste it," Yankees star Aaron Judge said Tuesday. "It has been a long journey to get to opening day. I know our team is ready. Advertisement
"I'm just excited to get back on the field and play the game that I love. I hope to bring some positivity into the world, with a lot of negativity going on."
Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., will serve as the venue for the first game of the abbreviated season, which was reduced from 162 to 60 games because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Advertisement
The MLB season had been slated to start March 26, but all major professional sports leagues were suspended in mid-March because of the pandemic.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country's top infectious diseases expert, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Yankees and Nationals game, which starts at 7:08 p.m. EDT in Washington, D.C.
"They are going to be ready to compete," Nationals manager Dave Martinez said of his team. "That's all you can ask them to do."
The World Series champion Nationals had been scheduled to take on the Yankees on the original MLB opening day. Ace pitcher Max Scherzer will take the mound for the Nationals, while Gerrit Cole, who signed a $324 million contract this off-season, will start for the Yankees.
No fans will be allowed to attend the game or the nightcap contest at Dodger Stadium due to COVID-19 safety precautions and bans on large gatherings.
Both games will air on ESPN.
Yankees at Nationals
Scherzer and Cole are two of baseball's stingiest pitchers, with each posting sub-3 ERAs in 2019. The Yankees and Nationals could play a low-scoring game if Scherzer and Cole put in strong performances.
Advertisement
The did not face each other in 2019 regular season. Cole's Houston Astros also did not play against the Washington Nationals during the 2019 regular season, but they did battle in the World Series.
Scherzer won Game 1 of the World Series after he allowed five hits and two runs in five innings for the Nationals on Oct. 22 in Houston. Cole allowed eight hits and five runs in that appearance.
Cole returned to form for Game 5 of the World Series when he allowed just three hits and one run in seven innings to pick up a victory.
While Scherzer obviously will face a different Cole squad in this affair, Cole's foes also have changed within the Nationals' lineup. The World Series champions lost several key players, including third baseman Anthony Rendon.
Young slugger Juan Soto was set to lead the Nationals' offense, but will miss the start of the season after he tested positive for COVID-19. The Yankees boast a healthy offensive barrage led by Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Gary Sanchez, Gleyber Torres and D.J. LeMahieu.
Advertisement
The Yankees and Nationals game is scheduled for a 7:08 p.m. EDT first pitch Thursday at Nationals Park. Rain is in the forecast. The Yankees are a slight favorite on most betting sites.
Giants at Dodgers
The Giants and Dodgers are scheduled for a 10:08 p.m. EDT first pitch Thursday at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.
The Dodgers have long been one of the best teams in the National League, but haven't been able to clinch a World Series trophy since 1988. Ace pitcher Clayton Kershaw will look to spark the Dodgers to short-season success in 2020 when he takes the mound against Giants starter Johnny Cueto.
"I'm very excited to start opening day, especially when it didn't look very good for a while that we were going to get to play," Kershaw said. "It's almost a sigh of relief that the three months we stayed working and getting ready might actually pay off for some sort of season."
Cueto made just four starts in 2019 after he recovered from right-arm surgery. He allowed five hits and five runs in his final start of the season, a Sept. 27 loss to the Dodgers. Kershaw -- who owns the lowest ERA for any active MLB pitcher -- allowed 10 hits, three runs and five walks in two starts last season against the Giants.
Advertisement
The three-time Cy Young award winner also had 12 strikeouts in 11 innings in his 2019 starts against San Francisco.
The Dodgers are among the betting favorites to win the World Series. Los Angeles added some star power to its lineup this off-season with trades for Mookie Betts and David Price.
Price will not play this season, but Betts -- the 2018 American League MVP -- will slide into a lineup that includes 2019 National League MVP Cody Bellinger to form one of the most feared offensive attacks in baseball.
The Dodgers also boast sluggers Max Muncy and Joc Pederson and Justin Turner, one of the league's best hitters.
The rebuilding Giants enter the game as heavy underdogs. They did not have any players with more than 21 home runs or 87 RBIs in 2019. San Francisco also had the fourth-worst team batting average in baseball last season.
The off-season additions of veterans Hunter Pence and Wilmer Flores should help the Giants' bats, but the Dodgers are heavy favorites to win the game.


upi--2020-07-23--On This Day, July 23: Eileen Collins becomes 1st female Space Shuttle commander

July 23 ( UPI ) -- In 1829 , William Burt of Mount Vernon , Mich. , patented the `` typographer , '' believed to be the first typewriter .
In 1948 , legendary pioneer movie director D.W. Griffith , maker of several silent classics , including The Birth of a Nation , died at the age of 73 .
In 1967 , rioting erupted on 12th Street in the heart of Detroit 's predominantly African-American inner city .
By the time it was quelled four days later by 7,000 National Guard and U.S. Army troops , 43 people were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Watergate special prosecutor Archibald Cox served subpoenas on the White House after U.S. President Richard Nixon refused to turn over requested tapes and documents .
In 1982 , actor Vic Morrow and two child actors were killed when a helicopter crashed on the movie set of The Twilight Zone .
In 1984 , Vanessa Williams gave up her crown as Miss America , bowing to demands by pageant officials that she quit because she appeared nude in sexually explicit pictures in Penthouse magazine .
In 1999 , U.S. Air Force Col. Eileen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a space shuttle flight , with the launch of Columbia on a four-day mission .
In 2002 , a laser-guided bomb fired from an Israeli warplane hit the Gaza home of Sheik Salah Shehada , founder of the military wing of Hamas , killing him and 14 others and wounding more than 140 people .
In 2003 , the Massachusetts attorney general said an investigation indicated nearly 1,000 cases of abuse by Roman Catholic priests and other church personnel in the Boston diocese over 60 years .
In 2005 , three synchronized terrorist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resort , killing at least 90 people and injuring 240 .
In 2012 , the NCAA imposed severe penalties , including a $ 60 million fine , on Penn State University .
One official accused the university of a `` conspiracy of silence '' about child abuse involving former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky .
In 2013 , the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released a scientific review that said mint flavoring makes it easier to start smoking cigarettes and then harder to quit .
In 2014 , a TransAsia Airways twin turboprop plane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ landing on a Taiwanese island , killing 48 people and injuring 10 .
In 2019 , Conservative Party members voted Boris Johnson as Britain 's new prime minister , succeeding Theresa May .

1/5
Retired NASA astronaut, Col. Eileen Collins, speaks on Day 3 of the Republican National Convention at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, on July 20, 2016. On July 23, 1999, she became the first woman to command a space shuttle flight, with the launch of Columbia on a four-day mission. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
July 23 (UPI) -- In 1829, William Burt of Mount Vernon, Mich., patented the "typographer," believed to be the first typewriter. In 1948, legendary pioneer movie director D.W. Griffith, maker of several silent classics, including The Birth of a Nation, died at the age of 73. Advertisement
In 1967, rioting erupted on 12th Street in the heart of Detroit's predominantly African-American inner city. By the time it was quelled four days later by 7,000 National Guard and U.S. Army troops, 43 people were dead, 342 injured.
In 1973, Watergate special prosecutor Archibald Cox served subpoenas on the White House after U.S. President Richard Nixon refused to turn over requested tapes and documents.
In 1982, actor Vic Morrow and two child actors were killed when a helicopter crashed on the movie set of The Twilight Zone.
In 1984, Vanessa Williams gave up her crown as Miss America, bowing to demands by pageant officials that she quit because she appeared nude in sexually explicit pictures in Penthouse magazine.
Former Miss America Vanessa Williams (R) poses with the 2015 Miss America, Miss Georgia Betty Cantrell on September 13, 2016. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
Advertisement
In 1999, U.S. Air Force Col. Eileen Collins became the first woman to command a space shuttle flight, with the launch of Columbia on a four-day mission.
In 2002, a laser-guided bomb fired from an Israeli warplane hit the Gaza home of Sheik Salah Shehada, founder of the military wing of Hamas, killing him and 14 others and wounding more than 140 people.
In 2003, the Massachusetts attorney general said an investigation indicated nearly 1,000 cases of abuse by Roman Catholic priests and other church personnel in the Boston diocese over 60 years.
In 2005, three synchronized terrorist bombings struck Sharm el-Sheik, an Egyptian resort, killing at least 90 people and injuring 240.
U.S. President George W. Bush (C) and first lady Laura visit the Egyptian Embassy and greet ambassador Nabil Fahmy (L) to sign a book of condolence for the weekend bombing in Egypt's Red Sea resort town of Sharm el-Sheik in Washington on July 25, 2005. File Photo by Jay L. Clendenin/UPI
In 2012, the NCAA imposed severe penalties, including a $60 million fine, on Penn State University. One official accused the university of a "conspiracy of silence" about child abuse involving former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky.
Advertisement
In 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released a scientific review that said mint flavoring makes it easier to start smoking cigarettes and then harder to quit.
In 2014, a TransAsia Airways twin turboprop plane crashed in stormy weather during an emergency landing on a Taiwanese island, killing 48 people and injuring 10.
In 2019, Conservative Party members voted Boris Johnson as Britain's new prime minister, succeeding Theresa May.


upi--2020-07-23--Canada rules U.S. Safe Third Country agreement unconstitutional

July 22 ( UPI ) -- A Canadian court on Wednesday ruled a U.S.-Canada agreement to deny entry to certain asylum seekers invalid , stating sending refugee claimants back to the United States where they risk imprisonment is unconstitutional .
Under the Safe Third Country Agreement , which was signed in December of 2002 and implemented in 2004 , refugees seeking asylum at a Canadian land port are ineligible to make a claim if they had first traveled through a designated safe country , such as the United States .
In her ruling Wednesday , Justice Ann McDonald said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to possible detention in the United States denied them their rights to life , liberty and security as guaranteed under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms .
`` For the reasons outlined below , I have concluded that the actions of Canadian authorities in enforcing the STCA result in ineligible STCA claimants being imprisoned by U.S. authorities .
I have concluded that imprisonment and the attendant consequences are inconsistent with the spirit and objective of the STCA and are a violation of the rights guaranteed by section 7 of the Charter , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brought to the court by refugee advocacy groups including the Canadian Council for Refugees , Amnesty International , the Canadian Council of Churches and others , on behalf of asylum seekers who were deemed ineligible to apply for refugee status in Canada and sent back to the United States due to the agreement .
In her ruling , McDonald stated her suspension of the agreement will not take effect for six months to allow Parliament time to respond .
In a statement to UPI , Bill Blair , Canada 's Minister of Public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aware of the decision and are currently reviewing it .
`` Although the federal court has made its ruling , that decision does not come in effect until Jan. 22 , 2021 .
The Safe Third Country Agreement remains in effect , '' he said .
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has been contacted for comment .
The Canadian Council of Refugees cheered the decision as `` a great victory for advocates '' and called on the Canadian government to not appeal the decision .
`` The court could hardly fail to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appalling experiences of people in the U.S. immigration detention system , after Canada closed the doors on them , '' Dorota Blumczynska , president of the Canadian Council of Refugees , said in a statement .
`` Their experiences show us -- and convinced the court -- that the U.S. can not be considered a safe country for refugees . ''
Alex Neve , secretary general for Amnesty International Canada , called for the Canadian government to now end the practice of sending refugees back to the United States .
`` While the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six months leeway , it is imperative that Canada immediately end the return of claimants to the U.S. , '' Neve said in a statement .
`` The Safe Third Country Agreement has been the source of grave human rights violation for many years , unequivocally confirmed in this ruling . ''
According to court documents , Nedira Jemal Mustefa of Ethiopia had attempted to apply for asylum in Canada but was denied as she had been in the United States where she was returned and detained by authorities in solitary confinement at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her affidavit , she said she did not know how long she was to be detained , describing her time in solitary confinement as `` a terrifying , isolating and psychologically traumatic experience . ''
She also said she lost 15 pounds as she skipped meals believing that she was being fed pork despite her repeated attempts to tell guards that she could not eat it due to her religion .
She said she `` felt scared , alone and confused at all times '' and that she `` did not know when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if at all , '' the court document states .
McDonald said in her ruling that her decision will provoke a reaction from U.S. officials , but while it is n't the court 's job to pass judgment on the U.S. asylum system , it is its job to look at the consequences of sending refugee claimants back to the United States .
`` In my view , the risk of detention for the sake of 'administrative ' compliance with the provisions of the STCA can not be justified , '' she wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blind eye to the consequences that befell Ms. Mustefa in its efforts to adhere to the STCA .
The evidence clearly demonstrates that those returned to the U.S. by Canadian officials are detained as a penalty . ''

A Canadian court has ruled its government's agreement with the United States concerning asylum seekers unconstitutional, stating it could not turn a blind eye to the detention of refugees by its southern neighbor. Handout photo/Office Congresswoman of Doris Matsui/UPI | License Photo
July 22 (UPI) -- A Canadian court on Wednesday ruled a U.S.-Canada agreement to deny entry to certain asylum seekers invalid, stating sending refugee claimants back to the United States where they risk imprisonment is unconstitutional. Under the Safe Third Country Agreement, which was signed in December of 2002 and implemented in 2004, refugees seeking asylum at a Canadian land port are ineligible to make a claim if they had first traveled through a designated safe country, such as the United States. Advertisement
In her ruling Wednesday, Justice Ann McDonald said the agreement was unconstitutional as sending refugee applicants to possible detention in the United States denied them their rights to life, liberty and security as guaranteed under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
"For the reasons outlined below, I have concluded that the actions of Canadian authorities in enforcing the STCA result in ineligible STCA claimants being imprisoned by U.S. authorities. I have concluded that imprisonment and the attendant consequences are inconsistent with the spirit and objective of the STCA and are a violation of the rights guaranteed by section 7 of the Charter," she said.
Advertisement
The case was brought to the court by refugee advocacy groups including the Canadian Council for Refugees, Amnesty International, the Canadian Council of Churches and others, on behalf of asylum seekers who were deemed ineligible to apply for refugee status in Canada and sent back to the United States due to the agreement.
In her ruling, McDonald stated her suspension of the agreement will not take effect for six months to allow Parliament time to respond.
In a statement to UPI, Bill Blair, Canada's Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness said they are aware of the decision and are currently reviewing it.
"Although the federal court has made its ruling, that decision does not come in effect until Jan. 22, 2021. The Safe Third Country Agreement remains in effect," he said.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has been contacted for comment.
The Canadian Council of Refugees cheered the decision as "a great victory for advocates" and called on the Canadian government to not appeal the decision.
"The court could hardly fail to be moved by the testimonies of the appalling experiences of people in the U.S. immigration detention system, after Canada closed the doors on them," Dorota Blumczynska, president of the Canadian Council of Refugees, said in a statement. "Their experiences show us -- and convinced the court -- that the U.S. cannot be considered a safe country for refugees."
Advertisement
Alex Neve, secretary general for Amnesty International Canada, called for the Canadian government to now end the practice of sending refugees back to the United States.
"While the federal court has provided the government with six months leeway, it is imperative that Canada immediately end the return of claimants to the U.S.," Neve said in a statement. "The Safe Third Country Agreement has been the source of grave human rights violation for many years, unequivocally confirmed in this ruling."
According to court documents, Nedira Jemal Mustefa of Ethiopia had attempted to apply for asylum in Canada but was denied as she had been in the United States where she was returned and detained by authorities in solitary confinement at the Clinton County Correctional Facility.
In her affidavit, she said she did not know how long she was to be detained, describing her time in solitary confinement as "a terrifying, isolating and psychologically traumatic experience."
She also said she lost 15 pounds as she skipped meals believing that she was being fed pork despite her repeated attempts to tell guards that she could not eat it due to her religion.
She said she "felt scared, alone and confused at all times" and that she "did not know when [she] would be released, if at all," the court document states.
Advertisement
McDonald said in her ruling that her decision will provoke a reaction from U.S. officials, but while it isn't the court's job to pass judgment on the U.S. asylum system, it is its job to look at the consequences of sending refugee claimants back to the United States.
"In my view, the risk of detention for the sake of 'administrative' compliance with the provisions of the STCA cannot be justified," she wrote. "Canada cannot turn a blind eye to the consequences that befell Ms. Mustefa in its efforts to adhere to the STCA. The evidence clearly demonstrates that those returned to the U.S. by Canadian officials are detained as a penalty."


upi--2020-07-23--Richy Werenski grabs one-shot lead at 3M Open; Dustin Johnson withdraws

July 23 ( UPI ) -- Richy Werenski made a short birdie putt on his final hole for an 8-under 63 to take a one-shot lead in Thursday 's opening round of the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine , Minn .
The 24-year-old Werenski , who is winless on the PGA Tour , broke a tie with Michael Thompson after his ninth and final birdie on hole No .
18 .
He recorded a bogey on the par-5 third but otherwise took advantage of the soft greens .
`` I have a good feeling they 'll get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on , but you start it online , it will stay there .
They 're really good , '' Werenski said .
`` ... To play a round like I did today , you 've got to make the putts , but ...
I feel like my irons have really been coming along . ''
Thompson , who enjoyed a bogey-free round , finished one shot back of Werenski due in large part to the accuracy of his putting .
Thompson entered the week in 151st place in the FedEx Cup standings .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ about playing my own game , '' Thompson said .
`` I 'm not the longest hitter out here .
I 'm a really good putter , so I 'm going to rely on that . ''
Defending champion Matthew Wolff , Tony Finau , Nick Watney , Ryan Moore and Xin-Jun Zhang were among those tied for third at 6-under 65 .
There was a 10-way tie behind them at 5-under par .
Bubba Watson was among the group tied for 20th at 4-under par , while Brooks Koepka opened with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- the fourth-ranked player in the world -- withdrew from the tournament because of a back injury after his opening-round 78 .
Johnson , who won the Travelers Championship last month , posted back-to-back 80s last week at the Memorial Tournament for the highest 36-hole score of his pro career .
`` Kind of the same last week , '' he said .
`` I just struggled with my iron play , and that makes it difficult . ''

July 23 (UPI) -- Richy Werenski made a short birdie putt on his final hole for an 8-under 63 to take a one-shot lead in Thursday's opening round of the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minn.
The 24-year-old Werenski, who is winless on the PGA Tour, broke a tie with Michael Thompson after his ninth and final birdie on hole No. 18. He recorded a bogey on the par-5 third but otherwise took advantage of the soft greens.
Advertisement
"I have a good feeling they'll get nice and firm as the week goes on, but you start it online, it will stay there. They're really good," Werenski said. "... To play a round like I did today, you've got to make the putts, but ... I feel like my irons have really been coming along."
Thompson, who enjoyed a bogey-free round, finished one shot back of Werenski due in large part to the accuracy of his putting. Thompson entered the week in 151st place in the FedEx Cup standings.
"It's really just being diligent about playing my own game," Thompson said. "I'm not the longest hitter out here. I'm a really good putter, so I'm going to rely on that."
Advertisement
Defending champion Matthew Wolff, Tony Finau, Nick Watney, Ryan Moore and Xin-Jun Zhang were among those tied for third at 6-under 65. There was a 10-way tie behind them at 5-under par.
Bubba Watson was among the group tied for 20th at 4-under par, while Brooks Koepka opened with a 1-under 70.
Meanwhile, Dustin Johnson -- the fourth-ranked player in the world -- withdrew from the tournament because of a back injury after his opening-round 78.
Johnson, who won the Travelers Championship last month, posted back-to-back 80s last week at the Memorial Tournament for the highest 36-hole score of his pro career.
"Kind of the same last week," he said. "I just struggled with my iron play, and that makes it difficult."


upi--2020-07-23--Mike Tyson, 54, to fight Roy Jones Jr. in exhibition match

July 23 ( UPI ) -- Former undisputed heavyweight champion `` Iron '' Mike Tyson will return to the ring and fight ex-world champion Roy Jones Jr. in an exhibition match .
Tyson , 54 , will face Jones in an eight-round bout Sept. 12 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson , Calif .
According to ESPN and Yahoo Sports , the match will be broadcast on pay-per-view as well as multimedia platform Triller .
Triller confirmed the bout with a teaser video on social media , and the platform plans to show a 10-part docuseries leading up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months , Tyson ( 50-6 ) has posted footage of himself training in the gym , leading to speculation about a possible return to the ring .
He last fought 15 years ago , when Kevin McBride stopped him in six rounds .
During an appearance on ESPN 's First Take on Thursday , Tyson explained his reasoning for a boxing comeback .
`` It 's because I can do it .
And I believe other people believe they can do it , too , '' Tyson said .
`` Just because we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we have to start a new career and our lives are totally over .
Not when you feel as beautiful as I do , and I 'm sure that other people feel the same way .
`` I never took that many punches .
After the last fight I had , I left and I lived my life , and I 've been through some experiences , and now I 'm back here .
I feel like I took better care of my body and my state of mind than most of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came back . ''
Last month , Jones , 51 , expressed interest in a potential fight with Tyson .
Jones ( 66-9 ) has n't fought since Feb. 8 , 2018 , when he defeated Scott Sigmon by decision .
`` I 've been trying to enjoy retirement , but people do n't seem to want to let me retire , '' Jones said .
`` They keep calling me , telling me that Mike wants to come back , and that you 'd be a great opponent for Mike .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but I would 've preferred it back then .
Tyson is a hell of a specimen still .
Still a problem to deal with .
But at the same time , life is life , you only live once .
You want to know what it 's like , you go in there and see .
You still got to see it . ''
Andy Foster , the executive director of the California State Athletic Commission , said Tyson and Jones wo n't be wearing headgear , but the fighters will use 12-ounce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ situation where they 're going out there to try to take each other 's heads off , '' Foster told Yahoo Sports .
`` They 're just going to be in there moving around the ring and letting fans see these legends . ''
Also Thursday , The Athletic and Yahoo Sports confirmed that former NBA player Nate Robinson and YouTube star Jake Paul agreed to fight on the undercard of Tyson-Jones .
It will be the first boxing match for Robinson , who is a three-time NBA slam dunk champion .
Paul @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up a first-round technical knockout of fellow YouTube star AnEsonGib -- also known as Gib -- in January .

Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson (pictured) last fought 15 years ago, when Kevin McBride stopped him in six rounds. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
July 23 (UPI) -- Former undisputed heavyweight champion "Iron" Mike Tyson will return to the ring and fight ex-world champion Roy Jones Jr. in an exhibition match. Tyson, 54, will face Jones in an eight-round bout Sept. 12 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. According to ESPN and Yahoo Sports, the match will be broadcast on pay-per-view as well as multimedia platform Triller. Advertisement
Triller confirmed the bout with a teaser video on social media, and the platform plans to show a 10-part docuseries leading up to the fight.
Over the past few months, Tyson (50-6) has posted footage of himself training in the gym, leading to speculation about a possible return to the ring. He last fought 15 years ago, when Kevin McBride stopped him in six rounds.
Advertisement
During an appearance on ESPN's First Take on Thursday, Tyson explained his reasoning for a boxing comeback.
"It's because I can do it. And I believe other people believe they can do it, too," Tyson said. "Just because we are 54, it doesn't mean that we have to start a new career and our lives are totally over. Not when you feel as beautiful as I do, and I'm sure that other people feel the same way.
"I never took that many punches. After the last fight I had, I left and I lived my life, and I've been through some experiences, and now I'm back here. I feel like I took better care of my body and my state of mind than most of the fighters before me that retired and came back."
Last month, Jones, 51, expressed interest in a potential fight with Tyson. Jones (66-9) hasn't fought since Feb. 8, 2018, when he defeated Scott Sigmon by decision.
"I've been trying to enjoy retirement, but people don't seem to want to let me retire," Jones said. "They keep calling me, telling me that Mike wants to come back, and that you'd be a great opponent for Mike.
Advertisement
"We always wanted to see it, but I would've preferred it back then. Tyson is a hell of a specimen still. Still a problem to deal with. But at the same time, life is life, you only live once. You want to know what it's like, you go in there and see. You still got to see it."
Andy Foster, the executive director of the California State Athletic Commission, said Tyson and Jones won't be wearing headgear, but the fighters will use 12-ounce gloves.
"This isn't a situation where they're going out there to try to take each other's heads off," Foster told Yahoo Sports. "They're just going to be in there moving around the ring and letting fans see these legends."
Also Thursday, The Athletic and Yahoo Sports confirmed that former NBA player Nate Robinson and YouTube star Jake Paul agreed to fight on the undercard of Tyson-Jones.
It will be the first boxing match for Robinson, who is a three-time NBA slam dunk champion. Paul has fought twice, most recently picking up a first-round technical knockout of fellow YouTube star AnEsonGib -- also known as Gib -- in January.


upi--2020-07-23--U.S. Rep.  John Lewis to lie in state in Capitol Rotunda

July 23 ( UPI ) -- Civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis will lie in state at the Capitol Rotunda next week , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell announced Thursday .
The congressional leaders said an invitation-only arrival ceremony will be held on Monday at 1:30 p.m. while the public will be invited to pay their respects 6 p.m to 10 p.m. Monday and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday .
`` Given COVID-19 precautions , Congressman Lewis will lie in state at the top of the East Front Steps of the U.S. Capitol for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ file past on the East Plaza , '' the announcement stated .
Masks will be required for the public viewing and social distancing will be `` strictly enforced , '' they added .
Lewis died Friday , months after he revealed he was being treated for Stage 4 pancreatic cancer .
He served in Congress for more than three decades and worked to desegregate the Deep South , becoming known as one of the so-called Big Six leaders of the Civil Rights Movement .
Pelosi and McConnell said the Lewis family would provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ceremony , including a procession through Washington , D.C. , and requested that members of the public not travel to attend the ceremony due to the COVID-19 pandemic .

Congressman and civil rights icon John Lewis will lie in state at the Capitol Rotunda next week, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell announced Thursday. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
July 23 (UPI) -- Civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis will lie in state at the Capitol Rotunda next week, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell announced Thursday. The congressional leaders said an invitation-only arrival ceremony will be held on Monday at 1:30 p.m. while the public will be invited to pay their respects 6 p.m to 10 p.m. Monday and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday. Advertisement
"Given COVID-19 precautions, Congressman Lewis will lie in state at the top of the East Front Steps of the U.S. Capitol for the public viewing and the public will file past on the East Plaza," the announcement stated.
Masks will be required for the public viewing and social distancing will be "strictly enforced," they added.
Lewis died Friday, months after he revealed he was being treated for Stage 4 pancreatic cancer.
He served in Congress for more than three decades and worked to desegregate the Deep South, becoming known as one of the so-called Big Six leaders of the Civil Rights Movement.
Pelosi and McConnell said the Lewis family would provide additional details for arrangements beyond the Capitol ceremony, including a procession through Washington, D.C., and requested that members of the public not travel to attend the ceremony due to the COVID-19 pandemic.


upi--2020-07-23--Minnesota Vikings signing head coach Mike Zimmer to multiyear extension

July 23 ( UPI ) -- The Minnesota Vikings are signing head coach Mike Zimmer to a multiyear contract extension .
League sources told ESPN and the Star Tribune on Thursday that Zimmer agreed to a three-year extension that will keep him in Minnesota through the 2023 season .
Financial details of the agreement were n't disclosed , and the Vikings have yet to confirm the extension .
Before the start of the playoffs last season , Vikings owners Zygi and Mark Wilf issued a statement -- about 48 hours before kickoff against the New Orleans Saints -- in support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amid rumors about both of their job security .
Zimmer 's contract was set to expire after the 2020 season .
`` We value Mike and Rick 's leadership and we have every intent of Mike continuing as the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings and Rick leading our football operations , next year and beyond , '' the statement said .
Zimmer , who is entering his seventh season with the Vikings , is the third-winningest head coach in franchise history with a 57-38-1 record .
He has guided the team to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six years .
The Vikings enter the 2020 season coming off an overtime win over the Saints in the NFC Wild Card Round and a loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round .

Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer's contract was set to expire after the 2020 season. File Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo
July 23 (UPI) -- The Minnesota Vikings are signing head coach Mike Zimmer to a multiyear contract extension. League sources told ESPN and the Star Tribune on Thursday that Zimmer agreed to a three-year extension that will keep him in Minnesota through the 2023 season. Financial details of the agreement weren't disclosed, and the Vikings have yet to confirm the extension. Advertisement
Before the start of the playoffs last season, Vikings owners Zygi and Mark Wilf issued a statement -- about 48 hours before kickoff against the New Orleans Saints -- in support of Zimmer and general manager Rick Spielman amid rumors about both of their job security.
Zimmer's contract was set to expire after the 2020 season.
"We value Mike and Rick's leadership and we have every intent of Mike continuing as the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings and Rick leading our football operations, next year and beyond," the statement said.
Zimmer, who is entering his seventh season with the Vikings, is the third-winningest head coach in franchise history with a 57-38-1 record. He has guided the team to the playoffs in three of the last six years.
Advertisement
The Vikings enter the 2020 season coming off an overtime win over the Saints in the NFC Wild Card Round and a loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round.


upi--2020-07-23--Navy certifies 6th weapons elevator on Ford

July 23 ( UPI ) -- The Navy 's Program Executive Office Aircraft Carriers announced the certification of a sixth Advanced Weapons Elevator aboard USS Gerald R. Ford this week .
The newly certified elevator is designed to move artillery from the ship 's forward magazine to the flight deck , according to the Navy .
Its certification comes at the midpoint of the ship 's post delivery test and trials .
`` LSWE 5 has given us the capacity to move ordnance from the aft magazine complex deep in the ship through the carrier to the flight deck with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been seen before on any warship , '' said Rear Adm. James P. Downey , program executive officer for Aircraft Carriers .
`` LSWE 1 doubles-down on that capability and ramps up the velocity of flight deck operations .
LSWEs 1 and 5 will now operate in tandem , providing a dramatic capability improvement as we proceed toward full combat system certification aboard Ford . ''
The crew will operate the elevator during the vessel 's next underway period to exercise it in an at-sea environment and train crew members .
The Ford @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , conducting cyclic flight operations day and night and amassing 324 catapult launches and arrested landings and qualifying 50 pilots .
The Navy certified the fifth weapons elevator on the Ford in April .
Intended to replace the Nimitz-class carriers , the Ford has been troubled by cost overruns and technical problems , particularly involving the munitions elevators .
In June , the U.S. Government Accountability Office released a report saying the supercarrier still had major technical problems with the electromagnetic aircraft launch system , the Advanced Arresting Gear and dual band radar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Navy announced that the Ford had moved from launching planes to preparing for maritime combat , with seven squadrons of aircraft aboard as the ship began cyclic operations .

A Huntington Ingall ls Industries Newport News Shipbuilding engineer grinds in USS Gerald R. Ford's Lower Stage Weapons Elevator 1 Saturday during the final days prior to the elevator's certification. The Navy altered this image by blurring out space markers for security purposes. Photo by Brett Walker/U.S. Navy
July 23 (UPI) -- The Navy's Program Executive Office Aircraft Carriers announced the certification of a sixth Advanced Weapons Elevator aboard USS Gerald R. Ford this week. The newly certified elevator is designed to move artillery from the ship's forward magazine to the flight deck, according to the Navy. Advertisement
Its certification comes at the midpoint of the ship's post delivery test and trials.
"LSWE 5 has given us the capacity to move ordnance from the aft magazine complex deep in the ship through the carrier to the flight deck with a speed and agility that has never been seen before on any warship," said Rear Adm. James P. Downey, program executive officer for Aircraft Carriers. "LSWE 1 doubles-down on that capability and ramps up the velocity of flight deck operations. LSWEs 1 and 5 will now operate in tandem, providing a dramatic capability improvement as we proceed toward full combat system certification aboard Ford."
The crew will operate the elevator during the vessel's next underway period to exercise it in an at-sea environment and train crew members.
The Ford embarked Carrier Air Wing 8 in June, conducting cyclic flight operations day and night and amassing 324 catapult launches and arrested landings and qualifying 50 pilots.
Advertisement
The Navy certified the fifth weapons elevator on the Ford in April.
Intended to replace the Nimitz-class carriers, the Ford has been troubled by cost overruns and technical problems, particularly involving the munitions elevators.
In June, the U.S. Government Accountability Office released a report saying the supercarrier still had major technical problems with the electromagnetic aircraft launch system, the Advanced Arresting Gear and dual band radar.
That report came days after the Navy announced that the Ford had moved from launching planes to preparing for maritime combat, with seven squadrons of aircraft aboard as the ship began cyclic operations.


upi--2020-07-23--Five aid workers killed in Nigeria; president blames Boko Haram

July 23 ( UPI ) -- Five aid workers were killed after being abducted in Nigeria 's Borno State last month , President Muhammadu Buhari said on Thursday .
Buhari blamed Boko Haram for the killings of the men who were working for Action Against Hunger , the International Rescue Committee , Rich International and Nigeria 's State Emergency Management Agency .
He also vowed to bring the killers to justice and vowed to `` wipe out the remaining vestiges '' of Boko Haram .
Nigerian media shared video of the five victims being executed by hooded gunmen .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hostages referred to their captors as soldiers of the `` khalifa '' a term used to refer to Islamic State West Africa Province .
Action Against Hunger said it deeply regretted that its efforts to secure the release of the hostages had not been successful and the International Rescue Committee condemned the executions as `` senseless '' and `` barbaric . ''
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also condemned the killings and extended condolences to the families while calling on Nigeria to `` spare no effort '' in identifying and bringing the perpetrators to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attacks by a party to an armed conflict that are directed against civilians including those who are aid workers , violate international humanitarian law , '' he said .
`` International human rights law and international humanitarian law must be fully respected , including the obligation to protect civilians . ''

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari blamed Boko Haram for killing five aid workers who were abducted in Nigeria's Borno State last month. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
July 23 (UPI) -- Five aid workers were killed after being abducted in Nigeria's Borno State last month, President Muhammadu Buhari said on Thursday. Buhari blamed Boko Haram for the killings of the men who were working for Action Against Hunger, the International Rescue Committee, Rich International and Nigeria's State Emergency Management Agency. Advertisement
He also vowed to bring the killers to justice and vowed to "wipe out the remaining vestiges" of Boko Haram.
Nigerian media shared video of the five victims being executed by hooded gunmen.
In another video released last month, the hostages referred to their captors as soldiers of the "khalifa" a term used to refer to Islamic State West Africa Province.
Action Against Hunger said it deeply regretted that its efforts to secure the release of the hostages had not been successful and the International Rescue Committee condemned the executions as "senseless" and "barbaric."
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also condemned the killings and extended condolences to the families while calling on Nigeria to "spare no effort" in identifying and bringing the perpetrators to justice.
Advertisement
"The secretary-general reiterates that attacks by a party to an armed conflict that are directed against civilians including those who are aid workers, violate international humanitarian law," he said. "International human rights law and international humanitarian law must be fully respected, including the obligation to protect civilians."


upi--2020-07-23--Drugs for inflammation might help with severe depression, study finds

July 23 ( UPI ) -- People with depression resistant to standard drug treatments might find relief with anti-inflammatory drugs , a study published Thursday by the journal Translational Psychiatry found .
Researchers said that because adults with treatment-resistant depression have elevated blood levels of genes linked to inflammation and stress , the drugs might help with the condition .
Based on these findings , the researchers are now conducting clinical trials to assess various steroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs -- like aspirin -- in those who do n't respond to antidepressants .
`` Approximately one-third of people with depression @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that indicate an activation of the stress response system , [ similar to what ] happens when we fight an infection , '' study co-author Carmine Pariante told UPI .
More than 7 % of U.S. adults have depression , and as many as half have a treatment-resistant form , meaning their symptoms fail to improve after drug therapy , according to the National Institute of Mental Health .
For the research , Pariante and colleagues analyzed blood collected from 130 patients with major depressive disorder -- including some resistant to treatment , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 40 healthy controls .
The goal was to understand how gene expression -- the process that signals the production of new molecules in the body -- could be used to distinguish those with treatment-resistant depression from people whose symptoms respond to anti-depressants , researchers said .
Participants with treatment-resistant depression generally had `` notably stronger '' molecular signs of inflammation -- based on elevated levels of C-reactive protein in the blood -- than those with treatable depression and healthy controls , according to the researchers .
Other studies have found high levels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a strong indicator of inflammation , the researchers said .
Blood work from participants with treatment-resistant depression had increased levels of several inflammation-related genes , as well .
Participants with treatment-resistant depression also had lower levels of hormones like cortisol , which are believed to be involved in the body 's stress response , according to the researchers , they said .
The findings provide `` important insight into the mechanisms '' linking inflammation and depression , which might help shape future treatment approaches , Pariante said .
To date , much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a trial-and-error approach , '' he said .
But the signs of inflammation and reduced stress response could help guide treatment decisions , including the use of self-care approaches like meditation and dietary changes to help manage stress , he said .
`` We know that meditation reduces ... stress and inflammation [ levels ] , '' said Pariante , a professor of psychological medicine at King 's College London .
`` And nutritional interventions , like a diet full of fish , fruit and vegetables , also reduce the levels of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ''

Genes linked with stress and inflammation might play a role in depression, a new study has found. Photo by Sasint/Pixabay
July 23 (UPI) -- People with depression resistant to standard drug treatments might find relief with anti-inflammatory drugs, a study published Thursday by the journal Translational Psychiatry found. Researchers said that because adults with treatment-resistant depression have elevated blood levels of genes linked to inflammation and stress, the drugs might help with the condition. Advertisement
Based on these findings, the researchers are now conducting clinical trials to assess various steroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs -- like aspirin -- in those who don't respond to antidepressants.
"Approximately one-third of people with depression ... have measurable changes in the blood that indicate an activation of the stress response system, [similar to what] happens when we fight an infection," study co-author Carmine Pariante told UPI.
More than 7% of U.S. adults have depression, and as many as half have a treatment-resistant form, meaning their symptoms fail to improve after drug therapy, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
For the research, Pariante and colleagues analyzed blood collected from 130 patients with major depressive disorder -- including some resistant to treatment, and some who responded to anti-depressants -- and 40 healthy controls.
Advertisement
The goal was to understand how gene expression -- the process that signals the production of new molecules in the body -- could be used to distinguish those with treatment-resistant depression from people whose symptoms respond to anti-depressants, researchers said.
Participants with treatment-resistant depression generally had "notably stronger" molecular signs of inflammation -- based on elevated levels of C-reactive protein in the blood -- than those with treatable depression and healthy controls, according to the researchers.
Other studies have found high levels of C-reactive protein in the blood to be a strong indicator of inflammation, the researchers said.
Blood work from participants with treatment-resistant depression had increased levels of several inflammation-related genes, as well. Participants with treatment-resistant depression also had lower levels of hormones like cortisol, which are believed to be involved in the body's stress response, according to the researchers, they said.
The findings provide "important insight into the mechanisms" linking inflammation and depression, which might help shape future treatment approaches, Pariante said.
To date, much of drug-based therapy for depression "relies on a trial-and-error approach," he said. But the signs of inflammation and reduced stress response could help guide treatment decisions, including the use of self-care approaches like meditation and dietary changes to help manage stress, he said.
Advertisement
"We know that meditation reduces ... stress and inflammation [levels]," said Pariante, a professor of psychological medicine at King's College London. "And nutritional interventions, like a diet full of fish, fruit and vegetables, also reduce the levels of stress and the levels of inflammation."


upi--2020-07-23--Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw scratched from opening day start vs. Giants

July 23 ( UPI ) -- Los Angeles Dodgers star pitcher Clayton Kershaw wo n't make his scheduled start in Thursday 's opening day game against the San Francisco Giants after being placed on the 10-day injured list .
The team announced Kershaw was scratched from his start because of back stiffness .
In a corresponding roster move , the Dodgers recalled right-hander Dustin May , who will start in place of Kershaw .
May will be the first Dodgers rookie to start on opening day since Fernando Valenzuela in 1981 .
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Kershaw experienced back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The left-handed pitcher felt better Wednesday , but Roberts said he `` did n't feel it was prudent to start him . ''
`` We 're not going to compromise anyone 's health , '' Roberts told reporters Thursday .
`` Once he 's ready , he 'll pitch for us . ''
Kershaw was set to make his ninth opening day start for the Dodgers .
He also missed the team 's 2019 opener when he started the season on the injured list with left shoulder inflammation .
Kershaw has a 5-1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw also missed the team's 2019 opener when he started the season on the injured list with left shoulder inflammation. File Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo
July 23 (UPI) -- Los Angeles Dodgers star pitcher Clayton Kershaw won't make his scheduled start in Thursday's opening day game against the San Francisco Giants after being placed on the 10-day injured list. The team announced Kershaw was scratched from his start because of back stiffness. In a corresponding roster move, the Dodgers recalled right-hander Dustin May, who will start in place of Kershaw. Advertisement
May will be the first Dodgers rookie to start on opening day since Fernando Valenzuela in 1981.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Kershaw experienced back stiffness in the weight room Tuesday. The left-handed pitcher felt better Wednesday, but Roberts said he "didn't feel it was prudent to start him."
"We're not going to compromise anyone's health," Roberts told reporters Thursday. "Once he's ready, he'll pitch for us."
Kershaw was set to make his ninth opening day start for the Dodgers. He also missed the team's 2019 opener when he started the season on the injured list with left shoulder inflammation.
Kershaw has a 5-1 record and 1.05 ERA on opening day.


upi--2020-07-23--ICE, CBP, TSA employees join lawsuit seeking hazard pay for work during pandemic

July 23 ( UPI ) -- Employees from federal agencies including Immigration and Customs Enforcement , Customs and Border Protection and the Transport Security Administration joined a class-action lawsuit seeking hazard pay for work conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic .
The lawsuit states that the Trump administration violated the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act by not providing employees with hazard pay equal to at least 25 % of their wages for working in close proximity to `` virulent biologicals . ''
The suit was originally filed in March on behalf of employees within the Bureau of Prisons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Affairs .
Attorneys on Thursday added employees from nine new federal agencies to the suit .
The lawsuit states that the plaintiffs worked in close proximity to objects , surfaces , and other employees infected with COVID-19 without sufficient protective devices .
`` Exposure to COVID-19 was not taken into account in the classification of the plaintiff 's positions , '' it reads .
Heidi Burakiewicz , an attorney representing the employees , told The Washington Post that federal employees have been greatly impacted by the virus .
`` This is hitting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal government does n't seem to have learned from mistakes in the past or improved at all to save people 's lives , '' Burakiewicz said .

July 23 (UPI) -- Employees from federal agencies including Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection and the Transport Security Administration joined a class-action lawsuit seeking hazard pay for work conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The lawsuit states that the Trump administration violated the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act by not providing employees with hazard pay equal to at least 25% of their wages for working in close proximity to "virulent biologicals."
Advertisement
The suit was originally filed in March on behalf of employees within the Bureau of Prisons, Agriculture Department and Department of Veterans Affairs.
Attorneys on Thursday added employees from nine new federal agencies to the suit.
The lawsuit states that the plaintiffs worked in close proximity to objects, surfaces, and other employees infected with COVID-19 without sufficient protective devices.
"Exposure to COVID-19 was not taken into account in the classification of the plaintiff's positions," it reads.
Heidi Burakiewicz, an attorney representing the employees, told The Washington Post that federal employees have been greatly impacted by the virus.
"This is hitting the federal workforce harder and harder. The federal government doesn't seem to have learned from mistakes in the past or improved at all to save people's lives," Burakiewicz said.